Although we deserved nothing from the game at Anfield last night, we gave away two very poor goals.

First goal.

In the sixth minute, we’re regrouping after a chance of our own. A high ball is played forward – usually Dawson’s forte.
Two things to notice – firstly, Palacios (third from the left, with a good view of play). I find it hard to be critical of Palacios‘ passing, because he wasn’t brought to us to add passing ability. However, I will continue to criticise his lack of defensive nous. Surely a defensive-minded midfielder should see that Aquilani (who he is directly up against for much of the game) is in a position to influence the game should Kuyt win this ball. He can’t just rely on Dawson winning the header.

EDIT: it has been pointed out (correctly) that Dawson slips – you can see from the still above, but more clearly from the video). This allows Kuyt to win the ball unchallenged. However, I still feel that we shouldn’t have conceded that goal, with or without the slip.

Dawson gets tight to Kuyt, and looks favourite to win the ball.

Kuyt is the master of backing into players subtly, and he uses his back-side to manoeuvre himself into a position to lay the ball off to Aquilani, who has carried on his movement (whilst Palacios has virtually stood still).

Aquilani shows good ability to feed the ball back to Kuyt (before getting clattered by Dawson). Personally at this point, I think the King of old would be a yard further forward.

Or at least would now be trying to make up a bit of ground, to give Kuyt less room to get a shot off. Admittedly he takes it early, but frankly, that’s pretty much the only way he can score from this situation, and he does.

Second goal.

Some may argue that it’s difficult to criticise when you’re chasing the game, but this penalty situation is a shambles. Bassong has been on for nine minutes (an utterly bizarre substitution, covered below), and has so far looked very uncomfortable (maybe his shorts are on the wrong way round?).

Darby picks the ball up in the middle of the pitch, and has plenty of room. Bale comes to close him (no wide left player at this point), which gives us a problem, as Bassong and Palacios are left with decisions to make – something they both seem to struggle with.

Darby finds Maxi with a decent ball to feet. Notice now that Bale is out of the game, that N’Gog has shown great anticipation and is pulling into a useful position. Palacios has been attracted towards the ball, and Bassong (edge of out box) is in two minds.

Looking at it from another view, you can analyse better the positioning of our players. Dawson is the deepest, getting back into position having made a clearance. The other defenders are in truly awful positions. Bassong is unable to influence the game, and Hutton is ball-watching.

Maxi slips N’Gog in with a perfectly weighted first time pass.

From above, you can see the danger. Bassong needed to go with N’Gog but hasn’t and, as a result, he’s in acres of space. Hutton is still ball-watching happily.

N’Gog’s first touch is a little heavy, which tempts Bassong into making a challenge. However, because he’s not close enough, he has no chance of getting there.

N’Gog is blessed with excellent pace and athleticism – he touches it beyond Bassong and gets cleaned out, just inside the area.

Kuyt steps up at the second time of asking and sends Gomes the wrong way.

Some general points about the game:

• Redknapp’s team selection was predictable, but that doesn’t make it right. With Kranjcar and Modric on the flanks, we lack width, and it asks a lot of our full-backs. Kranjcar has been in terrific form, and Modric is probably our best player, so it’s hard not to include both. However, if they are to play in the same side, we must ensure that it’s in a 4-2-3-1, with one striker, and at least one naturally wide player – yesterday we could have played Bale/Bentley/Giovani/Naughton/Rose in an advanced role. Yes, lesser players, but it’s about picking the right team rather than the right individuals.
• When we had possession, we were often trying to play through a crowded central area (our narrow midfield, plus Lucas, Mascherano and Aquilani), rather than exploiting their weaker flanks (although Bale had some joy).
• Liverpool have been struggling this season against teams that play at a high tempo, press high, and force them to play the long ball – we didn’t do enough of this as a team, and when we did force Liverpool to play long, we didn’t win first or second balls convincingly (see the first goal).
• I’ve not been a fan of Redknapp’s substitutions in general, but to bring Bassong on for King with 10 minutes to go at 1-0 was totally bizarre. Firstly, I don’t think King should have started – he looked half-fit, and off the pace. But if he had to come off, why not put on an attacker and ask Palacios to sit in front of Dawson? We needed to go for broke.

