While the first eleven were putting in a distinctly below par performance in Florence last night, Liverpool’s reserves paid a visit to the City of Manchester stadium to defeat Man City’s reserves by 2 goals to nil.
Daniel Agger was left at home to take part in the game, as he makes his way back from surgery on a back injury.
He put in an impressive 68 minute shift for the reds as goals from David N’gog and Steve Irwin gave the reserves a good morale booster.
On a sour note impressive youngster Victor Palsson was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.
And Liverpool’s Swiss right back Philipp Degen was withdrawn after 45 minutes after complaining of ‘feeling ill’. The only positive thing we have to say about the Swiss right back is that he was brought to Anfield on a free transfer. A string of disappointing appearances have ensued. Given a chance last week for the Leeds Carling Cup game, Liverpool fans watched on as even Jamie Carragher told him to get up and stop acting like he had been shot.
Degen not only looks uninterested in playing for Liverpool at any level, but doesn’t seem to have anywhere near the physical attributes to play football in England. At reserve level all he is doing is getting in the way of potential talent that may emerge. In our view – he should be the first out of the door in January.
The reds reserve coach John McMahon said after the game:
“It was a good win for us and Daniel did really well and it was great to see him back. He was committed, he made some good challenges and he helped the young lads around him. He enjoyed himself and was pleased to be back.
“David scored again which is another plus for us and Stevie’s finish was excellent.
“We could have scored a lot more goals in the end and David Amoo and Alex Kacaniklic had good chances. It was also great to see Zsolt Poloskei make his debut. He has been out injured for 15 months but it was great to see him on the pitch and he has worked so hard.”
phillip degen does not need to be here we have english glen johnsen probibly the best right back in the wourld right now and we have again english steven darby the next carragher comeing up the ranks raffa should sell degen and get a bit of money and that can help bring in a young class striker like ‘mata’.
!!COME ON RAFFA STOP WANTING ANY OLD CRAP AND THINK ABOUT IT!!
daniel agger deserves better he is one of the best centre backs in the world strikel should not be in his way no one should when he is fully fit raffa is stupid if he does’nt put him in the starting eleven.
!!!DOES ANYONE ELLSE AGGRE!!!
In the few games I have seen him play he seems to be fairly good going forward but absolutely terrible at defending but then I guess this could be down to match fitness. If he’s not fully fit then making an attacking run down the flank may leave him too knackered to bust a gut to get back into defense etc.. I’m not too worried about it though. He was a free transfer and I’m sure Rafa will make some profit shifting him on eventually. He’ll probably get the rest of this season and then be offloaded in the summer.
I agree with the author. When he started at Elland Road he looked crap and not even remotely bothered. Laughing when he made mistakes and generally being a slouch.
Ship him off, bring in someone with strength and fitness.
We have not seen this fellow play complete 90 mins game. I think Rafa shud give him some games and let’s see where he stands.
I thought he looked lively against Leeds, he was one of our biggest attacking threats, he hasn’t played enough games to make a decision on whether he should stay or go imho
Degen could quite simply be unfit. I’d look disinterested too if I was having trouble making it up and down the pitch more than a handful of times. At least give the guy a month of time on the pitch to get some match fitness and we can then take a proper look at him.