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| Danny Ings holds a Liverpool shirt supporting the Global Goals campaign |
LIVERPOOL'S shoot-out against Carlisle had reached sudden death when it was Danny Ings’ turn to make the slow walk from the half-way line towards the end where 6,500 travelling supporters goaded him to miss.
The potential repercussions were obvious, yet the striker, like his penalty, remained true.
“I asked for it,” said Ings. “I wanted to go fifth because I like to challenge myself in every situation, whether it is training or in games. I thought it was the perfect situation to go fifth. It was an important penalty but all of them were and I thought the lads had the courage.
“We missed a couple but that happens. We got through the shootout and that is all that matters.”
While the general perception, at present, is playing for Liverpool represents something of an ordeal, Ings instead spies an opportunity.
He opened the scoring against the League Two side before Wednesday’s Capital One Cup tie descended into difficulties just as he had against Norwich in the Premier League last Sunday prior to Liverpool letting the ascendancy once again slip.
And when the circus returns to Anfield on Saturday for what feels like a must-win game for Brendan Rodgers against his bogey team Aston Villa, it is Ings who will lead the line in the absence of the injured Christian Benteke.
Having arrived from Burnley for a fee which will be set by a transfer commission, Ings recognises the stakes are high. Equally, he will not shirk his responsibility.
“I think pressure is maybe a strong word,” said the 23-year-old. “I don’t see it as pressure. I see it as an opportunity.
“My whole career has been waiting for opportunities at every level. The expectation is a lot greater at a club like Liverpool than where I have come from, but I find that a real positive.
“I use it as a fuel to motivate myself to do well for the fans, for the staff for the manager and I am sure the other players feel exactly the same way.”
In a season already engulfed by foreboding clouds for Rodgers, Ings has emerged as a rare positive. A figure who has been able to galvanise crowd support at a time when the simmering undercurrent points towards revolt.
So much so that his unselfish endeavour - Ings is all effort and intensity - have already resulted in his name being boomed out by the Kop.
“As a player it is huge to have the support behind you,” he said. “The fans singing your name definitely helps to build confidence and you know that really brings your game on.
“I felt great (hearing it) to be honest. I always thought I would build a good relationship with the fans because of my pressing and the hard work I do off the ball.
“It is always good when fans can relate to that. It really does help the team. If one guy goes to press and the crowd gets behind you, the whole team lifts.
“For me, personally, I do think the lads are working hard. I think the way that I press the game, it might be easier on the eye for the fans to see.
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| Danny Ings celebrates after scoring against Norwich in the Premier League |
“But, for me, the whole team is working hard and it is just a little bit of a tough patch. The lads are still full of confidence and still working their socks off to get results.”
Ings’ wide-eyed enthusiasm is not surprising given how he is not long through the door. Yet for those with intertwined with Liverpool’s recent past, the current malaise feels like an unravelling.
The lack of creativity displayed against Carlisle could have been forgiven in isolation, but set against the backdrop of demoralising defeats to West Ham and Manchester United, plus the damaging draw with Norwich City, there is a deep-rooted problem which needs to be rectified.
Liverpool mustered 53 attempts at Carlisle goalkeeper Mark Gillespie, the majority off target, but Ings sought to offer a player’s perspective especially given his rise through football’s pyramid.
“I have been in Carlisle’s position, playing against a bigger team in the cup,” he said. “So I half expected it to be a tough game.
“Obviously we had 53 shots and most of them were from outside the box which just shows how deep they sat in.
“When teams do that it is so hard to break down, but I thought our mentality and professionalism was top drawer.
“We got the job done and we won, no matter how we did that. The lads are positive and hopefully we can use it as a bounce board for the weekend.
“It’s huge. It’s a huge game. We are at home, in front of our fans. It’s a massive game but you approach it the same way with the same mentality.
“The same style of football, hopefully it will pay off.”
For Rodgers’ immediate prospects, Liverpool must prevail. At least the manager knows that Ings, for one, will not shirk his responsibility.
Liverpool FC and Standard Chartered are teaming up for The Global Goals campaign, to help end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and tackle climate change by 2030. For information about The Global Goals, follow #globalgoals @theglobalgoals and visit www.globalgoals.org.
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