Poll: League or Cup? Who Starts, and Which is the Priority?

By: Noel | November 24th, 2011

We’ve talked before about the FA’s unfortunate scheduling of Liverpool’s next two matches to satisfy Sky Sports, giving them the week’s biggest game on Sunday for their prime slot and leaving both Liverpool and Manchester City to play their League Cup quarter final draws two days later later on Tuesday evening. Any way you come at it it’s a disgraceful move by the FA, one that speaks to them valuing the whims of Sky over the good of the clubs they’re tasked with representing and regulating while displaying a compete disregard for the once-meaningful League Cup. Competence and the English FA may rarely go hand in hand, but even by their low standards this is blatant and bothersome.

It’s also led to Kenny Dalglish suggesting that as the club’s only priority is getting back into the Champions League, Liverpool will look to play their strongest side on Sunday when City comes to Anfield. In recent weeks, for many this has meant talk of a collection of kids and spare parts getting a run out at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday, but with players like Maxi Rodriguez and Craig Bellamy making strong cases that they should be considered part of the club’s best eleven while the increasingly confident defensive duo of Agger and Skrtel poses the question of where exactly Jamie Carragher fits now that he’s healthy, one way or the other it won’t be just kids playing in the League Cup next week.

The question for this week, then, is more immediate than most: Which match, either Sunday’s league fixture against City or Tuesday’s cup draw at Chelsea, do you think should be the club’s priority? And more than that, which core group of players do you think should be given the chance to win that more important match?

There could of course be tweaks forced by a change in formation or tactics, but if defeating City is the priority, should the core of players like Maxi, Bellamy, Kuyt, and Skrtel and Agger be started on Sunday in a team largely unchanged from the one that defeated Chelsea lat Sunday? Or do you see City as the priority but instead think that means Dalglish should look to bring back those who appeared his preferred starters last month, once again starting players like Henderson, Downing, Carroll, and Carragher?

Conversely, you might see the League Cup and the better chance at silverware it provides as the priority for a club that hasn’t added to its trophy case in recent years, but in that case the question remains: Which core group of players do you save for that more important match? The feisty pass and move side that defeated Chelsea in the league? Or is the more direct Carra to Carroll connection the way to go?

Play manager for a day and let us know the answer to those two connected questions. Tell us how you would approach the next two games, both from a personnel standpoint and when it comes to which match you think is more important for Liverpool’s season.

Some Related Liverpool Posts:

Category: League Cup, Miscellaneous, Premier League

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Ishaan Krishna

As much as i'd love to see the best players in the cup, i cannot bear the thought of the spurs (and fucking toon) above us. So the catch up is the priority in my opinion!
Moevawda

any news on suarezs potential ban and when it will start
Luis Suarez dentist

Any news on Evra's ban for bringing the game into disrepute with his constant lying?
jpr

NEVER!!!
Moevawda

Same team as last weekend against city since top4 is priority
Against chelsea
reina
kelly coates carragher flanagan
downing spearing henderson aurelio
carrol
the last mid/striker im not sure off,whoever daglish decides to play from sundays game

suarez,bellamy,adam on the bench for chelsea in case of an emergency or possibly even penalties
Thomas Hoppe

Right now it feels like Man City are there to be taken. We tend to start well and they don't. It would be great if we could pounce early and then hang on. Sub out those players that you want to use on Tuesday and go for Chelsea as well. A win against City could go a long way for the club's reputation with targets in January.
KC

Oh gawd if we won against City it just be a massive ownage in the face for the expensive City squad. LOVE IT! I mean Liverpool players are awesome and okay we paid a pretty penny for most of them but we're talking about the swiping of basically the best players around Europe in the City team. To be honest, I'd be happy with a draw this is how scared I am of the City team. I almost feel like David and Goliath, the mouse and the elephant. If this games turns out to be like either of those stories I'd be over the moon because the little one wins!
Red2death

Tough one, mainly because I have a hard time deciding which of our players constitutes a 'better' team. Ie. I don't consider Carroll, Henderson and Downing any lower quality players than Kuyt, Maxi and Bellamy - they're just more inconsistent, but on a good perfectly capable of playing a game worthy of the Liverpool shirt.

