Liverpool humiliated by Northampton

by The Rumor Monger
(Cyberspace)

Roy Hodgson's troubled start to his Liverpool career to a serious turn for the worse last night as the Reds were dumped out of the Carling Cup by League Two Northampton Town at Anfield.

The Cobblers caused one the biggest shocks in Carling Cup history, overcoming the seven-time winners 4-2 on penalties after it ended 2-2 at the end of extra-time.

Liverpool looked set for an easy win after new signing Milan Jovanovic put them ahead after just nine minutes.

But Billy Mckay's close range effort got Northampton level on 56 minutes to send the game into extra-time.

Northampton then stunned the Kop by taking the lead through Michael Jacobs eight minutes into the extra period, before David Ngog rescued Liverpool four minutes from time to set up a penalty shoot-out.

Ngog then turned villain, missing his spot-kick and allowing Abdul Osman to score the winning penalty and earn Northampton a sensational victory.

After the game Hodgson rounded on his players and offered an apology to the fans who had booed them off the pitch at the end.

Hodgson said: 'We didn't play anywhere near the level I had hoped for until the last 15 minutes of extra time.'

'Even when it goes to penalties, you have home advantage and it is in front of the Kop, and you just hope you have the composure and confidence to go through.

'I can only apologise to the fans who expected better and expected to see us win. The fact is the players have to accept responsibility. I accept responsibility for making so many changes, but I thought we should still have been good enough to win.

'I've got to say I'm not in the mood for talking about positives. It's a major setback for the club as a whole, but we will survive it and get better.'