Tactical Analysis: How Liverpool failed to break down Carlisle’s well-drilled defence

Liverpool’s League Cup tie against Carlisle United on Wednesday night was again marked by a worrying failure to break down a well-organised defence.

Carlisle United’s rearguard effort in Wednesday night’s League Cup clash with Liverpool should be commended, but the way in which Brendan Rodgers‘ side were unable to break down a side who have conceded the most goals in League Two so far this season is indicative of Liverpool’s failings.

But where did Liverpool fail, and how could they have broken Carlisle down?

Start Strong and Overload

During Rodgers’ only truly successful season on Merseyside, 2013/14, Liverpool were renowned for killing games off early with swashbuckling, fast-paced football — employed to overwhelm the opposition before they could gain any rhythm in their play.

Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling would all press high up the pitch, putting pressure on opposing defenders and feeding off the support of Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho, and the creativity of the deep-lying Steven Gerrard — and it worked to great effect.

Here, against lowly opposition, Liverpool utilised this approach in the opening stages.

Roberto Firmino set the tone from kick-off, storming towards the Carlisle penalty area and unleashing a shot from range that troubled goalkeeper Mark Gillespie at his near post.

Firmino, along with Danny Ings and Adam Lallana, set to put early pressure on the Carlisle defenders off the ball — with each of the trio particularly adept at a high-energy pressing game.

Ings, Firmino and Lallana all pressing high, outnumbering Carlisle defenders.

With both sides looking to damage their opponent in the opening stages, this allowed Rodgers’ attacking trio to outnumber the Carlisle centre-backs, who looked to play the ball out from defence.

Alberto Moreno served as a useful wide presence when Liverpool’s attackers won the ball, too. The Spaniard’s persistent runs from the left wing-back position gave the Reds variety in the opening stages, with Moreno switching between byline-surging wide runs and diagonal moves towards the penalty area.

Lallana offering the overlap, with Moreno running to far post. Firmino suffocated with FIVE markers.

As opposed to his lead role in Sunday’s draw with Norwich, this primarily served as a distraction, with Lallana’s floating role as one of Rodgers’ No. 10s proving the most influential as Liverpool looked to break Carlisle down.

Moreno’s involvement in Ings’ 24th-minute opener was pivotal: cutting inside, the 23-year-old dragged two Carlisle defenders towards him before offloading to Lallana.

Three Liverpool players in the penalty area for Lallana’s delivery, with Clyne arriving from the right.

Though Lallana was still presented with a one-on-one duel, the additional space afforded by Moreno’s run allowed him to deliver for Ings to head beyond Gillespie for his second in as many games.

It is also important to note the presence of Firmino behind Ings in this instance — the Brazilian was a key feature within Liverpool’s overloading tactics in the first half-hour.

His withdrawal through injury after 35 minutes arguably handed Carlisle the initiative.
“We started well, passed it well and losing Roberto Firmino (to a back injury in the first half) just set us back a touch,” said Gary McAllister post-match.

Penetrate the Lines

Prior to his substitution Firmino gave Rodgers an insight into how important his support was.

With 34 minutes on the clock, Ings was intelligently released by a quick ball from James Milner, but with the No. 28 surging forward on the break he looked around to find no support — now injured, Firmino was struggling to keep up.

Ings played into a dangerous break by Milner, with Carlisle struggling to track back – but no support offered. Ings is forced to shoot from outside the penalty area, with no options on the overlap.

It would be reductive to suggest that Firmino’s failure to support due to injury was the only contributing factor to this dangerous move breaking down — with both Moreno, Lallana, and to a lesser extent Nathaniel Clyne all culpable — but the breakdown suffered by the Brazilian’s injury was telling.

Furthermore, this was made only worse by the fact that Asamoah converted seconds prior to his withdrawal.

The loss of Firmino was always going to hit Liverpool at this early stage, with his contribution to the Reds’ overload proving crucial, but by fielding Divock Origi in his place Rodgers unwittingly played into the hands of Carlisle.

Countering the ‘low block’

Speaking to These Football Times’ Sam McGuire, former Liverpool youth coach Tim Lees detailed how best to counter a low block.

“Playing against a low block is one of the most difficult yet prevalent problems in the game,” explains Lees, whose suggestions for countering the low block are:

• Forward runs centrally
• Penetration of the five channels
• Dominate pressure behind
• Change in tempo
• Change their territorial positioning
• Play on transition
• Movements against the grain
• Disguised and around the corner passes

One suggestion in particular rang true at Anfield on Wednesday night:

“Teams need to look to penetrate the five vertical channels around the back four through late and explosive movements, with and without the ball.

“Strikers need to continually look to make movements off the shoulder of defenders playing out of the eye line and players in possession must look to thread passes into the five channels.

“With no clever movement in behind, teams end up having 80 percent possession with everything in front of the back line, with a back four against one striker.

“Defenders want the game in front of them and do not want to constantly be on the turn and facing their own goal.”