First things first – we shouldn’t expect to stroll this game. Having said that, since the United game, Leeds have been on a poor run of form, drawing at home against Wycombe, and losing to Exeter (A) and Carlisle (H). Could this be to do with Beckford submitting and then retracting a transfer request?

We have three options going into this game as far as I see:

1. Use the game to play players back into form, i.e. pick the same team where possible.
2. Give the squad players/youngsters some game time.
3. Experiment.

We could pick the same team and hope that some of our key players can play themselves back into form (I’m looking at Modric, Defoe and Palacios in particular). I’d imagine that most fans would be relatively happy with this, as it’s a televised game against the giant killers of the previous round, and that selection would be a sign that we are taking the cup seriously. However, playing Wednesday/Saturday/Tuesday is not ideal, and I’d personally prefer us to give some players a break so that we can go into the Fulham match as close to full-strength as possible.

We could rest some key players, and play the likes of Bentley, Hutton, Pavlyuchenko and O’Hara – players who, for various reasons, haven’t been involved recently; they all have a point to prove, and they would also be in the shop window for potential buyers.

Redknapp has intimated (here) that he will give a couple of younger players a go – I would presume that he means Rose and Naughton, since they have made the bench (and pitch) in the last few weeks. For me, this is the perfect opportunity to give some youngsters a chance (at least on the bench). We have four or five players who badly underperformed last night, and players who have not played too much football and could probably therefore do with a rest (King, Modric, Jenas).

Finally, it could be an opportunity to experiment with the formation/team shape. Last season we played a Liverpool-esque 4-2-3-1 in a fair few games, and I said in my previous blog today that I feel this is the only way that we can get Modric and Kranjcar into the same team. We could line-up with the following:

Currently we have the following players out on loan:

Troy Archibald-Henville – Exeter City (Exeter want to extend the loan, which ends soon)
John Bostock – Brentford (Brentford want to extend the loan, which ends soon)
David Button – Shrewsbury Town (until 27th February 2010)
Adam Smith – Torquay United (until the end of the season)
Adel Taarabt – QPR (until the end of the season)
Kyle Walker – Sheffield United (until the end of the season)
Jon Obika – Yeovil Town (until the end of the season)
Ryan Mason – Yeovil Town (until the end of the season)
Steven Caulker – Yeovil Town (until the end of the season)
Mirko Ranieri – Ipswich Town (until the end of the season)
Jake Livermore – Peterborough United (until the end of the season)
Andros Townsend – MK Dons (until the end of the season)

Now returned from loan:

Adam Smith – Wycombe Wanderers
Ben Alnwick – Norwich City
Lee Butcher – Grays Athletic
Dean Parrett – Aldershot Town
David Button – Crewe Alexandra
Sam Cox – Cheltenham Town
Danny Rose – Peterborough
Lee Butcher – Leyton Orient
Oscar Jansson – Exeter City
Sam Cox – Histon
Jake Livermore – Derby County
Andros Townsend – Leyton Orient
Calum Butcher – Barnet
Jamie O’Hara – Portsmouth

Troy Archibald-Henville sat out Exeter City’s game yesterday, as he was serving the last game of a three-match suspension. Exeter have confirmed that they want to extend Troy’s loan (presumably until the end of the season). I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t join them permanently in the summer.

John Bostock played 87 minutes for Brentford yesterday, as they beat Carlisle 3-1. Brentford Official Site report:

Brentford had been pushed back in the early stages – John Bostock had a shot blocked after Ben Strevens and Charlie MacDonald had combined to set him up and Kevin O’Connor had a shot blocked at source soon after.

