Chelsea loss highlights Liverpool's lack of depth: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1

Top of the league on Christmas Day and behind Everton in fifth place just four days later.  While it’s not the end of the world, it certainly feels like a kick in the teeth.  Liverpool played well enough to have beaten Man City and although outplayed by Chelsea in the first-half, certainly played well enough to put more than a frown on Jose Mourinho’s forehead.

Even the most objective fan could not fail to see that at least two out of the three key decisions which Howard Webb had to make went against us. 

The first a blatant over the top tackle by Samuel Eto’o in the opening minute, in which he raked his studs down the shin of Jordan Henderson, unbelievably was not worthy of a caution.  The second with Liverpool 2-1 down and pressing for equaliser saw Eto’o again mow down Suarez with the ball nowhere in sight and with Howard Webb very much on the scene, the World Cup Final referee again looked the other way.

Liverpool started brilliantly, scoring in the third minute.  Coutinho’s free-kick from Eto’o’s foul, found the head of Suarez whose flicked header struck Ivanovic and fell in the path of Skrtel who gratefully stabbed the ball home.

Chelsea immediately moved into another gear and stayed there until half-time.  A gear which to be fair we were not familiar and with Eden Hazard tormenting Daniel Agger at left-back as if knew there was no difference between he and Aly Cissokho.  Glen Johnson had cause to kick the ball off the line after Hazard’s shot was palmed into Skrtel by Mignolet.  

Liverpool’s midfield were floundering in the wake of Chelsea’s move into overdrive with Willian and Oscar working superbly with Hazard and Eto’o. Lampard silently ghosted into the danger zone unleashing a superb drive which Mignolet expertly tipped over the bar, just one of a few Chelsea chances.

The breach was finally broken on 18 minutes when Willian found his Brazilian team mate Oscar who drove towards the area.  His attempted pass rebounded into the path of Hazard who in devastating fashion curled the ball into the net leaving Mignolet floundering.

It was only a matter of time before Chelsea took the lead with Liverpool on the back foot, but when the goal came it was disappointing in all areas.  First, Coutinho failed to track the run of Azpilicueta, second, Skrtel having sight of Eto’o lost him in a split second allowing the striker to get off a scuffed shot and finally for the second game in succession, Mignolet was found wanting, pushing Eto’o’s tepid shot in the corner of the net.

 

Eto'o grabs the winner

Sterling who had another fine game pulled the ball back, which Ashley Cole could only inadvertently knock the ball into the path of Joe Allen, whose first time shot was well saved by Cech.

Liverpool showed tremendous character in the second-half, almost snatching an equaliser when Jordan Henderson, as is his penchant these days produced a beautifully flighted ball into the area for Sakho to head against the bar.  Almost immediately, Chelsea broke down the other end of the pitch and Mignolet pulled off a tremendous stop with Eto’o bearing down on him.

Apart from Suarez two penalty appeals and a volley by the same player and speculative long range effort by Johnson, Chelsea comfortably held on to condemn Liverpool to a second successive defeat.

Man of the match:  Raheem Sterling – Never stopped running, providing an outlet on the right and covered Glen Johnson in behind him.

Critical eye: It seemed one game too far for us over the festive period, collecting what looked like long-term injuries to the influential Sakho and Allen respectively.

We have more than enough cover at centre-back, but midfield is and has been a concern.  Without club captain, Steven Gerrard who is on the verge of a return, we are down to 2 centre midfielders and I have said previously one hopes that with the January transfer window upon the Liverpool brains trust already have their business in order.

The youngsters on the bench, Smith and Rossiter, said it all in terms of the lack of experienced depth and quality in the squad.  Smith replaced Allen, but we needed a quality replacement and with Victor Moses unavailable Rodgers had very little choice.  In saying that his choice of Smith to replace Allen when he had Luis Alberto sitting on the bench made very little sense.

Mourinho talked before the game of Liverpool being title contenders because of we are not in Europe. Chelsea have a squad which contains enough depth and quality to compete for trophies on all fronts, whereas a few injuries have knocked us off our equilibrium because in a bid to balance the books with no European football the board dictated that Rodgers truncate the squad.

Philippe Coutinho impressive in many aspects in the last two games, failed again to find the key pass in the last third from open play.  He looks to force the issue rather than being patient and too many of his passes were cut out and as such he squandered possession too easily.