These penetrative runs and off-the-shoulder movements were employed encouragingly by Firmino and Ings, with Lallana and Moreno’s support vital, but the introduction of Origi changed Liverpool’s attacking makeup.

Origi primarily played with his back to goal, looking to link up play in the space ahead of the penalty area, but with Lallana utilising a similar style of play, this variety was lost.

Origi, with his back to goal, is set upon by six Carlisle markers – with Hery also lurking.

With Rodgers later opting to switch to a 3-4-1-2 formation on the introduction of Coutinho on 64 minutes, with Origi joining Ings in attack, this bizarrely became more predictable.

As Carlisle played the game out for a 1-1 draw and extra time, Liverpool offered little in terms of penetrative runs and, worryingly, variation in the buildup.

Offer Variation in the Buildup

Carlisle’s low block was so effective on Wednesday night due to the uninspired buildup play employed by their opponents, with not only Moreno and Clyne failing to regularly support from wide areas in the latter stages—arguably due to fatigue—but also Lallana and Coutinho with forward runs.

Bringing Coutinho on for Joe Allen—who had proved effective in linking up play in the crowded areas in front of the penalty area, as well as overlapping the likes of Lallana and Ings—proved to be costly.

With Liverpool limited to long shots and ineffective possession play, there are few instances of Rodgers’ side attempting to vary their buildup play—particularly in wide areas.

One occasion, on 78 minutes, saw Milner cut inside from the right flank—taking the initiative.

Despite Liverpool having five options in the box, Carlisle’s flooding sees Milner cut inside for a shot on goal. Both Skrtel and Origi are standing static as Milner is forced to cut inside – what can they offer?

The lack of movement from his team-mates forced Milner to fire a shot low towards Gillespie’s goal — which was ultimately deflected behind for a corner—squandering a rare opportunity.

As the Reds headed into extra time, Carlisle became more compact and Rodgers saw his side become increasingly fraught around the Cumbrians’ penalty area.

Remarkably, only centre-back Emre Can offered consistent penetrative runs into the box, but even the German ultimately resorted to long-range efforts.

Liverpool’s Shooting vs. Carlisle (via Bass Tuned to Red):

47 shots
2.6 minutes per shot
16 shots on target
7.5 minutes per shot on target
7 shots on target in the box
17.1 minutes per shot on target in the box

Liverpool fired an incredible 47 shots on goal on Wednesday night, with 16 efforts on target, but that it came down to the heroics of Bogdan in the penalty shootout serves as a testament to failure.

Though injury to Firmino and the waning fitness of Allen contributed to this inability to break down Carlisle’s low block, this is a familiar situation for the Reds.

Keith Curle likely drew inspiration from the likes of Stoke City and West Ham United this season for his setup at Anfield, with only a moment of Coutinho magic securing victory over Stoke and the Hammers’ compact defence leading to a 3-1 away win.

Liverpool look completely at odds with how to break this type of setup down.

This could well become the norm for teams lining up against the Reds, particularly at Anfield, and Rodgers’ side seemingly lack the inspiration or the inclination to cope with this at present.

• Read more: Brendan Rodgers shows signs of desperation as Liverpool boss survives game-by-game

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Brendan Rodgers shows signs of desperation as Liverpool boss survives game-by-game

Pressure on Brendan Rodgers is at an all-time high in his Anfield tenure, and Saturday’s clash with Aston Villa represents a win-or-bust match for the manager as he looks to save his job.

With his Liverpool future at the most uncertain it has ever been during his time in the Anfield hot-seat, Rodgers faces the biggest game of his Liverpool career on Saturday.

After a promising start saw the Reds then claim just one point out of the next three games, alongside an embarrassing performance and result in the League Cup against Carlisle, pressure on the Liverpool boss has reached boiling point.

Liverpool are struggling badly, already looking set for a season of disappointment, and Rodgers has one last chance to save his job, or at least buy some time, in Saturday’s make-or-break clash against Villa.

Come out with a negative result against Tim Sherwood’s poor side (again) and there is surely no way back.

A defeat to bogey side Villa is unthinkable – while a draw does nothing but add to the mounting pressure – and would likely see the point of no return for the Northern Irishman.

A win against a team who are unbeaten at Anfield since 2010 looks a much tougher proposition than it did before Wednesday’s 8pm kick-off, following the shambolic 120 minutes played with an almost first-choice team who have now had no rest ahead of the weekend’s vital game.

It shows the severity of the situation Rodgers finds himself in that he opted not to hand Jordan Rossiter, Jordon Ibe and the likes the chance for some invaluable first team action against the League Two minnows.

The selection – and constant formation switches – smacks of pure desperation for man who is trying his all for a win wherever he can find one, not that he can currently, simply to survive game-by-game but another without victory on Saturday makes it hard to see how he can continue.

But in amongst the conflicting reports of how in danger the Liverpool manager is, there appears a small ray of increasingly desperate hope from the owners that Rodgers can still be the man – signalled by the fact he is still in charge.