Bostock cleverly took a quick free kick after foul on Strevens on half way and set MacDonald away, the striker twisted and turned the Carlisle defence before firing the ball across the six-yard box where Weston was waiting to slot home.

The Bees could have had a second before the break when another quick free kick released Weston on the left, his cross reached Bostock on the far side but his shot was cleared off the line by Evan Horwood and whacked to safety.

Legge shot wide just before half time when a free kick was half cleared and Bostock had a shot blocked just after the break, before blasting over from the right side of the area.

The Bees were dominant by now but were looking for a second goal to give themselves breathing space, they almost grabbed it when Bostock shot wide from the edge of the box but the irresistible Weston did provide it ten minutes after the re-start.

Bostock, starting to thrive in some extra space, was involved again – his shot from 18 yards was saved well by Adam Collin in the Carlisle goal but he could only palm it into the path of Weston who slotted home right footed from 15 yards.

Bostock almost grabbed the goal he deserved with a low shot after a nice run but Collin tipped it round the post.

David Button played 90 minutes for Shrewsbury Town in their 1-1 draw at Burton Albion. Shrewsbury Town Official Site report:

Adam Smith played 90 minutes for Torquay United as they lost 1-0 to Chesterfield. Torquay United Official Site report:

Adel Taarabt played 90 minutes for QPR as they drew 2-2 away at Blackpool. He got on the scoresheet with a cheeky penalty. QPR Official Site report:

Rangers drew level just after the hour with an Adel Taarabt penalty after Hogan Ephraim’s shot hit the hand of Neal Ardley in the area.

Carl Ikeme, Connolly, Fitz Hall and Taarabt all came in, with Radek Cerny, Gary Borrowdale, Peter Ramage and Jay Simpson dropping to the bench.

Patrick Agyemang began in attack with Taarabt playing just off him.

After a tentative opening, the first real opportunity arrived on six minutes when Taarabt picked up possession on the edge of the Blackpool box but his drive was well blocked by Tangerines defender Alex Baptiste.

On 15 minutes some fantastic passing football involving Buzsaky, Taarabt and Routledge cut the Tangerines defence open, but Routledge was adjudged to be offside as his effort drifted inches wide of the far post from a tight angle.

The R’s were almost level on 34 minutes when Taarabt picked up the ball on the left following a strong tackle by Stewart on Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

The Moroccan weaved his magic on Neal Eardley with a series of step-overs before shooting at goal but his effort took a deflection and went out for a throw-in on the far side. Such was the quality, Taarabt’s skills received warm applause from the home fans.

And just four minutes into the second half Taarabt went as close as you possibly can go without scoring. After typical trickery, he worked spme space on the edge of area before his low shot hit the inside of the post, rolled across the goal-line and hit the OTHER post before being hacked to safety!

On 54 minutes, the R’s did draw level courtesy of a Taarabt penalty – which was typically stylish! The spot-kick was won when Routledge played the ball back for Ephraim to shoot from distance, and his effort was adjudged to have hit the hand of Ardley by referee Mr Kettle.

With Buzsaky no longer on the pitch, Taarabt took responsibility from 12 yards – and casually dinked the ball in as Rachubka dived to his right.

Taarabt was moved into the centre of the park, with German joining Agyemang in attack.

Kyle Walker played 90 minutes for Sheffield United, having now fully recovered from his injury. Sheffield United Official Site report:

Less than a minute had elapsed before Wheater was called upon to stop Cresswell after Evans had knocked down Walker’s cross.

Walker’s header into the penalty area clearly hit Robson but there was no spot-kick award.

Back on defensive duties, Walker timed his tackle on Flood to perfection in the area and then Bunn did well to hold on to a high ball, despite being under pressure.

Walker’s centre beat everyone and flew across the face of goal and then the ball would not drop for Evans after Williamson’s head down.

Boro had a big penalty appeal waved away moments later when Aliadiere went down at pace under a combined challenge from Seip and Walker.