We need quality in the team to provide service to Luis Suárez in big games, it’s no coincidence that in the last two games he has been more of a provider than in a position to score goals. We also need prolific scoring midfielders particularly if we are playing one striker up top.

 
The next game against Hull is at home and is a must win game because the season could easily unravel with Arsenal now 6 points ahead of us and Man United and Spurs on our coat tails.

Teams:

Liverpool:  22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson (Iago Apas – 83 mins), 5 Agger, 21 Lucas, 37 Skrtel, 17 Sakho (Kolo Touré – 90 mins), 24 Allen (Smith 60 mins), 14 Henderson, 7 Suárez, 31 Sterling, 10 Coutinho

Substitutes: 1 Jones, 4 Kolo Touré, 6 Luis Alberto, 9 Iago Aspas, 20 Cissokho, 44 Smith, 46 Rossiter

Chelsea: 1 Cech, 1 Ivanovich (Cole – 30 mins), 28 Azpilicueta, 8 Lampard (Mikel – 45 mins), 24 Cahill, 26 Terry, 17 Hazard, 4 David Luiz, 29 Eto’o (Torres - 87 mins), 11 Oscar, 22 Willian

Substitutes: 23 Schwarzer, 3 Cole, 5 Essien, 9 Torres, 10 Mata, 12 Mikel, 14 Schürrle

Referee: Howard Webb

Attendance: 41, 614

Brilliant Liverpool face harsh realities of Premiership life

It was considered by many the most eagerly awaited game of the season so far with Liverpool with having ascended the top position over Christmas and Man City the team to beat.

Brendan Rodgers side arrived at the Etihad without breakthrough player of the moment Jon Flanagan having succumbed to the hamstring problem which caused the youngster to be substituted early in the second-half against Cardiff.  Cissokho came in at left-back.

Man City started as expected using the full width of the pitch to attack Liverpool down both flanks, especially down the left where Navas went after Cissokho with alacrity, the full-back looking all at sea.  City continued to carry the attack with Kolarov superb cross from the left being headed back across goal by Navas and clipping the outside of the post.

Even with City’s fast start Liverpool began to get a foothold with the excellent Henderson and Allen using subtlety and running power against the drive and quality of Toure and Fernandinho.

Both teams began to trade blows with Ya Ya Toure pulling a left-footed shot wide and Luis Suarez beating Lescott to a Coutinho corner to head just wide.  The first contentious moment was upon us with Sterling fastening on to a through ball to round Hart and put the ball in the net to be flagged off-side.  To say the decision was poor would be an understatement, as Sterling was at least 2-3 yards onside.

Liverpool were in no mood to be denied.  Suarez precise pass sent Sterling screaming through for the winger to round Hart, but intelligently and unselfishly step aside as Coutinho nipped in to the tuck the ball home.

Man City were soon level, but when it came it was disappointing as not for the first time this season Liverpool lost out in a set piece.  Martin Skrtel instead of defending is getting himself caught up in wrestling matches from dead ball situations.  On this occasion, Vincent Kompany managed to free himself just long enough to glance in a header with Joe Allen tried in vain to scramble away.  One wonders whether the Liverpool coaches are speaking to Skrtel about his defending methods?

Liverpool were playing as well as City and looked even more devastating on the counter-attack, moving at break-neck speed.  One brilliant moved involved, Henderson, Sterling and Suarez which put in Coutinho whose shot was saved brilliantly by Hart.  Coutinho, could and should have put Liverpool ahead.

With the throes of half-time upon us and confidence flowing Liverpool were looking to get back ahead when another attack broke down leaving only two defenders back.  Swiftly broke quickly, with Nasri switching the ball to Navas, who in turn found the willing Negredo, who looked to have scuffed his intended chip. 

Unbelievably, Mignolet wrist seemed to be made of melted chocolate as he pawed at the ball and watched it trickle in the net behind him. It was a crushing end to a half in which Liverpool had more than held their own.

As the players went off one wondered whether an experience organiser in defence or midfield would have bellowed orders not to refrain from being so gung-ho with half-time imminent?  But then again, one cannot legislate for mistakes of this nature and big players are often measured by how they perform in big games, although it should be said that Mignolet has kept us in games this season

The second-half continued much had as it had in the first with the game remaining open and Liverpool looking incisive.  Early on, Glen Johnson cut a pass back to Suarez, who laid the ball back to Henderson whose drive flashed just over the bar.