That faith does finally look to be wearing thin with developments, which were rejected by the club, that the owners approached Carlo Ancelotti to gauge his interest in the role. The fact reports of this nature are surfacing tells everything.

Regardless of how much hope there is left, and where it is stationed within the Anfield hierarchy, fail to beat 17^th place Villa, who haven’t won since the opening weekend, and all will surely be lost.

Liverpool face their toughest period of fixtures this season when they take on Everton, Tottenham, Southampton, and Chelsea alongside Europa League clashes against FC Sion and Rubin Kazan next month.

Those games pose a tough enough challenge for an in-form, firing side, never mind one that has scored only four goals in six league games – their joint lowest ever recorded total – and has amassed over a quarter of its points thanks to an offside goal that shouldn’t have stood.

If Rodgers and his side slump to a negative result against Sherwood’s men, how can it be expected that the Reds turn the season round in those looming matches and secure a healthy points total from them to keep within touching distance of the seasons’ minimum target of fourth place?

There’s little reason to assume they could in games that could genuinely see as few as two points won on current form, which would leave Liverpool cut adrift almost to the point of no comeback and another season written off by the end of October.

Turning the poor start around and getting back on track simply could not be expected if the Reds don’t see off Villa, adding to Norwich and embarrassingly, Carlisle, at Anfield – this is why Saturday is the win-or-bust clash it now is.

There would be zero hope or optimism left that it could yet still fall into place with anything less than a win, though the Carlisle shambles certainly put a sizeable hole in that dwindling faith anyway.

Beat Sherwood’s side and the Reds have the slim chance to gather some momentum when they face FC Sion on Merseyside next Thursday – a game which should see Liverpool win and the possibility of two victories from two.

They would hardly be game-changing results for the Liverpool boss, but it could offer a starting point for an upturn and a chance for a more positive outcome in fixtures ahead, beginning with the derby clash at Goodison Park which could see a positive result materialise just as equally as a negative.

On current form it seems almost impossible, however.

The only way the Liverpool boss is likely to be around to see if he can make those small steps of progress, and the beginning of a turnaround of fortunes, is if he has three points to his name come 5pm Saturday evening.

Rodgers suffered an embarrassing defeat to Sherwood at Wembley in last season’s FA Cup semi-final – the Reds manager can’t afford another that could prove the end of his Anfield career.

Fail to beat Aston Villa on Saturday and it could, or perhaps should, be game over.

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“Villa game is massive” – Adam Bogdan understands frustration of Liverpool fans

Liverpool goalkeeper Adam Bogdan admits the players are well aware of the growing discontent among fans but insists they are doing all they can to turn things around.

The Hungary international was in the small minority – goalscorer Danny Ings was the other – to come out of the Capital One Cup victory over Carlisle with any credit.

Making his debut Bogdan saved three penalties in the shoot-out when the match finished 1-1 after extra time but the fact he was put in that position only highlighted the shortcomings of Liverpool – roundly booed on three occasions – who failed to breach the leakiest defence in League Two more than once despite taking 47 shots in the tie.

“I tried to think of my performance and the things I needed to do to make the saves,” said Bogdan.

“Of course, you’re not deaf or blind, you see and hear things, but you can only afford to concentrate on your own job.

“It’s frustrating when you have so many chances and don’t score but I think the fans could see that we kept trying.

“It was frustrating for me watching their keeper making all the saves.

“We tried to get the job done before the shoot-out. We threw everything at them, we had 50 shots but they defended fantastically in the game.

“I understand the frustration (of fans). We want to win and we’re trying everything possible to win and to win in style.

“We all know the Villa game is massive. The final touch is missing for us at the moment but it will come. I really hope it comes on Saturday.”

Despite the victory manager Brendan Rodgers remains under scrutiny – even if the club flatly dismissed reports they had approached veteran Italian and three-time Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti – and only an upturn of results and performances will start answering many of the questions now being asked of him.

After six matches without a win in 90 minutes he cannot afford a repeat against Aston Villa on Saturday or the pressure will become huge.

Bogdan will drop out of the team for the Premier League match and while he was brought in from Bolton on a free transfer this summer supposedly as back-up to Simon Mignolet the 27-year-old has ambitions to push his team-mate for a first-team place.

His appearances are likely to be limited to the League Cup but with little to do against Carlisle he knows there will be few chances to impress.

“I hardly touched the ball for 120 minutes but it turned out to be a great night for me on my debut,” he added.

“The only shot I had to save was their goal as we controlled the whole game.

“There is a lot more to goalkeeping than saving penalties but I’ll keep working hard and if I get another chance then I’ll try to take it.

“This is a fantastic club and a fantastic environment to work in. I’m training with great players and I’m going home with a smile on my face every day.

“It didn’t want to go in (at the end). It was one of those nights but our team spirit was really strong and we managed to go through to the next round.

