As we fecking should be doing, what's the point of not playing our strongest team? We are mid table dross, and have little chance of doing anything else exciting this season.
Caulker is cup tied. He's also unfit. Needs it. With Wembley on offer we should play as strong a team as possible. The reward for l true... but have to hope for more as we go.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35349469 TEAM NEWS Defender Jon Flanagan could make his first start since May 2014 on Tuesday as Liverpool attempt to beat Stoke and reach the Capital One Cup final. The Reds, who lead 1-0 from the first leg, could be without right-back Nathaniel Clyne (knee), while defender Dejan Lovren is not fully fit and centre-back Steven Caulker is cup tied. Stoke will be missing captain Ryan Shawcross (back), but forwards Marko Arnautovic and Bojan Krkic could start. Geoff Cameron (ankle) is still not fit. Jordon Ibe's goal in the first leg at the Britannia Stadium gives Liverpool the advantage heading into the second leg at Anfield, with Reds manager Jurgen Klopp hoping to reach a major cup final less than four months after taking charge of the club. What the managers said Liverpool boss Klopp: "I've heard about the special atmosphere at Anfield in semi-finals and I am really looking forward to it. Let's take the whole power of LFC and take it to the final. "Reaching a final is great, but at the end it is only memorable when you win it and that is what you have to do. You should not waste the opportunity of winning something and I know for the players it is really important - they really want to go to the final." Stoke boss Mark Hughes: "We are going to really push for it. You always remember cup finals and semi-finals because of the excitement and the atmosphere and we want to make it a night to remember. "Hopefully come 10pm on Tuesday we will be in the final of this competition for the first time in 40-odd years, and I will be reminding the players of that before kick-off." Match facts In eight previous League Cup semi-final first-leg victories, only once have Liverpool not progressed to the final. Middlesbrough beat them 2-0 in the return leg in 1997-98 after losing 2-1 at Anfield in the first leg. Stoke have played Liverpool six times in the League Cup, drawing one and losing five. Jordon Ibe has scored twice and assisted another goal in his last two League Cup games. Of the teams remaining in the competition, Stoke have scored the fewest goals in this season's League Cup (five). Liverpool have never lost a League Cup semi-final leg at Anfield, although the past two have been draws (won eight, drawn seven). Stoke have not won at Anfield in any competition since March 1959, going 36 visits without a victory (drawn five, lost 31). Liverpool have conceded just once in the last eight games in which they have hosted Stoke. That goal came in Stoke's last visit in a cup competition (2-1 loss in FA Cup in March 2012). Stoke have progressed from both of their semi-finals in the League Cup, reaching the final in 1963-64 and 1971-72. Roberto Firmino has scored four goals in three games after just one goal in his previous 24 in all competitions. Liverpool have scored as many goals in their last two games as they had in their previous eight matches in all competitions (eight).
I don't think fallno will start. I don't think we've much option though... I think we should play mr smith on the right if we have to.
Stoke are off form and facing an uphill battle to even make a fist of it at Anfield given the first leg result. They should go industrial and bombard you aerially, as you're ****e at the back, but I suspect that Hughes ego will stop him from doing a Pulis, as it did in the first leg. An early goal for you lot, and this tie is as good as over. I expect you to win comfortably tonight.
If our defence plays like it has for the past few months we are doomed. Let's hope that their strikers haven't got their shooting boots on and ours have theirs on. I am not sure an open game is the way to go.
I agree with tobes. i seems very obvious to play walters and crouch and rip us apart. I thought he would do this first leg but didn't but he did change after it. I think stoke need to attack us and we need to be thinking about pressing them and forcing errors and getting that early goal. Bascially the issue stoke have is a distinct lack of quality at CM and CB so if we press properly they will end up hoofing it at midgets and even we can deal with that...put in walters and crouch and we are then in trouble. The game is made for firmino to continue to profit. I think milner will play as well but the third forward is anyone's guess. MR ibe doesn't pass but lallana might not be fully fit for 90. We will see.. Allen should really play but we've been saying that for a few games now.
Of course I'd rather we won 5-0, but I'd take the 5-4 over a 1-0 any day. What's the point of watching football if it's not to be entertained?
I am with Saint on this. What's the point of winning 1-0 if there is no enjoyment from watching the match? Even if it is a means to get to Wemberley. The aim is to get a trophy and get it recorded in the record books?
Winning SF's and Finals aren't about entertainment, they're about winning pure and simple. Losing in SF's is gut wrenching. I won't give a flying **** if we play 4-6-0 tomorrow night and park 3 buses at the Etihad, all that matters is the result. You can worry about 'style' and entertainment at other times, but big games are all about the result.
This is where the trouble starts. Result is all and soon you have a team with 8 players in the defence and playing for a draw, which inevitably won't happen if the GK is that awful. We might as well go for the "we'll score more than you do" principle which makes for an entertaining match.
You'll not be open tonight imo. You'll fly out the blocks and try for the early goal, but if that doesn't come I'd fully expect you to keep it tight and not allow the game to become stretched.
And concede a goal from a corner in the 85th minute. I can see it coming if we play that way. PS The reality is that we have been awful when the oppostion played a closed game. Any open game and we win: Chelsea, City, Southampton, Norwich....
