Liverpool win Carling Cup after dramatic shoot out

Anthony Gerrard misses the decisive spot kick as Liverpool won the Carling Cup Final on penalties after a dramatic final at Wembley. The Premier League side started brightly but were left shellshocked on 19 minutes as Kenny Miller found Joe Mason with space in the box and the young winger kept his cool to slot through the legs of Pepe Reina. Liverpool were kept frustrated throughout a first half in which they were limited to long range shots and the goal that got them back into the game was a scrappy one as Luis Suarez's flicked header rebounded off the post to Martin Skrtel who drove home on the hour mark. Much to everyone's surprise it was Cardiff who had the best chances to win the game in the dying minutes of normal time and they will live to rue the moment Kenny Miller found himself in on goal but culd only blaze over from six yards with just seconds left on the clock. Both sides made changes in the early moments of extra time and it was one of them who looked to have won the game for Liverpool in the 109th minute as Dirk Kuyt reacted superbly to flash home from the edge of the box. However, Cardiff were not to be beaten and moments after Kuyt had cleared Filip Kiss' header off the line the Bluebirds did level as Ben Turner bundled over the line from two yards out with just one minute of extra time remaining. That meant we would have the drama of penalties and after Steven Gerrard, Miller and Charlie Adam had all missed the tension continued to rise until Anthony Gerrard stepped up and screwed his kick wide of the post. So, its Liverpool who are left to celebrate their first success of the season as Kenny Dalglish goes level with Bill Shankly in terms of pieces of silverware won as Liverpool manager. For Cardiff it was more Wembley heartbreak but they will now want to be back in May trying to win Premier League status in the Championship Playoffs.

League Cup Manchester City 0-1 Liverpool

A Steven Gerrard penalty in the first-half was the difference between the two sides at the Etihad Stadium in the Carling Cup clash.Liverpool started off brightly and created the first chance of the game with some fine build up play before Andy Carroll found himself through on go only to be denied by Joe Hart after five minutes.The visitors continued to press and Hart was called into action on two more occasions following efforts from Steven Gerrard and Stewart Downing.However the deadlock was broken when Stefan Savic brought down Daniel Agger in the box, before Gerrard stepped up to slot the ball home from the penalty spot on 13 minutes.City looked out of sorts in the first-half but could and should have possibly equalised just before the break when James Milner fired his shot over the bar after some great work from Micah Richards. The home side looked brighter in the second half and could have equalised after Martin Kelly produced a poor back pass straight to Sergio Aguero but Pepe Reina was there to put the Argentina star off and his effort went over the bar.Just before the hour mark a Samir Nasri corner was well connected by the head of Micah Richards but again Reina was equal to it. City enjoyed more of the possession in the final 20 minutes but could not find a goal of their own and Liverpool held on to take a one goal advantage back to Anfield for the semi-final second leg.

Anzhi Target Neymar Gerrard Lampard and van Persie!

Anzhi Makhachkala are lining up bids for Robin van Persie, Nicolas Anelka and Neymar, according to the Russian Premier League club's temporary player-coach, Roberto Carlos.Roberto Carlos said his club are also targeting the Paris St Germain star Nenê in a bid eventually to become as big as Real Madrid and Barcelona.The former Brazil defender was the first major star to move to Anzhi following their takeover by the billionaire businessman Suleyman Kerimov at the turn of the year. The 38-year-old has since been joined in the volatile Dagestan region of Russia by Samuel Eto'o and Yuri Zhirkov.Roberto Carlos, who is also the club captain, has now said there are four more big names on the club's wishlist. "Anelka is not the only player," he told the French TV show Canal Football Club. "Nenê from PSG and Van Persie from Arsenal are players we are following. And Neymar? I talked to him. If Real, Barça or Manchester United cannot pay the transfer fee, we will pay it. Suleyman Kerimov can offer what he wants."Anzhi have also been linked with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, as well as Fabio Capello and José Mourinho on the management front. Carlos said: "We want to make a club the calibre of Real or Barça. We have the potential to have a strong team. We are already the best team in Russia and I am serious when I say that." are lining up bids for Robin van Persie, Nicolas Anelka and Neymar, according to the Russian Premier League club's temporary player-coach, Roberto Carlos.Roberto Carlos said his club are also targeting the Paris St Germain star Nenê in a bid eventually to become as big as Real Madrid and Barcelona.The former Brazil defender was the first major star to move to Anzhi following their takeover by the billionaire businessman Suleyman Kerimov at the turn of the year. The 38-year-old has since been joined in the volatile Dagestan region of Russia by Samuel Eto'o and Yuri Zhirkov.Roberto Carlos, who is also the club captain, has now said there are four more big names on the club's wishlist. "Anelka is not the only player," he told the French TV show Canal Football Club. "Nenê from PSG and Van Persie from Arsenal are players we are following. And Neymar? I talked to him. If Real, Barça or Manchester United cannot pay the transfer fee, we will pay it. Suleyman Kerimov can offer what he wants."Anzhi have also been linked with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, as well as Fabio Capello and José Mourinho on the management front. Carlos said: "We want to make a club the calibre of Real or Barça. We have the potential to have a strong team. We are already the best team in Russia and I am serious when I say that."

