Brighton post match thread

[Mostar]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/gerrard-s-joy-at-brighton-return

Gerrard's joy at Brighton return

Steven Gerrard admitted he was delighted to make his long-awaited comeback in Liverpool's 2-1 Carling Cup win over Brighton - but insisted passage into round four of the competition was the always the priority.

The Reds skipper made his first appearance in six months when he replaced Luis Suarez on 75 minutes in what proved to be a pulsating cup tie at the Amex.

Craig Bellamy's first goal since his Anfield return and a late strike from Dirk Kuyt ensured Kenny Dalglish's men are in the hat for Saturday's draw - and Gerrard's cameo proved to be the icing on the cake.

Asked if Brighton's spirited display prevented him from entering the fray earlier, Gerrard said: "It did actually. If we were two or three up at half-time I might have had a few more minutes, but tonight wasn't about me.

"It was about progressing into the next round and getting that Tottenham performance out of our system, which we did tonight."

He added: "It's down to the manager now. Obviously I've been out for six months so it's all about getting training sessions and match time under my belt, so I can get match fit and get to the form I want to be at.

"It's just nice to come through the first test. Now, I'll train tomorrow and hopefully I'll be selected in the 18 against Wolves and get some more game time."

Gerrard's late appearance saw him come face to face with Craig Noone, a youngster who caught the imagination of headline writers with his boast that he had once worked on the skipper's roof.

After handing his shirt to the Brighton winger, Gerrard said: "He's a down to earth lad, a good Scouser. He did a great job on my house and, in my eyes, tonight he was man of the match.

"He was very unlucky not to score and I thought he was a threat throughout, so congratulations to him."

[Lee]

Only if the games are 45 minutes long.

Link?

my money is on utd. they'll get home to southampton in the next round.

They probably will, and I hope the cunts turn up wearing grey again. I think they'll continue to field their third team in this competition and I think we'll beat them if (or when) we meet them.

Stevie's pics from today

He needs a haircut.

[Mostar]

Some more

[Mostar]

[Mostar]

A few more

[Mostar]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/kenny-s-brighton-verdict

Kenny's Brighton verdict

Kenny Dalglish hailed the impact of Craig Bellamy after the forward marked his first start since returning to Liverpool with a superb goal in Liverpool's 2-1 Carling Cup win at Brighton.

The Welshman netted the opener at the Amex with a stylish finish on seven minutes and also had a hand in Dirk Kuyt's winner, leaving the Reds boss delighted by the forward's overall contribution.

Dalglish told his post-match press conference: "I thought he was fantastic. When he came in we said he'd make a contribution and it's not taken him long.

"He just loves playing football. He's enthusiastic and very fit. He loves this football club. He's a supporter of this club, which sometimes sounds a bit sickly, but he actually is a supporter and wants to go out and do his best for the club.

"I thought all of the forwards linked up well; Suarez, Maxi, Kuyt and Bellamy.

"Craig's a good footballer, an intelligent player and they all linked up well with him. It looks like they will get on together."

Substitute Ashley Barnes netted a late consolation for the home side to set up a nervy finale, but it could not dent the positivity surrounding Liverpool on a night that also saw Steven Gerrard make his comeback following a six month absence.

On the subject of his skipper's return, Dalglish said: "It was fantastic for everyone connected with the football club to see him back. I'm more pleased for Steven than anyone else. He's worked very hard to get here.

"He's had disappointments along the way and that 15 minutes will have given him a lift.

"We'll monitor the situation as diligently as we have done to get him this far. We need to be careful with him."

He added: "We don't know when Steven will be available and at full pelt but it certainly makes our squad a lot stronger.

"We said when the transfer window shut that we were happy with the business we had done and getting Steven back would be like a new signing considering he's been out for six months.

"For us it's a real, real addition to get your talisman back. It's great for us and fantastic for Steven."

