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Liverpool has had a couple of bad games, or rather bad halves this season but none is close to the type of school boy football they played this morning against Tottenham in the League Cup. Yes, you know I have been a staunch supporter of Liverpool and don’t usually criticized them but the kind of football they played this morning is simply, using a Singapore slang, cannot make it ah.

Granted that perhaps 10 out of 11 might not have started a ‘proper’ league game if the whole squad is fit, and the no. 11th player just came back from missing 9 matches due to injury, I still expect the 2nd strings to put in a stronger performance. Misplaced passes, bad first touches, not much movement off the ball, non marking of players in defence, lack of communication, etc…everything you should not have done in a top class football match, they have done it. I’m sure this match will be taped and watched over and over again to show future generations of Liverpool players what they SHOULD NOT have done in a football match.

OK, let’s not take it away from Spurs, they did ring a few changes, keeping in-form Bent on the bench, and played extremely well, especially going forward. I was particularly impressed with Lennon on the right flank, and his willingness to track back and Campbell showed his desire to chase after every seemingly lost cause. BUT, Liverpool made their life much much easier and allow them to dictate the pace of the game.

This match further highlight the kind of work Rafa need to do to ensure the 2nd string of players are up to mark when called upon for 1st team actions. The good news is that we are not likely to see the same team play together again this season. I’m sure every Liverpool fans expect a player who puts on a Liverpool shirt in a football match to live up to the high expectation of him being a Liverpool player, and some of them really need to do some serious soul searching. I expect ruthless Rafa to ship some of them out at the end of the season.

Ngog was non existence up front, simply ball passed to him he couldn’t control it, never had a good first touch in the entire match, and misses most of his passes. Plessis, apart from his goal and his yellow card, did nothing to suggest he could anchor the midfield one day. Lucas was woeful in his passes, even simple ones. Degan seems to be always day dreaming. Agger is simply too casual (no wonder he is displaced by Sketel). El Zhar seems to have lost his directions, but at least he tries to play football. Cavalieri just needs to communicate more with his defenders but did an ok job apart from the mixed up that lead to the goal. Hyypia, despite doing very well, have to take some blame for not organising the defence well enough. Dossena tried but could have done much better. Babel was the only bright spark but held on to the ball too much at times (many times), perhaps knowing that if he passes it the others might lose it anyway. Torres just got back from injury so I am not expecting much from him. Insua and Alonso came on as a sub and spark the mini revivial till Gomes injury (a serious one) kill off any momentem Liverpool was trying to build.

If I ever see a similar line up again I will just switch off my TV set, and you know that I watch every single Liverpool match every season. Rafa was right in allowing the 2nd string to have a go, but they simply did not repay the faith. Players I want to see go? Ngog and Plessis definately, the rest I will give them a 2nd chance, but not playing together.