Source: FOOTYMAD
Carroll's strike caps routine Liverpool win at Exeter
This was another of those occasions that confirmed how much more comfortable life is under Kenny Dalglish... ...Liverpool succeeding where they failed last year by overcoming lower-league opposition to progress to the next round of the Carling Cup with the minimum of fuss. Daniel Nardiello scored a late penalty for Exeter City but Liverpool were strolling by that stage, following an outstanding display by Luis Suárez, who left the field to applause from all sides of the ground. The contrast with their humiliating defeat in the same competition against Northampton Town at Anfield 11 months ago was stark as Liverpool ruthlessly punished their League One opponents. Exeter, to their credit, never surrendered, but with Suárez shimmering with menace whenever he picked up the ball, Liverpool simply had too much class. The Uruguayan scored the first - his third in as many appearances this season - set up the second for Maxi Rodriguez and had a hand in the third, which was scored by Andy Carroll. It was Carroll's first of the season and only his third goal for Liverpool in 12 appearances. Liverpool seemed to ease off at that point and Exeter took full advantage when they registered a deserved consolation through Nardiello, after the former Barnsley forward was brought down by Martin Skrtel. Liverpool's dominance for long periods in the first half was only to be expected. Although Dalglish made eight changes from the side that started and won against Arsenal on Saturday and named three teenagers in defence – Jon Flanagan, Danny Wilson and Jack Robinson – there was plenty of experience elsewhere in the visitors' line-up and no shortage of established names on the substitutes' bench, presumably to serve as an insurance policy in the unlikely event that should things go wrong. As it happened, Andy Carroll was quickly introduced, with Dalglish forced to make a change after Raul Meireles fell awkwardly following a robust but fair challenge from Danny Coles. If the sight of Meireles disappearing down the tunnel holding his shoulder in some pain was disconcerting for Dalglish, the Liverpool manager had reason to look much happier three minutes later when Suárez put Liverpool ahead to continue his fine form. Jordan Henderson was the architect, the midfielder escaping on the right before delivering a centre into the heart of the six-yard box that Artur Krysiak got to first but was unable to clear. Suárez was perfectly positioned to pick up the loose ball before firing a crisp angled volley from about eight yards beyond the Exeter keeper. Further opportunities followed, as Maxi Rodríguez, Charlie Adam and Suárez all threatened to add to Liverpool's lead before the interval. Carroll's arrival had merely emphasised the chasm between the two clubs. Paul Tisdale, the Exeter manager, has only ever paid a fee for one player – Troy Archibald-Henville, a £50,000 signing from Tottenham Hotspur. The holding midfielder acquitted himself well in an Exeter side that tried to pass the ball and whose best chance of the first half arrived in the 16th minute when Daniel Nardiello drew a routine save from Pepe Reina with a glancing header from Chris Shephard's free-kick. Nardiello had another sight of goal at the start of the second half but his lobbed effort landed the wrong side of the upright and, within the blink of an eye, Liverpool had put the game beyond Exeter. Rodríguez tapped in from close range after yet more good work from Suárez and within three minutes, Carroll added Liverpool's third goal, drilling in from the edge of the box. Nardiello's spot-kick at least ensured that the home fans in a sell-out crowd departed with more than just Suárez to talk about.
