Liverpool vs. Arsenal in UEFA Champions League from Football.co.uk

Bluenose · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:05 pm

J-Axe wrote:

Firstly, congratulations to Liverpool and Ben�tez. There have been some downer moments for Liverpool this season with what has been going on with the Yanks and the doubts over Rafa's future and so on. Their League form was criticised heavily and at times they were really classed as a team struggling to make top 4 and classed differently from the rest of the big Clubs.

They've come through that and Ben�tez is still sticking by his plans, his players, his tactics and his beliefs. It's paying off again. The European success so far has been impressive yet again, and yet the team is still growing. Torres has been sensational and there are little partnerships forming throughout the team that weren't there last season which have made them a stronger unit. Mascherano has also been sensational and a great addition to the First XI.

At the Emirates Liverpool came and basically played a full concentration tactical game of chess football. It worked and although at times they rode on a wave of true luck, they kept at it and did the job. As dire as they were in the first game, it worked, end of.

At Anfield, they changed their game plan and again, it worked. At times they rode their luck again but they did the job. 4-4-2 worked, Crouch's addition worked nicely and they were "compact" as usual.

We played well enough over two games to beat most teams. We showed spirit, fight, ability and enough quality to do it. But we were just edged out, unluckily I feel at times. Rare and amazing decisions from Referees over the course of the 180+ minutes did come into effect, but you can't go on about that. It's a part of football and in this case it swayed towards Liverpool's favour.

On the performance last night itself: Well it was a cracking game. Interesting and intriguing from first minute to last. It had it all. I thought we completely outplayed Liverpool early on and looked the more confident outfit. We looked like the home team for 25mins and with Diaby's well taken goal, it looked like we were breezing through the game. Then one mistake and one magic moment from Hyypia and suddenly our boat was flipped - Liverpool showed their mettle and took advantage of their confidence boost. Equalising goals like that, especially in that style are really gut wrenching for opponents and again it effected us greatly. I was impressed with how we later got back on top and started playing the football again, but Liverpool were compact and Adebayor was well handled.

Can't argue too much with Wenger's selections. Ebou� is unpredictable and with his pace & skill he can turn a dead end into a goal opportunity - sadly he hasn't quite got much end product and he doesn't seem to have the intelligence to make much happen at all really. I don't care about width, stretching or counter-attacking speed - in these sort of games you need somebody who can keep the ball and pass it, Ebou� struggles with those instrumental basics in these type of games and he's a letdown. Walcott is more effective coming on as a sub as floody rightly pointed out, but I would have preferred a 4-4-2 with Ebou� dropped for either Bendtner, van Persie, Gilberto or Walcott as they're all much more intelligent players and are better at keeping that vital ingredient, possession.

Senderos' marking for the corner was poor, but then so was Hyypia's marking for Adebayor's first goal in the 1st leg. I don't hear you slating Hyypia like he's some sort of Sunday League performer.

Senderos' mistakes are highlighted a lot because he has a bad reputation for making some naff mistakes and because he isn't a classy athlete, he can easily be made to look clumsy - but he's got qualities and when he doesn't make a mistake he is a great player for us. I thought he defended the threat of both Torres and Crouch quite decently tonight and he has had better games in more recent weeks. In the first leg, Torres did absolutely nothing against him and Senderos rarely put a foot wrong. Wenger doesn't stick by him or move Tour� to RB for nothing despite having two good available RBs who have done the job before. Senderos actually compliments Gallas more as well because there is a better balance, and you can see how well Gallas did over two legs in comparison to the most recent games where Tour� and Gallas were paired at CB. Even look back to last season as a close example for when Crouch tore Tour� & Gallas apart simply because they didn't have the right qualities or balance to cope with a player like Crouch - yet look at the Carling Cup and F.A Cup games where Arsenal scored nine at Anfield and knocked out the "cup team" - Senderos was excellent, especially against Crouch.

I would rather have somebody better than Senderos - I agree he can be clumsy and is capable of making mistakes. But I feel he's hugely underrated and highly slated by idiots on forums who can't appreciate the good work these players do 95% of the time. Tour� and Gallas have put in worse performances than Senderos game-to-game since Senderos has come into the side in recent months.

