It was quite a Capital One Cup final. As it did the last time Liverpool were in the capital One Cup final, the final went to a penalty shoot-out which Manchester City won 1-3. City were the ones who played better throughout but Liverpool started off decently. What seemed to be a match that wouldn’t even go through to extra-time, went all the way to the penalty shootout.
Fernandinho scored City’s and the match’s opening goal and until the ending, in which Liverpool showed a gutsy and lively effort, Philippe Coutinho managed to score a goal after Lallana rattled the post and took the game to the extra-time. Liverpool looked determined in those extra minutes as well but fate had to be decided in the penalty shoot-outs.
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Liverpool have a good history with penalty shootouts, but this time it wasn’t remotely as good. Mignolet saved City’s first penalty but let all the others go through whereas Caballero let one in and saved the rest. It was a heroic performance by the Argentine.
It was a sad day for Liverpool and a brilliant departure cup to have won for Manuel Pellegrini - and this might just be the first.The best team, however, won and will look forward to facing each other again in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Here are the player ratings of the Capital One Cup final:
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet – 6.5/10
Although Mignolet made a great save in the first half to save an effort from Kun Aguero by pushing it onto the post, he conceded another shambolic goal with a horrendous error. He made up for his mistakes in the crucial last 10 minutes of the play and made two important saves and helped take his team into ET. However, in the penalty shootout, he just saved one of five penalties.
Nathaniel Clyne – 7/10
It was an enjoyable Clyne vs Sterling battle. This competition showed how Clyne is such a good one-on-one defender. He had an excellent first half at the back, while also receiving the first booking of the match for a foul on Sterling.
Lucas Leiva – 8.5/10
Lucas was possibly the best player on the pitch in the first half. He went to the left centre-back position after Kolo Toure came on. If Liverpool were to win at any stage, it would have been for Lucas. He held the ball well in the penalty area and played with a great composure.
Mamadou Sakho – N/A
Sakho started off decently at the back for Liverpool but had a heavy clash with teammate Emre Can and was sensibly forced to come off in the 24th minute despite protesting against it. His passion for the sport and club has to be credited here.
Alberto Moreno – 6/10
There’s something about Alberto Moreno looking slightly better when Sturridge plays. He was left exposed in every attack, and could have conceded a penalty in the first half, but got really lucky in the second half for not conceding a penalty for a ridiculous tackle on Aguero and also avoided receiving his second yellow card within a minute of the first.
Jordan Henderson – 6/10
The captain, unfortunately, was a bit of a liability in the midfield and added nothing to the performance. He was poor and definitely did not perform the way a captain is supposed to perform in a cup final. He just ran with the ball doing nothing with it and his passing was just not something to be relied on.
Emre Can – 8/10
Can showed no fear on the pitch, especially in the penalty shoot-out, and tackled the City players with such might that made his performance immense. He was also the only one to successfully score a Liverpool penalty, which was a panenka. He had the confidence to deal with City’s force, retrieve the ball and take a decent penalty.
James Milner – 7/10
James Milner’s performance is always one to assess. There were moments when he played really well and tried to create chances but then would make blunders like zoning out and passing the ball to a City striker and give them a chance to score. It was more surprising when he didn’t step up to take a penalty in the shootout.
Philippe Coutinho – 7/10
There’s something of a love story between Coutinho and Man City. Coutinho just almost always scores against them and it happened again. After Lallana hit the post from a Sturridge pass, Coutinho smashed the ball into the net in the 83rd minute to take Liverpool into extra-time.Although he was the reason to take Liverpool into extra-time and penalty shootout, he missed his penalty in the shoot-out.
Roberto Firmino – 5/10
Firmino didn’t have a great game and was offside plenty number of times – which got frustrating and showed his lack of understanding of the game. He wasn’t even clicking in his usual way with Coutinho and Sturridge. However, he made a promising start, but was later subbed off for Origi.
Daniel Sturridge – 7/10
Sturridge held the ball up very well in the first half and looked to create chances in the second as well. There were times when he couldn’t keep up with the pace of Origi and couldn’t even walk, let alone run due to foot cramps but he did look ambitious. However, he just needed to get onto the ball more.
Substitutes:
Kolo Toure – 7/10
Toure came on for Sakho in the 24th minute and he did well with Lucas as a centre-back after coming on.
Adam Lallana – 6.5/10
Lallana came on for Moreno in the 71st minute. He got a good chance to equalise from Sturridge but hit the post. He also missed the crucial penalty in the shootout. He was booked for his fight with Yaya Toure in extra-time.Divock Origi – 7.5/10
Origi came on for Firmino in the 80th minute and immediately started threatening with his pace and motive. He intensified the last 10 minutes of the match and almost scored a header to hand Liverpool the win.
Manchester City
Willy Caballero – 9/10
Caballero wasn’t challenged much by Liverpool during the game, but was tested as any goalkeeper is in the penalty shoot-out in which he shone. He stopped three shots and played a crucial role in his team winning the cup.
Bacary Sagna – 7/10
It was another good day for Sagna. He did quite well at the back and had the situation under control. He also contributed offensively which was enough to help his team through.
Vincent Kompany – 8/10
Kompany was brilliant and produced a real captain’s performance. He did almost everything – holding the defence together, not let anything get away, didn’t miss a tackle and helped take his team through well.
Nicolas Otamendi – 7/10
Otamendi had a decent game but moreover had a good game only because of his solid partnership with Kompany. Together they made 10 tackles and 6 interceptions.
Gael Clichy – 6/10
Clichy was better in the first half than the second when he seemed to be zoning out and his pace dropped significantly.
Fernando – 7/10
Fernando had a poor start but eventually settled into the game and did well defensively in terms of interceptions and being careful around the box.
Fernandinho – 7/10
Fernandinho scored the opening goal of the match early in the second half in the 49th minute. He supported Sagna throughout the match but missed his penalty and was booked for a foul on Lallana.
Yaya Toure – 7/10
Toure fought hard on the pitch and got into a fight with Lallana and received a yellow for it in the 27th minute of extra-time.
David Silva – 7/10
Silva threatened Liverpool every time he touched the ball and gained possession. His pace and skill made Liverpool careful. He was great in terms of his passing, ability to create space and chances.
Raheem Sterling – 7/10
The main thing that would be said about Sterling is how he managed to miss two sitters but he looked determined to score against his former club. The boos of the crowd didn’t seem to deter him one bit as he looked very much active and fired up to help City to victory.
Kun Aguero – 6.5/10
He laid off the first goal for Fernandinho and made a great effort himself to score in the first half which was stopped well by Mignolet. He was involved in an excellent play that gave Sterling the chance to seal the deal against his former club, but it went in vain and the striker made plenty of chances for himself as well.
Substitutes:
Pablo Zabaleta – 7/10
Zabaleta came on for Sagna in the extra-time to add to the quality of the attack. His movement was fast and he tried to create plenty of chances alongside Jesus Navas.
Jesus Navas – 8/10
He came on for Fernando in the extra-time and provided some width to the team. He showed how he can be important.
Wilfried Bony – N/A
Bony came on for Silva in the 20th minute of extra-time and barely had time to influence the game.
