City lift the Capital One Cup

Sports - Football - Capital One Cup - Liverpool 1:1 Man City AET (1:3 on penalties)

Manchester City lifted the League Cup for the fourth time (1970, 1976, 2014 and 2016) thanks to second-choice goalkeeper Willy Caballero's heroic performance with three penalty saves which saw his side record a 3-1 shoot-out victory over Liverpool after the sides drew 1-1 in extra time at Wembley.

The 34-year old denied Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana from the spot, rewarding his boss Manuel Pellegrini for choosing him ahead of first choice Joe Hart. The Argentinian stopper also kept out Divock Origi's header spectacularly earlier on in the match.

At the other end, Reds keeper Simon Mignolet had a very mixed afternoon. The Belgian let Fernandinho's shot slip through under his body to concede the opener shortly after the break. His side had dominated possession in the first half, but were unable to take advantage.

Daniel Sturridge gave away the ball on numerous occasions, unable to produce anything of note, caught offside most of the time, undoing his team mates' hard work, especially Lucas and James Milner.

After Mignolet's leak, City took over and looked to build on their lead through Sergio Aguero on a few occasions. But the red number 22 redeemed himself with a couple of breathtaking saves.

It was a game to forget for Raheem Sterling against his former side. Similar to Sturridge, he kept giving away the ball, missing chances, wasting sitters, looking just not there. 

Coutinho got the Red spirit back up and going late on, in the 83rd minute, seeing in the ball to level the score after Lallana had hit the post at the far end.

It finally got the competition back running and steaming through to extra time with both keeper's kept busy and teams sweating.

But penalties it was in the end. And after Fernandinho had hit the post with City's first kick, it looked like Jürgen Klopp's men were going to steel the show.

However, it was not to be. With Caballero's star performance and Jesus Navas and Aguero's conversions, it was Yaya Toure who sealed the deal, converting the winning penalty, giving Pellegrini his third major trophy in as many seasons and condemning Liverpool to their fourth League Cup final defeat (1978, 1987, 2005 and 2016).

It was the Red's fourth penalty shootout defeat in the competition, making it four defeats in 18 shootouts. Klopp has reached a cup final in each of his last five seasons as a manager, but has lost four. Tough luck?

The Merseysiders can seek revenge as the two sides will meet again midweek, in the Premier League, at Anfield, where the Kop will want to see Blue blood.

Liverpool Goal: 10 Coutinho 83'.

Man City Goal: 25 Fernandinho 49'.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 18 Moreno (booked 65', 20 Lallana 72' (booked 118')), 17 Sakho (4 K Toure 25'), 21 Lucas, 2 Clyne (booked 53'); 10 Coutinho (booked 84'), 23 Can (booked 85'), 14 Henderson (c), 7 Milner; 11 Firmino (27 Origi 80'); 15 Sturridge. 4-4-1-1
Subs not used: 9 Benteke, 24 Allen, 34 Bogdan and 38 Flanagan.

Man City Team: 13 Caballero; 22 Clichy, 30 Otamendi (booked 109'), 4 Kompany (c) (booked 87'), 3 Sagna (5 Zabaleta 90'); 6 Fernando (booked 76', 15 Navas 90'), 42 Y Toure (booked 118'); 7 Sterling, 21 Silva (14 Bony 110'), 25 Fernandinho (booked 118'); 10 Aguero. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 Hart, 11 Kolarov, 26 Demichelis and 72 Iheanacho.

More stats and facts, reactions and views:

Sky Sport Opta Match Stats: Liverpool-Man City
Possession: 61.4%-38.6%
Shots: 16-20
On target: 4-7
Off target: 9-11
Blocked: 3-2
Passes: 553/703 (78.7%) - 302/431(70.1%)
Attacking third: 161/233 (69.1%) - 115/178 (64.6%)
Key passes: 10-14
Clear-cut chances: 1-1
Crosses: 8/21 (38.1%) - 9/26 (34.6%)
Dribbles: 20/29 (69%) - 18/27 (66.7%)
Offsides: 8-0
Recoveries: 75-69
Tackles: 23/29 (79.3%) - 18/27 (66.7%)
Interceptions: 24-29
Blocks: 1-3
Clearances: 14-27
Headed clearances: 8-17
Aerial duels: 14/46 (30.4%) - 32/46 (69.6%)
Blocked crosses: 2-4
Saves: 6-3
Keeper's catches: 2/2 (100%) - 2/2 (100%)
Fouls committed:  18-15
Fouls won: 15-18
Yellow cards: 5-5
Red cards: 0-0

Referee: Michael Oliver
Man of the match: Vincent Kompany

Manager reaction:

Jürgen Klopp: "We feel down but now we have to stand up. Only silly idiots stay on the floor and wait for the next defeat.
"We will strike back. We have felt how it is to lose. It is not the best moment but on Monday morning maybe we can change everything.
"We will go on and we will get better. We have to work really hard, carry on and there is light at the end of the tunnel. This is important."