For certain I'd prioritize the league over the Carling Cup, which again, we never gave a rat's ass about till this year. But as for which combination would be 'better'? I'd prefer the same guys we saw against Chelsea on Sunday for both matches (and as for tiredness? I figure Kuyt and Bellers can handle it. Maxi maybe needs to be subbed out, but that's ok). But if other players were given the nod again, they could very well do the job too.
Latortillablanca

ya thats fair
Geoff Twentyman

Also, this Gotze fellow seems to play in the type of position we have a need for - right sided, but drifts inside. If anyone knows more about this fellow,I'd be interested to know bearing in mind we've been linked with him.

http://www.zonalmarking.net/20...
Zach

I've been watching him come up through Dortmunds reserves and such, and hes a monster in the making. I'd love for us to pick him up, hes got a great touch, great with passing and move, and is a decent finisher but all around is creative. He's also hungry for glory although he's still humble. If we got him here it'd be a miracle but it'd be miles better than seeing him go to any other team in England or Real or one of the Milans. Bayern is looking at him, and idk if he will go but he's very loyal as a German. We'll see what happens. If you want to know a good game to see him in action (at least hightlights) look up the Germany v Brazil match from a few months ago. Ozil was out injured but you could hardly tell Germany missed him because Gotze played such a sick game.
Geoff Twentyman

Bayern already have Kroos/Muller/Ribery and Robben - like they need another creative/attacking midfielder!
Moevawda

hes brilliant,exactly what we need,will lead liverpool into a new era
but then again,the club never gets the player we the fans want eg.mata who almost every fan wanted,di maria,hazard ( although theres still time for that) so we can keep on dreaming
Waiting for Sterling

He's going to Bayern for sure.
Latortillablanca

i dont think he'd go to bayern - wud just be a lateral move... he is absolute titties as a prospect, but he def goes into that 'only if we can qualify for CL' transfer list. hazard or lucas would still be my pick over gotze just because i dont agree we should be going for yet another attacking midfielder that drifts inside the whole time - we need a player who's just as comfortable staying wide. gotze is a guy you wanna put in the middle and play your whole game through him. like if we were to loose suarez for example, gotze wud be an effective replacement...
Geoff Twentyman

Sorry its in the wrong place, but has anyone seen this video - I can'
t watch it as I'm outside the UK:

http://www.zonalmarking.net/20...
Geoff Twentyman

Pass n move v Man City

Reina
Johnson - Agger - Skrtel - Enrique
Lucas - Adam
Kuyt- Maxi
Luis - Bellers

Deep defensive line and hit Chelsea on the break with fast counter attacking. We can use players from the weekend and give them a half each or bring in the kids.

Reina
Kelly - Carra - Coates - Aurelio
Spearo - Hendo
Sterling or Kuyt/Maxi - Downing
Carroll - Ngoo or Luis/Bellers
Geoff Twentyman

Mind you, I've just watched the highlights for the reserves win over SAFC - 5-1 and Eccleston took 2 excellent chances. I don't know much about his 'potential' but those two goals were very well executed.
Latortillablanca

ya, but he makes rooney look like stephen hawking...
Ryan

We don't have to consider one game a priority because we have to rotate. Laaaame. We can do it big! Don't mind me if I put on a suit to type this up, Mr Webb.

MANCHESTER CITY:

---------------Reina----------------
Johnson--Skrtel--Agger--Enrique-
----------Lucas-Adam-----------
-Kuyt---------------------Downing-
--------Suarez---Carroll-----------

Bench: Doni, Carra, Kelly, Flanagan, Bellamy, Adam, Henderson

subs: Bellamy for Suarez around 60th, Henderson for Kuyt, Spearing for Lucas around 70th.Should end up looking something like this later on:

--------------Mint---------------
------Hendo-------Adam-------
Down------------------Bellem--
-----------HotCarroll------------

Carroll gets the nod on this one, even if it was a major cockup from Mancini last time around that resulted in his hotness. As long as Suarez is there as well, I don't think Carroll will be a liability. If he is, then I'd kindly swap Carroll out for Kelly. I would move Johnson up to right mid, Kuyt uptop with Suarez/Bellers. We would have the good attacking winger play from Johnson, and Johnson would understand Kelly's overlaps better than Henderson would. Having two attacking fullbacks on one side would surely give us equal or better defense on the right. It would look like this:

---------------Reina------------
Kelly----Skrtel---Agger---Enrique
-------21/26----Spea/hend-------
Jnson-----------------------Downing
-----------Kuyt----Suarez/Bell---

They would never see it coming.

