Wednesday January 25, 2012 Semifinal Finished Anfield

Liverpool 2 - 2 Manchester City

  • Gerrard 40’ (pen.)
  • Bellamy 74’
  • de Jong 31’
  • Dzeko 67’

717 comments | Write your comment

  1. Bellamy fires Liverpool into Carling Cup final

    Bellamy fires Liverpool into Carling Cup final

    Craig Bellamy came back to haunt Man City as his second-half goal earned Liverpool a 3-2 aggregate win from an epic Carling Cup semi-final. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Liverpool
    • Manchester City
    • 90+4' There goes the final whistle! Liverpool are into the final! A 2-2 draw. They will face Cardiff City in the final on February 26. A 3-2 aggregate win. Scenes of utter jubilation around Anfield.
    • 90+2' Aguero spins inside the box, but his shot is straight down the throat of Reina in the home goal.
    • 90+1' We are into four minutes of time added on..
    • 89' Andy Carroll is wheeled on to take over from the tireless Kuyt.
    • 88' Dzeko's ball flies out of play. Liverpool set to make another change here..
    • 87' Kolarov with a couple of dangerous crosses, but Liverpool survive. Clock not City's friend now.
    • 86' Bellamy departs to be replaced by Martin Kelly. Liverpool looking to shut up shot.
    • 85' Dzeko almost in for this second goal of the night, but Agger does just enough to make the block. A vital block.
    • 84' Lescott heads out the cross by Gerrard as City try to break. Anywhere will do for Liverpool now.
    • 83' Both sets of fans seem to be biting their nails. This match far from over.
    • 82' An offside flag goes up against Dzeko with Johnson going to ground in a bit of pain.
    • 81' Johnson gallops into the Liverpool box. Lovely pass by Dzeko, but Reina dives low to his right to make the save.
    • 80' Kuyt caught offside from a long ball down the park. City regain possession.
    • 79' Bellamy is off the park in need of a spot of treatment. Should be a nervy final 10 minutes. This match could yet go either way.
    • 78' De Jong departs to be replaced by Adam Johnson for City.
    • 77' Kuyt heads wide before Bellamy knocks the ball off Lescott to earn Liverpool a corner.
    • 76' GOAL! Lovely one-two between Bellamy and Johnson, and Bellamy plants the shot beyond Hart. Liverpool now back in the box seat. They lead 3-2 on aggregate. 2-2 on the night.
    • 75' Henderson can't keep a loose ball in play. Lescott then makes a mess of clearance. Liverpool come again.
    • 74' Liverpool have another 48 minutes to save this match as long as they don't ship another goal. Bellamy back to win the ball from De Jong.
    • 73' Bellamy's cross blocked by Kolarov. Plenty of pointing of fingers going on between Dalglish and Mancini on the side of the pitch.
    • 72' Kenny Dalglish pondering a possible change. Will Liverpool look to Andy Carroll to bring them the goal that could yet win this tie?
    • 71' Downing on the break. Fires the ball across goal, but Lescott does enough to make the intervention.
    • 70' Liverpool's defence caught sleeping it must be said from that goal. A soft goal to lose. City trying to exert themselves.
    • 69' 2-2 on aggregate in this match, but away goals don't come into play until the end of extra-time. A minor miracle that City lead this semi-final.
    • 68' GOAL! City move ahead in the match! Kolarov fires the ball across the face of goal and Dzeko taps home. A 2-1 lead now for City.
    • 67' Kuyt back to Johnson. City's needs suddenly more pressing as City come again.
    • 66' City keep the ball again, but they are hustled and harried every time they cross the halfway line. De Jong and Bellamy exchange a few pleasantries after a tussle.
    • 65' Silva with the free-kick out wide. Whips the ball in, but far too much pace on the delivery as it flies out of play. Goalkick to Liverpool.
    • 64' Silva plays in Zabaleta who is fouled by Enrique. He is booked for that tug on the shirt.
    • 63' Kuyt putting in bags of effort as per usual up front. Barry picks the pocket of Agger.
    • 62' Bellamy can't finish from Downing's ball across goal. Frustration for the winger as he misses the ball.
    • 61' Aguero beats Skrtel, but can't collect the loose ball. Agger cuts out Silva's pass.
    • 60' Richards skips away from Bellamy before City go backwards to retain possession. Silva now on the ball for City.
    • 59' City still in this match courtesy of Hart. One goal may yet change this as Reina comes from his line to collect the cross by Zabaleta.
    • 58' Lescott heads clear Gerrard's corner. Downing's cross is too deep for Kuyt on the other side.
    • 57' Dalglish with his arms firmly folded on the touchline. Bellamy breaks for Liverpool, but his cross is blocked by Richards. Another corner for Liverpool.
    • 56' Kolarov is booked for a late challenge on Henderson, who is needing a spot of treatment.
    • 55' Hart in inspired form in this match. Liverpool with 10 shots at goal. Liverpool well and truly on top.
