Leeds United v Liverpool - 22nd September

This was requested by my friend and Leeds fan Matt.

Leeds: Higgs - Crowe, Kisnobo, Michalik, Hughes - Snodgrass, Howson, Doyle, Johnson - Becchio, Beckford
Liverpool: Cavalieri - Degen, Carragher, Krygiakos, Dossens - Spearing, Mascherano, Babel, Riera, Auerlio - N'gog

2 of the countries biggest teams met in the 3rd round of the English League Cup, 6 years ago this would have been an even bigger game, but Leeds are now in the third tier of English football, Rafa Benitez has already said he wants to win the Cup so a strong Liverpool team was expected, and for Leeds a chance to battle again with the big teams and recreate the glory days.

Living in Leeds myself you would expect I see alot of Simon Grayson's team, but I have only made my way to Elland Road once in 5 years, a mixture of the over priced tickets, and that my girlfriend is a Sheffield United way, big rivals of Leeds, so I was looking forward to seeing what sort of football Leeds could play, I have only watched them in the past years in the League Playoffs and time after time, they disappointed.

However they redeemed themselves in this match, playing some lovely flowing football, the midfield 4 were superb, some great 1-2, passing and moving, Doyle was a great force going forward, and the Man of the Match was Scotlands Richard Snodgrass was performance earning him a call up to the Scotland team to the upcoming friendly in Japan.

In defence Jason Kisnorbo was fantastic, the ex Hearts and Leicester centre dealt very well all night with David N'gog very rarely did Liverpool get past him.

It was Leeds front pair that disappointed, Luciano Becchio usually so impressive failed to get into the game, he ran hard but created little, the one moment he was involved in was a controversial one, Michalik got his head to the ball in the Liverpool box, it has flicked past Cavalieri, and Becchio made sure it went in, the Leeds fans went crazy but the Linesman lifted his flag and ruled both Becchio and Beckford offside, after numerous TV replays it was very very close, and in my opinion the goal should have stood, and with Leeds confidence high they could have went on to win.

The most disappointing player for me in the Leeds side was Jermaine Beckford, 27 league goals last season and 7 this season, if anyone was going to be Leeds catalyst it should have been Jermaine, but he failed to live up to the massive expectation on his shoulders, the 25yr forward was expected to move away from the Yorkshire club this summer but has stayed to again try and get Leeds promoted, as I have said I don't want Leeds every week, but in now 7 games I've seen Beckford play, only in 1 league game were he scored 2 goals was I impressed, in 4 playoff semi-finals and 1 playoff final in my eyes he disappeared, for the bigger teams watching him, I'm sure they've seen this too, and that would explain the lack of big money offers.

Beckford has the best of Leeds chances, an overhead kick went very close, and over the top pass found him through on goal and he couldn't finish.

Liverpool survived Leeds attacks and finally took the lead, Mascherano who was lucky to be on the field after an elbow to the back of Beckfords head was deemed an accident, lashed out to volley the ball, the wayward shot was controlled by N'gog he turned and finished calmly to put his team in the lead.

Until the goal, Liverpool never ever looked like scoring, although not their strongest team, and was in no way a full 2nd choice team, Carragher, Dossena, Mascherano, Riera all 1st team players, and the respect shown to Leeds increased when both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard both came on to see out the match.

It was Liverpool that got the victory and move on the next round, but I'm very sure both sets of fans would have left with their heads held high.
Liverpool fans got a chance to see N'gog step up, the young Jay Spearing had a good match in the midfield and long time Injury victim Philip Degen had a good match.
Leeds showed they can play with the big teams and impress, there are no excuses for them not achieving promotion this season, no points deduction no managerial unrest, It's about time Leeds got back up to the higher tiers of English football.

Match Rating - 7/10

M.O.M - Richard Snodgrass - Leeds