Sterling who is developing by the game showed nuisances to his game which in time will make him more than just a winger, played a delightful ball over the top, which the raiding Jordan Henderson just failed to connect and as the ball broke back Suarez couldn’t get enough on his shot to get in on target as it struck Henderson returning from an offside position.

Liverpool were now in the ascendency with Suarez and Henderson coming to the fore with Coutinho who’s link up lay with Sterling and Suarez had been exquisite, replaced by Moses. 

 

Liverpool will have regrets and while there were some extremely poor decisions from the officials we had enough clear cut opportunities to have buried this game.  Glen Johnson failed to react as the ball broke to him trying to control the ball when an instant shot could’ve proved more profitable.

The last real chance fell to Sterling after Suarez brilliantly escaped down the left and played in an inviting ball for the youngster to knock in with Joe Hart cut out of the equation by the precise nature of the cross.  Unfortunately, for him and Liverpool he blazed over from 7 yards and with it facing the harsh realities of football.

Man of the Match: Liverpool football team – Quite simply we produced our best performance of the season often playing stunning, exhilarating football.  Coutinho, Sterling and Suarez as a three looked unplayable at times with Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen in the supporting roles impressing once again.

Critical eye:  Always difficult to write this knowing that a win was in our grasp and for the second season in a row at the Etihad a goal keeping mistake had played a hand in a game we could have won.

A firm hand and experienced hand on the tiller may have calmed things and not left us susceptible to a counter-attack with half-time approaching, but we had enough chances within the Man City area to have killed the game off.

Hopefully we’ll keep up the level of intensity up for the Chelsea game, but there is always the worry that with so little quality to bring on these same players will have to buckle down for the Chelsea game.  One felt in the last 20 minutes we needed  some quality off the bench as our intensity began to wane, but is just wasn’t there with Aspas just returning from injury and as yet not showing anything approaching top class form.

Teams:

Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson, 20 Cissokho, 21 Lucas (Iago Aspas – 82 mins), 37 Skrtel, 17 Sakho, 24 Allen, 14 Henderson, 7 Suarez, 31 Sterling, 10 Coutinho (Moses – 68 mins)

Subs: 1 Jones, 4 Kolo Toure, 5 Agger, 6 Luis Alberto, 9 Iago Aspas, 12 Moses, 44 Smith

Man City: 1 Hart, 5 Zabaleta, 13 Kolarov, 25 Fernandinho, 4 Kompany, 6 Lescott, 15 Jesus Nevas, 42 Yaya Toure, 9 Negrado (Dzeko – 77 mins), 21 Silva (Javi Garia – 87 mins), 8 Nasri (Milner – 72 mins)

Subs: 30 Pantilimon, 7 Milner, 10 Deko, 14 Javi Garcia, 22 Clichy, 33 Nastasic, 38 Boyata

Referee: Lee Mason

Attendance: 47, 351

Suárez adds another page to his spectacular goals catalogue

The usual expectation levels at Anfield were heightened following Luis Suarez signing his new long-term contract on Friday.  Suárez portraying a relaxed figure appeared at ease with himself as he again took on the mantle of team captain with Steven Gerrard still unavailable through injury.

Liverpool started with an unchanged line-up from the victory over Spurs both in the starting line-up and on the bench.  Brendan Rodgers side had the added incentive should they win of topping the Premiership for the first time since 2008-09 season (although we led the League after 3 games in the 2011-12).

Cardiff with the embattled Malky Mackay still in the dugout started well, supressed Liverpool by means of a high-pressing game which we in turn had so successfully employed against Spurs and had a glorious chance early on when the lively Mutch fed Noone whose shot was pushed over by Mignolet.

Liverpool were in no mood to feel sorry for Mackay with the festive season almost upon us and they began to turn the screw with Suárez shot deflected for a corner and the excellent Sterling well supported by Johnson beginning to subject Taylor to what was to become a torrid half of football.

The increase pressure was soon to be pay dividends as Suárez inserted yet another page into his personal Liverpool scrapbook.  Joe Allen expertly found Henderson on the left corner of the area and the midfielder floated a delicate chip over the surrounding defenders and into Suárez who without breaking stride met the ball on the volley which screamed into the net for his 18^th Premiership goal of the season.

