Liverpool Manager Kenny Dalglish today criticised the decision to play the League Cup Quarter-final at Chelsea on November 29th - just 48 hours after the Reds face Manchester City at Anfield. Said Dalglish: "It is disgraceful in this day and age that players are being asked to play a key Premier League game and then a League Cup Quarter-final in London just 48 hours later. It's understandable with the Spurs v PAOK Salonika match and the TUC rally that the Met Police have said that our game cannot be played on the Wednesday. But it's surely the duty of the football authorities to think of other solutions which consider the welfare of the players and this clearly hasn't happened. "Manchester City are in a similar position to us with their game at Arsenal and it's for them to argue their case, but it is my job to stand up for the interests of Liverpool Football Club. Here you have two clubs who have treated this competition with utmost respect over the years and they are being treated like this. I'd be interested to know what the sponsors think of the situation and what it does for the reputation of the competition. "It seems totally irresponsible as well that the Quarter-finals are scheduled in the same week as Europa League games. If Stoke had beaten us in the last round and were through to face Chelsea then the tie gets rescheduled for another date - it's as simple as that. But when we ask the Football League to move our game to a later date, we're told it's impossible. Where's the logic in that? What would have happened if all four of the English clubs playing in the Europa League had got through to the Quarter-finals? If the Football League want to devalue their own competition, that's up to them, but they shouldn't then be upset if people use these games to help in the development of young players. "We've also got the situation that both ourselves and Manchester City were happy for the League game to be moved back to the Saturday so we both had proper time to prepare, but again we are told by the Premier League that this is not possible either for TV reasons and just to get on with it. Ian Ayre specifically consulted with the Premier League who had some discussion with Sky, but neither were able to accomodate our position. "The one thing I will say to our fans is to think carefully before buying tickets for the League Cup game because we do not want them spending their money and then we decide there is no other option but to use only young players in the tie."
That just sums up where the League Cup figures in the scheme of things these days to us and the fact that because we're not in Europe we get even less leeway when negotiating game dates than before.
It's pathetic that there's 48 hours in between. You probably wouldn't even get fixtures this badly mismanaged in the heavily congested Championship. Pathetic. Hopefully our second string will do us proud against Chelsea.
I do not think we are going to complain that much if we are to play Blackburn Cardiff or Crystal Palace at home.Having said that, They can move it easily if FA wants to cooperate. Full Draw: Carling Cup quarter-final draw: Arsenal v Manchester City Chelsea v Liverpool Manchester United v Crystal Palace Cardiff v Blackburn Ties to be played November 29/30. .
I hope we do play a young team against chelsea and beat them! but it is the league cup, isn't that what its for? I know we want some silverware this year but for me personally its a development competition and what better platform than a quarter final at the bridge.
I want to win the League Cup not not at the expense of our first teams fitness so I agree that we should play a young team and also give the likes of Maxi and Spearing a run out. --------Doni-------- Kelly--Carra--Coates--Robinson Kuyt---Spearing--Coady---Sterling ---------Maxi-------- ---------Morgan------- Something like that where we bring some back to match fitness and give the team experience with youth mixed in.
The real problem is the Europa League - putting the last two rounds out of sync with the Champions League means that there isn't an empty week for these Qtrs.
For City i would use reina johnson agger skrtel Enrique Kuyt Lucas Adam Downing Caroll Suarez and Chelsea: Reina Kelly Carra Coates Robinson Maxi Hendo Spearing Sterling? Bellamy Suarez if he can play
It is a little harsh but I guess this has been going on for a while now especially with the Europa league where you could play in some far reaching eastern european country on a Thursday then have a game at the weekend too. Seems money talks and the likes of Sky have all the power. Anyway, here's to both teams blooding some good prospects and an entertaining open fixture.
I have to agree with Kenny here (mind you, I don't often disagree!) - its obviously down to TV money talking here. There might be a valid argument to aid the CL team if they were playing on Wednesday, but Citeh are playing Napoli on Tuesday night. Three nights is a reasonable rest period. Four nights look a little luxurious. There is no valid reason, beyond bowing down before BSkyB and £££ for playing the game on Sunday.
Do you think he will actually play a youth team though? Soulds like a lot of hot air to make a point to me. I think like us, it will be a mixture of youth, fringe and first teamers.
yeah i agree, robinson will probably start and coates but i dont think we'll see much of people like sterling or morgan. However I dont think therell be many first teamers considering the city game, bu hopfully suarez can play
