Liverpool 2:1 Manchester United FA Cup: In game & post match Glee

Feeling hungover this morning but reading through this is making me feel much better.

It was a fantastic performance all round yesterday. I feared the worst when I saw Gerrard initially sitting quite deep as we would have needed to get at United to get anything out of the game. I was happily proved wrong.

In fact, during the first 20 minutes I couldn't see anything other than a Liverpool win. They started to creep back into it after Agger's goal. As the second half wore on it just looked like it was heading for a replay - which is probably why the last 5 minutes took United by surprise - as none of us could see it coming either.

I thought Carroll was outstanding. His flick on for Kuyt's winner was perfect and his performance throughout was much better than we are used to.

As for that dickhead in the crowd - I sincerely hope they throw the book at him. Is it any wonder we're all getting tarred with the same brush when there's gobshites like that allowed in? The less there are the better.

So glad we knocked these fuckers out! Bring on the next round.

Wasn' the most polished performance or entertaining match as anticipated but a win over the scum is always bloody excellent.

Agger MOTM!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/fa-cup/9047117/Liverpool-v-Manchester-United-Kenny-Dalglish-can-use-the-cups-to-find-his-Holy-Grail-glory-for-Anfield.html

By Henry Winter

11:00PM GMT 28 Jan 2012



A week on, Liverpool’s manager finds himself in the final of the Carling Cup after beating Manchester City and in the last 16 of the FA Cup, having yesterday knocked out their greatest rivals Manchester United at Anfield.

Some week.

Some turnaround.

A week ago, the headlines were all about King Kenny’s crown slipping, about a poor Premier League run of only six points from six games.
These were testing times for Dalglish.
His management style was questioned.
His purchases were questioned.
He even questioned his own players at the Reebok.

Good managers react, provoking a response in their players, and his words are worth revisiting because they give an insight into Dalglish and into how Liverpool revived their season. It is difficult to disparage Dalglish now that his road to Wembley is turning into a dual carriageway.

“The foundation of the football club has always been built on respect for other people, built on the philosophy that the next game is the most important one, not the one that’s two or three down the line,’’ Dalglish remarked at Bolton, sending a message to his dressing room.

“If they thought they could just turn up and get a result and not match the opposition for effort and commitment then they got a lesson today. If that was what the problem was, if they thought this game was not as important as the next one, then fine – but they won’t be here.”

 
This was more than an eloquent version of “take each game as it comes”.
This was a call to arms, a challenge to his players’ professionalism.

Dalglish reminded his men of their duty to Liverpool Football Club, of the importance of upholding traditions set in place by Bill Shankly.

Although signed by Bob Paisley in 1977, Dalglish’s connections with Liverpool go back to 1966 when Shankly gave the shy teenager a trial. On joining Liverpool, Dalglish immediately visited Shankly, who summed up the relationship between players and the club when discussing Tommy Smith’s knee injury. “Take that bandage off – and what do you mean your knee. It’s Liverpool’s knee!”

The honour at being associated with Liverpool was echoed by Paisley.
“This club has been my life,’’ Paisley once remarked.
 “I’d go out and sweep the street and be proud to do it for Liverpool FC if they asked me to.”

That commitment to the collective is what Dalglish embodies, expects and demands. He hadn’t seen it at the Reebok. His stern words were also deemed a criticism of some of the new signings. Andy Carroll, the £35million man, has been poor since arriving from Newcastle United. Dalglish omitted the striker against City in midweek, starting instead with Craig Bellamy, a decision that was handsomely vindicated as the Welshman drove Liverpool to Wembley.

Dalglish restored Carroll to the line-up yesterday, knowing that United’s centre-halves Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans can be beaten in the air (and also because Bellamy struggles to start three games on the spin).

Carroll justified his selection, working hard in an isolated role. On three occasions in the first half, he also tracked back, Ian Rush-style, to close down United attacks at source.