Anyway, it doesn't matter. Both sides made some ridiculous mistakes in both legs and in turn football fans were treated to a more interesting tie because of the stupid goals from slack defending. We made some stupid slip-ups in the first leg and after the game I was confident we'd not get through at Anfield and I was right. It was a big job and we made it harder for ourselves by gifting Liverpool some great opportunities out of nothing.

There was a balance though, because there was also a lot of quality. Torres' goal was a cracker and I thought Adebayor's goal (worked by Theo Walcott) was superb as well. It was a good game, but Lady Luck laid her finger on the Scouse/Norwegian bastalds yet again!

Good post mate and so true... Wink

The bit about "luck" it hurts but I've really got use to it now Very Happy

Anyway well done l,pool for scraping your way through yet again. Wink

I just feel for Arsenal as they played some superb football at times... Class!

CFCBhoy · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:09 pm

I have nop doubts that he would be a hit in the SPL, pity he's playing in the CL quarter finals though and not some diddy league. Still don't think he's good enough. This 'he works hard' pish doesn't fly with me. Liverpool fans use it for Kuyt too. Get me fit and I'll work hard, doesn't mean I'll be a superstar

Gazza-LFC · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:10 pm

conner99 wrote:

what match did you watch then ....Crouch and Gerrard did play .. Smile

Any Premier League striker would get a game with Celtic ..... Laughing

Even Derby County's star striker was a regular for Celtic lol

J-Axe · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:10 pm

conner99 wrote:

i dont know what is wrong with Gilberto ...he is not exactly old ....last season he was oustanding and i thought was the number one choice for captain after Thierry Henry left ...i thought Gilberto should have been captain instead of Henry ..

Gilberto has been a shadow of his former self this season ...i know he has not had a lot of games ..but when he has played it seems as if he is going through the motions ..as if he couldnt care less . The loss in form has been amazing compared to last season .. last night he did nothing to inspire us or make a significant impact in the game ..

Gilberto needs games to build on form. He's still a top class Defensive Midfielder and although he's struggled as a part-timer at Arsenal this season I thought he did a decent job coming in for Flamini. He also looks less of a player this season because Flamini has outclassed him and outshined him. I'd even say that Flamini's season so far has bettered Gilberto's fine season of last.

I like Gilberto - he's a cool professional and has made the most of his career at Arsenal. To come to Arsenal, find a place alongside Vieira and then grow into a Brazilian Captain and Arsenal vice-Captain is superb. But I do think his time is up at Arsenal, simply because he deserves games and would get games at many other top European Clubs. Flamini is the now and perhaps Diaby, Den�lson, Merida or someone alike is the future - we've got a vast array of talent in that Midfield.

mherd1 · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:14 pm

great game! Arsenal were superb for 1st half hour before Liverpool got to grips with them.
world class strike by torres, never a penalty but thanks ref, and glad we didn't have to face walcott for the full 90 minutes!
Bring on Chelsea, hope barca beat Man U, just to add some european flavour to the Champions League for us, not quite the same if we have to beat 3 english teams to win the Champions League again, but won't complain if we do.

conner99 · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:15 pm

Big Jono wrote:

[beep!] get in there Liverpool! Very Happy

Well done, I was dreading this as i thought they would get back and win this tie.

I dont care if it makes me bitter or a small club follower in the shadows whatever I am ECSTATIC that they are out!

as was i when Spurs crashed out the Uefa Cup ...

Big Jono wrote:

He is classless and shows it every time, I hope he leaves English football sooner rather than later.

it will obviously be later ..Arsene Wenger has a contract until 2010 ... Wink

J-Axe · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:16 pm

CFCBhoy wrote:

I have nop doubts that he would be a hit in the SPL, pity he's playing in the CL quarter finals though and not some diddy league. Still don't think he's good enough. This 'he works hard' pish doesn't fly with me. Liverpool fans use it for Kuyt too. Get me fit and I'll work hard, doesn't mean I'll be a superstar

How many goals has Kuyt scored?

