We’ve got a repeat of the opening Premier League fixture on Wednesday night with the return of the mighty Liverpool to Carrow Road in the Carabao Cup third round.
I’ve discovered via another chat with the excellent Tony Evans, who is a columnist for The Independent, a former Football Editor of The Times, a contributor to talkSPORT and Five Live and is heavily involved with Reds website The Anfield Wrap, that there might be a few famous faces missing when the Reds arrive in Norfolk.
I know we won’t be putting out our first choice line-up either but Tony and I agreed that wouldn’t take anything away from what should be a great encounter.
I began by mentioning to Tony that under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have never progressed beyond a domestic Cup quarter-final of any description. So how will Jurgen deal with this one?
Klopp has something of a duty, really, to protect the core of the senior team. We didn’t bring in many players during the window but we have so many great young guys coming through who want the thrill of playing for the Liverpool first team and I’d expect them to take their chance when it comes along. These lads are desperate to get an opportunity!
So will you be basically be fielding an under-23 outfit then?
Not quite but I don’t reckon too many first-team regulars will be involved on Wednesday. We will look at the league table and I’m sure you’ll do the same and consider to what degree the competition is dispensable to both of us. But… when it comes to the quarter-finals it gets interesting for all of us who get there. Two games from a great day out at Wembley for all the supporters – then I think Jurgen would become very interested and play stronger teams and I’m sure Daniel Farke at Norwich would too.
Klopp’s like what I would call a typical foreign manager if there is such a thing in that while the Carabao isn’t a priority he won’t turn down the chance to have a proper crack at it in the later stages if we’re there or thereabouts.
So the attitude of teams at the top and bottom ends of the PL towards Cup competition really has changed then?
Definitely. The whole landscape has changed. There could be a couple of clubs traditionally in the middle reaches who might give it a serious go from the start [I suggested West Ham and Everton, Tony didn’t disagree – Martin] but we’ll see how it all turns out.
And speaking of the Toffees…
I’m not being in any way patronising but it would be a great thing for the club and its supporters to get to Wembley, bring back some memories and maybe something silver to put in the boardroom. Every team wants that of course but those who are unlikely to reach the Champions League or Europa League and equally won’t be concerned about relegation might well give it a right good go.
Any of your youngsters we should particularly look out for on the night?
Yeah – mainly the ones you’ve already heard of like Curtis Jones, Neco Williams, Ben Woodburn, plus a really good young player in Layton Stewart. The type of player that is far too good for the under-23s but haven’t really established themselves in the first team squad yet. The academy is going great at the moment.
Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones look pretty good to me already!
Yep! Obviously, we won’t be seeing Elliott for quite a while after that dreadful ankle injury against Leeds last weekend and we all wish him a safe and speedy recovery [Amen to that – Martin].
I’ve noticed that a couple of your fansites are full of praise for Ozan Kabak. What is your take on him?
He was virtually an emergency loan when Van Dijk, Matip and Gomez were injured but he did really well although his partnership with Ben Davies wasn’t the best. He showed there was quite a bit about him and he’s certainly got the ability to learn. He’s got the right attitude and I’d say he’s well worth a punt.
I see you’ve vastly reduced your prices for the travelling contingent for this match and so have we – we’re doing kids for a quid, concessions for a tenner and £15 for the rest of us?
Very few Liverpool games struggle to sell out home or away. This one’s a night match with two *weakened* teams so add in the economic situation generally and it makes perfect sense from all sides. It’s on TV too of course but it gives an opportunity to those who don’t always get to go for both sets of supporters so I can’t criticise that [neither can I – Martin]. It’s a horrible journey for our supporters but I’m sure they’ll be there in full effect.
I’m unlikely to be going myself but I might change my mind at the last minute. How about you?
No – I’m working at QPR v Everton that night! It’s a shame because Norwich is a great venue and I’d like to enjoy a few beers with my mates and have a great day out. One day soon when I’m not working I hope.
Preview over, we concluded with a chat about what both Liverpool and ourselves do in terms of our local communities and Tony made an interesting observation.
Yes, we’ve both got pedigree as community clubs and it’s pleasing to hear about your Community Sports Foundation. I think along with many clubs Liverpool and yourselves let the principle drift for a while a few years ago but it’s great that we’re back on track.
As always many thanks to Tony E for a great chat and some much-appreciated insight.
I thought the game was tonight, not Wednesday. Seems you two will miss the kick off!
Hi Nick
You know what – you’re quite right!
Gary, myself and even Tony E had some issues over the match day itself when we put this piece together. You win the usual MFW prize of a bacon roll if you can tell us where we’ve hidden it. If not, one of the MFW team will have to eat it instead.
I can’t do emojis remotely but if I could it would be the one with the red face.
Cheers
Hi Martin
Great preview and will tonight possibly be a dress rehearsal for the team DF will play at Everton or will be to get match time for fringe players.
There will be much speculation from both sides on how the German duo will be set up both hate to lose , one is top of the league while the other is on his clubs longest losing run in the premiership with lots to ponder on.
