It was 10 years ago this week that we were humiliated at Anfield by Northampton. Obviously the club has come a long way since those dark days and we’re now the best team in the land, but I thought it was quite fitting to see the second string perform like they did at Lincoln.
Northampton wasn't a one off either. We’ve spent decades struggling in these type of cup ties when the big hitters were rested and we had to call on the kids and fringe players. Now? I actually look forward to these games as much I do the ‘proper’ matches.
Some of the most enjoyable games we’ve had in recent seasons have been when the second string has played in the cups. Arsenal and Everton last season were great. So too was the Shrewsbury replay when it was a team full of kids. This was more of a mixed line up but we had a bit of everything really.
We had the star quality of Van Dijk, we had the fringe players like Shaqiri and Minamino, the wonder kids Jones and Elliott, the unknown youth teamer unexpectedly thrown in at the deep end as well as a couple of new signings making their debuts (Tsimikas looked good I thought). We also had a couple of lads in Big Div and my boy Grujic who maybe won’t be here much longer. Everyone played their part though.
It was a real mish mash eleven and in the past whenever we’d done anything like this it would usually end up in a risible performance and a cup exit. Spurs away jumps out at me for some reason. I couldn’t even tell you who played that night but I remember it was a real shitshow. Probably people like Degen and Plessis were involved but I’ve kind of wiped it from memory so can’t be sure.
Generally in the past when we've thrown together a team of kids and misfits, they've played like total strangers. That doesn't happen anymore. Win or lose they always look like a Klopp team.
This was great. Not perfect, and the second half wasn’t good defensively after Virg went off, but scoring seven times away from home with a second string against the League One leaders isn’t anything to be sniffed at.
The quality of some of the goals was ridiculous too. Shaq’s free-kick to open the scoring was a belter. I saw that coming a mile off and called goal before he even took it. I watched it at my parents house and as I'm sure I've mentioned before, Shaq is like the son my Dad always wanted. I don’t mind that, I love Shaq as well and wish he was my little brother so I could playfully slap him in a headlock and ruffle his expensive new hair. Love that little guy, he's fucking boss.
So yeah, anyway, as soon as the free-kick was awarded I said “This is a goal, Shaq will put this in the top corner”. And he did. I was on point with my predictions all night actually as before kick off I called goals for Jones and Grujic. The only one I got wrong was saying that there was absolutely zero chance that Jota wasn’t scoring when he came on. Other than that I was…. what do the cool kids say these days…. oh yeah I was FIRE!!!!
But enough of that, back to the footy. Shaq’s opener was glorious but Minamino matched it with a fabulous first time hit to make it 2-0. He just looks so much more comfortable and settled these days, but that's hardly a surprise as new signings into this team generally take a few months to start showing their form. Some are so good they transcend that. Mané, Salah, Van Dijk and I'm pretty sure Thiago will be another.
So that was a lovely goal that came about from Lincoln trying to pass it out from the back. Lads, you’re League One and we’re the World Champions. You really think you’re going to succeed where the likes of City and Chelsea have failed and play through our high press? Talk about delusions of grandeur.
Jones then made it 3-0 with a superb finish after Origi had cleverly knocked down a long pass from Rhys Williams. Nice moment for Williams and the first half will have been most enjoyable for him. Playing alongside Virgil and basically not really having to do anything other than pass the ball around under no pressure was an ideal debut. The second half was much tougher for him but he did well all things considered.
Jones made it 4-0 with a goal that just reeked of Phil Coutinho. That’s who he is turning into now. A tall, scouse, Coutinho. He shares so many of the same attributes as O Magico and that cut inside and bend it in the top corner thing that Phil had down to a fine art is something Curtis has down to a tee.
In fact, I might just start calling him “Curtinho”. Yeah I’m pleased with that one. “Curtinho”. Nice. Feel free to use that if you like, I don’t mind.
So yeah, 4-0 and it could have been more as we played some lovely football. Klopp said that if the lads were wearing a different kit he’d still know it was Liverpool based on how they played. They basically were wearing a different kit as that one we were wearing was nothing like a Liverpool kit.
In general I’m not one for being arsed about kits and I don’t even mind this one even though I know loads hate it. What I don’t like is that the shorts are not the same colour as the shirt and that just makes it look shit.
I’m sure you were all as surprised as I was that Virgil started the game. With Matip and Gomez unavailable it made some sense for him to play but it’s still not something you expect to see at this stage of the League Cup. I would have thought Nat Phillips was a more logical choice but he wasn’t involved at all, so must be close to a move and they didn't want him cup tied (same with Brewster).
It will have been great for young Rhys to have that half alongside Virg, but the difference in our performance from first half to second was alarming. Was that just because we were so far ahead and took our foot off the gas? Or was it because Van Dijk wasn’t there after the break?
I suspect it’s more the former really. We went 5-0 up within seconds of the restart as Minamino grabbed his second of the game. It wasn’t spectacular but it was a great goal because of the desire shown by Taki. He won the ball initially and then sprinted to get in the box and was rewarded when the loose ball fell to him for a tap in.
He was really lively throughout and thrived in a rare outing as the number nine. He’s pushing hard for a starting spot at the moment given Bobby’s lack of goals.
So it's 5-0 and I’m thinking we might get ten. And after that, it was a bit shit and all of a sudden Adrian was having to do stuff.