“Afterwards the manager shook my hand and congratulated me, but he didn’t say anything special. We will go through the game on Thursday or Friday and analyse it.

“He doesn’t speak too much after a game, he does it the day after.”

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Video: Gary McAllister reflects on Liverpool 1-1 Carlisle

There was much furore when Brendan Rodgers failed to show up for his post-match press conference after the penalty shootout win over Carlisle, but we understand Gary McAllister was always intended to attend.

McAllister took on the media duties for the game in a similar manner as former assistant manager Colin Pascoe did last season in the League Cup tie against Swansea City.

The Scotsman was seemingly given the nod over the less media-savvy assistant Sean O’Driscoll, who prefers to keep a low profile.

While McAllister was scheduled to attend the post-match press conference, given how the match played out it might have been wise of the manager to show his ‘character’ and ‘bravery’ by attending himself.

“Maybe this is one of those little things that can just pull us together as we look forward to the weekend (home game against Aston Villa on Saturday),” said McAllister.

“We want to perform better and that is what we are striving to do, to get that rhythm back we’ve seen in the past.

“It will get better. The feeling is that we are working hard at training, we will persevere and we will try to win games and perform well.”

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“Patience is close to breaking point” – Papers react to Liverpool’s penalty shootout win over Carlisle

The morning after Liverpool’s uninspiring League Cup victory over Carlisle, we round-up the best of the newspaper reaction.

Brendan Rodgers finds himself under even more pressure following Wednesday’s win, with his job becoming more untenable by the game.

Liverpool needed penalties to overcome the League Two outfit, and yet again failed to score more than one goal in a match.

Adam Bogdan‘s spot-kick heroics and another impressive performance from Danny Ings were arguably the only plus points to take from the Anfield showdown.

Here is how some of the country’s top journalists saw the game:

James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo felt it was an embarrassing night for those associated with the Reds:

Rarely has a victory ever felt this hollow.

Liverpool limped into the fourth round of the Capital One Cup as they narrowly avoided a humiliating exit at the hands of Carlisle United at Anfield.

Debutant Adam Bogdan was the Reds’ hero as he saved three penalties in the shoot-out but this was a night when the pressure intensified on under-fire boss Brendan Rodgers.

The low-key celebrations as Liverpool’s players almost apologetically embraced Bogdan spoke volumes. They knew they had got out of jail.

The fact that Liverpool needed spot-kicks to see off the mid-table League Two outfit was embarrassing in the extreme.

The Telegraph‘s Chris Bascombe was one of many to focus on Rodgers’ rather desperate current situation:

There is no longer sanctuary in victory for Brendan Rodgers after Liverpool narrowly avoided cup humiliation against Carlisle United. Rodgers has found himself desperately seeking extra time as he fights for his job.

On Wednesday night at Anfield it was an additional 30 minutes and penalty shoot-out against League Two Carlisle United that plunged his reign into deeper crisis.

A win on spot kicks preserved Liverpool’s interest in the Capital One Cup, but it did nothing for Rodgers’s immediate or long-term prospects. It needed Adam Bogdan to save the 10th penalty from Bastien Héry to send Liverpool through.

[…]

This was supposed to be an evening to spare Rodgers from the mounting speculation regarding his position. Instead, there was no comfort in victory. Never have a Liverpool side been booed three times on the same evening. It happened after 90 minutes, at half-time in extra-time and ahead of the penalty shoot-out. Liverpool jeered when they win? These are indeed unprecedented times at Anfield.

The Daily Mail‘s Dominic King echoed that sentiment:

It doesn’t get any easier and it isn’t getting any better. Brendan Rodgers had reason to cheer an unlikely hero but not much else.

Liverpool achieved their ultimate objective of securing a place in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup but that bare fact hides a multitude of sins, as they needed three saves from second-choice goalkeeper Adam Bogdan in a penalty shootout to see off Carlisle United.

This was another performance to leave Rodgers, whose position looks increasingly uncertain with a furrowed brow; Gary McAllister, Liverpool’s first team coach, said the manager was ‘delighted like the rest of us’ but it is hard to see how he can be happy with the way things are.
Adam Bogdan was the hero for Liverpool as he saved three penalties (including this from Danny Grainger) to send his side through

[…]

He lives to fight another day but patience is close to breaking point among the majority of supporters and the fact that Liverpool were booed at three different stages shows where this relationship is heading. Each charmless performances sees Rodgers lose another chunk of support.

Andy Hunter of the Guardian focussed on the desperate nature of Liverpool’s play, as time and time again they failed break down one of the Football League’s weakest sides:

Liverpool were booed off at the end of normal time – the condemnation louder than after Sunday’s draw with Norwich City – and after both periods of extra time. Three rounds of booing in the one night takes some doing.

Rodgers’ team had 46 shots during the 120 minutes and yet lacked invention against a team 65 places below them in English league football. Mark Gillespie in the visiting goal had a procession of shots to watch but precious few to trouble him.