 

Suarez lets fly to put Liverpool ahead

Liverpool were now rampant and only the woodwork stood between us and closing out the game.  Countinho, looking more impressive playing on top of a very fluid midfield, picked up a short corner from Suárez and darted into the area before seeing his shot smack back off the far post.  Almost immediately, Glen Johnson broke down the right to cross for Flanagan whose shot hit the post and miraculously rolled across the line before Marshall managed to clear.

It was inevitable that when the second came Suárez would play a key role. From a Cardiff breakdown, Liverpool broke with impressive pace from a glorious pass from the outside of Henderson right boot which set Suárez through on goal with very little defensive pressure. The standing skipper unselfishly rolled the ball across to Sterling with another goal there for the taking for the winger to score from close range.

On the throes of half-time Liverpool all but closed the game out with a wonderful third goal.  Flanagan, having another impressive game at left-back, brought the ball back from the by-line to Suárez who in turn strode towards the area playing the ball into Henderson.  The midfielder now unquestionably the leading Liverpool midfielder in Gerrard’s absence, played an exquisite back heel flick back to Suarez who in his own inimitable fashion made the sublime look ridiculously easy curling the ball into the corner of the net past the flailing Marshall.

The expectations levels were now all about another Suárez hat-trick.  That it did not materialise was partially down to the fight shown by Malky Mackay’s side who started the second-half as they had the first pressing high up the pitch, leaving Liverpool very little time to settle on the ball and a fall-off in our intensity levels.

The relaxation in approach was to prove costly as Cardiff breached the Liverpool lines of defence from Whittingham’s free-kick with Sakho left to his own devices to defend against two attackers as Mutch came in unchallenged to launch his header into the far corner. 

Minutes before Cardiff’s goal Liverpool Flanagan was substituted for Martin Kelly with Rodgers looking to increase playing time for the returning right-back.  As an attacking force the side seemed to lose impetuous as Glen Johnson and Raheem Sterling in the first dominated the right flank and Flanagan who is gaining confidence on the left, providing attacking options.

Cardiff looked progressively dangerous from a stream of high balls in the area from set pieces and balls in from the flanks and Rodgers brought on Agger late on for Coutinho to combat the aerial threat.  

Skrtel who is showing and increasing propensity for grabbing on to attackers in the penalty area was lucky to get away with foul on Caulker – this will be highlighted and hopefully the centre-half, who is in excellent form, refrains from doing so or it may cost us particularly away from home.

Sterling fluffed his lines over hitting the ball when clean through and Suárez picking up the breaking ball hit the outside of the post.  Brendan Rodgers side sit on top of the league for at least 48 hours with another comprehensive performance.

Man of the Match:  Luis Suárez – Was everything and more.  Led the side by example, making tackles and tracking back.  His goals were what we’ve come to expect from a supremely talented artist and the signing off his long-term contract gives Liverpool fans, at least for this season anyway, a chance to bypass one transfer window without the worry of him being poached by a rival.  He showed the maturity which his managed says he has acquired when he played in Sterling for his 3^rd League goal of the season, in that moment showing that the team ethic is an important part of the Suarez ethos.

Suárez  has now scored 10 goals in December, the most in a calendar month from any player in Premiership history, overtaking Mark Viduka.

Jordan Henderson is flourishing into much more than just a useful player that many (including me), saw him as.  He game is blossoming with the responsibility of stepping up to the plate and leading the midfield in the absence of Steven Gerrard and he is revealing that he has a creative element to his game rather than just being a perceived box to box runner.  He had a critical role in all three goals with all showing displaying different facets to his game, parading his vision and an ability to get himself into critical positions to influence the play and his partnerships with Lucas and Allen is a development in progress as is his play in tandem with Coutinho and Sterling at the business end of the pitch.  Hopefully, Liverpool will look to use the window to get support in this area during the window as we are woefully short in the central areas should one of these be injured against Man City or Chelsea.

Critical eye:  Liverpool’s intensity levels dropped alarmingly in the second-half.  Whether it was relaxation because of the score line or anxiety we have to be of mind to destroy teams and not let them back in the game.  Once again not having a top class midfielder to bring on was apparent, but one felt that Agger could have slotted into the midfield given his footballing skills and how comfortable he is on the ball with the instructions to come back into the danger zone to help snuff out any threats.