    • 54' Liverpool on the break, but Downing somehow pulls off another exceptional save to block the shot by Downing. Supreme delivery by Kuyt.
    • 53' Gerrard with the delivery. Hart palms it out before he dives to nudge Skrtel's shot over the bar. Superb save by the England keeper.
    • 52' Liverpool earn a free-kick out wide on their left. Gerrard will take this one.
    • 51' Liverpool on the ball again. Reina picks out Johnson before Adam thumps a long ball down the pitch. Liverpool try to get forward.
    • 50' Barry picks up the second ball from the edge of the area. Drills in the shot, but over the bar.
    • 49' City are without a win in nine games at Anfield in all competitions, drawing three and losing six. That record must change tonight if they are going to reach the final.
    • 48' Kuyt hammers a shot at the City goal. Blocked by Hart before Lescott clears the danger. Super move by Liverpool with Bellamy on the charge.
    • 47' A change for City with Sergio Aguero brought on to take over from the struggling Savic. They need goals.
    • 46' Liverpool get this second period underway.
    • 45+2' We are into two minutes of time added on. There goes the whistle for the break. 1-1 at the interval. Liverpool lead 2-1 on aggregate.
    • 44' Kolarov heads over from Downing's cross. Liverpool now with an eighth corner, but City survive. Some fine attacking play by Adam and Bellamy in the build-up to that penalty award.
    • 43' GOAL! Gerrard scores for Liverpool. He thumped the ball low to Hart's right. And the ball nestles in the net. Was not a penalty as the ball came off Richards' leg before hitting the arm. Liverpool get the benefit of the doubt, and they have the lead in the tie. 2-1 now. 1-1 on the night.
    • 42' PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Richards deemed to have handled from Agger's shot. Was harsh. But referee Phil Dowd has given it.
    • 41' Adam looking for Kuyt on the run, but Lescott gets back to make the clearance. Super defending by the England defender.
    • 40' Enrique thumps a shot against Zabaleta. Liverpool with a sixth corner, but comes to nothing. The home side have responded well since losing that opener.
    • 39' City have had one shot at goal, and one goal. They won't argues with those stats as Liverpool come again. Nasri clears Downing's cross.
    • 38' Kolarov tries to bend in the free-kick at pace. Downing clears before Bellamy catches Zabaleta late seconds later.
    • 37' Downing with the cross. That is food and drink for Hart. Adam takes out Silva with a late one. Free-kick to the visiting side.
    • 36' Adam thumps a blistering shot at Hart, who manages to scramble it clear. Couldn't really grab that effort. Liverpool piling on the pressure.
    • 35' This semi-final is level at 1-1 over the two legs. Game on now as the visiting fans get ready to do the Poznan.
    • 34' GOAL! De Jong scores for City. He takes the pass from Silva. Was off balance as he hit the shot from 25 yards, but the ball flies over Reina. City lead 1-0. What a goal.
    • 33' Mancini is out on the touchline. Looking none too impressed. May need to change formation or personnel at some point.
    • 32' Savic robbed by Bellamy. Richards dashes back to save the day. Savic looking very nervy and vulnerable for the visiting side.
    • 31' Gerrard back to win the ball from Zabaleta. Kuyt complaining to the referee before Lescott tosses the ball back to Savic.
    • 30' Adam with a corner for Liverpool. Headed out by Richards before City look to break.
    • 29' Downing has only Bellamy to look for, but he overhits a pass by miles after Dzeko had squandered possession. Bellamy none too happy with that.
    • 28' Dzeko on the ball for City. Zabaleta trying to wriggle free, but a good tackle by Gerrard. Liverpool hunting in packs.
    • 27' Liverpool fans attempting to encourage their team. Kenny Dalglish's side certainly have a game plan in this match. And at the moment it seems to be to hit on the break at some pace.
    • 26' Bellamy finishes from Kuyt's through ball, but he is just offside. Fine finish, but right call by the linesman.
    • 25' Zabaleta takes up a good position out wide. Hammers in the cross, but straight to the feet of Skrtel, who deals with the danger with some ease.
    • 24' Savic on the ball at the back. Exchanges passes with De Jong and then Barry.
    • 23' Kolarov's cross is headed out by Gerrard. City continue to try to force the issue here.
    • 22' Bellamy spins past Savic. Thumps in the shot, but a good height for Hart to palm the ball clear. Savic again found wanting.
    • 21' Liverpool have only lost one of their last 24 home games in all competitions, winning 13 and drawing 10. They have never lost the home leg of a semi-final at Anfield.
