Carroll Hits The High Notes To Send Liverpool Through To Another Wembley Date

In a dramatic week which saw the dismissal of Damien Comolli, Kenny Dalglish, as he has been throughout his footballing career was the key figure in the build-up to the FA Cup Semi-Final. The turmoil the club found itself in could be gaged by the fact that Doni and not Brad Jones was listed as the no.2 goalkeeper to Reina in the ‘Meet the team’ page section of the programme and Doni was listed as no 2 to Jones on match day lists.

We were stunned when the news filtered through that Jordan Henderson, despite some questionable form would start ahead of the likes of Maxi, Kuyt and Bellamy.  Agger returned to the fold not for Carragher as had been expected, but for Enrique. 

The atmosphere was terrific with the both sets of fans coming together to produce magnificent atmospheric conditions and I should add a minutes silence to remember the 23 anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster which as you would expect was perfectly observed.

As if stung by the obvious criticism from the owners, Liverpool started on the front foot and Jay Spearing may feel he should have hit the target inside the area from Andy Carroll’s pull back.
 
The sides appeared to be feeling each other out with Everton leaving Jelavic to plough a loan furrow upfront and it was he who broke the deadlock, when following indecision on the edge of the area between Agger and Carragher, the later slashed his clearance against Tim Cahill which rebounded into the path of Jelavic who  calmly dispatched to give Everton the lead.

Liverpool upped the tempo without looking cohesive or convincing. The imbalanced nature of the attack with Henderson disciplined in defence, but overly underwhelming in attack increased the need for Downing to provide ammunition for our underused strikers.  In two instances he attacked veteran Neville with two crosses in the box, one just out of reach of the flailing Carroll.

Continuing in the same vain and switching wings Downing brilliantly ghosted past Bianes early in second-half, before standing up a fantastic cross to the far post for Andy Carroll.  On Grand National day, it looked a racing certainty that the ‘big man’ would score as we peeled away to celebrate. There was total amazement with the realisation that he had managed to head wide and we hoped it wasn’t a sign that we weren’t going to experience one of those days.

Everton began to drop off with decreasing intensity allowing Liverpool to take full control with Suarez and Carroll becoming increasingly threatening. It was no surprise that is was Suarez who brought his side back on level terms when he pre-empted Distin’s under hit back pass to drive in on goal, where angling his body he brilliantly bent the ball past Tim Howard with the outside of his mercurial right boot setting the Liverpool end of Wembley alight to set off an unimaginable roar.

Even with almost half hour to go Everton’s best chance of winning the game was either from a set piece or from Jelavic making something out of nothing - he came close shooting into the side netting.   Almost immediately, from a melee Carroll screwed the ball disappointingly wide when a touch of composure was all that was needed to get the shot on target.

Dalglish sensing a chance to win the game in normal time, brought on both Maxi and Bellamy, replacing Henderson and Downing respectively.   And it was the inimitable Bellamy who provided a sumptuous whipped cross from a free-kick, for Carroll to back-header into the corner of the net leaving Howard stranded.  It was nothing more than Liverpool deserved.

Kop Post Man of The Match:  Andy Carroll - Suarez was the undoubted instigator, but Carroll was unbowed from his glaring miss and shot past the post and seemed to get stronger as they game went on. Carroll said, " I believe in myself every day.  I've had some criticism but I just keep on going.

"I had a few chances and should have scored earlier, but I kept working at it. It's the best feeling ever."

Critical eye:  Liverpool won despite, the manager going in with three centre-half’s and Jordan Henderson  -  the class of Suarez and the power of Carroll shone through.

Downing showed signs of being the creative force with a couple of stellar crosses, but needs to become a more consistent element and add to his goals tally.

Martin Skrtel goes from strength to strength, and has now taken up the mantle from Carragher.

Special mention to Brad Jones who showed, after a nervy start, a lot of strength of character in commanding the area with some strong punches and catches under pressure.

Best quote - Jamie Carragher on Andy Carroll "He'll be remembered for ever.  A goal against Everton in the semi-final, that goal is worth £35 million on its own."