It was a case of work the ball square, back again, shoot wide and repeat. The play reflected the current direction of the Liverpool team – going nowhere.

David Usher had mixed feeling over the performances of several Reds players in his ESPN player ratings:

Adam Bogdan–

A virtual spectator for 120 minutes and the only time he was called into action he was beaten at his near post. Redeemed himself in some style during the penalty shootout though, when he saved three of the five spot-kicks (and almost kept out a fourth). On a disappointing night for most of his teammates, Bogdan will be one of the few who will remember this game with any fondness.

James Milner–

Plenty of perspiration, very little inspiration. A workmanlike performance from the diligent stand-in captain, but it was lacking in quality and he’s struggled somewhat in the absence of his midfield partner Jordan Henderson. Against League Two opponents supporters are surely entitled to expect more from Milner.

Danny Ings-

Picked up where he left off against Norwich with another goal and lively performance. The service wasn’t great but Ings posed a threat all night and repeatedly heard his name chanted by the Kop. Converted what proved to be the winning penalty.

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Bogdan heroic, Rodgers stumped: 5 talking points from Liverpool’s penalty shootout win over Carlisle

Brendan Rodgers‘ Liverpool left it late to defeat League Cup opponents Carlisle United on Wednesday night, with many negatives to discuss.

When Derek Asamoah converted Carlisle United’s equaliser 35 minutes into Wednesday night’s League Cup clash away at Anfield, a sense of inevitability seeped in for Liverpool supporters—this was to be another long night for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Though Adam Bogdan‘s penalty-shootout heroics saw the Reds through to the fourth round of this lowly domestic competition, there is little to be positive about after this display.

Here are five talking points from Liverpool’s latest deflating result.

Danny Ings Deserves Credit For Positive Display

Few Liverpool players deserve credit for their recent performances in red, but goalscorer Danny Ings is going from strength to strength after his summer move from Burnley—and swiftly becoming a fans’ favourite against this backdrop of collective misery.

With £32.5 million Christian Benteke so far struggling to fully adapt to the style of play implemented by Rodgers on Merseyside, Ings’ quick transition has been welcome.

Full of intelligent runs, strong buildup play and persistence in pressing the opposition off the ball, Ings is every bit the archetypal Rodgers striker.

With an end product that has seen him score two goals in his last two games, too, he is a considerable upgrade on Fabio Borini—the forward he ostensibly replaced this summer.

Spearheading attacks with intensity in the opening stages, Ings fully deserved his 24th-minute strike.

Adam Bogdan’s Heroics Prove the Difference

Prior to his first competitive appearance for Liverpool, Bogdan spoke of his desire to cement his place as the Reds’ first-choice goalkeeper:

“If I play then it’s a chance to get a game under my belt and show what I can do. That’s what we’re all here for—to enjoy playing for Liverpool.

I didn’t sign for Liverpool to sit around on the bench or be happy being the No. 2 ‘keeper. Like everyone else, I’m here to compete for a place in the team.”

While the former Bolton Wanderers stopper’s claims to the No. 1 jersey may seem a little farfetched at this stage, Bogdan’s heroics in Wednesday night’s penalty shootout will have gone to great lengths to enamour him with the Anfield faithful.

Despite conceding once in normal time, Bogdan enjoyed a quiet game overall, before stepping up to save three out of five of Carlisle’s penalty attempts—sealing a much-needed victory for Rodgers.

Rodgers may owe his summer signing more than a Boot Room shandy after this characterful performance.

Injury Problems Continue to Pile Up

When Dejan Lovren collapsed to the ground following an attempted header towards the end of extra time, it seemed like an innocuous symptom of fatigue.

But as the Croatian was stretchered off with his leg in a splint, this latest injury instead highlighted a growing concern for Rodgers amid his Liverpool strife.

Along with Lovren, Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino was also forced off in the first half, joining Jordan Henderson and Christian Benteke on the treatment bench at a point in which the Reds manager needs all of the options he can get.

Potentially without three of his key players and a defensive backup, Rodgers also faces the challenge of a fired-up Aston Villa side at Anfield on Saturday.

After fielding a near full-strength side in this deflating victory, just how Rodgers deploys his ranks against Tim Sherwood’s Villans remains a tactical mystery—overplaying the likes of Emre Can and Alberto Moreno could see Liverpool’s injury list continue to pile up.

No Plan B Sees Liverpool Suffer

How do you successfully navigate a low defensive block? Seemingly, not by firing shot after shot after shot at goal from outside the penalty area.

Carlisle goalkeeper Mark Gillespie endured a busy night between the sticks at Anfield, but the 23-year-old was never truly challenged as Rodgers’ side failed to break through a well-organised Cumbrians defence—who often stationed nine men within their own penalty area.

Not even the introduction of Philippe Coutinho on 64 minutes saw Liverpool break the deadlock, with the Brazilian unable to recreate his long-range heroics from last season’s FA Cup victory over Bolton.

