Our Premier League heroes fall unceremoniously from grace as both Man City and Liverpool put in sub-par Europa League performances.
City slip to a 2-0 defeat to Dynamo Kiev in freezing conditions, hindered by Mario Balotelli’s latest tale of the unexpected. Liverpool meanwhile, go down with a whimper in Braga, despite the muscular efforts of Andy Carroll from the bench…
Roberto Mancini made the decision to rest skipper Carlos Tevez from his starting lineup, beginning with Edin Dzeko and Mario Baltotelli up front in a 4-3-3 with David Silva. Pablo Zabaleta started in the midfield three, with Aleksandar Kolarov returning to the side and at left-back.
Carlos Tevez saw action just before the hour-mark as Mario Balotelli found a new way for his “individual talent” to make an impression by being forced off after reportedly suffering an allergic reaction to the grass on the Valeriy Lobanovskiy Stadium pitch. Mancini had this to say on the puzzling situation…
“He wanted to come out for the second half but he had this problem 10 seconds before coming out for the second half. I came out one minute before the players and I didn’t see Mario and after another guy told me Mario had an allergy, and after he came out and said ‘I can play’ but his face was swollen.”
The arrival of Tevez immediately pepped up the City challenge, but, despite threatening the Kiev goal, defensively Mancini’s side were again found wanting. Micah Richards was at fault as Oleg Gusev nipped in to strike the second past Joe Hart. Mancini’s frustration with his side’s defending was palpable in his post-match reaction…
“We lost this game because we conceded two strange goals. We didn’t mark well for the first goal, the second goal the same. We were four or five metres from the opponent. When you mark in the box you should be near. Tonight we played a good game, the difference are the goals we conceded. Usually we don’t concede goals like this. We conceded two stupid goals.”
City face an uphill struggle in the second-leg then. That tie will be played out at Eastlands on March 17, prior to the gameweek 30 trip to Stamford Bridge the following Sunday. Mancini will certainly want to avoid extra-time going into that one. Last night’s result and performance will do little to boost confidence in their assets from a Fantasy perspective. City have scored just 3 goals in their last 3 league outings and now embark on a tricky run of opponents (che SUN liv TOT).
Kenny Dalglish was without skipper Steven Gerrard as he remained back in Merseyside for further assessment of a groin injury. Luis Suarez was ineligible having turned out for Ajax earlier in the competition. Andy Carroll started life on the bench here as Dalglish went with Sunday’s hat-trick hero Dirk Kuyt up front – Raul Meireles was again offered the role of supporting the Dutchman. Elsewhere, Jay Spearing earned a start on the right of midfield with Christian Poulsen and Joe Cole also given starting berths. Sotirios Kyrgiakos started in central defence, with Jamie Carrager at right-back and Glen Johnson on the left.
It was a clumsy Kyrgiakos challenge that handed Braga the opportunity from the spot that was to prove decisive. That goal failed to spark Liverpool into life and it wasn’t until the second-half and the introduction of Carroll, that we saw any real menace from the visitors.
Carroll’s performance – a typical show of bustle and muscle that often caused concern and panic in the Braga defence, was the single encouraging factor to come out of the game for Dalglish.
“He worried them. We played better once he came on. He’s a good option for us. We’ve got to give him as many minutes as we can to make sure we’re making a contribution to getting him fit. It was a bit longer than he got on Sunday and we will continue to make a contribution towards his fitness.”
Liverpool have their second leg next Thursday, prior to Sunday’s trip to the Stadium of Light. Steven Gerrard remains a doubt for that one with Dalglish remaining vague on his skipper’s condition.
“There may be something tomorrow.”
Yesterday’s reports suggested that Gerrard may well need surgery on a groin problem that has troubled the midfielder for several weeks. It is thought that should Gerrard be forced to go under the knife, he would remain absent for at least a three-week period. In Fantasy terms this would see him miss games against Sunderland, West Brom and possibly the Anfield clash with City on April 11. Gerrard’s absence would significantly boost the appeal of Dirk Kuyt as a midfield option – who would presumably retain spot-kick duties. Raul Meireles could also continue in the support striker role with Gerrard out of the side, although Dalglish is surely due to switch to a 4-4-2 with a Suarez/Carroll pairing.
Carroll would seem likely to threaten a starting role for the trip to Sunderland – a tasty proposition for both Liverpool and Sunderland fans given his past in Newcastle’s colours. Liverpool’s fixtures do not scream investment over the next four (sun wba MCY ars) but Carroll at 5.9 and even Suarez at 9.1, will surely earn some interest given encouraging recent showings.
