Lackluster Display vs. Hull:
Last week I said that we should be worried about Hull, but this was a game that we should have won. Mad Mario had 2 or 3 great chances for a goal, including one in extra time, that would have clinched the 3 points for the Reds. Instead it was another goalless performance, and after the game the rumors were swirling about what to do with the strikers at Anfield (more on that below).
Capital One Cup:
This game had recipe for disaster written all over it. With Kolo Toure leading the back line (uh oh), Lambert and Borini starting up top (meh), and Brad Jones in net (jury is still out), I wasn’t sure how we were going to come out of there alive. After the first half ended 0-0 (with Liverpool getting the majority of the chances) Liverpool went down 0-1 in the 65th after a delicious strike by Marvin Emnes. Liverpool fought back though, and after bringing Balotelli on in the 79th, he finished a great cross from Borini to tie it up. After an unfortunate red card booking for Federico Fernández, Liverpool capitalized on some sloppy goalkeeping and Dejan Lovren put a nice header in net to secure passage to the next round. This game was a hard fought come from behind victory, but even though Mario was able to get on the board he still BLASTED 2 shots waaaay above the net (and has yet to score an EPL goal) so the verdict is still up in the air. Liverpool will next face Bournemouth (away) the week of December 15, sandwiched between matches vs. Man United and Arsenal.
Around the Interwebs.
Inbetween the Hull and Swansea matches, a plethora of Liverpool rumors took over the internet. Napoli is allegedly interested in Ballotelli for 10 million pounds, Liverpool are looking at Berahino to help put some goals on the board, and they are also tracking the young FC Porto starlet Ruben Neves. There was also talk before the Swansea match that Borini was fed up and wanted out, but in the recent days, his agent has said that was just a rumor, and he’s working hard to stay at Anfield (Inter Milan, Sampdoria and Fiorentina are rumored to be interested in the Italian striker). Just yesterday, the persistent rumor of Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa heading to Anfield resurfaced, but this rumor has been going around since this summer so no idea if it’s actually moving forward.
More trouble:
Liverpool face Newcastle away on Saturday at 8:45 a.m. EST, a team that defeated Tottenham last weekend and Manchester City during the week in their Capital One Cup match. Hopefully the Reds are fully concentrating on this match as they face a daunting task on Tuesday when they travel to the Bernabéu to take on Real Madrid (Now with more Bale!). Get the pain meds and defribulators ready Reds fans, because it’s going to be another hectic week.