CHELSEA:

----------------Reina----------------
--------Skrtel-Coates-Carra-------
-----------------Spear--------------
Kelly------Hendo---Maxi----Aurelio
----------------Bellamy------------
----------------Suarez-------------

Bench: Doni, Agger, Flanagan, Johnson, Kuyt, Lucas, Suso

subs: Suso for Bellamy around 60th, Johnson for Skrtel around 70th, Spearing for Lucas around 70th. Should look something like this later on:

---------------Reina-------------
--------Kelly-Coates-Carra-----
-------------Spear-Aurelio--------
Jnson------Hendo---Maxi---Suso-
----------------Suarez-----------

So, AVB doesn't want to loose his job. So he's going to want to win against Wolves. Which definitely means Mata is playing the whole game. Malouda was pretty much absent in the last game besides that complete miss of a shot that became an assist, and seeing that he'll probably start against us, the threat to the left is not nearly as great as the right. If we had the Chinese army coming down the left, I would be more concerned about Henderson. His defensive game has just sucked when it comes to watching that flank. Spearing would try to cover for him, but it would be asking too much of him. Which is also why Aurelio plays. He will offer attack, defense, and focus on the left. He wouldn't be like young Jack Robinson, asking for Spearing to save his inexperienced ass and running himself into the ground. Oh, and I choose not to start Kelly at the back because Hendo and Kelly aren't the most experienced players, and if Kelly makes some sort of attacking move down the flank thinking he's a right back, he and Hendo will leave a huge gap for the below-par Malouda to embarrass us. I almost considered starting Kelly in the back but just putting him at the left so he would feel uncomfortable and not wander forward.

Johnson, Maxi, Suarez, and Suso are the equivalent of SPEED. Which is exactly what we will need against a high line late in the game. Johnson's goal wouldn't have happened if they were dug a bit deeper. Spearing=clean sheet.

these aren't just tactical games. These are mental, emotional games. When people get tired, when people get tested, when limited are fucking pushed, it's emotional. I give a damn lot about the youth. They are tender souls, underneath their monster costumes they wear on the field. And so would Kenny. Therefore, no younglings are being risked against Manchester City. I don't think we are going to win that one . The League Cup is supposed to be where the youth gets a shot, and it would be stupid to put more than one youth player in against Manchester City and put their morale in jeopardy. Also, the others being played in the League Cup are players that have something prove because they haven't gotten significant minutes. like Aurelio, Maxi, Coates, Bellamy, Spearing.

It's Thanksgiving and everyone is getting pissed off at me for staring at a computer. there's bound to be lots of mistakes, typos, weird cut off sentences due to editing. So, take it easy.
Geoff Twentyman

I sense a formation change might be necessary to manage the squad or the introduction of a couple of the kids. It would be great to see Sterling get a run at that slow-ass Chelsea back line!
Sandro

The first priority has to be on the league because at the end of the season we need champions league more than we need silverware. The thing I've been wrestling with is whether Carroll should start against city because his form prior to Chelski was decent and he can clearly perform against them. I know a lot of people may dispute that, but the main reason I think he can't start is Suarez can't lead the line in both games meaning Carroll has to do it in one. I start the same lineup against City that we had on the weekend.. that doesn't necessarily mean a much weaker team for the cup. With the exceptions of Reina, Lucas, Suarez (I'd argue Agger while some would also argue Enrique) all the players in our squad while offering different attributes are fairly even. Same lineup against City, and then against Chelski:

Reina (he'll cope and Doni is out anyway)
Kelly (i still maintain he's better than johnson despite said wonder goal), Carra, Coates, Aurelio
_______ Spearing Henderson Downing
Carroll ______

I realise that lineup depends on Aurelio making it through at least the first half which is unlikely, but I still remember him as an elite player, and at worst he can drain a freekick before he goes off. I really want this cup match to be an excuse for Henderson to finally play in the centre, just think from what I've seen it suits him much better and it's clearly the long term plan.
Those two blank spots probably involve starting Kuyt and just running him into the ground and my option would be to throw Sterling on the wing although that's unlikely. It's probably more likely that Maxi and Bellamy will split time on the wing. Save Suarez on the bench and bring him on for the last 20 if we need a tie breaker, beyond that we can't work him any harder.

