Dalglish demands response in cup semi vs. City

LONDON (AP) — Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is hoping for a determined response from the players he lambasted for their weekend performances when his team takes on Manchester City on Wednesday for a place in the League Cup final.

Dalglish tore into his players after Saturday's woeful 3-1 loss at relegation-threatened Bolton and is demanding a much improved display in the semifinals at Anfield.

Dalglish says Liverpool "is built on the philosophy that the next game is the most important one, not the one that is two or three down the line. If they needed a lesson to be taught to them then this was it."

Liverpool leads City 1-0 from the first leg, with Crystal Palace leading second-tier rival Cardiff 1-0 ahead of their second-leg match on Tuesday.