Wasn't even there last night either

Gotta agree with Yeekiat on this one. I did get the impression his position for the goal was quite poor, as there was only one place Drogba could really put it and he left a gaping hole there. It's not just this match though.

How many times have we seen Reina just been stood stranded in his goal when we've concede? Sometimes it's like our defence is our final line.

How many games this season can you say Reina has put in a Man of the Match performance, or been the real difference between us winning and losing? The best i can remember off hand from a shot-stopping perspective was against Manchester United a month ago, yet he was abysmal in the air with crosses.

He can be poor aerially, that's no secret, but i've not been happy with Reina in a general aspect this season. We can't really afford someone susceptible to mistakes or just poor judgement; he's not been a disgrace this year but as Yeekiat said, he's shown why he isn't one of the very best goalkeepers.

He's 25 and can improve though.

I agree, I don't think Reina is one of the best keepers. last nights goal was similar to the one scored by Diaby at Anfield, He was beaten too easily on his near post for me on both occasions. People say look at his record of clean sheets but that has mostly been down to our defence being strong and us attacking the opposing teams... the latter more in the premiership. The best thing about Reina is his distribution of the ball, I don't think ive seen a more comfortable keeper with the ball at his feet... he uses it well.

Congratulations to Chelsea and Avram Grant.

My thoughts on the game:

Drogba was absolutely sensational; a constant thorn in the Liverpool defence. He's like an unstoppable battering ram when he's on this form and aside from the goals, his sheer physical strength can be very imposing for the opposition. I recall him smacking into Skrtel, Gerrard and Torres (stopping a certain goal) all in the first half. He's a colossus!

Benitez, after making a smart tactical switch of swapping Benayoun and Kuyt, saw his side take control of the match after a brilliantly crafted equaliser by Torres. But for me Rafa bottled it here because rather than going for Chelsea's throat by grabbing another away goal (thus meaning that Chelsea would have needed two more goals, effectively ending the tie in my opinion), he chose to protect the game and was probably eyeing up a penalty shootout. This allowed Chelsea to go on the front foot again and they soon capitalised. But Chelsea were on the floor after Torres' goal and when you have your opponent down you should keep them there.

Essien's goal should have counted but Hyypia should have had a penalty which kind of balances it up. But as I have said many times before, football at this level can be all about luck, moments, decisions. For me, the tie was almost decided when Riise scored that own goal. It was such a massive shift of momentum after Liverpool dominated the first game and seemed destined to take a 1-0 lead to Stamford Bridge. One could say Grant got the luck at Anfield that Mourinho never did. That's football.

Liverpool failing here will increase the pressure on Benitez a lot more. His Champions League "invincibility" has taken a huge dent here and now maybe more questions will be asked about his domestic shortcomings. As for Grant, this result is a massive feather in his cap and an unlikely double is still on!

And the penalties

Congratulations to Chelsea and Avram Grant.

My thoughts on the game:

Drogba was absolutely sensational; a constant thorn in the Liverpool defence. He's like an unstoppable battering ram when he's on this form and aside from the goals, his sheer physical strength can be very imposing for the opposition. I recall him smacking into Skrtel, Gerrard and Torres (stopping a certain goal) all in the first half. He's a colossus!

Benitez, after making a smart tactical switch of swapping Benayoun and Kuyt, saw his side take control of the match after a brilliantly crafted equaliser by Torres. But for me Rafa bottled it here because rather than going for Chelsea's throat by grabbing another away goal (thus meaning that Chelsea would have needed two more goals, effectively ending the tie in my opinion), he chose to protect the game and was probably eyeing up a penalty shootout. This allowed Chelsea to go on the front foot again and they soon capitalised. But Chelsea were on the floor after Torres' goal and when you have your opponent down you should keep them there.

Essien's goal should have counted but Hyypia should have had a penalty which kind of balances it up. But as I have said many times before, football at this level can be all about luck, moments, decisions. For me, the tie was almost decided when Riise scored that own goal. It was such a massive shift of momentum after Liverpool dominated the first game and seemed destined to take a 1-0 lead to Stamford Bridge. One could say Grant got the luck at Anfield that Mourinho never did. That's football.

Liverpool failing here will increase the pressure on Benitez a lot more. His Champions League "invincibility" has taken a huge dent here and now maybe more questions will be asked about his domestic shortcomings. As for Grant, this result is a massive feather in his cap and an unlikely double is still on!

Johaldo8 still on form.... Good post mate.


But just once will do.

Agree there Bluey. Now that was a good, crisp, well timed Johaldo tackle to cleanly take the ball. None of that in like Flynn, snarling and studs showing malarky

Correct but...

Bit of showboating with the double post must I say though.

True.......almost remeniscent of Ronaldo overdoing the stepovers

Really? I take it your talkning about him going down, as in diving? I actually don't think he's any worse than Gerrard ,Rooney or nowhere near as close as Joe Cole. But anyway ,if it were the case tell me an instance in where he benefitted from such a thing I.E. gained a goal from such actions. Again, another case of people lacking the intelligence to separate personality from performance.
I think if you were to look back at the season both Rooney and Gerrard have fresher instances of such beahviour which makes anyone critizing Drogba on the issue a hypocrite doesn't it.

He won Chelsea the game yet again ,when it came to crunch time he produced which is something some of the other "top" players have not done. The biggest game of their Careers and Drogba stood out head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch. Any player seeking greatness needs to emulate that performance not once but again and again.

I think reinas record speaks for itself ,personally i don't like him ,but his stats are pretty impresive this season.That Drogba strike was ridiculous there was very little space between the goalie and post , there was no pause in sizing up the shot .No set up at all just pure power and accuracy that is quite shocking in reality.There are only two gaolies i would give a chance at saving that and that's James or Freidel ,but the pace of the shot beats both i think.Nothing reina could have done ,he puts his hand in the way it still goes in with that power.

I accept that all those players dive and cheat too. Most 'top' players do. There's worse though, like Deco, he's perhaps the worse I've ever come across.

I think my actions are justified. You taunted Liverpool fans after a defeat in a huge game - you got 'abused'. Simple.

I'm talking about the real forum rules, but even the one you have just quoted says "personal insults, as ever, are not tolerated"..... Wow! I can twist things too.

I suggest you end this Benjamin before you go too far and I wipe the floor with you yet again.
We don't want you crying again like last time do we?

You're an idiot.

If you say so benjamin....

There's nothing like calling someone an idiot to show how smart you are.

He didn't save Lampard's so I didn't mention it