Danny Ings the 1 Positive from Liverpool's Miserable League Cup Tie vs. Carlisle
Officially, a penalty-shootout victory is not classed as a victory for the team that progresses—the match itself is classed as a draw. Therefore, Liverpool extended their winless run to six games with a 1-1 draw against League Two Carlisle United on Wednesday night.
In those six games, Brendan Rodgers' side have scored a paltry four goals and still haven't scored two goals in the same game this season—in fact, it's now 11 games since they achieved such a feat, against Queens Park Rangers on May 2.
At Anfield on Wednesday, the Reds eventually progressed to the fourth round of the League Cup after debutant goalkeeper Adam Bogdan spared their blushes by saving three penalties in the shootout.
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Bogdan was one of six changes Rodgers made from the team that drew with Norwich City on Sunday—two fewer changes than were made in the Europa League at Bordeaux the week before. It was almost a full-strength team from the under-pressure manager who is living game by game.
One of those six changes was enforced, with Danny Ings coming into the side for the injured Christian Benteke, as he did at half-time against Norwich.
The Englishman carried on where he left off against Norwich, scoring his second goal for the club, constantly proving to be the Reds' most dangerous player and eventually converting what proved to be the winning penalty.
"The service wasn’t great but Ings posed a threat all night and repeatedly heard his name chanted by the Kop," wrote David Usher for ESPN FC post-match.
Ings and Bogdan were the only two to escape the horror show with any credit—although Bogdan's praise for his penalty shootout heroics are tempered by his failure to deal with Carlisle's goal earlier in the game.
Ings vs. Benteke
Liverpool still don't know how much they will be paying Burnley for Ings, who arrived after his contract expired at the Lancashire club. As the clubs have not been able to agree compensation, the case is due to go to a tribunal.
As reported by the MailOnline, it could be January before the tribunal concludes, with Burnley expected to receive somewhere between £6 million and £10 million for the 23-year-old.
Whether it's the higher or lower of those figures, Ings looks set to prove his worth for Liverpool.
Rodgers admitted his side had better movement in the second half of the match against Norwich, with Ings and Daniel Sturridge providing a more fluid and dynamic duo than Benteke and Sturridge had in the first half.
Had it not been for Benteke being ruled out for a fortnight, Rodgers would have had a huge decision to make on which of the two new signings would start against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Rodgers has been saved that decision by Benteke's hamstring injury, which is, as the Express' Paul Joyce explained, a headache the under-pressure boss could do without.
Writing before Benteke's injury was confirmed, Joyce explained: "Overlook the price tags involved and there is a case to argue that Ings should be Liverpool’s first-choice striker going into this weekend’s crucial showdown with Aston Villa."
He's right: Ings has proved to be a more suitable addition in his fleeting appearances than Benteke has in his six Premier League starts so far.
Writes Joyce:
"Ings’ movement, his ability to run in behind and stretch defences, helped create space for his team-mates, but it was his enthusiasm and effort that threatened to change the mood until Norwich’s equaliser.
He pressed from the front, chased lost causes, and allowed Liverpool to be more like the Liverpool they should be.
"
This is the sort of centre-forward Liverpool fans want to see in their team—somebody who does the cliched dirty work up front, harries defenders and causes a nuisance. Think Ian Rush. Think Luis Suarez. This is the DNA of a Liverpool centre-forward.
"He reminded me of Rushie and myself in the 1980s, refusing to give defenders a minute’s peace," wrote former striker John Aldridge in his column for the Liverpool Echo.
It was the same story against Carlisle on Wednesday night. Ings headed the opening goal from close range, a proper striker's goal. He was in the right place at the right time, doing something Rush had to do frequently: finish from inside the six-yard box.
Clearly buoyed by his second goal for the club, Ings was Liverpool's biggest threat and liveliest player. A shot fizzed over the bar shortly after, and his constant work rate got the Kop chanting his name.
As Liverpool became more desperate and almost every outfield player took turns to shoot from 20 to 30 yards out, Ings' opportunities decreased. He finished the night, though, by dispatching his penalty. Job done for Danny.
Ings has already won over supporters; Benteke has not.
When Rodgers made it clear Benteke was his No. 1 target this summer, most supporters questioned the logic of signing a centre-forward of the Belgian's type. Even Villa boss Tim Sherwood questioned whether Benteke would suit Liverpool, relayed by the Express.
Of course, it's very early days for Benteke, and nobody is writing him off at Anfield yet. But problems of suitability have already been displayed, and Ings' performances have only further highlighted how unsuited Benteke is.
The problem, of course, is that Rodgers has staked £32 million and his reputation on Benteke, Liverpool's second-most expensive signing. The manager isn't likely to turn him into a substitute any time soon, so the only way Benteke isn't the first-choice pick at Anfield is if Rodgers leaves the club.
Partnership
For the visit of Villa—a team who haven't lost at Anfield since 2010—Rodgers does not have the decision of Ings or Benteke to make.
Therefore, we should hopefully see Ings and Sturridge paired alongside each other, as they were for the second half against Norwich.
Between them, the two Englishmen could provide quite the partnership. Nobody is comparing Ings to Suarez, but in terms of his movement and work ethic and his constant harrying defenders, you could perhaps call him Suarez-lite.
Sturridge's best form arrived alongside Suarez, with the Uruguayan's incredible ability and work ethic creating space and opportunities for the former Chelsea forward.
An Ings-Sturridge partnership has potential for Liverpool—and perhaps even for England.
If he's still in charge for it, Rodgers will have a big decision to make regarding who starts up front in the Merseyside derby on October 4, because Ings doesn't look like he's going to give up his place easily.
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