Ohhhhhh and Steven Gerrard to make a shock return... play all 90 mins.. form a telepathic understanding with Carroll... score goals, curve some balls across the box for the big man to get on the end of... we win both games and sit in the top 4 and have a semi-final to look forward too... that last part shouldn't be a fantasy
Geoff Twentyman

We can use players from the weekend and give them a half each or bring in the kids, so Sterling or have Kuyt for a half then Maxi for a half on the right and Luis for a half and then Bellers for a half up front - or just give Ngoo or Morgan a game.
Sandro

yeh i saw what you wrote above, spot on
redtrev73

I absolutely get the idea that we should want to win every game at Liverpool Football Club but the FA have fucked up our chances of affording the Carling cup game the attention we would ideally like to. With two games in 48 hours the squad must be managed.

The Prem is the priority so lets see the Chelski-bashers again. It's simple maths...

Top 4 = CL.

CL = Better New Players and LFC back amongst the elite, which is where we live.

Better New Players allied to our current squad = LFC as genuine title contenders next season....and I like them apples folks.
JPR

We need to find a way to contest that midfield. Nasri, Toure, Silva, Milner, de Jong, Barry. Whatever 4 they put out will be Hell. Lucas, Adam, Maxi, Kuyt will have to play a blinder. Bellers will be balls to the wall to make an impact. Suarez has to bring his A game. Put the fackin FA out of the freaking mind!
Geza27

Shiiiit I want to win both matches. I want to be at the new Wembley for the final (not like I have ever been to the old one...) and I want to be back in the CL next year to rule all Europe like we have always done before.
I could go on but I will settle for the above for now...
DJ-Chutfield

I can't take another season with no CL. I haven't even followed it this season because it sucks so much without Liverpool. Getting fourth or higher is our top priority. The league cup isn't what it used to be. What was once a prestigious competition is now an easy route into the Europa League for mid-table teams. Even if it was... Champions League football should be our only priority. The team that started on the weekend should start against Shitty and deliver another hiding, old style.
Moevawda

truth is the cl is still brilliant without liverpool but yeah,geting back is top priority
DJ-Chutfield

I meant it sucks so much for ME without Liverpool in it. It just doesn't feel right. I meant to watch the Barcelona-Milan game on Wednesday, but it totally slipped my mind. LFC need to get back in CL. Acronyms FTW!
Luis Suarez dentist

We are Liverpool. We should do our best to win both games and not prioritise one over the other.
Ed

That'd be nice, but I think it's reality that one of the squads is going to be stronger than the other in some way. Might not mean that there's less hope for winning both--I'm sure everyone hopes Liverpool wins both--but maybe one that, for whatever reason, people think demands a better eleven.

For me, that's the match with City on Sunday, no question.
Luis Suarez dentist

The thing is as it was proved last sunday our 'carling cup team' might just be stronger than what was our first team!

I know it's typical rubbish fixture arranging from the FA but i'm looking forward to seeing Kelly (should be our first choice rb), Spearing, and Coates get another run out.

If I had to pick only one game to win it would be City on Sunday. But I'm greedy enough and hopeful enough that we can win them both!
Latortillablanca

this has been my bug-a-boo for a minute! what's better? immediate silverware or the next step in our long term progression to world domination? best answer i can come up with after the chelsea match is - fuck it.

go hard against citeh, then regroup after. simple as that. hot hands all around: d, m, & o. we can worry bout the league cup on saturday night. right now, go strong, put em out to win in the 'liverpool way' and cross ur fowlerdamned fingers...

go niners!!!!
Ken

we put strong teams out for the cup because the fa tell us to respect the cup,then the fa give us the cup game 48 hours after city game giving us no respect, if i was kenny i would play the under 12s and show the fa the respect they showed us none
Purify_the_body

