Matchday: Liverpool v. Exeter City

Psst Game Messages:

I appreciate Maxi's role in this squad. A cultured passer of the ball with a nose for goal. He's a nice asset to have with the younger/more raw players settling in around him.

With the advent of the NextGen Series,  I get the sense that the League Cup is the place where the U23s and new to LFC players find their legs: Jonjo, Spearing, Wilson, Henderson, Flanno & Robbo. The FA Cup will feature the most senior side. As a club, it's a four-front year engaging everyone from our brightest prospects to our most senior internationals. This is a good thing.

It's almost a joy to see Henderson realizing he's a new fish in a much bigger pond. These little things he made have gotten away with at Sunderland (poor positional sense & extra/unnecessary touches) - they won't fly with this squad. Again, like Carroll - he's a work in progress. Check back this time next year to see him Levia his game or Babel it to shit. It's his call, really.

Siestas are your friends.

good comments. re Hendo,  he needs to show some conviction and belief.  He's just going through the motions right now.

It just shows that they need time, all of them, to get playing together.   It's a baptism of fire the EPL so they've not done so badly to date, but you can see how it needs a dozen or more games to get them over the first settling in thing and then kick on from there.

Hopefully Carroll continues to improve his short passing and awareness. Honestly, I can see Suarez getting frustrated at the lack of sharpness with that aspect of his game.

Nutmeg by Suarez, and a thunderbolt by Carroll.
Keep 'em coming boys.

There's that potential showing through from big Andy, eh.

Nice to see Maxi on the scoreboard/when did he get the number 11 jersey?

Trying to understand the lineup.  1st teamers who presumably won't start on Saturday against Bolton which is confusing as that is gonna be a tough game!!

Clearly youth and Spearing being given a chance and Kenny's bolstered that with Reina, Skyrtel and Adam.  
Maxi's getting a runout and Henderson needs lots of game time as he still hasn't really settled into a role.

Suarez remains the ace in the pack, guess he's on such a hot streak that Kenny's almost forced to play him - he's light years ahead of the rest of the squad to be frank.
We really need to work out how to unlock Carroll otherwise we'll struggle.  
I think that comes from good forward thinking midfield play.

3 Half-Time Notes:

1. You have to appreciate when a pub makes extra effort to get a game on. I missed the first 15 minutes, but thanks to the barman's Kuyt-esque technical assistance - game on. Beer poured.

2. It's good to see Carroll 'struggling' Liverpool's pass and move philosophy. I'd rather watch him challenge himself to play within our approach than us lump it full stop. He's a young player with loads of potential. Playing matches like this will only help his development. Imagine how dangerous he will be when he evolves a deft first touch and eye for quick passing. He's a work in progress.

3. "Supporters" who demand we score 20 goals, who shrill at the slightest mistake, who project this sense of entitlement with games like this - they drive me Joey Barton. Shut the fuck up and support the team. Understand the 'project' Kenny, Steve, and the club are launching with our new owners. Jay Spearing is not an asshole because he misplaced a pass.

Bacon cheeseburger and beer for lunch? Yep, not too Xabi.

Never thought of it that way before. It's nice to see that Carroll isn't letting his big price tag get to his head. HE has to be a part of US.

The more I see of Carroll, the more I think the Toons are pissing themselves. At least he blasted one in today. He looks more like a conference player than England's great hope.

Considering our internationals, and pending England players, we looked pretty pants at times against a weak, non-physical lower league side. 

Henderson, cheating diver for no reason, poor again.

If it wasn't for Suarez, we'd struggle. One man team label coming up in the next few weeks?

Don't take the boys stick too seriously. Never one to mind a ladies persoective.

If you indeed are a Liverpool fan, you're like our own Piers Morgan.

U make me all warm and fuzzy inside sue, bless you're gloom-laden heart

Huzzah, the negativity train rolls onward!

Do I sense a signature sign off in the works?