But Liverpool continue to pull the trigger from range, and Keith Curle’s men happily threw themselves in the way.

Though a lack of a plan B can largely be attributed to the absence of Benteke, Rodgers’ lack of tactical ingenuity saw Liverpool grind to halt as Carlisle sought out the sanctity of a shootout.

Time Running Out for Brendan Rodgers

Can a penalty-shootout win over Carlisle, who have conceded the most goals (17 in eight games) in League Two this season, be considered cause for reprieve for Rodgers?

With Carlo Ancelotti having possibly been sounded out to take over from the Northern Irishman as Liverpool manager, it could be suggested that a defeat at Anfield on Wednesday night would have sounded the death knell for Rodgers.

But this result is little better than a defeat—despite the manic celebrations of Bogdan, Moreno, Can and Co. on the Hungarian’s winning penalty save.

This was a performance that, after a bright half-hour, dissolved into the uninspired mess that supporters have become so miserably accustomed to in recent months.

Chants of “sacked in the morning” rang out throughout the evening, though whether this stemmed from the away end or in more disdainful corners of Anfield was difficult to tell—Rodgers’ stock among Liverpool supporters is at an all-time low.

Though Liverpool advanced to a fourth-round clash at home to AFC Bournemouth, whether Rodgers is the man to lead them on is another matter entirely.

• Player Ratings: Have your say on how Liverpool performed in Wednesday night’s League Cup victory here

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McAllister: Penalty win can pull Liverpool together

Liverpool first-team coach Gary McAllister hopes the penalty shoot-out win over League Two Carlisle will be a turning point in a difficult start to the season.

Debutant goalkeeper Adam Bogdan was the hero with three saves in the shoot-out after Derek Asamoah had cancelled out Danny Ings‘ goal to earn the visitors a 1-1 draw in the Capital One Cup third-round tie at Anfield, with extra time unable to provide a winner.

The result or performance will have done little to ease the growing scrutiny on manager Brendan Rodgers – with the club earlier in the day having to deny reports which claimed they had approached Carlo Ancelotti – but McAllister believes there will be a positive effect from within.

“When it comes to a penalty shoot-out, there is that coming together of players in the middle of the pitch and we’ve stepped forward and got through,” the Scot said after the Reds scraped through 3-2 on spot-kicks to book a fourth-round date at home to Bournemouth.

“We’ve shown that bit of character and we’re delighted for Adam Bogdan, making the saves to get us through.

“Maybe this is one of those little things that can just pull us together as we look forward to the weekend.”

Asked how Rodgers was after the scrappy win, McAllister added: “Like everyone. We are delighted to be through to the next round.

“There were big sighs of relief in the dressing room. Of course, we would have liked to have won the game in 90 minutes.

“We started well, passed it well and losing Roberto Firmino (to a back injury in the first half) just set us back a touch. Again there were flashes, but we were not up to the speed we are looking at.

“The positives were we are through to the next round and we’ve had over 50 shots at goal.

“We’ve been asking the players to step forward and take more responsibility and we had that tonight – we just didn’t worry the keeper enough.

“The players have to trust themselves and they kept trying – no-one shied away from it.”

Carlisle manager Keith Curle was proud of his players. “You are looking at a team which made a lot of friends tonight,” he said.

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Liverpool 1–1 Carlisle United: Player Ratings

Following Liverpool’s embarrassing League Cup performance against League Two Carlisle, Ben Twelves rates the Reds performers on an appalling night at Anfield.

Liverpool 1–1 Carlisle, 3-2 on penalties.

League Cup Third Round – Anfield – Wednesday 23^rd September

Adam Bogdan (out of 10) – 6

Had very little to do on a night he was called on to make two saves in normal and extra-time, but failed to make one for Carlisle’s equaliser, getting beaten far too easily at his near post which he will be disappointed with.

Certainly redeemed himself in the shoot-out though with three penalty saves.

Nathaniel Clyne – 4.5

It was a disappointingly poor game for the 24-year-old in his right wing-back role where he was sloppy in possession and offered next to no attacking threat.

Solid enough defensively though was rarely tested but clearly struggling with the change of role.

Martin Skrtel – 4

The Slovakian was largely untroubled as part of the back three, but when needed to do his job, he failed to do so, backing off way too far for Carlisle’s goal, failing to make a challenge and letting his runner peel off far too easily.

A dreadful 30-yard strike that landed in the Kop summed up his night.

Dejan Lovren – 4

The Croatian had little defending to do but didn’t cover himself in glory for the visitors’ equaliser, coming out of the backline, completely missing the challenge, and allowing his marker to step round him with ease and slot the ball into the space he vacated for Asamoah to score.

Suffered what looked a nasty injury which will hopefully not be too serious.

Alberto Moreno – 5

Moreno has been in good form recently, but turned in a disappointing overall display against the League Two side after an encouraging first half.

The natural left back supported play well from his wing-back role, but left Lovren exposed down the left side on occasion including for Asamoah’s leveller as he was caught too far wide.