    • 20' City with over 60% of possession. Liverpool happy to let them have it. Surely can't sit this deep all night long. Or maybe they can? Liverpool with five shots on goal compared to one by City.
    • 19' Bellamy smashes a shot at goal. Well over the bar. Is going to take something special to beat Hart from that range.
    • 18' Adam seemed to catch Dzeko's foot in the box, but would have been a harsh one to give with Dzeko already on the way down. A let-off though for Liverpool.
    • 17' Silva plays the ball in low, but Adam reads the move perfectly to clear the danger. City content to go backwards to keep possession seconds later.
    • 16' Bellamy tries to pull the ball back for Adam. Silva picks out Kolarov, whose cross is put behind for a corner by Agger.
    • 15' Liverpool eliminated City in their one previous League Cup semi-final meeting, winning 2-1 on aggregate in 1981.
    • 14' Liverpool with their third corner of the night. Bellamy with the delivery, but Barry heads clear. Bellamy caught offside seconds later.
    • 13' Gerrard following Silva as Kolarov's pass goes behind for a goalkick to the home side.
    • 12' Adam fancies his chances with a right footed effort. Ball low and hard, but Hart keeps his eye on it to make the stop.
    • 11' Nasri tries his luck from distance, but he is off target. Poor effort.
    • 10' Johnson goes for goal, but never really had the power to beat Hart. An easy enough save for the City keeper.
    • 9' Gerrard with the corner, but Richards with the clearance. One goal to either side changes the tone of this contest.
    • 8' Gerrard has been booked for a late chop on Barry.
    • 7' Henderson plays in Bellamy, but his cutback is put behind for a corner by Savic. Better play by Liverpool.
    • 6' A stunning save by Hart to keep out the shot by Enrique! A mistake by Kolarov, but Liverpool can't take advantage. Almost a 2-0 lead for the home side overall.
    • 5' Astonishingly, this is Liverpool’s first League Cup game at Anfield this season following away wins at Exeter, Brighton, Stoke, Chelsea and Manchester City.
    • 4' Agger catches Dzeko with a late one. Nasri fails to find a team-mate with the free-kick. City looking to get on the ball. Liverpool sitting deeper.
    • 3' Liverpool getting on the ball straight away. City will look to make a quicker start than a fortnight ago when they were breached inside the opening 12 minutes.
    • 2' Man City going with three at the back. Savic accompanied by Richards and Lescott at the back for City.
    • 1' It is the visitors who get this match off and running.
    • 19:42 We are almost ready to go in this one as Kenny Dalglish comes out of the tunnel.
    • 19:40 Manchester City assistant manager David Platt: "It is a difficult task, Liverpool are a very good team. They have not conceded many goals. They copped three against us (in the league) and against Bolton at the weekend. Before that, they hadn't conceded many goals. We understand the difficulty of going to Anfield and getting any kind of result. The size of the game - there is no second bite of the cherry, we have to win. We get nothing for a draw."
    • 19:35 Kenny Dalglish: "We appreciate our advantage but it won't mean we have got anywhere until after the whistle blows at Anfield. Let's not be running away with ourselves, let's make sure we get the hard work done first. We have a slight advantage, we just need to go into the game and compete. For us it's important to do our own job, and if we do that then a bit of luck as well wouldn't go amiss. It's not going to be a game that's going to be anything other than really difficult for us."
    • 19:30 City are without Mario Balotelli after deciding not to appeal the automatic four-match ban for violent conduct after the Italy striker was caught on camera stamping on Scott Parker during the 3-2 win against Spurs on Sunday. City have such a big squad that they can shuffle their pack without diminishing in quality: Kolarov, De Jong and Zabaleta come in for Clichy, Milner and Aguero as City opt for a more defensive line-up. The Toure bros are in Africa with Ivory Coast.
    • 19:25 Liverpool leave out Andy Carroll as Dirk Kuyt is preferred to partner Craig Bellamy up front, Luis Suarez of course still banned. Stewart Downing returns for Maxi, the only two changes from the dire 3-1 defeat to Bolton.
    • 19:25 Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
    • 19:20 TEAMS - Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Henderson, Adam, Downing, Gerrard, Bellamy, Kuyt; Subs: Doni, Carroll, Maxi, Coates, Carragher, Shelvey, Kelly /// Man City: Hart, Richards, Savic, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Barry, Zabaleta, Silva, Nasri, Dzeko; Subs: Pantilimon, Milner, Johnson, Aguero, Hargreaves, Clichy, Rekik
    • 19:15 Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Carling Cup semi-final second leg between Manchester City and Liverpool, with the Reds leading 1-0 from the first leg. Kick off 7.45pm UK time.

