Midweek England Round Up: Terrific Tangerines, Carling Cup First Leg Semi Finals

The Premier League finally took its foot off the right pedal this midweek with only a single league game while three EPL teams and one from the Championship tangled in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi finals. Liverpool traveled to Bloomfield Road to face Blackpool - the reverse fixture from October’s 1-2 Blackpool victory at Anfield. Oddly enough, Wednesday’s rematch saw Blackpool run out winners by the same scoreline and complete the double over Liverpool (for the first time in 64 years) who have now lost eight of their 11 Premier League away matches.

Fernando Torres gave manager Kenny Dalglish the best of starts with a third minute strike that emphatically beat Richard Kingson in goal and reminded supporters and neutrals what he’s capable of when fully fit and sharp. Set up by Martin Kelly who kept his spot at right back for Liverpool, Torres collected the pass from the right flank and finished past Kingson from a tight angle.

Liverpool’s lead lasted only nine minutes thanks to some sloppy play from Raul Meireles in the center of midfield. The Portugal international needlessly gave the ball away to David Vaughan who sent Blackpool’s Gary Taylor-Fletcher in on Pepe Reina’s goal with a brilliantly weighted ball. Taylor-Fletcher was able to add parity to the scoreline by fighting off challenges from both Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel before finishing nicely past Reina.

After the interval, Blackpool stepped up their pressure through Charlie Adam and David Vaughan who both forced Reina into saves to keep the score level. Liverpool too attempted to find a winner and almost did when Milan Jovanovic crossed from the left wing and found a waiting Torres whose volley was well over.

The contest was finally decided in the game’s 69th minute when DJ Campbell headed home from a fantastic Blackpool effort. Here’s how the winner breaks down:

Unmarked and from deep on the right side, Blackpool’s Neil Eardley crossed into the box and found Ian Evatt who beat Martin Skrtel and headed back across the face of goal. Waiting opposite from Evatt was Campbell who was able to head past Reina from close range to put Blackpool up for good. It was a decisive moment in the match where Blackpool exposed Liverpool’s defensive frailties rather easily yet with poise and confidence.

With the result, Blackpool are in ninth, level on points with Newcastle while Liverpool sit 13th, just four points off the relegation zone. For new manager Kenny Dalglish, an 0-2 start to his second stint as Liverpool manager keeps the Reds in the muck and mire of midtable.

Carling Cup First Leg Semi Finals

West Ham United 2-1 Birmingham City

The League Cup semi finals got underway this midweek with West Ham running out to a 2-1 win at Upton Park in East London. Brum’s Ben Foster was the hero for West Ham when he allowed an easily save-able Carlton Cole shot to squirm through his legs which gave the Hammers a 2-1 lead in the 78th. In the contest’s most contentious moment, however, Victor Obinna stamped on Sebastian Larsson’s groin in the 59th minute which reduced the Hammers to ten men with over 30 minutes left to play.

Before the madness and the winner, Mark Noble opened the scoring for West Ham in the 13th when he finished from the most narrow of angles as Brum’s Scott Dann blocked Ben Foster’s view of the close range strike. Liam Ridgewell equalized for Birmingham City in the 56th from a Larsson corner when he was able to get in front of his marker and power home past Robert Green. The second leg will take place on Wednesday, 26 January from St. Andrew’s in Birmingham.

Ipswich Town 1-0 Arsenal

Wednesday’s semi final saw Arsenal lose 0-1 away to Ipswich Town at Portman Road in a shocker as Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger fielded a strong starting eleven yet weren’t able to overtake a side that just Saturday were thrashed 7-0 away to Chelsea in the FA Cup. Maybe Cup football doesn’t interest Arsenal this season though as Saturday’s FA Cup third round draw at the Emirates with Leeds United will birth a replay at Elland Road next week and now Arsenal will take the field during the second leg down 0-1 on aggregate.

Both sides made good starts and exchanged chances and half chances throughout the night as the rain poured down on Portman Road. But some cheap Arsenal errors continued to gift Ipswich possession and the Tractor Boys started to make the most of Arsenal’s leniency. Finally, in the 78th minute, a Colin Healy through-ball put Tamas Priskin in on goal and the Hungarian slotted past Wojciech Szczesny for the winner.

A difficult full 90 will still be left to see out in order for Ipswich to advance to the final but a goal lead will be enough for the Championship side to at least take the Emirates pitch with confidence. The second leg will take place in North London on Tuesday, 25 January.