He made a great double save and then followed it up with another good one. Lincoln were slicing through us at will and as easy as it is to put that on Virgil not being there, it has to have been more than that. I just felt as though the intensity of the whole team slacked off and that left the defence more exposed.
Lincoln deservedly pulled one back when Neco was caught trying to do too much and then Rhys was unable to retrieve the situation. Fabinho didn’t cover himself in glory either.
Neco didn’t have the best of games. He wasn't that bad but sometimes he needs to keep it a bit more simple and not try the stepovers and the chops or whatever they’re called. It’s the way of the modern game now that full backs are all trying to do moves like Ronaldo, but there’s a time and place.
He hasn’t been at his best when he’s played the last few months but if he wasn’t the real deal he wouldn’t be getting these opportunities. We all seen what he could do in his first half dozen or so appearances and I’m sure he’ll come through this little dip.
Apparently he’s had to delete his social media accounts because he was getting stick off ‘fans’. Honestly, I know I keep going on about this kind of shit but I get unspeakably angry about it. It’s bad enough abusing players after a loss, but what kind of despicable little fucking shithouse rat sends abuse to a teenage lad after a 7-2 win?
A law needs to be passed whereby any fucker who does this can be exposed and some lads can be sent around to sort them out. I’m not even joking, these fucking shithouses need a good kicking or even worse. If I ruled the world then death row would be full of cunts who sent abuse to people on twitter.
So Lincoln were making a game of it and they continued to look dangerous, but we did too and Grujic grabbed himself a goal with a low shot from the edge of the box to make it 6-1. Adrian then flapped at a corner to allow Lincoln a second goal before Origi ran clear to score at the death. Jota was inches away from a debut goal but otherwise couldn't seem to do anything right.
I don’t know what to make of Origi’s inclusion in this game. Not just that he started, but that he got to play the full game whereas Elliott was subbed early (I thought Harvey played well and was disappointed to see him brought off). If Div’s going, why is he getting this playing time? The more I think about it, the more I think he might be staying you know.
He probably shouldn’t, because he’s behind Minamino, Jota and possibly even Shaqiri now in the forwards pecking order. Maybe he’s ok with that and just likes being here? In fairness to him, there was nothing wrong with his attitude in this game. He took his goal well (he usually does, he’s a clinical finisher) and he had a nice assist.
He’s a good player and would be a nice acquisition for someone. He just doesn’t really fit the profile of player we need for any of the forward places. By that I mean we’ve got Minamino now as the deputy for Bobby because he can play the role in a similar way. Jota will do the same with Salah and Mané.
Origi is just completely different to all of them. Maybe that’s a reason to keep him around another year? I wouldn’t, but then I’m not Jurgen Klopp so there is that. Basically, I’m good with whatever they decide because clearly they know what they’re doing.
If I had to bet on it though I’d say Grujic, Brewster and Wilson will leave and Shaqiri and Origi probably won’t. That should bring in a decent amount to help offset the Covid losses though.
Going back to Klopp’s point about the identity of the team, I feel like that’s actually really important. It was the same last season in the cups. Even when none of the first team were playing you could still see the same shape and patterns of play. That Shrewsbury game was a great example. The midfield trio of Chirivella, Cain and Clarkson pulled off a fine impression of the senior lads.
This was similar in many ways, but it was also different. Shaq was in midfield for one thing. We haven’t seen that before. We might not see it again considering we’ve got about ten players fighting for three spots, but he did well. Curtis was brilliant in there too and he’s got much more chance of getting regular minutes. It’s going to be hard keeping him out of the team at the rate he’s progressing.
Probably the biggest indicator of how deep we are in midfield though is the performance of Grujic. He was fucking boss I thought. I’ve always liked him but how can you make a case for him playing when there are so many superior players ahead of him? Grujic could play for most teams in the Premier League and he deserves to play regularly.
He’s been going out on loan but the time has probably come to just let him leave permanently now. Another loan is pointless as it’s not as though a midfield spot is opening up for him in a year or even two.
He was a contender for the star man but really it came down to a choice between Jones and Minamino. I’m not even going to choose between them, they can both have it and I’ll just happily sit on the fence.
We now have to play Arsenal twice in a week. I’m still pissed off about how we let them beat us in the league and that we didn’t put them back in their box in the Charity Shield. This is a chance to set the record straight and I expect a Thiago inspired rout on Monday.
The cup game is a different story and anything could happen there. Last year’s game was a fucking belter and I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw something similar. I actually can’t wait for it.
It’s weird really. I put virtually no importance in the domestic cups these days in terms of actually winning them. We have bigger fish to fry and I’m fully on board with the selection policy we’ve had for the cups. In fact, it’s that selection policy that makes these games so much fun.
I expect we’ll go a little bit more experienced next week and I wouldn’t expect to see Rhys Williams anywhere near the side for that one, but most of the other lads will be involved again. Maybe Grujic will have left by then but Milner can easily step in. I’m surprised he didn’t play in this one actually.
Get him back in there and let him lead the reserves to Wembley. Be boss seeing Milner doing the Hendo shuffle.
Team: Adrian; N Williams, R Williams, Van Dijk (Fabinho), Tsimikas; Grujic, Jones, Shaqiri (Keita); Elliott (Jota), Minamino, Origi:
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