Liverpool produced what could arguably be described as the best football of their season so far in a one-sided first 45 that should have seen them go in at the interval more than the one goal to the good.

Dalglish was delighted with his team's showing and saluted their response following Sunday's heavy loss at Tottenham.

"I thought the first-half performance was fantastic by the players," he said. "I think we responded to the disappointment that everyone saw on Sunday. They were a great credit to themselves and the club with the way they went about their work.

"Some of the football - the passing and the movement - was exceptional. It's obviously very difficult to keep that going for 90 minutes."

He continued: "It was a difficult game and a positive result for us. It was also positive news that Steven got 15 minutes for us.

"Jack Robinson got 90 minutes, as did Sebastian Coates. Maxi got a game and played well. Craig Bellamy had a great game and scored. Martin Kelly almost played a full game too, so it was a good night for us.

"We've got a stronger squad than what we had last year and that's reflected in the team we picked. We can only pick from the squad we've got."

Quizzed about his thoughts on the season so far, Dalglish added: "Like everyone else, other than Man United who are sitting at the top of the table with 15 points, we'd have liked to have done better.

"But we are realistic enough to know that we are in a better position than we were this time last year."

[el matador]

Alonso worked, because he had a system to work with. Pass and move is all very well, but if players aren't in productive space, it's closed down and quelled.

i think youve missed the point here. good players like alonso are such brilliant passers of the ball that their passing creates space for players. lucas is at the opposite end of the spectrum in that his passing is reactive to players movement ie someone makes a run and he trys to find them.

great passes make give players options for movements because great players see the game two steps ahead. an example is instead of playing the ball to the feet of a centre forward, you play it 5 yards closer to the sideline because as the striker goes 5 yards out and taking his marker with him, he creates 5 yards of space for the next attacking player. hence space is created with clever passing.

being a great passer isnt about pinging 50 yard balls (as charlie adam thinks), its about playing the right pass at the right time to the right player.

[Kenneth]

I've gone from not really favouring signing Craig Bellamy to him being my favourite player, despite doing nothing (until tonight). I love watching him play football so much. Gives it absolutely everything with every step, and when it goes wrong he adopts the incredulous look of a 3yr kid who's ice cream has dropped on the floor. What's not to love? Great signing, such a Kenny type player I feel.

[Shaggy]

Thought Coates did pretty well on the whole. Obviously there was the dangerous stray pass, a sliced clearance and one other incident which escapes me...but he made some great blocks, interceptions and tackles, and seems to read the game well.

Great first half display, fluid movement and short passing and should have been three or four up.

2nd half was a bit of a mystery but I'm not gonna complain about that.

Hopefully Bellamy starts on Saturday. Not sure if Maxi did enough tonight, Downing should come back in but Bellamy surely has to play.

[el matador]

i was gutted when he left in the first place. really wasted 5 years away from here.

[yamiedo]

Didn't see the game (Work). Looking forward to downloading it and by the sounds of the match reports Bellamy did well with Suarez. Carroll will have to work seriously hard to get in the team on a regular basis with Kuyt, Suarez and Bellamy playing well.

[Mostar]

Stevie and Noone post game comments

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid761333525001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAAnV5Z0~,xyoxShbYDLGSh2yu4XruBQh1N8XmHpc9&bctid=1174534607001

[Mostar]

Kenny's post match comments

http://bcove.me/mpzxyepi

[Chris]

Hopefully Bellamy starts on Saturday.

Would defo hope so but might not be to positive on that score.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/Exclusive-Interview-Craig-Bellamy-I-owe-it-all-to-Mark-Hughes-but-I-ve-not-spoken-to-him-since-he-was-sacked-by-Manchester-City-article269105.html

"I have had seven knee operations in the last nine years and it is no secret that I struggle to play two games in a week because of my patella tendon.

"The physios went to see Mancini about it early in the week and he was great. He understood. Me playing two games in three days just wasn't going to happen."

[Lee]

That's a bit of a ****ter.