04/23/24
December 04, 2002
Worthington Cup: Liverpool vs Ipswich (8pm GMT/3pm EST/noon PST).: The fourth round continues with Premiership contenders Liverpool hosting recently-relegated First Division Ipswich. While the League Cup has its fair share of upsets, StarFucker and I will be hoping for no surprises and Liverpool to beat the Tractor Boys. We'll be fixing a keen eye on Chris Kirkland, who takes over as Liverpool goalkeeper, thanks to Dudek's weekend fumble. We'll also be watching for how radically changed Liverpool's lineup will be, and how many reserves get to start the match. Join the game live via Net radio or live text.
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 09:27 AM - 32 comments
Well, it looks like Dudek will start against Ipswich!
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:15 PM on December 04, 2002
I wouldn't dismisss Ipswich so readily. They have some good players and Joe Royle is renowned for his dogs of war stylee. An upset beckons.
posted by Fat Buddha at 01:57 PM on December 04, 2002
Dammit. 1-0 Ipswich after 15 minutes. Oh, the agony. I hope you're wrong, FB, I hope you're wrong.
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:25 PM on December 04, 2002
Gawd, I just realized Gerrard and Dudek are the only first-team regulars starting. What was Houllier thinking changing 80% of the team? And the only regular on the bench is Carragher. Well, StarFucker's last-choices (Murphy, Heskey and Carragher) aren't playing. We'll see if this team can do any better. Right now, it hardly looks like it. Maybe Dudek is wishing Kirkland had started instead.
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:30 PM on December 04, 2002
hoping for no surprises and Liverpool to beat the Tractor Boys Well, someone has to support the underdogs...Go Tractor Boys!
posted by eckeric at 04:00 PM on December 04, 2002
1-1. Penalty in the 54th, converted by Diouf. Game now in extra-time. It's Maalox time. Bloody hell.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:05 PM on December 04, 2002
First 15 of extra-time over. Immediate switchover. Ipswich dominating midfield with Magilton. It's looking so lousy I can only hope we make it to penalties. Argh.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:12 PM on December 04, 2002
Baros blasts a volley over from six yards. The only chance of extra-time.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:25 PM on December 04, 2002
Oh, free kick 28 yards out for Liverpool. Gerrard to take.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:26 PM on December 04, 2002
Huh, Wigan (a second division team ) beat Man City and Fulham? Go figure. ooh, final whistle! You got your wish
posted by eckeric at 04:26 PM on December 04, 2002
More Maalox.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:27 PM on December 04, 2002
Dudek has a chance to redeem himself here.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:28 PM on December 04, 2002
They'll be taken at the Kop (home fans) end. Ipswich to go first. Matt Holland. 1-0.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:31 PM on December 04, 2002
Watch me bloody break down here. 1-1. Gerrard buries it in the net.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:32 PM on December 04, 2002
1-1. Clapham over the bar!
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:32 PM on December 04, 2002
Liverpool 2-1. Baros buries it. Magilton next.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:33 PM on December 04, 2002
Liverpool 2-2. Magilton does the job, but Ipswich at a disadvantage.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:34 PM on December 04, 2002
Liverpool 3-2. Riise shoots low and scores.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:34 PM on December 04, 2002
Liverpool 3-3. Miller to the bottom corner. Carragher next.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:35 PM on December 04, 2002
Liverpool 4-3. Yes.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:35 PM on December 04, 2002
Liverpool 4-4. Armstrong forces Diouf to score another penalty. It's up to you, Diouf.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:36 PM on December 04, 2002
YESSSSSS! Liverpool 5-4. Diouf saves them twice. Ipswich commentators were complaining about "the Czech Republic" or something as we neared the end of extra-time. Guess, it was bad deja vu. Excuse me while I have a heart attack.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:38 PM on December 04, 2002
Whoo, great match! Thanks for the heads up, WC.
posted by eckeric at 04:42 PM on December 04, 2002
It was rubbish. Like watching a train wreck, with the only good thing being everyone survived. Liverpool did themselves no favors and penalty-kicked their way to the next round. Liverpool needs to dominate, but they can't even do that again a First Div side. Even though Liverpool was fielding their B team, they should have done much better than barely avoid losing the game.
posted by worldcup2002 at 05:19 PM on December 04, 2002
dude, no offense, but you provide a link to online commentary, and then do it yourself here anyways? Is this a chat room now?
posted by Ufez Jones at 05:26 PM on December 04, 2002
It was rubbish. Well, sure, if you are a Liverpool fan. ;-) Now, if you like train wrecks (or, say, you are at work with the flu) it was not bad. Anyhow, I see that the Quarter-final draw is: Wigan v Blackburn Aston Villa v Liverpool Sheffield United v Crystal Palace Manchester United v Chelsea Do any of the lower division teams have a good chance to advance? I see that Wigan has beaten 3 Premier Division teams so far, and Sheffield (First Division) beat Sunderland to get to the Quarter-finals? Is the talent gap between the divisions signifigant? Do the Premier teams tend to rest top players during these games?
posted by eckeric at 05:57 PM on December 04, 2002
Aston Villa v Liverpool eh? Easy win for the Villa then...
posted by BigCalm at 03:09 AM on December 05, 2002
Oh, them's fightin' words, BigCalmy. We shall see! Altho, if we field the same lineup of second-stringers as we did yesterday, you're probably right.
posted by worldcup2002 at 10:45 AM on December 05, 2002
Thanks for the commentary Worldcup... By the way, i think Houllier has lost it...
posted by StarFucker at 10:58 AM on December 05, 2002
eckeric: The lower division teams usu. have as good a chance as any precisely because, yes, Premier teams tend to rest top players during these games. If you're vying for Euro (Champs, UEFA) and Premiership and FA Cup honors, the League Cup is a very very lowly priority. So, you essentially get full-strength motivated lower division teams against Premiership teams that have two disadvantages: players who have been playing mostly reserve games (or just coming back from injury) and who have not played much as a team.
posted by worldcup2002 at 11:04 AM on December 05, 2002
Cool. I look forward to the next round of matches then, it is fun to watch the underdog win when it isn't your team they are beating (and as an Arizona Basketball fan, I know all about big name teams losing to those that they are expected to beat).
posted by eckeric at 03:19 PM on December 05, 2002
If we can't bloody beat a team that may be fighting to stay in the First Div, we might as well pack it in. Let's go, StarFucker, positive vibes, positive vibes.