His distribution, in particular his final pass and crossing, was wasteful throughout.

Joe Allen – 5.5

Playing just over an hour on his return to the side from injury, the Welshman was typically tidy in possession and orchestrated play well for the duration he was on, as he tried to provide a link between midfield and attack. A plus that he is back and available again.

Emre Can – 4.5

Like Skrtel and Lovren, the German had little to deal with in the back three but dealt with what came his way effortlessly. Tried his best to instigate some kind of attacking play, driving with the ball from the back, but lacked quality with his passing before resorting to long shots which failed to trouble.

Scored a great panenka penalty in the shoot-out.

James Milner – 3.5

It was another really poor display from the vice-captain in his central midfield role, where he got through plenty of work and supported well, but severely lacked quality with his touch and passing, as he gave the ball away constantly and cheaply.

Question marks continue to rise over his suitability to a central position.

Roberto Firmino – 5.5

The Brazilian started very brightly, looking sharp and firing a couple of powerful, early strikes at goal, before picking up an injury from which he never recovered, resulting in his withdrawal deep into the first 45.

Will hopefully be fit for the weekend.

Adam Lallana – 5

Lallana was one of Liverpool’s brighter performers on the night, claiming an excellent assist for Danny Ings’ opener with some excellent movement and a great cross which the striker headed home.

The 27-year-old didn’t produce anywhere near enough thereafter though and ended up going missing, as all too often, lacking any real attacking threat and quality for the remainder of the match.

Danny Ings – 7

Ings was the Reds’ stand out performer by far, notching his second in as many games.

He was a constant threat, looked sharp, creative and intelligent in his movement and all round game, though will be disappointed he didn’t score more than once. The only positive on an embarrassing evening.

Substitutes

Divock Origi (on for Firmino 38^th) – 4

Replacing the injured Firmino, Origi struggled to impose himself on the game with his touch deserting him more often than not and though he fired a number of shots at goal, he never looked convincing in his play. Lots of work to do for the young striker.

Philippe Coutinho (on for Allen 64^th) – 4

The Brazilian was Rodgers’ go-to man, but it was a really poor night for Coutinho after coming off the bench.

Frustratingly shot from everywhere he possibly could and failed to trouble the Carlisle stopper, apart from forcing him into a save once. His weak spot-kick that was easily saved summed up his night. Becoming a very predictable player, which is frustrating to see – perhaps feeling the weight of pressure on him?

Jordon Ibe (on for Clyne 85^th) – 4.5

The youngster tried to be the man to create the match-winning moment, but ultimately failed in an uninspiring half hour display.

Ran up blind alleys too often and was wasteful in possession, continuing his struggling start to the new campaign.

 

Brendan Rodgers – 3

It was a strong team selection from the Liverpool boss, one that provided a real indication of the pressure he is feeling currently, but it was one that he completely failed to inspire with a dreadful display ensuing.

Those picked from the start were sluggish as were those tasked with rescuing the game from the bench, and after watching such an awful performance – which resulted in Rodgers being unable to withdraw first choice starters for an early night ahead of Saturday – and being taken all the way to penalties by a League Two side, he looks like a dead man walking.

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Liverpool 1-1 Carlisle (Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties): Bogdan spares Reds’ blushes

Liverpool beat Carlisle 3-2 on penalties in the League Cup third round on Wednesday night, but it was an extremely poor night on Merseyside.

Liverpool 1–1 Carlisle (Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties)

League Cup 3rd Round – Anfield – Wednesday 23rd September 2015

Goals: Ings (24); Asamoah (35)

Pre-match

There were six changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Norwich City on Sunday, as Brendan Rodgers rung the changes.

Adam Bogdan made his debut in goal, while Joe Allen returned after a spell on the sidelines. There were also starts for Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings.

It was a surprisingly strong team; perhaps highlighting how under pressure Rodgers is right now.

First-half

A bright start saw Firmino twice go fairly close to scoring, and Lallana too, with Mark Gillespie’s goal under serious early threat.

Gillespie also saved comfortably from Alberto Moreno and well from Milner and Ings, as Liverpool’s ferocious start to proceedings continued.

Midfielder Bastien Hery fired over after 13 minutes, while Danny Grainger’s cross almost caused real problems for the Reds defence. Ings twice shot wide at the other end.

The 23-year-old put Liverpool ahead in the 24th minute, however, heading home from close-range after a superb cross by Adam Lallana. The dominance had paid off.

The lively Ings almost glanced a terrific header past Gillespie as half-time approached, while Alexander McQueen’s cross just evaded Derek Asamoah for the League Two outfit.

Asamoah levelled seconds later to stun the home crowd, with the Ghanaian finishing clinically in front of the Kop. Was it to be another long Anfield night?

Divock Origi replaced the injured Firmino just before the break, as Carlisle enjoyed the better of things until the half-time whistle blew.