Dalglish’s tactics paid off.
Carroll’s presence put off David de Gea and Daniel Agger headed in a Steven Gerrard corner to give Liverpool the lead. After Park Ji-Sung equalised, Carroll then flicked the ball on for Dirk Kuyt to score the winner. He almost made it 3-1 with a powerful header against the bar. As performances go, it wasn’t Alan Shearer against Holland ’96, but it was a stride in the right direction by Carroll.

Victory still hid flaws.
Dalglish’s side were outplayed for substantial periods, particularly when the ball was in the mesmeric sway of the majestic Paul Scholes. Liverpool were too deep, almost inviting United to build a stage in front of them. Jamie Carragher lacked the mobility to operate as a holding midfielder. The memory also remains of Jose Enrique, so good going forward, being caught out defensively by the excellent Rafael for Park’s strike.

On hearing Dalglish had berated his players at the Reebok, the Scot’s critics mused on whether he was risking losing their respect.

Nonsense.
His bond with his players is strong.
 
Tracksuited and booted, Dalglish stood for much of this match, patrolling the technical area, sharing the emotional fluctuations with his team. At one point, he called Gerrard across for a conflab. When removing Gerrard with 18 minutes left, the respect between captain and manager was obvious.

Dalglish’s substitutions helped Liverpool wrest the initiative back. Charlie Adam arrived in midfield just after the hour, allowing Gerrard to push on briefly, while Dirk Kuyt replaced Carragher, giving Liverpool more impetus. Then Bellamy came on for Gerrard, who is still regaining sharpness and stamina after his long injury lay-off.
Liverpool poured forward, eventually scoring through Kuyt.
Dalglish was typically modest about the changes afterwards, saying that if Kuyt had started Liverpool could have won “in the first half”.

When the Dutchman struck towards the end of the game, Dalglish raised both arms jubilantly, rolling back the years as if celebrating one of his many goals in front of the Kop. Some relief must also have mixed in with the adrenalin.

Dalglish has walked through a storm at times this season, failing to handle well the fallout from Luis Suárez’s racist abuse of United’s Patrice Evra. Yet during the week, Dalglish was diplomacy personified, appealing for calm. Sadly, Evra was booed by Liverpool fans.

Afterwards, Dalglish was keen to look forward not back, praising both sets of fans.

Dalglish has much to look forward to, not least on the road to Wembley.

Henry Winter never slags us off......has his opinions  ... but always positive to LFC.

Road to Wembley. Sounds good that.

I don't get why so many people thought Scholes was 'majestic'?

All he did was pass it across and get it back and then do the same.

Henry Winter never slags us off......has his opinions  ... but always positive to LFC.

Don't know about that mate, he had his torch and pitchfork at hand yesterday on twitter until he got pulled by Liverpool fans for it, he was going on and on about teh booing of Evra, but not a mention of the Hillsborough chants, I gave him both barrells for it.

On the news about a 58 year old from Gwynnedd, North Wales being arrested last night for making an alleged racist gesture at Anfield yesterday.

Don't know about that mate, he had his torch and pitchfork at hand yesterday on twitter until he got pulled by Liverpool fans for it, he was going on and on about teh booing of Evra, but not a mention of the Hillsborough chants, I gave him both barrells for it.

And yet he still failed to mention the manc chants after having been told about them

Agenda.

Don't know about that mate, he had his torch and pitchfork at hand yesterday on twitter until he got pulled by Liverpool fans for it, he was going on and on about teh booing of Evra, but not a mention of the Hillsborough chants, I gave him both barrells for it.

Ye serious ha ha fook sake we cant boo a player now can we not. No bother for every other crowd booing Suarez though is there. They can all fook off with themselves

Kristian Walsh
Quirky little fact from yesterday: LFC's two scorers wear 5 and 18, replicating their trophy haul. Football is great for that sort of thing!!!

Kristian Walsh
Quirky little fact from yesterday: LFC's two scorers wear 5 and 18, replicating their trophy haul. Football is great for that sort of thing!!!

I think hes short of a few trophies there like!!

59 year old man from North Wales.

I'm from South Wales and ashamed to be honest.