  • Summary

    • 85' Dzeko almost in for this second goal of the night, but Agger does just enough to make the block. A vital block.
    • 81' Johnson gallops into the Liverpool box. Lovely pass by Dzeko, but Reina dives low to his right to make the save.
    • 76' GOAL! Lovely one-two between Bellamy and Johnson, and Bellamy plants the shot beyond Hart. Liverpool now back in the box seat. They lead 3-2 on aggregate. 2-2 on the night.
    • 68' GOAL! City move ahead in the match! Kolarov fires the ball across the face of goal and Dzeko taps home. A 2-1 lead now for City.
    • 54' Liverpool on the break, but Downing somehow pulls off another exceptional save to block the shot by Downing. Supreme delivery by Kuyt.
    • 53' Gerrard with the delivery. Hart palms it out before he dives to nudge Skrtel's shot over the bar. Superb save by the England keeper.
    • 48' Kuyt hammers a shot at the City goal. Blocked by Hart before Lescott clears the danger. Super move by Liverpool with Bellamy on the charge.
    • 43' GOAL! Gerrard scores for Liverpool. He thumped the ball low to Hart's right. And the ball nestles in the net. Was not a penalty as the ball came off Richards' leg before hitting the arm. Liverpool get the benefit of the doubt, and they have the lead in the tie. 2-1 now. 1-1 on the night.
    • 42' PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Richards deemed to have handled from Agger's shot. Was harsh. But referee Phil Dowd has given it.
    • 34' GOAL! De Jong scores for City. He takes the pass from Silva. Was off balance as he hit the shot from 25 yards, but the ball flies over Reina. City lead 1-0. What a goal.
    • 22' Bellamy spins past Savic. Thumps in the shot, but a good height for Hart to palm the ball clear. Savic again found wanting.
    • 6' A stunning save by Hart to keep out the shot by Enrique! A mistake by Kolarov, but Liverpool can't take advantage. Almost a 2-0 lead for the home side overall.
    • 19:20 TEAMS - Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Henderson, Adam, Downing, Gerrard, Bellamy, Kuyt; Subs: Doni, Carroll, Maxi, Coates, Carragher, Shelvey, Kelly /// Man City: Hart, Richards, Savic, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Barry, Zabaleta, Silva, Nasri, Dzeko; Subs: Pantilimon, Milner, Johnson, Aguero, Hargreaves, Clichy, Rekik

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

    Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account.

    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.6 -
      Defenders
      6.5 -
      6.8 -
      6.9 -
      Yellow Card 6.7 -
      Midfielders
      Goal Yellow Card 7.5 -
      6.9 -
      6.5 -
      6.6 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out90′ 7.2 -
      Goal Substitution Out88′ 8.1 -
      Subs
      Substitution In88′ 6.5 -
      Substitution In90′ 4.9 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.6 -
      Defenders
      4.9 -
      Substitution Out45′ 3.6 -
      4.3 -
      4.4 -
      Midfielders
      Goal Substitution Out78′ 4.9 -
      4.3 -
      5.5 -
      4.9 -
      Yellow Card 4.6 -
      Strikers
      Goal 5.5 -
      Subs
      Substitution In78′ 4.5 -
      Substitution In45′ 5.5 -

Comment 698 - 717 of 717

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. yh but so it because cheery ok i love liverpool­ forevery

    From best my bro is ben and daniel, on Fri 27 Jan 23:10

  2. how many more non pens are liverpool going to be­ awarded ? they cant in fairly

    From Andy, on Fri 27 Jan 21:04

  3. Dr graham bellamy scored because of really poor­ defending and it should of gone to extra time anyway it­ was never a penalty the result on the day should of­ been 2 1 to man city but a bad ref makes a massive­ mistake and I hope cardiff beat liverpool and I hope­ man u put them out of the fa cup at the weekend I hate­ liverpool I hope they never win anything.