Loserpool will have talented players wanting to make their mark and possibly get clubs interested in taking them on loan come January plus a couple of older heads to steady the ship.
City will have a team hopefully trying to impress and get a start come Saturday, Losing games like city have been doing creates tried bodies and minds but also gets players to doubt themselves causing poor decisions making and in some cases not wanting the ball in dangerous areas.
As everyone has said over the last few weeks city have 2 major problems 1 at each end of the pitch keeping clean sheets has become a nightmare, then at the other creating chances is OK but putting them away again has become a nightmare.
As we have both mentioned in recent weeks their is no voice booming out in the defence to keep people awake and aware of any dangers so is it time to recall Gibson for that roll.
Kabak and Arthur O not experienced enough for a premiership start as a duo but tonight could give it a kick start.
Harping back to my earlier stance tired bodies and tired minds so do city need these extra games, winning will give them confidence and put money into a depleted coffer so DF and SW has a big decision to make team selection and system used will be either praised or torn to shreds tomorrow so a no win situation.
Gunn
Aaron’s Arthur O Kabak Gibson Dimi G,
Normann Sorensen Tzolis
Idah Pukki
That’s my starting 11 not an attacking side but maybe hold Loserpool until mid second half then fresh legs to attack a tiring team 2-1 to city
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay Healthy and Keep Safe
It’s Andrew O! Sorry got my pedant hat on today.
Think it could be my auto checker Arthur comes up all the time I type a capital A for some reason
I turn my spellcheck off – as regular MFW readers will probably realise!
Hi Nick
You should have had a go at me yesterday – writing quickly I got it phonetically wrong and had Andrew down as Omodamibele.
MFW doesn’t pay for proof reading services but we do acknowledge mistakes!
Cheers
Hi Alex
This is one match I’m not prepared to anticipate a team for cos I don’t have a scooby what is going through DF’s mind in terms of selection for this fixture.
I’d love to see Sorenson get some game time and Dowell too.
How it will pan out I’m not really certain.
The only thing I’m prepared to say for sure is that Angus will be in goal!
Cheers
Hi Martin
See Liverpool are giving 2 debutantes a runout tonight stinks of overconfidence playing a 16yr old but with our record who wouldn’t be
Well they have to start sometime. I don’t think Klopp is doing it specifically because it’s us tbh, he’d probably do the same against any team outside the top six.
So, “…It’s a horrible journey for our supporters…”, like every away game we have north of Derby.
OTBC
Hi Mike
I’ve never found Derby particularly easy to get to personally. We have no easy *get to* fixtures apart from the Binners and the London clubs really.
Mind you Tony E has a point – if you’ve ever tried to get a two-carriage rattler from Thorpe to Liverpool Lime Street you’ll know that it takes around six hours of unadulterated torture, including the in and out at Ely.
Thanks
Hi Martin
They haven’t run trains from Dereham since Beeching, so even that’s a luxury to us. We drive everywhere, so the interminable A17 is the route for Nottingham and all points north to Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle etc. I may have forgotten someone – oh yes, Hull!
Derby is A14 / M1 / A50, (like Stoke), so dual carriageway and easier, not easy!
Yeah
When I was working I lived in Blofield and then Coltishall. Before the Southern bypass was built going past Carrow Road was always part of a return business journey from Middlesbrough, Manchester, London or wherever!
We split our time between the City and Mundesley these days and that means I can either walk to the ground or not get there at all without driving, which I hate as I love a few beers on a matchday.
The A17 is a killer in more than one sense of the word. I did that route for almost 20 years and I can still remember it now. When I got to Lynn I felt like I was home. Well, I was nearly an hour further along the line.
Not so many speed cameras in those days but I sure wouldn’t do it now.
There are many advantages to living around Dereham but ease of transport has never been one of them in my living memory!
EFL cup winner seems to get place to Uefa conference league qualifications. Of course winner can be someone of top 5 too, so it destroys most clubs dreams to play in Europe. Now Spurs seems to be representing England and honestly they have realistic chance to even win it and prize money is not much lower than in europe league has.
Norwich surely has good chance to beat Liverpool, this is better chance to win than in any league game at least so far. Premier league looks to be mission impossible, but think about if Norwich would win EFL cup and thanks to that got a place to play in Europe? Who cares which lineups top clubs brings to local cup games, history is written based on results.
Hi 1×2
I think it was good to hear Tony E’s Liverpool perspective from the top of the Premier League as well as that of Norwich from the bottom.
Of course Norwich can win, but even if Liverpool field many younger players they might well still be too strong for us. Nobody wants to lose a match but I guess, as Tony says in the article, it’s just a question of priorities.
It should be an entertaining game anyway and, like supporters of both clubs, I’m very much looking forward to it 🙂
Kiitos
Sheesh Martin , as your headline said a repeat of the opening day, even down to the scoreline. Great crystal ball work.
Hi Bernie
All *my* headlines are written by Gary G, so credit where it’s due 🙂