Liverpool 1 Carlisle 1: Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties

It’s a sign of the times that Carlisle tenth in League Two can come to Anfield with belief and come close to humbling Liverpool at one football’s greatest theatres.

The pitiful display has literally brought Brendan Rodgers tenure as Liverpool manager to ahead.  Embarrassingly, the 47 shots in 120 minutes his team desperately sprayed at goal Uzi style barely threatened Carlisle keeper Gillespie.

Make no mistake Liverpool were desperate lacking creativity, pace and incision.
If two players sum up the predicament we now find ourselves in it’s Dejan Lovren and Danny Ings.

Nobody likes to see any player stretchered off, but, Lovren was as he has been through out his short Liverpool  career inept. Bastien Hery literally sidled up to Lovren and sauntered by without even as much a challenge from the Croatian international before delivering the killer pass for Derek Asamaoh to equalise.  It was poor, poor in the extreme and given what has gone before he was lucky to stay on the pitch after half-time.

In the present climate Danny Ings is the opposite end of the spectrum.  He makes the most of every minute he is on the pitch chasing down every ball, running down the channels and looks the one Liverpool player who would die for the cause and it was no surprise to see him get on the end of Adam Lallana’s cross for the opening goal.

Overall, Liverpool lacked quality and appeared disjointed.  Emre Can deserves a run in midfield, but Rodgers ineptitude in the transfer market has seen him shunted between defence and attack too many times to warrant any continuity and I believe he suffering for it although his coolly taken chipped penalty showed he is a player who has an enormous amount of self-belief.

We’ve seen the scenario play itself out over the last couple of seasons whereby expected to breeze through cup games against a lowly rated opponent, Liverpool have struggled.

This game was no different.  Rodgers squad is without a midfielder with a consistent goal scoring record to back up his strike force.  His side generally fails to create chances in the opposing area, hence the plethora of shots from distance against Carlisle with Liverpool struggling to get in behind.  Jordon Ibe, the only recognised winger in the squad, replaced Clyne, fails to deliver quality crosses which is something he needs to work, especially if Liverpool want to Benteke’s strengths when he’s available.

Make no mistake, Liverpool were lucky and owe their appearance in the next round to Bournemouth to Bodgan’s exploits in the penalty shoot out.  The big goalkeeper caught well as opposed Mignolet preference to punch and it will interesting to see if he faces Villa after Mignolet’s mistake against Norwich.

Brendan Rodgers time at Liverpool is hanging by a thread and his decision to send out Gary McAllister for media interviews speak volumes of a man under pressure.

Man of the Match:  Danny Ings – Showed intent and deservedly scored latching onto the type of Lallana cross that we have failed to consistently deliver for Benteke.

Has put himself in the window as the strike partner for Daniel Sturridge ahead of Origi who looks short of the required standard at this stage.

Critical eye:  Once again Liverpool lack of a creative output and defence frailties have led to Rodgers putting square pegs in round holes.

Nathan Clyne is an attacking full-back rather than wing-back and is being asked to be the supply-line on the right side because of the deficiencies in the squad and Emre Can again starting in defence when he is the only available midfielder able to keep the side moving with his passing and ability on the ball.

One wonders why Jordan Rossiter didn’t start the game, with his ability to get round the field and support the forwards, but the starting line-up suggests Rodgers knows he cannot take any chances in any competition with his job on the line.  In that regard not picking Sakho after his decent performance against Norwich was questionable in the search for continuity with a backline shown of confidence.

Long-term Injuries to Lovren, Henderson and Firminho may have one benefit in forcing Rodgers to settle on a starting eleven with very little room for manoeuvre.