An absolutely brilliant performance by Liverpool as they draw 2-2 with Manchester City tonight, winning 3-2 on aggregate and advancing to Wembley where they will play Cardiff in the Carling Cup final.
Tonight’s performance was everything that Saturday’s performance against Bolton wasn’t. Liverpool played with passion and tempo, created chances and more importantly took them. If it was not for Joe Hart, Liverpool scored have scored four or five goals tonight. And over the two legs Liverpool were the better side and deserved to be going back to Wembley.
Couple of things impressed me tonight. City played three at the back to give them that extra man in midfield. While they had a lot of the ball in the first half, the Liverpool midfield did a magnificent job pressing City and making sure they did not create any clear chances and I have a hard time remembering any saves that Pepe Reina had to make.
The Liverpool midfield also did a good job of pressing City further up the pitch and that pressure unsettled City and created chances for Liverpool. It is probably impossible to play like this week in and week out, but it must drive Dalglish nuts that the team is capable of this type of performance after the Bolton disaster.
Dalglish left Carroll on the bench and started Kuyt and Bellamy up-front and Craig Bellamy was simply magnificent. By far his best performance in a Liverpool shirt. He chased everything tonight and deservedly scored the winning goal.
What did you think of Liverpool’s performance tonight?
Well, Liverpool deserved the winner. Bellamy performance was magnificent. He’s my man of the match. Couldn’t imagine if he’d partner Suarez up-front. It would have been more ‘explosive attack’. YNWA