| marios wrote: |
| Can Liverpool win the next 2 games and qualify? Arsenal managed that in 2003-04 after only managing 1 point in the first 3 games and Newcastle did it in 2002-03 with 0 points in the first 3 games. |
Aye, we can qualify! I know people will point to the Porto and Marseille games as being much tougher games, but for me the test was last night. I said beforehand that if we were to win, we'd go through - and i stand by that. The performances in the first three games were not the real
Liverpool, in any shape or form, anyone could see that. On paper there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to beat Porto and Marseille; home or away.. we just needed to find our stride again.
The thing that was letting us down tremendously was our woeful passing and laughable control - we could hardly string two passes together let alone get to the other end and shoot. Our confidence was shot to peices as well, so whenever we did manage to get down to their last third no-one felt assured enough to pull out some individual class and shoot, or beat a man, or play a killer pass. There was just no end product whatsoever.
The match against Besiktas indicated that those key elements that have eluded us, could be returning. We seemed determined to pull off a performance and get the win (well, we had to, as we'll have to in the other games), and we didn't let it rest either - going for goal after goal. Our confidence should be sky high, and with Torres coming back (possibly Agger too) i see no reason why we can't take 6 points from our remaining games. Before last nights match i wouldn't of been so sure, put as long as we can carry on our form into the league and not take a massive backwards step, then we have every chance.
That is of course, all we have to do; win our two remaining games. The table yeekiat offered shows us on level points with Marseille, but the ruling as follows means that we will inevitably progress:
| Quote: |
Tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
1. Points earned in head-to-head matches between the tied teams.
2. Total goals scored in head-to-head matches between the tied teams.
3. Away goals scored in head-to-head matches between the tied teams.
4. Cumulative goal difference in all group matches.
5. Total goals scored in all group matches.
6. Higher UEFA coefficient going into the competition. |
To be level on points we would have to beat Marseille, hence we'd have to score 1 or more goals, hence sending us through should we score 2+. If we won by 1-0, the likelihood is that our 8-0 thrashing of Besiktas would be enough to see #4 go in our favour, as our goal difference is quite good (+6 opposed to Marseille's +2). For us not to go through, Marseille would
have to win at least 8-0 against Besiktas (which, if we beat Porto by more than one goal, still wouldn't be enough). And as it happens, i don't think both Marseille (in particular) and Porto will beat Besiktas, so passage could be all the simpler. So, to sum up, if we win our next two games - we're through.
And yes, i'm confident. Why shouldn't we be? Porto couldn't beat us on their own soil despite us playing very poorly, and Marseille only scraped a win at Anfield late on (even though they dominated they didn't always look very threatening) in a game which we created not a single chance prior to their goal. If we retain the form, confidence and guile that saw us overturn the Turks, then we should be in poll position to take this group by the scruff of the neck and qualify. It's down to us now.
| Quote: |
Maybe the commentator was referring to Babel's second. 
Ben, we would need to win like 30-0 for you to be please. 
Voronin had a hand in like four of the goals so maybe it was wise to be unselfish just this once. |
Heh, no no. I was
very happy with the performance, just as everyone else. It was an excellent show from us in a bid to not only salvage our
Champions League campaign but kick-start our domestic one too. I was only pointing to area's we could have done better in.
I agree, Voronin was excellent, with two direct assists and a pivotal role in our performance - it just felt like half the time he was playing as a midfielder rather than alongside Crouch. I'd of liked to see him get further forward and score.. he's been in quite bad form recently, missing a few good chances in the games against
Tottenham,
Everton and Besiktas away. But it did work, so i'm relatively happy. And would be happy if he churned out a performance like that in the league, but i feel if Gerrard, Benayoun, Babel, Kewell, Riise, Leiva and even Arbeloa can get in positions where they have a great opportunity to score, why can't Voronin? The only chance i remember him having was very early on where he scuffed it left and wide from Crouch's knockdown. Also, i think he's a player who can really pull something special out from nowhere; with those players being crucial in our cause for the league title, we really need him back amongst the goals and having the confidence to shoot from range (which can be so helpful when goals are hard to come by). All in all, his contribution was excellent, but similar to Kuyt, he needs to be more clinical. Although the two are varied somewhat, as Kuyt's just in dire form, whereas Voronin won't get in the positions near the goal to miss from.
Hey, Ameer,
Arsenal didn't keep their side exact from the games against Slavia Prague and
Liverpool. Why's that??