I don't think the cup is worth holding players out of the lineup for Man City. ReinaJohnson Skrtel Agger Enrique Lucas Spearing Kuyt Adam Downing SuarezThen on Tuesday start with Suarez on the bench, maybe Bellamy with Carroll up top.
Purify_the_body

lol, thx disqus
Waiting for Sterling

In my opinion, I feel the league cup trumps the Sunday fixture. I think the team needs to get back to winning ways and know what it feels like to hold a trophy. Man city has the players to be able to put a top 4 side in week in, week out no matter what the game. We should give Carroll a run this weekend with the confidence he has in knowing he can score against the richies with Hendo sitting behind him and Downing and maybe Suarez out on the wings (or Suarez partnered with Andy. I just feel if we play Suarez in a game with the weaker side he can still bring the best out of them.)

In the Tuesday match, we should definitely have the same core players that we had last weekend with maybe spearing coming in for more defensive reasons and Suarez being switched out. Maybe Kenny can bring out the good ol' 3-5-2 with Bellamy and Kuyt up top and Jose and Glenny out on the wings offering support to the D. I say play Coates in this match because in reality we don't have as much to lose if we do lose the cup game. So Sebas, Aggs and Skrts in the back.
KC

I agree that we should want to hold the league cup but getting into the Top4 and being in the Champions League just promises so much more. Better players, more players, back in the limelight, facing against Europe's best teams, more money etc etc. No player is going to come here just cause we won a League Cup and if we don't get anymore game-changers there is no way we can win the Premier League eventually. And to be honest, even if we put some of the 'kids' out on to the field against Chelsea, we have a pretty good squad and I'm sure we can still do really well. But definitely the best team (pretty much last weeks team) for Sunday I think.
Latortillablanca

that's a fair take for sure. the 352 aint never gonna happen, tho.
Waiting for Sterling

):
Jack

The problem positions are LB, defensive midfield and up front.
Surely lucas and Suarez can't/shouldn't play both games but neither has adequate cover. It's really hard to think of a strong XI minus those 2.

I also worry who else can do left back now, when did Aurelio last play? Not sure Robinson ready for either Chelsea or Nasri/ Silva. Maybe Johnson goes back there.

Otherwise I see two quite good teams in the squad:
Reina
Kelly/Johnson Agger/Skrtel/Carra Enrique
Kuyt/Hendo Lucas/Spearing/Adam Downing/Maxi
Suarez/Bellers/Carrol

I expect he'll prioritise the City match, but if we're to keep in the race for fourth we can't risk playing our best players twice in 48 hours.
Sandro

no way Agger can start 2games, the risk of injury is too high. Carra gets his start against Chelski and I'd be willing to give Coates a game next to him. If there's a single player who can come back from injury and play well right away its Aurelio... so much experience at doing it .. although he may only last 30mins max.
Noel

Aurelio and Agger do both seem to be able to miss six weeks and then step back in like they haven't missed a minute. Either that or the kind of form they'd build to after being fit for an entire season would be terrifying.
Sandro

Definitely, kinda sad that this will probably be Fabio's last season - can't see them renewing his contact with his record, Enqrique's form and the promise of Robinson.
kenny

League, even though you don't get silverware for fourth or third or even second place, you can still get Champions League football. I would love to win the FA cup or Carling cup, but my sights are set on the top four. We want everyone to see we are still a powerhouse. We can bring in better players and then be able to adjust to all the tournaments we are in.
ayoslime

Very difficult to choose, would have said focus on the cup but after napoli beat city I'm tempted to say put out our strongest (probably the line-up against chelsea) and see who's fit enough on Tuesday to pick another strong line-up against Chelsea. I acknowledge the importance of putting more priority into one competition but that doesn't mean that we have to lose a game. Let's take one game at a time and see what happens..
ShedYourYellow

I just... No contest. our lineup against Chelsea was like a wet dream. Give me that again. Maxi, Bellamy, Kuyt... I want that as our side against City. Let the players who sat have a chance in the Cup. Liverpool belongs in the Champions League. Pass and move, red men.
redtrev73

Pass and move indeed, SYY...pass and move indeed...