Semifinals – Cautious, Red
By David, BettingExpert.com | Published
While Crystal Palace and Cardiff battle it out against each other for the chance to play the role of major underdogs in a Wembley February final against a Premier League side, either Liverpool or Manchester City, the latter will meet again in Manchester after Mancini inflicted Liverpool the fourth away defeat in the league with a resounding 3-0 score just eight days ago.
Manchester City – Liverpool
Dalglish’s Reds are still battling to get into that top four placing. They are getting close though. Their latest setback came in the same venue they will be visiting for this semifinal Carling Cup clash. They lost 3-0 in a game they did deserve to lose. It was not that they played that bad and the result may in fact be judged as too harsh on them.
Gerrard and co. looked a little disorganized and unsure at times. Up against a team like City those are mistakes you cannot commit because they are so cynical under Mancini. Ultimately, every passing minute strengthened Manchester City after the early lead and Liverpool could not find their way out of it.
I still like Liverpool’s chances given their displays this year. Suarez has been an integral part of the Dalglish plan from the start but now the Scot finds himself deprived of that star player. Gerrard is back, however, and this time it should be his turn to start the game from the first minute. His quality has not made itself wait and from the moment he started coming off the bench after the injury it was clear he was the missing piece in this mosaic. Fans of the Reds now cannot wait to see him in action alongside Suarez when the Uruguay striker comes back from his eight-match ban. This should be number six for him. Counting …for him to be on the field against Manchester United and take revenge on the match that cost him the ban. Although it should be his tongue which is to blame.
Mancini was unfazed by the 2-3 defeat at the hands of Ferguson. The early Kompany dismissal clearly weighed in on the end result but the Italian surely could have taken a good number of positives from that defeat. It is true that they were at home but with a man down they did show quite an unusual grit, fighting back and reigniting hopes for a comeback after going three down.
City may finally have acquired that winning mentality, yet they will be without two key men for this match and a few more. Kompany is suspended for three matches and Yaya Toure is off for international duty with Ivory Coast along with his brother Kolo. Mancini has replacements but these were two of the few he did not like to swap for anyone else given their importance. Manchester City should feel the punch in some way or another.
The home team has not once stepped out of line when playing in front of their own fans in the Premier League. They have a 100% record which Liverpool will be keen to taint with their Red passion. For the league it seems a little bit late for them but they will keep chasing that fourth spot, which is a very realistic target. In g=fact I think they can do one better too. However, Dalglish will be eager to lay his hands on some silverware. That is always a meaningful gesture appreciated by the supporters and this is his chance despite it being just a Carling Cup trophy. If City are thrown off track then it will be an easy opponent in the final – Crystal Palace or Cardiff.
What will be important is this first clash at the Etihad Stadium. Should they survive this their chances will be much higher later on. It is unlikely that Liverpool will go for defending the result and land a draw, however. Away from home Dalglish has never set his team up that way. In fact they only have one draw in ten league outings. After witnessing City’s pragmatic approach and great ball possession skills in the last league game, however, he may have had to rethink that strategy. Going all out with little care for defence can easily cost you against City.
Mancini, on the other hand, may not be as eager to wear out his players for this. He has had to juggle the fitness of his players over the busy festive season and then had the derby with United to take care of. There was never really a chance to rest some of the players who have had to play important parts in almost all of those games. Ahead of a trip to Wigan this may seem like the right time for some changes in the starting line-up.
Verdict: X
Dalglish wants to mark his reappointment as Liverpool manager with a trophy. This is his best shot and after the 3-0 in the last trip to Manchester he may have learned that there is need for caution against a dangerous City. Mancini, on the other hand should be making a few rotations after lamenting the fact that he needs more players in order to take this title chase to the end.
10.01.2012, 20:39 CET
I agree Liverpool should offer more of a challenge this time Joe. Their motivations should be higher too probably.
In any case it is quite an unpredictable one and I won't be missing out on backing Liverpool to take something from this one at those odds.
Kompany and Yaya are too important for City not to feel their absence.
11.01.2012, 09:42 CET
David ,ciao sono perlu79
non riesco a contattarti tramite e-mail di bettingexpert , avete dei probemi sul server.
Mi può scrivere in privato un altra e-mail dove posso scriverti? grazie
luca
11.01.2012, 14:41 CET
Ciao perlu79. Lascero' questo messaggio appositamente qua nel caso non riesci a ricevere l'e-mail un'altra volta. Te ne ho mandata una questa settimana.
In ogni caso, puoi tentare di contattarmi su questo indirizzo e-mail: david@bettingexpert.com
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10.01.2012, 19:43 CET
Good article David and a draw is definitely a good verdict of the situation that both clubs are in. Although, i can only say that Liverpool will be more ready this time around. Good Luck everybody.