South Wales ain't that bad mate

 

Brilliant result again yesterday. You know what; for all the possession we let them have in the middle of the park: I don't think we were ever really under any pressure. They huffed and puffed (as old men do) and nothing else.

Our tactics and substitutions, it turns out, were spot on. Adam's introduction calmed things down, Bellamy gave us another target for them to worry about and Kuyt gave us more 'legs' at the right time. All in all - easy enough. All the lads done us proud again.

For what it's worth: I went Henderson for MoTM as he covered every blade and pressed all day.

Brilliant result again yesterday. You know what; for all the possession we let them have in the middle of the park: I don't think we were ever really under any pressure. They huffed and puffed (as old men do) and nothing else.

Our tactics and substitutions, it turns out, were spot on. Adam's introduction calmed things down, Bellamy gave us another target for them to worry about and Kuyt gave us more 'legs' at the right time. All in all - easy enough. All the lads done us proud again.

For what it's worth: I went Henderson for MoTM as he covered every blade and pressed all day.

Totally agree BBB - we had a rocky 15 mins at end first half because we sat a bit deep but they created hee haw in term of real chances. Subs were crucial and as I said yesterday these games are about getting the W - we did and they didn't. Simples!

South Wales ain't that bad mate

 

Nice one

59 year old ffs just goes to show for some people they will never get a once of wisdom the older they get. Sad thought really.

Get F#'#n in there !

Only just made it on, yesterday celebrations went on longer than planned and my head hurt too much to ensure my fingers made sense this morning.

If Carlsberg made weeks in football..........

My voice is fu**ed on the back of this and Wednesday.
Absolutely made up, the desire the lads showed after Wednesday was fantastic, they were fresher but we worked so hard, but for all their possession they didn't rarely threaten Pepe.

Kenny's changes won the game for us, hats off boss.

I'm made up..... But.... Lift it again Tuesday lads, Wolves is just as big.

F***ing buzzing for the past day and a half.

As soon as Kuyt scored, I F***ing legged it round the room. Our poor baby thought I was after him. Ran over to me arl fella, tripped over the rug an made it look like I meant to fall over with a Klinsman style dive. Tears in me eyes, I didn't even see the last few minutes. Bouncing round the house then round town last night.

From the Beehive on Paradise St to O'Neils, me an our Josh sang Liverpool songs then this other group of fellas joined in an by the time we reached the top of Church St/bottom of Bold St we were bouncing to the Suarez song. Then a couple of Evertonians, including the other lad we were with, joined in their songs an the banter was F***ing brilliant.

Take that you manc cu*ts.

And Kenny's post match conference where he put that one reporter in his place was priceless. "have you ever played football?" And those dickheads on the Sunday Supplement, F***ing hell it's only Liverpool fans who boo opposing players isn't it? Where was the mention of QPR fans laying into Terry all game? Oh sh*t they're southern cockney cu*ts aren't they, can't be seen to have a go at a club from London managed by an ex F***ing manc. Nah, lets just slag the Scousers off, who also happen to be the club that don't give the press any F***ing time.

Then to try an ruin our week, some cock an bull story about us trying to swap Carroll. Funny how it comes out after a man of the match performance an not after the City game isn't it? F***ing tw*ts. The big man is going nowhere, so stop F***ing trying to make it happen you F***ing sewer rats.

Anyway, I'm still buzzing.

Now we take on Brighton. Got mixed feelings about it to be honest. On the one hand, last time we played Brighton we ended up going to Wembley in that competition. But on the other, it's the FA Cup against a side beginning with B - Burnley, Bristol City, Barnsley an Brighton themselves in 84.

F**k it, we're gonna tw*t them an continue our pursuit of the domestic cup double.

Haha love that post dls

Someone take a picture of the MOTM poll please.....76 votes for big Andy, delighted for him

Still high as a Kuyt after this result.

It was just so brilliant to see the celebrations of the players and manager at the end of the game.

My favourite were Pepe Reina and Luis Suarez. You could see how much that meant to them.

Still how I feel this morning.
What a week we've had.

Back to the bread and butter tomorrow.

Still how I feel this morning.