Page 46 - MIN VOS 6 jan,2016

SPORTS A17
Wednesday 6 January 2016

Stoked

Liverpool Beats Stoke 1-0 in League Cup Semifinal First Leg

Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic, right, is tackled by Liverpool’s James Milner during the first leg of the English League Cup semifinal soccer match between Stoke City
and Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke on Trent, England, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016. Liverpool beat Stoke City 1-0.

(AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

JACK BEZANTS the match missing first- at a relentless pace - har- With no central defenders some last ditch blocking
Associated Press team players such as Mar- rying Stoke’s defense when on the substitute’s bench, from Toure and Lucas de-
Liverpool’s 1-0 win over tin Skrtel, Daniel Sturridge, it had possession and once Klopp brought on midfield- nied Stoke in the first 10
Stoke in an English League and captain Jordan Hen- the ball was won back, er James Milner, and Lucas minutes of the second half.
Cup semifinal first leg came derson, two more injuries they passed it swiftly and Leiva partnered Toure in a The pressure on Liverpool
at a cost on Tuesday, with tarnished the victory. intricately, pulling oppo- makeshift central defense. briefly relented as Ibe and
Philippe Coutinho and De- “It’s a big shadow over the nents out of position with But Ibe delivered Liver- Firmino were denied by
jan Lovren hurt and man- game for us,” Klopp said. their movement. pool’s breakthrough. Lal- Butland, but Stoke came
ager Juergen Klopp ac- “I don’t know how serious, Firmino and Lallana both lana latched on to a neat back again with the intro-
knowledging he may need and we have to wait for had shots from range well forward pass down the duction of substitute strikers
new signings. this. In this situation with no saved by Stoke goalkeep- right by Milner and played Joselu and Peter Crouch.
After Coutinho and Lovren center-backs fit, I would er Jack Butland, before the ball into the penalty Joselu brought a neat
walked off with hamstring say (transfers) it’s some- Liverpool’s momentum area. Allen helped the ball save out of Simon Mignolet
injuries, Jordon Ibe convert- thing we could look at.” was abruptly halted when on to Ibe, who controlled when his shot from range
ed from close range before Klopp decided to replace Coutinho went down off and poked the ball past was deflected, and Walters
halftime after Joe Allen di- his only fit striker, Christian the ball, clutching his left Butland. dragged a shot wide after
verted a cross from Adam Benteke, with attacking hamstring. Stoke replaced defender forcing an opening in the
Lallana into his path. midfielder Adam Lallana, He was replaced by Ibe, Geoff Cameron with striker last minute.
Fourth-choice defender who comprised a three- and Liverpool was disjoint- Jonathan Walters at half- The second leg is at Anfield
Kolo Toure was also holding man attack alongside ed further when Lovren time, looking to exploit Liv- is on Jan. 26.
the back of his right leg in Coutinho and Roberto Fir- stayed down after stretch- erpool’s backline. Everton hosts Manchester
the final minutes. mino. The trio ensured Liv- ing to make a block and The host was galvanized City in the other semifinal
For Klopp, who went into erpool began the game hurting his right leg. by Walters’ presence, and on Wednesday.q