Second-half

Liverpool started the second-half on the front foot, as Rodgers looked to avoid a potentially fatal result. Origi was denied a soft-looking penalty, and also forced the impressive Gillespie into a smart save.

Ings fired into the side-netting after 52 minutes, while Lovren’s 40-year effort perhaps showed that things were starting to get a little desperate for the Reds.

Talisman Philippe Coutinho replaced Allen midway through the second-half, as Liverpool looked to break down their stubborn opponents.

It all went a bit quiet in terms of chances, as extra-time began to look increasingly likely. A long-range Coutinho effort was about as good as it got.

An extra 30 minutes was rather depressingly called for.

Extra-time & penalties

Milner hit the post and Origi then fired over, as Liverpool desperately searched for a winner in the first period. The Belgian almost squeezed a shot in at the near post just before half-time.

The second period was similarly lacking in entertainment. Ings shot over when in a great position, while Emre Can couldn’t keep a long-range down either.

It would be a penalties that would decide who progressed to the fourth round.

Liverpool scraped through 3-2 in the shootout, following three Bogdan saves- Milner, Can and Ings scored for the Reds, Lallana and Coutinho missed- but it was a far from satisfactory night.

Surely this was the night when FSG lost faith in Rodgers.

Liverpool: Bogdan, Clyne (Ibe ’85), Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Can, Milner, Allen (Coutinho ’64), Lallana, Firmino (Origi ’37), Ings.

Subs not used: Fulton, Gomez, Brannagan, Rossiter

Carlisle starting XI: Gillespie, Miller, Raynes, Grainger, McQueen, Kennedy, Dicker, Joyce, Sweeney, Hery, Asamoah.

Referee: Andy Madley

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LIVE: Liverpool vs. Carlisle United – Follow the Reds’ League Cup tie here

Liverpool take on Carlisle United in Wednesday night’s League Cup third round clash, with Brendan Rodgers desperate for a win. We’re live to bring you the latest.

Liverpool vs. Carlisle United
Wednesday, 23 September 2015; 8pm BST
Anfield
League Cup

Liverpool vs. Carlisle United is not available on live TV for UK viewers. Our live coverage updates automatically and is brought to you by Jack Lusby. Have your say on Twitter using @thisisanfield and @jacklusby_.

• TEAM NEWS: Confirmed Liverpool lineup vs. Carlisle United: Six changes as Danny Ings starts

Teams

Liverpool: Bogdan; Can, Skrtel, Lovren; Clyne, Milner, Allen, Moreno; Lallana, Firmino; Ings.

Substitutes: Fulton, Gomez, Rossiter, Brannagan, Ibe, Rossiter, Coutinho, Ibe, Origi

Carlisle United: Gillespie; Miller, Raynes, Grainger, McQueen; Kennedy, Dicker, Joyce, Sweeney, Hery; Asamoah

Substitutes: Hanford, Atkinson, Ibehre, Gilliead, Balanta, Archibald-Henville, Gillesphey

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Confirmed Liverpool lineup vs. Carlisle United: Six changes as Danny Ings starts

After scoring in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Norwich City, Danny Ings is named in a much-changed lineup for Liverpool’s League Cup clash with Carlisle United.

Brendan Rodgers has named a strong starting lineup for Wednesday night’s League Cup tie with Carlisle United, with Ings fielded in an attacking role.

Ings netted after replacing the injured Christian Benteke in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Norwich City, and the 23-year-old has been rewarded with a spot in a lineup that includes five other changes from that stalemate.

Adam Bogdan replaces Simon Mignolet in goal to make his first competitive appearance for the club after joining on a free transfer from Bolton Wanderers this summer.

Dejan Lovren returns in place of Mamadou Sakho at centre-back, likely alongside Emre Can and Martin Skrtel, with Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno continuing on either side of Rodgers’ defence.

Moving into midfield sees the return of Joe Allen, who has missed the first seven games of the season so far through injury.

The Welshman lines up alongside captain James Milner.

With Philippe Coutinho rested, Adam Lallana comes into Rodgers’ lineup alongside Roberto Firmino behind Ings.

There’s no opportunity for the likes of Jordan Rossiter or Jordon Ibe, who have to settle with a place on the bench.

Rodgers is clearly taking this domestic competition very seriously, with his position as Liverpool manager under considerable pressure.

Follow and discuss the match with us in our liveblog

With the prospect of Carlo Ancelotti coming in as Reds manager, the Northern Irishman needs to string together a series of convincing victories to reinforce his role.

Starting with a win over lowly Carlisle is clearly seen as the first step towards an unlikely redemption act on Merseyside.

Liverpool XI vs. Carlisle: Bogdan, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Can, Milner, Allen, Lallana, Firmino, Ings.

Substitutes: Fulton, Coutinho, Gomez, Origi, Brannagan, Ibe, Rossiter.

• Read more: Liverpool vs Carlisle: The Biggest Game of Someone’s Life

Follow and discuss the match with us in our liveblog

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