    From Daniel Lenegan, on Fri 27 Jan 7:35

  4. Well done Red Men.
    Great result last night.
    YNWA
    JFT­ 96
    Justice for all

    ps And a special mention for the­ King
    Well done Kenny in helping point a great club back­ in the direction it should be headed.

    From Michael, on Fri 27 Jan 5:38

  5. I see Dr Doom and Gloom is back to run City down­ again!
    How predictable,how sad,how pathetic!

    From anton, on Fri 27 Jan 5:23

  6. Daniel,

    I feel so sorry for you. Mancini ought him­ so he must think he is good. Mind you he was rubbish­ last night so guess Mancini isn't as good as you­ all think he is. Afterall didn't he give Bellamy­ a free transfer ? Was so nice to see him score the­ winner last night. just think he could have been­ playing for you.

    Can't sell Tevez, Balotelli­ threatning to leave if the refs aren't nice to him­ and don't show him any more of those coloured cards­ he likes to collect. Im told Red is his favorite­ colour closely followed by yellow. Guess he will be­ on his way back to italy in the near future where you­ can get away with stamping on peoples heads. Oh well­ such is Life

    From Dr Graham J Smith DD, on Fri 27 Jan 4:05

  7. The geezer responsible for city losing to liverpool on­ aggregate is definitely savic he gave away an­ unnecessary penalty in the first leg what he didnt have­ to give away it would of been 0 0 in the first leg if­ it wasnt for him and city would be facing cardiff now­ cause it was 2 2 yesterday and city would of gone­ through on away goals if it wasnt for savic.

    From Daniel Lenegan, on Fri 27 Jan 3:29

  8. @ Dale sorry to say harry is not doing well at the­ moment just like your team but as your team fails we­ still have a team its only the manager his done well­ but the team will march on

    From David R, on Fri 27 Jan 2:51

  9. an other one you missed out Man C !! More to come­ !!!

    From rr77uk, on Fri 27 Jan 2:43

  10. well done liverpool--good display.
    kuyt is a much,much­ better player than andy carroll.
    bellamy is pure class­ -best player on the pitch-remind how much did he­ cost.
    carroll look at bellamy --that is the way to­ play.
    all in all a very good team display-if we had­ started with carroll we would have failed.
    kenny keep­ true to this team and they will reward you.
    now for man­ utd -play as we did on wed -we should win.
    the fans­ making such a noise will help.
    suarez to come back in a­ couple of games and we will be on the march once­ more.
    stick to football boys-let the other sides talk­ about other things.

    From brownt1, on Fri 27 Jan 2:10

  11. hi hi hi

    From louise.wilke, on Thu 26 Jan 23:33

  12. both garb

    From NO PREMS FOR POOL, on Thu 26 Jan 22:22

  13. Saturday is more important for us, knocking both mancs­ out of cups in the same week would be glorious!!

    From Anfieldstar, on Thu 26 Jan 21:35

  14. David R, how's Arry these days? Your team is going­ no where, either 'Arry goes to jail and leaves your­ team spiraling down or your regular collapse sets you­ to back to reality. Either way, yids are still shyte.

    From Dale, on Thu 26 Jan 21:31

  15. news just in 25 t towels have just been handed in­ to the merseyside police.

    From lean machine, on Thu 26 Jan 21:31

  16. WHAT HAVE MOURINHIO AND MANCINI GOT IN COMMON. ­ THEY BOTH LOST LAST NIGHT.

    From lean machine, on Thu 26 Jan 21:28

  17. Players must persevere and play well

    From ManatSt, on Thu 26 Jan 18:50

  18. Liverpool players are NOT sportsmen - if they where­­ they would of told the ref he got it wrong
    From­ johnmcparland

    do you realy think any team would have­ done that then you must be pretty naive,also do you­ really think the ref would have changed his mind, mr­ mancini is just a fool and becoming one of the biggest­ moaners in the prem

    From john, on Thu 26 Jan 18:32

  19. Whatever the reason, either a red card, injuries,­ players representing their respective countries, the­ players do not want to warm-up, MC has missed three Cup­ (Champions League, FA Cup, Carling Cup) why? I was very­ disappointed.

    From ManatSt, on Thu 26 Jan 18:29

  20. news just in city have won a corner.

    From lean machine, on Thu 26 Jan 18:17
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account