Big Spending Russian's Target Anelka

Big spending Anzhi Makhachkala are now targeting Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka, having already shown an interest in Frank Lampard.Player-coach Roberto Carlos claims the club's Russian billionaire Suleyman Kerimov is determined to bring in more household names despite making Samuel Eto's the highest-paid player in the world football this summer.Eto's is being paid in excess of £250,000-a-week to play his football for Anzhi but Kerimov's spending hasn't finished yet as he looks to turn them into a team to be reckoned with on the European stage.England coach Fabio Capello is being eyed to manage the team once while Steven Gerrard and Robin van Persie are other top Premier League stars being considered.Carlos, a former Brazilian international, has revealed that the club's interest in Anelka is for real although he is just one of a dozen on their radar. He told TV show Canal Football Club: "Anelka is not the only player. Nene from PSG and Van Persie from Arsenal are players we are following."Neymar? I talked to him. If Real, Barca or Man United cannot pay the transfer fee, we will pay it. Suleyman Kerimov can offer what he wants."

Gerrard Heading for Liverpool Exit?

Much has been made of Kenny Dalglish’s need to thin out a bloated midfield before the transfer window shuts but one fact of Liverpool’s midfield overhaul has been largely overlooked, whisper it – there is no room for Steven Gerrard. Dalglish’s signing of Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing on top of the arrival of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll last winter show that in the new look Liverpool, Gerrard is out of style. As seen from the end of last season Dalglish will set out a 4-4-2 with Suarez buzzing around Carroll and the role of the midfield will be to retain a good shape behind these two meaning that even when fit Gerrard will not be suited to the team. The hero of Istanbul has been a guaranteed starter when fit since the 2001 season but age and tactical changes in recent years have exposed at club level the frailties that have always shown while on international duty. Since the departure of Xabi Alonso and his patient, prudent passing Gerrard has frustrated with a hyperactive, everything and nothing at once style; neither a defensive or attacking force he has roamed aimlessly, misplacing passes and firing long range shots with little return. This will not wash with Dalglish who needs a solid midfield to get the best out of his formation and new signings. Never a particularly disciplined player, Gerrard was accommodated as a maverick in Rafa Benitez’s otherwise strict formation which worked well for Gerrard and Liverpool while he had the right players around him. His inspirational role as an all-action hero under Benitez is now Gerrard’s undoing, as it stands he is a player without a position. For each role in the centre of the park Dalglish recognises that the other midfielders at the club are better than Gerrard. Lucas Leiva was derided as a failure upon his arrival at the club but with over 100 games under his belt in the league he has grown into the custodial ball-winning role in Liverpool’s midfield, a role Gerrard was never comfortable with. Raul Meireles too was seen as a flop within a few games last season but the Portuguese player adapted so well that he was named the PFA’s Fan’s Player of the Year and even though he was often deployed in an unfamiliar wide position he shone as an attacking threat. The signings of Adam and Henderson mean that Meireles will likely have to make do with fewer starts this season but it also puts Gerrard to the back of the queue of potential attacking options. Having long lacked any width Stewart Downing will be a breathe of fresh air for the Anfield faithful if he can rise to the occasion, in any case he has a simple task of supplying Carroll with crosses, on the right-side Daglish will likely opt for Dirk Kuyt or Maxi Rodriguez. Meireles may too be an option out wide though he failed to impress in that position under Roy Hodgson but hey, didn’t they all. Kuyt who, often has been held up as a figure of ridicule, is unsurpassed in his tenacity and eagerness in both defensive and attacking play which may make him indispensable for Dalglish as he attempts to get the best out of his attacking central mids Adam, Meireles and Henderson. Rodriguez grabbed headlines at the end of the season with a brace of hat tricks but other than that he had a quiet season and though not past it just yet he is unlikely to be relied upon. With more than a dozen midfielders current on the books Dalglish will be working frantically to move on Joe Cole, Christian Poulsen and Alberto Aquilani before the transfer window closes while Johnjo Shelvey and Jay Spearing are likely to go out on loan. But when Sunderland arrive at Anfield in two weeks time there may be another more familiar face who finds that he too has no place in the second Dalglish era.

Steven Gerrard : Liverpool's aim next season is to win the Premier League title

Steven Gerrard says Liverpool's aim next season is nothing less than to win the Premier League title. The Reds captain has been out of action since March, when he saw his season cut short by a groin injury, and is looking forward to returning for the new campaign.And the influential midfielder is eyeing silverware ahead of his comeback.Gerrard told Sky Sports News: "If we were to get back in the top-four next season I think it would be a fantastic achievement."But we will be setting out to win the league, because that's what you do year in and year out at Liverpool."He added: "We've got a good side together. Hopefully it'll be strengthened with a few new signings in the next few weeks before we go back."Then we'll be in a position where we're competitive next season.""We will be setting out to win the league, because that's what you do year in and year out at Liverpool."