After another win, I believe, we can confidently go into the festive period against Man City and Chelsea looking to hold our own.  There is always the hindrance that our lack of depth as I’ve said may cause problems, but on the flip side if we avoid injuries, despite the lack of experience we possess a young side whose legs could be capable of carrying us forward until we can get in fresh legs to help the cause.

 

Steven Gerrard feels he maybe fit for the Man City game which is a conundrum for the Man City game.  Does he bring Gerrard and possibly break-up the momentum of a midfield which is growing in stature and getting to know each other or does he gamble that the quality that Gerrard possesses which drive Liverpool to great heights.

 

My view is that hopefully we have learnt from his injury and play him in more of a strategic fashion.  If he starts, then he plays for an hour or he can come on to change games.  If he doesn't start against Man City then Brendan Rodgers is telling every player, that by definition and barring Luis Suarez, nobody is immune from being dropped.

Teams:

Liverpool: Simon Mignolet, 2 Glen Johnson, 38 Jon Flanagan (Kelly – 55 mins), 21 Lucas Leiva, 37 Martin Skrtel, 17 Mamadou Sakho, 24 Joe Allen, 14 Jordan Henderson, 7 Luis Suárez, 31 Raheem Sterling 10 Philippe Coutinho (Agger – 83 mins)

Substitutes: 1 Jones, 4 Kolo Toure, 5 Agger, 6 Luis Alberto, 9 Iago Aspas, 12 Victor Moses, 34 Martin Kelly

Cardiff: Marshall, 28 Théophile-Catherine, 3 Taylor, 8 Medel (Campbell – 55 min), 4 Caulker, 6 Turner, 16 Noone, 18 Mutch, 11 Odemwingie (Kim – 55 min), 17 Gunnarsson (Cornelius – 80 min), 7 Whittingham

Substitutes: 5 Hudson, 9 Cornelius, 10 Campbell, 13 Kim, 19 Cowie, 32 Lewis, 42 John

 Referee: Lee Probert

 Attendance: 44, 621

Liverpool destroy hapless Spurs 5-0

With Steven Gerrard out of picture until the New Year, the responsibility fell on Jordan Henderson, but even more so on the shoulders of the much maligned Joe Allen to come to the party and boss a powerful Spurs midfield containing Dembele, Sandro and Paulinho and justify the faith of his manager.  The captain’s duty fell to Luis Suárez.

For the creativity lost in the absence of our club captain, we gained younger legs able to press high up the pitch for long periods with Lucas the oldest midfielder at 26 and Skrtel, enjoying his 29^th birthday the eldest Liverpool player in the starting eleven.  We dominated from start to finish controlling the game on all fronts, with Jordan Henderson leading from the front and emanating composure.

Philippe Coutino had a glorious early chance in the first minute from a Luis Suarez knock down, but his shot barely gave Lloris cause for concern.  Being that as it may, Sterling set the tone giving Naughton a torrid time and with our movement and rotation causing problems constantly in the last third it seemed only matter of time before the first goal.  Even after being clipped on the edge of the area,  El Pistolero still managed to squeeze off a shot from a prone position.

Minutes later we went ahead when Suárez through ball to the marauding Henderson was cut out by the sprawling Dawson.  Henderson recovered more quickly than the Spurs captain, springing up to nip the ball  into the path of Suárez reacting faster than the surrounding Spurs midfield and driving into the area to twinkle past the sliding Walker's desperate tackle to brilliantly slide home the opener.  It was another in the long list of stunning goals from Liverpool's number 7.

Liverpool were now completely on top pressing high up the pitch.  Sterling slid through a sharp pass to Suárez who had his shot blocked by Lloris.   Suárez then found himself out wide-left and dinked a chipped pass to Coutinho at the edge of the area.  The Brazilian shot into the ground and against bar with Glen Johnson follow-up left-footed drive just wide of the upright.

Spurs was barely threatening and in one of the very rare forays saw Chadli’s header flash just over the top from a corner.

A long ball up the pitch from Johnson saw Suárez anticipate the situation with Lloris failing to gauge the bounce, the Liverpool striker looped round the keeper, manoeuvre the ball on his right, only to see his shot blocked once again by Lloris and only just failing to get a pass off to Coutinho.

 

Such was Liverpool’s dominance that one felt that if a second didn’t come soon Spurs as the home side would eventually get a footing in the game.  The thought didn’t last.

