Earlier, Fernandinho’s opener just after half time was cancelled out by Brazilian Philippe Coutinho, who seems to enjoy scoring against Manchester City.
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Yaya Toure’s penalty sealed a 3-1 shootout win for City at Wembley Stadium, deflating a positive atmosphere in the travelling Kop.
Departing Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted the overriding principle of fielding Willy Caballero was stronger than his desire to win the Capital One Cup after his understudy goalkeeper proved the matchwinner at Wembley yesterday.
“We deserved to win the game, we missed chances but if you asked me which way I’d prefer to win I’d prefer to win it is this way with Willy as the hero”. “You can not say “I don’t care, it’s not important”.
Crooks told the BBC website: “If Lucas playing in defence was an innovative move by Jurgen Klopp, I have to question the Liverpool manager’s thinking when he refuses to introduce Christian Benteke at any stage in 120 minutes of football”.
But he was not impressed by Liverpool’s four selected takers for tonight’s dramatic finale to the League Cup final against Manchester City.
City face Liverpool again on Wednesday in the league as they try to cut back Leicester’s lead at the top, with the Foxes nine points ahead albeit having played one more game than Pellegrini’s side.
Still alive in the Premier League title race and in the Champions League, City will be seeking to make the first silverware of the English season merely a springboard to even greater success before Pep Guardiola takes the reins for next season.
Sturridge played a low cross into the box from the right and although Lallana contrived to hit the post from close range, Coutinho followed in to side-foot home. After the goal we were back in the game.
“It’s a shame we conceded a goal because we defended really well today”, said Caballero. The German boss, meanwhile, claimed that Mamadou Sakho “looked better after the game” but defended his decision to replace him with Kolo Toure earlier in the first-half following a a heavy clash of heads with Emre Can.
As Ivorian Toure wheeled away in celebration, the Argentine, City’s second-choice keeper who played every minute of the League Cup campaign, was wagging his finger and heading back towards goal ready to try and stop another penalty.
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“You know you can fall down, but you have to stand up”. It is important for the trust of team in the way we we are working. You have to feel how it is to lose.
