It's been a stunning week for Liverpool as they emerged victorious in back to back Cup games, as the first victory coming against Manchester City in the second-leg League Cup tie at Anfield. Liverpool who, edged City in the first-leg at the Etihad stadium with a 0-1 victory, drew 2-2 at Anfield in the second-leg and as aggregate says so with 3-2, Liverpool walk into the League Cup final squaring themselves with Cardiff City. Steven Gerrard scored the only crucial goal against City in the first-leg, a penalty that was awarded in the 12th minute of the game and they had to hang on till the final whistle. Travelling back to Anfield for the second-leg tie at Anfield, goals by Gerrard (again from the penalty spot) and Craig Bellamy was enough to cancel out goals by Dzeko and De-Jong to reach the final. Eventhough, City only escaped with near call scoreline, but then full credits should be given to the Reds as they dominated well in both ties and indeed deserved to win with bigger margin of goals. Kenny Dalglish was very proud with his team's performance in both legs against City and pointed out by saying that, Liverpool deserve at least to win a trophy this season for the countless efforts and tireless hard work that they've been displaying this season regardless of some losses that they suffered due to poor form. With Steven Gerrard back to full fitness of late, Liverpool can move on well from now and fight for the fourth spot in the table to guarantee a place in the Champions League next season. 3-4 days after the triumph over Manchester City, Liverpool then had to square off with their fiercest of rivals, Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round tie at Anfield. With the players already looming tiredly after their awesome triumph over City in the League Cup, but with home advantage on their side, Liverpool once again emerged victorious impressively with a 2-1 win. Honestly speaking, this time around, Manchester United took control of the game, and for the first time ever at Anfield, Liverpool looked more like the second best team, or I would best describe it as, they seemed more like the Underdogs on that day. Game started well, with Maxi coming close to drawing first blood for Liverpool with a long-range shot going on target, but only to witness that ball being pushed away impressively by the unpredictable David De Gea. Liverpool then broked the deadlock with a headed goal by Martin Skrtel in the 21st minute, That goal came after a silly mistake by De Gea, attempting to clear the ball away from Andy Carroll, but Skrtel smartly sneaked in to grab that goal, credits to Andy Carroll's pressure that was piled on De Gea. Manchester United were looking more threatening after conceding that goal, and they made Liverpool pay for their lackluster performance in the final 10 minutes heading towards half-time with Park-Ji Sung scoring the equalising goal in the 39th minute. Second half was on the border, as both teams kept trying their best to grab a goal, and exactly on the 88th minute, Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt, who came off the bench as a sub, scored the winning goal for Liverpool. The goal came after a Pepe Reina's long goal kick that, fell kindly to Kuyt's feet after Patrice Evra failed to clear it away as it was heading towards him, and Kuyt finishing it off with calmly taken low show down the right hand corner. Anfield erupted as that goal went in and smile was put sternly back on Dalglish's face, and most importantly the relief that he totally needed. Patrice Evra's return to Anfield, marked a terrible return for him, as he is the one who should be blamed for not clearing the ball away before it was put right on the plate for Dirk Kuyt to finish it right at the end of the game and the boo-ing in the stadium roared each time Evra get's on the ball. If Liverpool were to miss any key players in both Cup Ties against the Manchester Clubs, undoubtedly that key figure would be Luis Suarez. He is a highly missed figure in the Liverpool squad due to the racism row he had with Evra, and so proud he was to see his team win and qualify to the respective rounds without him in the game. Suarez will make his return against Spurs on the 6th February and that's going to be a cracker at Anfield. With guaranteed qualifications in both the League and FA Cup to the next rounds, Liverpool then turned their attention to the away game against Wolves. Kenny Dalglish feels that it's going to be a great race for fourth spot in the tabel, as they walk away with three points, winning 0-3 against Wolves. Goal scorers in that match, were Andy Carroll, Dirk Kuyt and the tireless Craig Bellamy. Andy Carroll, hopefully he is finally picking up his form as he scored a goal against Wolves, and he has been getting more confident day by day, and Dalglish stated that, he sees alot of changes in Carroll's playing style of late and very impressed that he scored a goal and this would definitely help boost some confidence on him. Craig Bellamy, is once again proving to be a key figure for the reds, and undoubtedly he is a super threat, and Dalglish just can't wait till Suarez returns, so that he can pair up with Bellamy maybe just behind Carroll, if he keeps finding his good form.
