Next Year, I'll Come Again!

Liverpool overturned Watford 2–1 away from home in the League Cup quarterfinals.

They conceded after just twelve minutes, but Crouch equalized for Liverpool in first-half stoppage time. Then, in the seventy-fifth minute, Gareth Bale put Liverpool ahead.

In the end, Liverpool eliminated Watford 2–1 and smoothly advanced to the League Cup semifinals.

Arsenal were not so lucky. The Gunners lost 2–0 away to Burnley.

Wenger flew into a rage after the match, deeply dissatisfied with the team's performance. He believed it was not the kind of performance expected from a strong Premier League team.

The outside world largely agreed with Wenger's anger. After all, there was no hope left in the league, and they could forget about the Champions League as well. The only competitions they could still use to save face were the League Cup and the FA Cup.

Now that they had been eliminated from the League Cup, Arsenal could only pour all their strength into the FA Cup. Otherwise, they were destined to end the season empty-handed.

Of the four teams that reached the semifinals, Liverpool and Burnley were joined by Manchester United and Derby County. The four teams would face off, with the two-legged semifinals to be played in January.

On the afternoon of December 5, Liverpool visited Blackburn in the sixteenth round of the Premier League.

Although they were playing away, Liverpool put in an exceptionally strong performance. They took the initiative from the opening whistle and launched attack after attack. In the nineteenth minute, Kuyt played a through ball, Yang Yang beat the offside trap, rounded the opposing goalkeeper Robinson in a one-on-one situation, and scored.

The two sides then traded attacks in a lively contest.

After halftime, Liverpool continued to increase the pressure.

In the sixty-ninth minute, Gerrard crossed from the right,