Adebayor has scored plenty. Only Torres and Ronaldo have more in the League and his goal-to-game ratio is fantastic. As I said, I don't rate him as a great Striker but he is good enough to field for Arsenal and the performances, stats and high praise backs that up.

The "work hard" comment is essential to note because it is a big part of his game and why he is so successful. His work ethic makes our attacks so much more effective because Adebayor's presence and attitude makes him a handful, no matter how many mark him.

Look at the critical goals he scores for us as well. From winners at Old Trafford, to killers in the San Siro, to Anfield goals, to regular crackers against Spurs. He is good enough!

CFCBhoy · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:21 pm

How many chances does he miss? He'll do something special like the couple of rockets he has scored but he'll miss 3 or 4 good chances where a top striker such as Torres would have buried. With the amount of chances Arsenal create, he is expected to get goals. I honestly think if they had a better striker, they could be out of site from United & Chelsea and have the league wrapped up. You should be taking it as a compliment that I'm saying he's not good enough for Arsenal

Bluenose · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:25 pm

I wonder if l,pool didn't paint over that bus?

conner99 · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:31 pm

Gazza-LFC wrote:

conner99 wrote:

what match did you watch then ....Crouch and Gerrard did play .. Smile

Any Premier League striker would get a game with Celtic ..... Laughing

Even Derby County's star striker was a regular for Celtic lol

its true isnt it ..... Smile

Paul Gascoigne .....Tottenham 92 games - 19 goals , Rangers 74 games - 30 goals

John Hartson ........ West Ham 60 games - 24 goals , Celtic 146 games - 88 goals

Anthony Stokes ....... Falkirk 16 games - 14 goals , Sunderland 34 games - 3 goals

CFCBhoy · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:50 pm

What's true? That the SPL isn't as strong as the Premier League? Obviously not. Thats not the argument here.

conner99 · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:58 pm

CFCBhoy wrote:

What's true? That the SPL isn't as strong as the Premier League? Obviously not. Thats not the argument here.

well you stated the opinion that Adebayor was not even good enough for Celtic .... Smile

And you agree that the SPL is not as strong as the Premier League ..so i just wondered how you cames to that conclusion ..i mean he does have 25 goals so far this season ..

CFCBhoy · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:16 pm

As I said, playing in a team that creates the amount of chances that Arsenal do, he is bound to score goals. Curiosity here, how man of those 25 were penalties?

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:17 pm

J-Axe wrote:

Gilberto needs games to build on form. He's still a top class Defensive Midfielder and although he's struggled as a part-timer at Arsenal this season I thought he did a decent job coming in for Flamini. He also looks less of a player this season because Flamini has outclassed him and outshined him. I'd even say that Flamini's season so far has bettered Gilberto's fine season of last.

I fully disagree here. When Flamini was in the game (the first 30 minutes), Arsenal dominated the midfield and controlled the game. The passing was fluid and fast, and Liverpool could barely get ahold of the ball (granted they did manage to get ahold of the ball long enough to get a corner which lead to their first goal). Soon as Flamini went out and was replaced by Gilberto, we lost full control of the midfield and Liverpool started to gain possession. Our passing wasn't as fluid, we weren't moving around as quickly as previously, we didn't have that player to get in there and break up Liverpools possession and so on.

CFCBhoy · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:32 pm

I don't think that can be blamed on Gilberto coming on. Arsenal seemed to take the foot of the gas and sit back abit once they had got the goal, which allowed Liverpool to press on more

papa5murf · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:35 pm

I'm not blaming it (fully/solely) on Gilberto, but it was quite evident that we lost control of midfield and never regained it once Flamini went out.

Tez Arne · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:50 pm

I'm a bit late with this but what a majestic night at Anfield! A superb display of football at it's best!

Good performances all round... well maybe apart from Reina. We had a bit of luck on the night, I'm sure Bluey will agree. We received a generous penalty but lets not dwell on that and enjoy the moment.

mrtz · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:04 pm

Torres looking a little bit chubby to anyone else?

Tez Arne · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:16 pm

Not really, Wenger doesnt either

Wtebar · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:31 pm

mrtz wrote:

Torres looking a little bit chubby to anyone else?

You are joking surely?