Fan report from their Official Site:

Jon Obika, Ryan Mason and Steven Caulker got a day off, as Yeovil Town’s game with Tranmere was postponed.

Jake Livermore played 90 minutes on his debut for Peterborough United. Tricky game for Jake, as Peterborough were down to 9 men at half-time! Peterborough United Official Site report:

Boyd was superbly denied by Bywater on 79 minutes from 20-yards and then Bywater was well-placed to tip a Livermore effort around the post as Posh pressed for an equaliser and if Mclean had timed his jump, he could have directed a floating cross on target.

Some very positive comments on Livermore from a forum:

“The class of Livermore, Gilbert and Reid showed today.”

“CMS did not deserve Man of the Match for me. Livemore was my man today.”

“Livermore was definitely my Man of the Match. “

“livermore MOM for me, looks like a quality player.”

“Totally agree. Livermore was utter class today and will prove to be a magnificent signing…if only we could sign him permanently.”

“Livermore looked quality today and linked up very well with Coutts. If only we could get a team full of his quality!”

“Cannot really judge or pass much of a comment on the game as playing with 9 men just is unfair, Jake LIVERMORE was OUTSTANDING the others difficult to judge at this time GILBERT played well but had a lot to do in defence due to the sendings off as did REID.”

Andros Townsend came off the bench in the 60th minute of MK Dons 5-0 away win at Hartlepool, and got two assists on his debut. MK Dons Official Site report:

With his team in control of proceedings and the points never in doubt, Ince was also able to introduce debutants Andros Townsend and Mark Randall in the second half and they did much to justify their big reputations.

But the two Premier League young guns, on loan from Spurs and Arsenal respectively, will have learned quickly that places in this Dons side will not come cheaply.

In fact, those in possession of the spots Townsend and Randall covet rose to the challenge superbly – Peter Leven and Jason Puncheon weighing in with a goal apiece to cap excellent afternoons, while Luke Chadwick and Stephen Gleeson also played significant roles in a dominant display.

But consolidation doesn’t look to be in Townsend’s nature and his rapier-like bursts into Hartlepool territory will have had Dons fans intrigued as to the impact he could have between now and the end of the season.

The two typically combined to set up fellow substitute Sam Baldock with 13 minutes to go – Townsend sending the Dons striker clear to celebrate his new contract with a ninth goal of the season.

And when Wilbraham, tireless in mind as well as body, cushioned another Townsend pass into the path of the lurking Puncheon, Hartlepool were helpless to deny the on-loan Plymouth magician, who stepped inside and crashed home mercilessly from the edge of the box.

MK Dons’ assistant manager Karl Robinson:

We’ve brought two players in but, whether you’ve come from Arsenal or Tottenham, you’re not just going to walk into our side. The lads have accepted that and the lads that are playing have to hammer down their place.

Mirko Ranieri kept a clean sheet for Ipswich Town U18s, as they won 2-0. Ipswich Town Official Site report:

The best chance fell Sam Argent who had a free header in the box but headed straight at Mirko Ranieri.

Since I last wrote an update, Tomas Pekhart has moved permanently to FK Baumit Jablonec, who play in the top division of the Czech league.

I would expect that we’re trying to get the likes of Calum Butcher, Dean Parrett, Oscar Jansson and Sam Cox back out on loan during the transfer window. I also wonder whether Jamie O’Hara may get another loan, as Redknapp clearly wants him to play.

Weather permitting, we take on Portsmouth tomorrow night in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, which is seen as the biggest prize in U18 football.

The lads will (hopefully!) be playing at White Hart Lane – they did the same twice last year, against Arsenal in the FAYC, and against Watford in the Academy League.

We beat Wigan Athletic in the third round, thanks to a goal from Harry Kane. If you have a subscription to Spurs TV Online, you can see the goal and some other highlights here.

Alex Inglethorpe has a few selection dilemmas, but the likes of Caulker, Bostock, Parrett, M’Poku and Kane should be in action.

Ticket details.