With this season’s first major final around the corner I thought I’d have a quick look back at our run to Wembley and see what stands out. To get to the final we’ve knocked out Exeter, Brighton, Stoke, Chelsea and Man City without having a home tie until the last possible game before the final itself, a 2-2 draw with City at Anfield. What is instantly noticeable is our away form, indeed our only home match of the competition is the only match we didn’t win, though we needed just a draw to progress. Over the last decade or so we’ve only really had one or two seasons where our away form has been anywhere approaching what it should be for a club of our stature who have invested what we have done in the transfer market. We’ve had some good results on out travels in the Champions League but haven’t produced consistent away results domestically which has certainly contributed to our lack of trophies since 2006. Ok it’s not all been plain sailing on our travels this season, Bolton, Fulham and Spurs stand out as poor results, but at least it feels Kenny is moving us in the right direction. Shown that set of fixtures before the tournament how many of us would have thought we wouldn’t have slipped up somewhere along the line?
Another plus from this season’s League Cup campaign has been the use of our squad players and youngsters. Jack Robinson and John Flanagan both impressed at full back in tricky venues showing real promise and acting as very good adverts for the work being done at our Academy. I’ve long been an advocate of our young players bulking out the squad, I don’t see the point in paying £5million for the likes of a Salif Diao to play 10-15 games a season, Jay Spearing has proved over the last calendar year that our reserve players can fill that role when called upon without the need to enter the transfer market. Maxi has played the majority of the games and looked good, getting key goals at important times. Coates and Carragher have also had chances to stay match fitness and keep match practiced during spells out of the first team. I’m surprised Doni hasn’t had at least one game in goal but I suppose when you have the best keeper in the world it’s hard to leave him out.
It’s long been said that success breeds success and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that after our good run in the Carling Cup all of our FA Cup ties have sold out. The game against Man Utd was always going to draw the fans in but recently fixtures against the likes of Oldham and Brighton would certainly not have been guaranteed full houses. With Wembley in our sights in one competition it really whets the supporters appetites for another trip in the FA Cup, the potential becomes real and even the most pessimistic of fans begins to sense it could be our year. We’re all in it together and the spirit and optimism in the stands helps the players through.
With Arsenal and Chelsea having poor seasons and both sets of fans calling for the heads of their managers on every radio phone in a trophy by the end of February would be fantastic for Kenny Dalglish. We’re in a similar league position to the other two but our closeness to silverware is definitely helping the mood around the club and setting the tone for local newspaper coverage. It’s a season of transition for us and bedding new players in is always made easier with a trophy. It makes the players realise they are at the right club and sets the standards for what they need to achieve while they wear the red shirt. Roll on Sunday and let’s bring the trophy back to Anfield.
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