The Soccer Blog: Match Preview: Liverpool v. Northampton Town, 09.22.10

Tuesday 21 September 2010

Match Preview: Liverpool v. Northampton Town, 09.22.10

By: Ed | September 21st, 2010

Liverpool make their Carling Cup bow tomorrow night at Anfield.

Compared to Sunday, I’d say there’s slightly different expectations in the build-up to tomorrow’s match.

Not for the result, mind you—I think Liverpool need a win here, not just for progression in the competition, but for furthering (or creating) a feeling that things are moving in the right direction.

The atmosphere around the League Cup in recent years has steadily declined, despite being told that “it’s back” any number of ways and any number of times. It has become, for the top sides, an exercise in youth development and keeping second-string goalkeepers somewhat fresh. The competition has produced some decent matches in the past few years, but it’s not something that most folks are counting down the days for.

So it’s here nonetheless, and the challenge will come in the form of League Two opposition Northampton Town. They’re the only team left from the competition’s lowest division, and they progressed via a couple of hard-fought victories up the ladder—they got past Brighton (League One) 2-0 in the first round, and defeated Reading (Championship) 4-2 on penalties after a 120′ own goal from Matthew Mills leveled the match at 3-3.

The Cobblers have started their league season in less-than flattering form, with their only win coming against Southend a week and a half ago. They’ve drawn four and lost three, and outside of their performances in the League Cup they’ve had trouble scoring goals with any consistency. They’ve also allowed 15 goals in six matches away from home in all competitions, exacerbating the problems caused by the lack of production in front of goal.

On the scoresheet they’re led by midfielder Kevin Thornton, who’s scored twice in league and once in the Carling Cup. He’s followed by striker Billy McKay and midfielder Andrew Holt (possibly a relative of Steve Holt?), both of whom have a goal apiece in league play and cup competition. Chris Dunn has started every match in goal since Oscar Jansson, the penalty hero against Reading, returned to Spurs, and he’ll be behind a defense looking to keep its first clean sheet in over a month.

Onto the home side:

1. Who will start for Liverpool?
2. What’s the most important factor for the Reds?
3. Who’s going to win and what’s going to be the scoreline?

1. Who will start for Liverpool?

Jones
Kelly Kyrgiakos Wilson Agger
Pacheco Lucas Spearing Jovanovic
Ngog Babel

—Obviously twenty minutes after I post I see this interview with Roy Hodgson, which apparently lays things out pretty cleanly—I was off on the positions of Agger and Wilson, but other than that on course.

—Again, formation means nothing, but I think if we see the names above we’re going to get plenty of fluidity and overlap in the opposition half.

—We have to see Dani Pacheco tomorrow. Have to. I’ve resigned myself to hoping for cameo roles in league play and potentially the Europa League, but outside of injury there’s no reason he wouldn’t feature. For all the preseason talk about a larger role, we haven’t seen much of late. Hopefully an appearance for Jonjo Shelvey as well.

—A lot of talk about Danny Wilson getting his first Liverpool start, and it would make some sense for him to feature. Martin Skrtel played a full 90 against United, and with Fabio Aurelio still on the mend, Daniel Agger might have to deputize yet again at left back.

—I don’t typically look forward to seeing back-up goalkeepers in action, and while I’m not quivering with anticipation, I do think it’ll be nice to see Brad Jones in a moving picture.

2. What’s the most important factor for the Reds?

I think a mix-up in the starting eleven, regardless of the circumstances, could provide a bit of a jolt. Quite a few of the fringe first-teamers are attack-minded players (Jovanovic, Babel, Ngog, Pacheco), and if they feature at the same time I’m anticipating a front-footed Liverpool.

But as usual, they’ll have to avoid shipping an early goal or leaving Northampton in the match late. That’s not to say “leaving Northampton in the match” is something that’s entirely within Liverpool’s control, but I do think the Reds could and should dictate proceedings. It’d be nice to watch Liverpool approach a match everyone says they should win like they actually think they should win.

3. Who’s going to win and what’s going to be the scoreline?

I’m saying 4-0 Liverpool. I think we get promising glimpses of the younger squad members, decent play at the back, and an effort that continues some of the positive feelings from Sunday.

Currently I’m unsure as to the status of match coverage—you can expect there to be streams available, and I’ll have a post up tomorrow morning with links and other news.

Have a good one, all.

Some Related Liverpool Posts:Match Preview: Liverpool v. Trabzonspor, 08.26.10Match Preview: Liverpool v. Steaua Bucharest, 09.16.10Squad Announced; Fernando Torres Has Been Paying AttentionMatch Preview: Liverpool v. Trabzonspor, 08.19.10Match Preview: Liverpool v. Manchester United, 09.19.10

Category: League Cup, Match Previews, Miscellaneous, Team News

Tags: Brad Jones, Dani Pacheco, Daniel Agger, Danny Wilson, David Ngog, Jay Spearing, Jonjo Shelvey, League Cup, Lucas, Martin Kelly, Match Previews, Milan Jovanovic, Miscellaneous, Ryan Babel, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Team News
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Tom FooleryWell, well, well. I've just gotten back on home soil after a couple of weeks in the greater NW. Fantastic vacation, and fortunately it gave me a chance to escape my LFC addiction for a bit. I've done some catching up, and it seems all is still in order i.e. no new owners, Lucas debates, Torres talk, and of course Carrahoofs vs. Brum...its good to be back. As for this game though, I don't have any meaningful input at this point. So a quick copy and paste of Ed's predictions with a slight change in the scoreline: 4-1, Babel gets a brace (and gives up possession countless times, of course).TawfiqEd thanks mate for the preview; i like the formation but id rather we keep jova for sunderland game and put david amoo instead.. He will be the kop hero come years (I hope)
and I think it will be a pur liverpool win all the way..
YNWANoelNice overview, Ed: I think I now know more about Northampton that I probably do about a couple of Prem clubs.

Any case, your line-up seemed right, and then I clicked the link, so that seems sorted--though I do wonder what the hell has happened to Aurelio. There was talk of an injury, though it seemed like a minor tweak in training sort of deal, and then just nothing. If it was serious enough to have kept him out so long like this, it's odd more hasn't been made of it. Then again, that's about what seemed to happen to him last year: no talk of major injuries, just a tweak and then he wasn't there.

A bit of attack minded footie should be nice, but outside of avoiding a defeat for all the added doubts it would bring it's hard to think what the important factors would be for a game that really isn't all that important. A trophy's a trophy, and if we progress a few rounds perhaps some kind of affinity for the competition will build, but at this stage it's one step above internationals: it's there, it's football.

Even against a minnow 4-0 seems a little adventurous to me, though I'm torn over whether I should roll the four down or the zero up. Let's go with 3-0EdRe: Aurelio, I had the same thought. It's more bizarre than anything else--he returns to much fanfare and acclaim, the man to solve the problems at left back. Then he's injured and fades into the darkness right as Konchesky arrives. Perfect.blog comments powered by Disqus

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Tuesday 21 September 2010

Match Preview: Liverpool v. Northampton Town, 09.22.10

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