Gerrard admits it stung to see Manchester United surpass Liverpool's title record last season when they landed their 19th league trophy."The way they were playing you knew the 19 was going to come," he added. "And it did hurt because they are our biggest rivals."You've got to give credit where it's due. We've got to get on with it and the challenge is can we equalise as soon as possible."Gerrard says he is hungry to get back to action after spending so long on the sidelines."I'm actually dying for a game of football," he added. "In a strange way it's been good to get a rest mentally, and also physically."I believe I'm going to come back firing, fit and well next season."It's probably the best I've felt, physically and mentally, going into a season so I'm excited, I can't wait for it."

Liverpool 1 - 1 Wigan

Liverpool's resurgence under Kenny Dalglish was dealt a setback as struggling Wigan battled to a deserved draw at Anfield.
The home side led at the break thanks to Raul Meireles' volley - his fourth goal in his last five matches.
But Wigan fought back and equalised when Steve Gohouri prodded in Antolin Alcaraz's flick on at the far post.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was twice denied a goal by the woodwork on his first start for the club.
The Uruguyan's selection signalled a more adventurous Liverpool formation to the one that employed a heavily-loaded midfield and a three-man defence in a successful contain and capitalise operation at Chelsea last Sunday.
It was a system designed to dominate their struggling opponents but, despite coming into the game full of confidence off the back of four successive wins, they were unable to do so.
This may be partly due to the absence of midfield driving-force Steven Gerrard, who missed the game because of the thigh injury that caused him to sit out England's international win in Denmark on Wednesday.
The chief reason though was the performance of Wigan, who adopted a similar philosophy as that used to such good effect by their hosts in London six days ago.
Wigan's performance was a battling one - which should give them heart in their quest to avoid the drop - but it also showcased enough fluency and ability to make one wonder why even with this point they remain in the relegation zone, albeit only on goal difference.

Real Madrid exploit Kop crisis with Gerrard bid

Real Madrid want to exploit the Liverpool crisis by luring skipper Steven Gerrard.
The Spanish giants, coached by Jose Mourinho, are planning a £20million transfer coup this summer.
Mourinho came close to signing the England star when he was at Chelsea only for Gerrard to perform a dramatic U-turn just hours after handing in a written transfer request.
But sources inside Real believe Gerrard, 29, is losing patience with the problems engulfing Anfield and that his career will reach a crossroads this summer.Gerrard, who earns around £120,000 a-week, is under contract to Liverpool until 2013.But the Reds’ inability to compete for major honours is a far bigger issue than money to Gerrard.He resisted the growing temptation to seek a new challenge last summer when the club appointed Roy Hodgson in succession to Rafael Benitez.But Hodgson’s reign proved a disaster leaving Liverpool just four points above the relegation zone.

Spanish duo Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina could still quit the club even with Hodgson sacked.Striker Torres, who is a target for the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, was widely expected to leave Liverpool last summer before he pledged his future to the club at the start of the season.
Reina, who was linked with a £12m move to Arsenal in the August transfer window, could also decide to quit amid the current chaos.

Liverpool face relegation

Well here is some bad news for Liverpool fans prepare  for Championship football next season.Yes you did read that correctly the great Liverpool F.C. will be relegated at the end of the season.Why i hear you ask ,well after witnessing last nights performance(if you can call it that)against relegation threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers which saw Liverpool crash to defeat it is clear to me that the reds are doomed, a team that lacks quality, leadership and is carrying players that do not judging by their body language don't want to be there.Liverpool will not play another game over the next month against a poorer side, and they will not play another match where they will have nearly as much time to prepare.Now it is difficult not to look and wonder if  Liverpool will be in a relegation dogfight by the end of January.Stephen Gerrard do yourself a favour and slap in a transfer request today you have carried your home-town club long enough.Ferrnando Torres it is clear you don't want to be at the club so you might as well go in the January transfer window.Reina you have no defence in front of you are you going to stay and end up getting a back injury from the number of times you have to pick the ball out of the net?Kochensky your mum has upset the fans best you head back to London oh and take Joe Cole with you he can nip back and help West Ham out of there hole.
Then we move onto the manager step forward Roy Hodgson,a manager who performed miracles at Fulham and up until recently was being touted as the next England manager.Roy according to some Liverpool fans is not good enough to manage a "big" club. Well i have news for you a club that sells the likes of Mascherano,Robbie Keene,Peter Crouch and Alonso all of whom would walk into the current side cannot be considered a big club.Roy inherited a poor squad left behind by the Spanish waiter in short he has very little to work with.
Going by the display yesterday against Wolves and with the club sitting a scant three points clear of the relegation zone, it suddenly appears as though Liverpool, are certainly capable of losing at least a couple in the League against Bolton, Everton, and Fulham at home, and Blackburn, Blackpool, and Wolves on the road.Well i'm off to stick a few quid on the reds to be relegated 50-1 with PADDY POWER.Scunthorpe versus Liverpool that kind of has a ring to it.

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