Manuel Pellegrini: "I was concerned about the amount of chances we missed. After that we played better in extra time.
"It's a very important moment, and it's always very special to win a title at Wembley."

My views and questions:

Klopp sounded very much like Gerry and the Pacemakers... At the end of the storm... Is a golden sky...

The stats say it all! The Reds tried hard, with more of the ball (more possession), but did less with it (less chances on and off target).

Sturridge frustrated me most, so many offsides and wastes (8-0)!!! Will Christian Benteke get a chance in the next clash against City?! I doubt it and don't like it!
Both cases of Sturridge and Sterling show, stars cannot and do not shine the same on their own.

After this frustration, we need more variation, change. The summer cannot come quick enough for Klopp. Let's hope there will be more changes then, than there were in January, disappointingly and surprisingly.

I keep thinking of the following German song that fits my (and probably Klopp's) football mood and thoughts: Was soll das?! Womit hab ich das verdient?! (Translation: What's the point?! What have I done to deserve this?!) Here is the full version: https://youtu.be/6tFoIu9nhYQ 

Reds Through After Six-Goal ET-Thriller

Sports - Football - Capital One Cup - Liverpool 4-2 Notts County

Record winners Liverpool were pushed into extra time before finally beating League One side Notts County 4-2 in the Capital One 2nd Round tie at Anfield.



The game started too comfortable for the home side, the Reds dominating possession and play on the first half. Raheem Sterling opened the scoring early on in the fourth minute beating two defenders to clip a shot in after a fine run from 40 yards out.

Daniel Sturridge doubled the score slamming in Steven Gerrard's cross from a tight angle.

The only downer for the home side was the early change they had to make after just nine minutes, defender Aly Cissokho hobbling off and being replaced by Daniel Agger following a challenge from Magpie's Jamal Campbell Ryce.

Gerrard, Agger and Kolo Toure all hit the woodwork as Brendan Rodgers' men looked nearly certain to progress through to the third round without too much of a sweat.

But the visitors pulled off an unexpected turnaround in the second half, Yoann Arquin smashing in a powerful header with just under half an hour to go before Adam Coombles netted the Martinique international's fine run and pull-back-pass to complete he visitor's comeback. 

Meanwhile, Joe Allen had limped off the pitch injured for the Reds.

Extra time brought extra pains and strains on to Liverpool after Toure was forced off injured, reducing the home side to ten men as they had used up all three of their substitutions in normal play time.

But the Reds restored their lead in the 109th minute when Sturridge squeezed in his second goal of the night under County keeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

Substitute Jordan Henderson sealed the win with a cheeky nutmeg through defender Enda Stevens
before curling a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 4-2 to the Reds.

Liverpool 4-2 Notts County (AET; FT 2-2; HT 2-0)

Liverpool Goals: 1.: 3:53min Raheem Sterling (31), 2. & 3.: 28:53 & 108:34min Daniel Sturridge (15), 4.: 109:40min Jordan Henderson (14).
Notts County Goals: 1.: 61:56min Yoann Arquin (15), 2.: 83:24min Adam Coombes (14).

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 20 Cissokho (5 Agger- 10.min), 47 Wisdom (booked 98.min), 4 Toure, 2 Johnson; 24 Allen (14 Henderson- 65.min), 8 Gerrard; 31 Sterling (booked 106.min), 6 Luis Alberto (10 Coutinho- 72.min), 33 Ibe; 15 Sturridge. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 Jones, 9 Aspas, 21 Lucas, 29 Borini.

Notts County Team: 1 Bialkowski; 24 Stevens, 4 Liddle, 5 Smith, 2 Dumbuya; 11 Bell (14 Coombes- 82.min), 22 Fotheringham (28 Boucaud- 77.min), 16 Labadie, 20 Campbell-Ryce (booked 52.min) (21 Thompson- 71.min); 8 McGregor; 15 Arquin (booked 77.min). 4-4-1-1
Subs not used: 19 Murray, 23 Speiss, 25 Tempest, 31 Nangle.

Opta Match Stats: Liverpool-Notts County

-Attack-
Shots: 28-10
On target: 9-5
Blocked: 5-2
From outside the box: 13-4
Inside: 15-6
Shot accuracy: 39.1%-62.5%

-General Play-
Possession: 62.9%-37.1%
Duels won: 56.7%-43.3%
Aerial duels won: 64.3%-35.7%
Interceptions: 8-20
Offsides: 5-4
Corners: 8-3

-Distribution-
Total passes: 829-473
Long: 8.9%-14.4%
Accuracy: 90%-80.5%
Accuracy opposition half: 82.3%-68.1%
Total crosses: 20-16
Successful crosses: 30%-18.8%

-Defence & Discipline-
Tackles: 33-40
Won: 78.8%-92.5%
Clearances: 45-32
Fouls conceded: 10-18
Yellow cards: 2-2
Red cards: 0-0