"Playing matches like this will only help his development. Imagine how
dangerous he will be when he evolves a deft first touch and eye for
quick passing. He's a work in progress"

right on sir.  right on.

norwaysport.co.uk, think its stream 2

Can't complain too much about the lead... but is Adam eschewing the easy pass at midfield in favor of attempting an audacious dribble past a defender (and losing the ball) driving anyone else crazy? Did it three times just in that half.

remember our audacity under uncle woy and rafa's last season?  90% of our passes went backwards, the other 10% sideways... ill put up with those plays any day so long as it comes with that prodigious, xabi alonso-esque passing/shooting range.  stevie and carra will set him straight if/when it needs doin. 

Ha, that's fair

I do believe Andy will be a star in days to come, but that first-half display can only add fuel for the doubters.

Eh. A player like him needs good service more than anything, and while Henderson's crosses from the right have been excellent, the link up play from the middle has gone mostly to Suarez, and there's been literally no feed from the left.

Andy's been on the collecting end of a ton of hoofs sadly.

Crap, lost the stream. Who's got a good one?

Wee Luis strikes again. Me thinks we'll be getting used to the site of the buck-toothed wonder celebrating this year.

Well struck by Suarez, great opener.

ah, got the first goal. Now I can enjoy my Carlsberg more

Carlsberg, why do you make yourself suffer?

I happen to like Carlsberg sir, thank you very much. Totally can't wait for this Standard Chartered contract to expire so they can be back on the kit

Ha! I was just about to point out how typical it was for a Liverpool supporter to be drinking Carlsberg. One must wonder if we are at all supporting the Liverpool cause by drinking from it's sponsor...but like Cheekyfellow said, Oh how we suffer for our team.

Looks like a separated shoulder for Meireles, clean tackle but landed awkwardly. 

Carroll on for Raul. Hate to see Raul get injured, but thats some attacking intent from the King

I can't stream video at the office, but usually have great results listening to the LFC.tv commentary. but not today.... anyone else having the same trouble?

disregard, they had some technical difficulties.  all is well.

If anyone uses Chrome, here's a free extension that provides some working streams:

https://chrome.google.com/webs...

too all the liverpool er... and exeter fans we have a live link http://streamsports.es/channel...

off topic.  see tim vickery interview on talksh1te radio (sth american pundit).  Talks about coates as being good and not slow, commanding but still young.  
He helped his side Nacional to the semi finals of the Sth American Champs League but made the defensive mistake that sent them out (caught in possession).  Will get less time in the EPL so an element of risk here for sure.

At 20 (like Hendo), still lots of development required, but Carra will be a good teacher if he can get his head around the machinations of the Scouse accent!

Still, could have been worse, could have had to deal with the accent of Nick the Greek!!

Perfect for lfc as we want someone perhaps not for this year, but to develop for later in the season or next season.  Could dovetail nicely with our ages and prospective injuries.  Not going to be as accomplished as a Phil Jones of course, but Jones might expect regular first team footy much earlier.

It'll be a harder adjustment for Coates, absolutely, but I'm not sure about less accomplished—locked up a starting spot for Uruguay over the summer and won young player of the tournament as they won the Copa America. Jones has, what, one senior cap? Also I was seriously underwhelmed by Jones with the u21 side, but some of that was probably Pearce's love of hoofball.

good points.

Looks like KK is giving youth a chance v exeter plus some 1st teamers that I reckon he thinks need game time.  thing is you wouldn't then expect them to start against Bolton at the weekend.

ya, if the boy's got tim vickery's stamp of approval, nuff said.

A very strong team for us:

25 Reina22 Wilson37 Skrtel38 Flanagan49 Robinson04 Meireles11 Maxi14 Henderson20 Spearing26 Adam07 Suarez

Reina, Flanagan, Robinson, Wilson, Skrtel, Adam, Meireles, Spearing,
Maxi, Henderson, Suarez. Subs: Doni, Enrique, Carroll, Kuyt, Downing,
Carragher, Shelvey.

