Football Club Buzz

Alan Hansen believes Liverpool can take full advantage of a Manchester City side that will be without several key players for the first leg of the Carling Cup tie at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

The former Reds skipper is quietly confident Kenny Dalglish’s charges can rise to the occasion over the two games and reach Wembley, but warns that Liverpool must ‘eradicate any mistakes at the back’.

The legendary No.6  scored the second goal that helped Bob Paisley’s side to League Cup glory in 1981 which turned out to be the winner in a final replay against West Ham at Villa Park.

Kenny Dalglish slotted home the opening goal on the day as the Reds won the trophy for the first time in the club’s history edging out the Hammers.

That year they beat Manchester City at the semi-final stage of the competition and Hansen believes  Kenny’s current crop can topple City again to head back to Wembley.

“Anything can happen over a two-legged semi-final and the aim for Liverpool is to get a result at City that gives us a great chance of getting to Wembley when we bring them back to Anfield,” Hansen told LFC Weekly Magazine.

“Kenny will concentrate on the positives from last week’s game. There was never three goals difference between the two teams – Liverpool played well and the score line flattered City.

“That said, we lost and Kenny won’t ignore that.”

Hansen was the rock at the heart of Liverpool’s defence from 1977 to 1990, playing 620 games for the club and he says that City’s defence could be substantially weakened if Vincent Kompany is unavailable.

City captain Kompany will find out at 6pm tonight whether he has been successful in his appeal against a four-match suspension for his tackle on Manchester United’s Nani during Sunday’s FA Cup defeat.

Hansen said: “If Kompany fails to win his appeal against a four-match ban he will miss both legs of the semi-final against Liverpool, which would be a massive boost for us.”

Man City are also without brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure who are away on African Cup of Nations duty with Ivory Coast.

 ”One of their other stars Yaya Toure is away on African Cup of Nations duty and he will be a big, big loss for them,” added Hansen.

“All of a sudden I’m thinking we’ve got a chance here. With their two most consistent players [Kompany and Yaya Toure], who were also their best players against us in the Premier League game, potentially missing it gives us a better opportunity for progressing.”

 ”As Kenny said himself, all three of City’s goals were soft. They all came from mistakes by Liverpool players and obviously such errors need to be cut out.”

Source : Liverpool FC

Related posts:

1. Hansen: ‘Let’s take City advantage’ Alan Hansen believes Liverpool can take full advantage of a Manchester City side that will be without several key players for the first leg...
2. Kenny’s City frustration Kenny Dalglish admitted his frustration at Liverpool's 3-0 defeat against Manchester City on Tuesday night - but believes his players can learn from their...
3. Vidic issues rallying cry 16/04/2011 21:00, Report by Mark Froggatt Nemanja Vidic says United must not dwell on the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City and concentrate...
4. Vidic issues rallying cry 16/04/2011 21:00, Report by Mark Froggatt Nemanja Vidic says United must not dwell on the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City and concentrate...
5. Live: City v United (14:30 UK) 07/08/2011 13:09, Reigning Barclays Premier League champions Manchester United do battle with 2011 FA Cup winners Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday...

Alan Hansen believes Liverpool can take full advantage of a Manchester City side that will be without several key players for the first leg of the Carling Cup tie at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

The former Reds skipper is quietly confident Kenny Dalglish’s charges can rise to the occasion over the two games and reach Wembley, but warns that Liverpool must ‘eradicate any mistakes at the back’.

The legendary No.6  scored the second goal that helped Bob Paisley’s side to League Cup glory in 1981 which turned out to be the winner in a final replay against West Ham at Villa Park.

Kenny Dalglish slotted home the opening goal on the day as the Reds won the trophy for the first time in the club’s history edging out the Hammers.

That year they beat Manchester City at the semi-final stage of the competition and Hansen believes  Kenny’s current crop can topple City again to head back to Wembley.

“Anything can happen over a two-legged semi-final and the aim for Liverpool is to get a result at City that gives us a great chance of getting to Wembley when we bring them back to Anfield,” Hansen told LFC Weekly Magazine.

“Kenny will concentrate on the positives from last week’s game. There was never three goals difference between the two teams – Liverpool played well and the score line flattered City.

“That said, we lost and Kenny won’t ignore that.”

Hansen was the rock at the heart of Liverpool’s defence from 1977 to 1990, playing 620 games for the club and he says that City’s defence could be substantially weakened if Vincent Kompany is unavailable.

City captain Kompany will find out at 6pm tonight whether he has been successful in his appeal against a four-match suspension for his tackle on Manchester United’s Nani during Sunday’s FA Cup defeat.

Hansen said: “If Kompany fails to win his appeal against a four-match ban he will miss both legs of the semi-final against Liverpool, which would be a massive boost for us.”

Man City are also without brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure who are away on African Cup of Nations duty with Ivory Coast.

 ”One of their other stars Yaya Toure is away on African Cup of Nations duty and he will be a big, big loss for them,” added Hansen.

“All of a sudden I’m thinking we’ve got a chance here. With their two most consistent players [Kompany and Yaya Toure], who were also their best players against us in the Premier League game, potentially missing it gives us a better opportunity for progressing.”

 ”As Kenny said himself, all three of City’s goals were soft. They all came from mistakes by Liverpool players and obviously such errors need to be cut out.”

Source : Liverpool FC

Related posts:

1. Hansen: ‘Let’s take City advantage’ Alan Hansen believes Liverpool can take full advantage of a Manchester City side that will be without several key players for the first leg...
2. Kenny’s City frustration Kenny Dalglish admitted his frustration at Liverpool's 3-0 defeat against Manchester City on Tuesday night - but believes his players can learn from their...
3. Vidic issues rallying cry 16/04/2011 21:00, Report by Mark Froggatt Nemanja Vidic says United must not dwell on the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City and concentrate...
4. Vidic issues rallying cry 16/04/2011 21:00, Report by Mark Froggatt Nemanja Vidic says United must not dwell on the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City and concentrate...
5. An epic April awaits 24/03/2011 16:37, Report by Nick Coppack Sir Alex's men will now play Newcastle United at St James' Park on Tuesday 19 April. The sides...