Sterling picking the ball up on the right of midfield, showed his not just one-trick pony, picking out Coutinho with glorious a cross field ball, Coutinho brilliantly cushioned the ball past the defender and onto the onrushing Henderson.  His shot was parried by Lloris, who was having a fine game, the ball found its way to Suárez, whose shot was pushed away again by Loris, but not very far to Henderson who showed excellent technique to volley low into the corner of the net.  It was no more than Liverpool deserved as our dominance was all encompassing.

El Capitano

Liverpool enjoyed a bit of luck with Soldado having his goal wiped out after being adjudged to have shoulder barged Mignolet unfairly, after he miss-controlled a back pass.

With the potential of a Spurs onslaught, it was Liverpool who almost killed the game early in the second-half.  Sterling enjoying his best game in a Liverpool shirt, having seen Spurs left-back Naughton substituted after a  torrid first-half, continued his mauling by ghosting down the right to stand the ball up only for Sakho to head against the post from barely two yards out.

If Spurs walk down Elm Street looked a frightening prospect, it became X-rated when Paulinho’s raised foot connected with Luis Suárez chest and with his sending-off went any chance of Spurs mounting an unlikely fight-back.

Suárez was once gained denied by Lloris in yet another one and one situation.  Spurs were in no position to stop the irresistible red-tide sweeping all before them and it was Suárez who this time turned provider, finding Flanagan with a lovely floated pass which the twenty year old clipped in with remarkable composure in to the top of the net.  The South Stand housing Liverpool’s away fans exploded with the realisation that one of its very own had put the game to bed.  Flanagan was engulfed by his teammates.

Liverpool were by no means finished and an excellent move was topped off with Luis Alberto, having replaced Lucas, providing an inch perfect pass for Suárez to lift over Lloris for his second of the game and 17th Premier League goal of the season.

Suarez reverted to  provider sending Raheem Sterling through for his second goal of the season and topped of an excellent performance for the youngster.

Man of the Match: Jordan Henderson – A brilliant performance by the Sunderland born youngster, who gave his most complete performance of his Liverpool career and played as if the shackles was thrown off.  He drove the team forward and linked brilliantly with Luis Suárez.  His short passing was excellent and led midfield colleagues in pressing so high up the pitch that it forced Spurs backwards and like his club captain does so often he led by example scoring his first goal of the season.

Raheem Sterling was not far behind, producing a classy and mature display.  He gave Kyle Naughton and his replacement Fryers no rest bite.  But, what was more noticeable in this performance, was his use of the ball as he kept his head up finding colleagues with his short passing and showed vision to release a stunning long-range cross field ball which set up the second goal.

It says a lot for Jordan Henderson, that Luis Suarez who scored two and had a hand in the other three goals was not man of the match.  But, he was pure and simply the class act on the pitch.  His first goal was stunning, the way he let Walker slide across him before curling the ball in with left foot was pure genius.  His work rate is often spoken of, but he creates chances for his teammates with his unselfish running and his assists are invaluable to the team many of whom raised their levels today under his captaincy.

Joe Allen was excellent. Holding on to possession and keeping the ball moving in the time honoured Liverpool tradition of “pass and move”.  Flanagan was excellent defensively against Lennon and took his goal with aplomb while Skrtel and especially Sakho were imperious in the air.

Critical analysis:  Any team would miss the creative force that the great Steven Gerrard brings to the team, but did the younger legs in midfield enable Liverpool to keep up our pressing game for longer periods and provide support in forward areas from Henderson and Allen?

Team: 22 Mignolet, 2 Johnson, 38 Flanagan, 21 Lucas (Luis Alberto – 79 mins), 37 Skrtel, 17 Sakho, 24 Allen, 14 Henderson, 7 Suarez, 31 Sterling, 10 Coutinho (Moses 90 min)

Substitutes: 1 Jones, 4 Kolo Toure, 5 Agger, 6 Luis Alberto, 9 Iago Aspas, 12 Moses, 34 Kelly

Tottenham: 25 Lloris, 2 Walker, 16 Naughton (Fryers – 45 mins), 19 Mousa Dembélé, 15 Capoue, 20 Dawson, 7 Lennon, 30 Sandro (Holtby – 30 mins), 9 Soldado, 8 Paulinho, 21 Chadli

Subsitutes: 11 Lamela, 14 Holtby, 17 Townsend, 18 Defoe, 22 Signurdssen, 24 Friedel, 35 Fryers

Referee: Jonathan Moss

Attendance: 36, 069