LFC 21/22 – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly – Gameweek #26
A cup final hero between the sticks, Yorkshire rivals hit for six. Youngster handles a flare, and awakes those with no idea. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Another week reviewed at Liverpool football club.
The Good
Winning the Carabao Cup after one of the most entertaining finals you’ll likely ever see. In a nice but also professional gesture, Jürgen Klopp chose to stick with Liverpool’s number two goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher seeing as the 23 year-old has played magnificently in the team’s cup run to Wembley. Including a nail-biting penalty shoot out in the quarterfinal victory over Leicester City.
After literally an end-to-end 90 minutes, another 30 similar minutes of extra time and several disallowed goals… for EACH SIDE! One a Joel Matip header which was ruled out for an apparent infringement from Virgil van Dijk on a Chelsea defender from a Liverpool set piece. To be fair it was very, very harsh on the Dutchman. Chelsea also had chances. In particular Mason Mount and Kai Havertz wasteful and unlucky in equal measures.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁. 𝗔. 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴.#CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/5f5ZQwzBNt
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 27, 2022
In the end, it was Liverpool’s turn to be the fortunate winners of the lottery that is, the penalty shootout. The scoreline 10-11 representing a record score on spot kicks.
The great irony of it was that Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel substituted the outstanding Edouard Mendy for Kepa Arrizabalaga as penalties loomed. Only for the Spaniard to balloon his effort over the bar to hand the Reds their first League Cup in 10 years to the day plus one.
With this victory, Liverpool are now record winners of the competition with nine victories. Manchester City next with eight wins. The occasion marked Klopp’s first domestic trophy and all being well, more of the same to follow.
The boss said during the build up to the game that he was hoping it was ‘third time lucky’ for him, after two previous final defeats in the competition. And as is often the case, he’s called it very well.
The (Not) Bad
Making good use of the game in-hand over Manchester City with a 6-0 drubbing of Leeds United at Anfield. To be honest, I was expecting a tougher challenge for Liverpool.
Notwithstanding their current strong form, the last couple of games against Leeds have been anywhere near as straightforward as this one. It seems as if the wheels have fallen off for them and at the time of writing, their manager Marcelo Bielsa has been relieved of his duties.
With the emphatic win, the Reds are now just three points behind leaders City at the end of this game week. To Liverpool’s advantage, the Blues of Manchester suffered a defeat to Tottenham Hotspurs, with their last summer target Harry Kane scoring an injury time winner.
Hit for 6️⃣#LIVLEE pic.twitter.com/mNsQAy6QnN
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 23, 2022
The Ugly
The killjoys that are the English Football Association. Not only are they about as much use as lead parachute, they seize any opportunity to show their (non-existent) “power”.
Youngster Harvey Elliot was photographed holding a red flare during yesterday’s celebrations. Now, the long arm of the FA have contacted him for his “observations”.
Observations? What kind of a stupid request is that. What’s the lad supposed to say in response? “Yes sirs, I observed myself carrying a flair in celebration, after possibly the greatest day of my life so far and helping one of the world’s greatest football clubs make history… so sorry for that!” What a total waste of time, money and effort.
OK, it could, like many things be a dangerous act, but I don’t think this is something they need to follow up in this way. Wouldn’t it have been better to just call, ask him to be more careful in future and leave it at that?
The FA have written to Harvey Elliot for his observations after he was seen handling a red smoke flare at the Carabao Cup final. pic.twitter.com/1agvPpyhCL
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 28, 2022
There are sadly, some things that will never change.
YNWA