Wait... what?

I suspect Suarez will come off at half particularly if scoreline is where it should be.  I also then suspect he'll play a substitute role at the weekend.  I was slightly underpowered when I said the King would field a strong side....

yeah man, schiesse, I feel like we're out for blood. Yet... there was 8 changes from the start of the arsenal game. Theres that new depth we got eh?  

Team sheets will be updated around 20 minutes prior to kickoff...unavoidably detained until then.

Does anybody have any idea radio broadcast of the game?

I know the offal does one if you have the eseason, but BBC does a blackout, and not usually easy to find streams of radio. Maybe some of the streaming sites would have links?

Looks like good ol 'arry wouldn't mind JCole at Tottenham... neither would I. It'd be enjoyable watching Lucas and now maybe Coates kicking him around till he does the Napoleon stance... while wearing Tottenham white!

im almost as excited to see cole gone than i am to see if the coates deal goes through... and in other worthless loans - we let pacheco go to atleti...?! wtf.  if we wanted him on the bench and/or playin in reserve matches all year, why not just keep him?   obviously not gonna give him a chance ever, just cut the mini-donkeyface loose...

Really disappointed to see him go, he looked quality for the little bits we saw of him

I'll drink to that!!! Cole gone will bring me so much pleasure. Yeah I guess Pacheco can leave for good now, I guess I just hope our young Suso comes good in the end.

I hate to get caught up in it, but it seems that every news source is saying Coates is a go. So Coates, yeah?

Lots of quasi-confirmations, but for now just head down the rabbit hole:

https://twitter.com/#!/search/...

Ed, c'mon man - ive heard bout the sheep, but now its rabbit holes too?  poor lil bunnies...

No, seriously, go down the rabbit hole. It's pretty trippy..

The Uruguayan journalist who's been the main source of information has moved on to saying Liverpool's bid's been accepted and the sale will be made official within the hour. Suppose that's not quite a completely done deal, but it certainly seems to be getting close.

Liverpool field a strong side. With Flanno, Carra, Skrtel, and Aurelio.. Spearing, Coady and Shelvey in the midfield, with Maxi, and Henderson outwide, Ngog up top.  Doni between the sticks.  Subs: Wisdom, Sterling, Carroll, Wilson, Poulsen, Morgan and finally: Cole.

The King sends a message, we're here to win.

where are you seeing this lineup?  kinda like it, but if its true, coates cant arrive soon enough - we're playin our oldest player (an carra's an ooolllldddd 33 too) on a wednesday... at exeter... is wilson truly that sh*te?

Couldn't agree more. And is Kelly really that injury prone that we can't risk giving him a good run at centerback in the League Cup? 

I'd like to see this today:

---------Doni--------------------
Flanagan-kelly--Squirtle---Aurelio
------Henderson--Spearmint----
-The Count------Shelffeh------Maximus---
---------------eggnog--------------

If you think of nicknames for the others/better nicknames than the ones I have, lemme know thxxxx. 

i was totally gonna jock your post until i got to the 'thxxxx'... quadruple X's, man?  u r One. Sick. Puppy....

ahhh f*ck it, i like it neway...

Re: Wilson, though things have died down in the last week or so, I thought there was talk about him being open to a loan deal. Never anything concrete, but wouldn't be surprised.

i hope so, but the way we're handlin him is startin to feel like pacheco all over again...or ayala... watever, its all about COATES now!!  Uruguay darkhorses for 2014!!!

I guess I am going to Stream Liverpool on the PC, with the Arsenal v. Udinese on FoxSoccer, Go Italia! (Lets all pray Udinese win this one, so that Aresenal will lose out on 30 Million pounds of Champions League money).

Definitely going for Arsenal in this one. I can't imagine what Arsenal will be like without Wenger and if he loses this one he might be out of the job.

I'd actually prefer Arsenal to win: the cash will not make a huge difference for them (they just made plenty by selling Nasri & Fabregas + they have very sound structural financials) but on the other hand plaing mid-week CL games will make them even more vulnerable in the league

They've had good financials in recent years because they've been selling a lot of property. I believe that is now exhausted and they're in the same boat as other clubs. I seem to recall that they broke even in the last set of figures, and that included a lot of property sales and CL money. Losing both incomes is going to affect them quite a bit.

I can assure you, no club wants to miss out on CL income. It's what keeps them in the top tier.

I am with you Paul - no club wants to miss out on CL income for sure. I was simply thinking that as a LFC fan I would prefer them to get to money but be less sharp for the league games... But as mentioned above this point is not valid because the Europa league would anyway keep them busy

I'd rather they got no money. That means no top pick players and a manager on the ropes. Wenger is Mr Arsenal, if they replaced him, the new chap would have to spend big, probably change their style, and likely slip out of the top 4. Man City have made it a rich 3. I'd rather 4th (or above) was for us, and Arsenal rot with the Spuds and others.

Take the money from the club, and they'll drop. Use us as a classic example. No money, start dropping, FSG cash injection, start improving.

Look at Man Utd. Until they got the early 90s massive TV money, there were making up numbers and keeping fans happy with the odd cup. Chelsea were a yo-yo club, now expected to be in the top 2 every year. Man City? Mostly awful since the early 70s, now expected to be CL contenders. All have massive money in their favour. Add CL into the mix and they get the best players around, whereas we pay top dollar for local "talent". Mata wouldn't come to us, even though we're paying that kind of money for so-called potential like Henderson. One will win medals, the other, probably won't.

Success is bought. Owners don't care about titles, they care about CL qualification for accounting reasons.

Most big clubs don't care about Europa because there's little money it in. The fans would lap up a winning final, but with pennies on the dollar compared to CL, no decent TV coverage, managers are clearly told to drop it as a priority and ensure CL for next season.

Well, that's my opinion anyway. I'll update you when I'm a billionaire playing pissing contests buying footy clubs!

They should go to Europa League if they fail to qualify for the Champions League right?

ahem...good point, thanks. So let me take my original comment back!

Plus, whatever tiny chance they had of signing Eden Hazard would be obliterated with an exit from the CL tournament. In fact, good luck putting the Fabregas/Nasri money toward any major signing, what with the worsening stigma of a club moving in the wrong direction compounded with an exclusion from Europe's most prestigious competition.  Pity, though, as I like Arsenal more than our other top English rivals, but in order for Liverpool to fill it, a vacuum must first be made, and if its at Arsenal's expense, so be it.

This is how I think liverpool will play tonight, giving it a guess !

DoniFlanagan skrtel Wilson InsuaMaxi Aquilani Spearing Aurelio Cole       N'GogSUBS: Jones, Shelvey, Wisdom, Robinson, Coady, Sterling

What an awful line up. That's saying we're not bothering with this tournament. Younger fans are conditioned to think this way due to the way CL clubs rarely bothered with the league cup in recent years, it never used to be this way. I can see KK putting out a very strong side, but Doni getting the gloves.

I think Aquilani is already in Milan discussing terms unfortunately.

Word out that Galliana has announced terms for our very own Aquaman:

-first year
loan free
-We pay 2.5m of his wages, liverpool pay 1.5m.
-Option to buy for 6m spread over 3 years
-2.5m/year contract if purchased.
-Mandatory purchase if he makes 25 appearances
-Payment starts on June 2012.

Rumor also has it that Comolli may have negotiated the deal at one of Berlusconi's "bunga bunga" parties.

It's really gonna annoy me to see Aquaman win a scudetto with Milan this year. And if they make a deep run in CL, I'm really gonna be pissed.

I know, I know, we have a supremely talented stable of midfielders, Aquilani and family had to be in Italy, our noggins were at gunpoint,may not be losing much considering, etc. etc.

Sometimes, I just like being pissed.

id love to see wilson and aquaman bit i dont see it happening.