Liverpool FC Forum

[lakes10]

come on mods take the trwad down till Bermenstein starts it. lol

[Ciggy]

come on mods take Dundalks Judges thread down till Bermenstein starts it. lol

[Dundalk]

come on mods take Dundalks Judges thread down till Bermenstein starts it. lol

   

[GYBS]

I feel like every time we play Chelsea they have a new manager.

Dundalk, when picking your team you seem to have forgotten that Mascherano is suspended.

Key question is do we trust Lucas or do we drop back Gerrard. Fulham away is one thing, but Chelsea in the Champions League is another.

I think we can expect an Aurelio return at left back, because Insua isn't registered (don't worry, as he will be as Scouse as Jay Spearing according to UEFA starting next season) 

Also, it is reasonable to expect Riera to start on the left although I think we are firing on all 5 cylinders as far as the left side is concerned right now (Insua, Aurelio, Riera, Dossena, Babel) so Rafa cannot do too much wrong.

For what its worth, the goose played this XI against Newcastle:

Cech

Ivanovic
Terry
Alex
Cole

Obi Mikel
Lampard
Essien

Malouda
Anelka
Kalou


And against Spurs:

Cech

Bosingwa
Terry
Alex
Cole


Lampard
Ballack
Essien
Belletti

Anelka
Drogba

I think we can trust lucas - he didnt let us down against the mancs or madrid .

[Judge]

no justification this time, plus i think bad bob is on his hols

[Dundalk]

From 365



Liverpool may be embroiled in a race with Manchester United for the domestic title but star striker Fernando Torres has his eyes fixed on winning the Champions League.

The Reds take on Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at Anfield on Wednesday and Torres said his part in Spain's victorious Euro 2008 campaign has given him the taste of success.

Torres told the club's official website: "Domestic titles are very important but to win the Champions League you are saying we are the best team in Europe.

"This club has a great record in the European Cup but now I want to be a part of that history.

"Winning the European Championship was a great thing for me and I understood what it was to win a major trophy and what I had been missing.

"On the way home from the European Championship I made a promise that I wanted more of this success with Liverpool and it does not come any bigger than the European Cup."

Meanwhile, Torres hailed the decision of Steven Gerrard to sign a new contract, saying the Liverpool skipper is one of the best players in the game.

"Stevie has been getting a lot of praise from some of the best players in the world," added Torres.

"That is quite right because I think he is the best in the world. He is a great team player but he can also win a game on his own when maybe we are not playing so well.

"I would love to see him have a lot more success. I cannot think of a player I would rather be playing with.

"We know it is not going to be easy against Chelsea on Wednesday but both Stevie and I are happy with our form."

The Spanish striker also reiterated his own desire to stay at the club for the long term.

He said: "I have said many times the only club I would leave Atletico Madrid for was Liverpool, and nothing has changed there. They are the only two clubs that are in my heart.

"I have supported Liverpool since I was a boy and I intend on staying here a very long time."

[Owzat]

Bermenstein should of started this thread

Now we will lose, you've jinxed us Dundalk.

I couldn't care less if we win or lose in the CL, it's the Premiership I (and lots) want.

2-0 should give us every chance of going through, I'd not be too bothered if we don't go through as our two finals appearances came at the expense of the Premiership (not that we'd have won it) and it's not like Rafa needs excuses to start resting players, rotating etc.

Last Seven Premiership Games

04/05 : LDWLDLW = P7 W2 D2 L3 F8 A10 PTS 8
05/06 : WWWWWWW = P7 W7 D0 L0 F15 A4 PTS 21
06/07 : WDWWLLD = P7 W3 D2 L2 F11 A9 PTS 11
07/08 : WDWWDWW = P7 W5 D2 L0 F12 A4 PTS 17

OK we reached the semis last year and did pretty well in the Premiership, but in the QFs and SFs we drew the 1st leg and also the subsequent Premiership game.

Rafa In Europe - Results After 1st Legs Of QFs and SFs

QF 1st Legs

04/05 : W2-1 vs Juventus (home), L0-1 vs Man City (away)
05/06 : n/a
06/07 : W3-0 vs PSV (away), W2-1 vs Reading (home)
07/08 : D1-1 vs Arsenal (away), D1-1 vs Arsenal (away)

SF 1st Legs

04/05 : D0-0 vs Chelsea (away), D1-1 vs Middlesboro (home)
05/06 : n/a
06/07 : L0-1 vs Chelsea (away), L1-2 vs Portsmouth (away)
07/08 : D1-1 vs Chelsea (home), D2-2 vs Birmingham (away)

So only once under Rafa have we won a Champions League QF or SF 1st leg and won the next Premiership game - even that was against a side that ended up relegated! It's not much better after the 2nd legs either :-

After QF/SF 1st Legs : P6 W1 D3 L2 F7 A8 PTS 6 (out of 18)
After QF/SF 2nd Legs : P6 W2 D2 L2 F7 A7 PTS 8 (out of 18)

I'm sure if Rafa were posting this he'd highlight how we have so many away games after the Champions League matches! Shame that argument falls apart because we're normally out of contention for the league by now.

[GYBS]

well i care about both trophies - it maybe the prem we want but our reputation was built on those European Cups we won and it helps make us special . CL is the biggest and most presitgious prize in club football (rightly or wrongly) and the prem winners always get pailed into signifance compared to the CL winner due to the praise and standing they get around Europe . No one will remember who won the league in 05 but they will remember the Mighty Liverpool winning the CL in istanbul for ever .

[mkingdom]

Benny's injured I hear, which is a real shame as he is a player in top form.

Masch is suspended, so we have to think of other options.

Chelsea will play a strong three man midfield, so we need to compete.

                  Reina

Arbeloa    Carra   Skrtl    Aurelio

Kuyt    Alonso    Lucas     Riera

                Gerrard

                 Torres

Would be the obvious line up, but then again when has rafa ever done the obvious??

Expect NGog at left back

[Dundalk]

Yeah league for me all the way buts lets not forget that this is the European Cup, we have just been spoilt recently and we expect to get to at least the semis. It wasnt that long ago that we were being put out of the UEFA cup by Marseille. This is a HUGE game

[Owzat]

well i care about both trophies - it maybe the prem we want but our reputation was built on those European Cups we won and it helps make us special . CL is the biggest and most presitgious prize in club football (rightly or wrongly) and the prem winners always get pailed into signifance compared to the CL winner due to the praise and standing they get around Europe . No one will remember who won the league in 05 but they will remember the Mighty Liverpool winning the CL in istanbul for ever .

Chelsea with the most wins ever and points record for 38 games. They also won the League Cup, honestly can't remember who won the FA Cup that season which is probably a fair reflection on the competition so many try to dress up as special - usually the TV channel doing the coverage!

CL is great for one off triumphs, any cup competition is. But the fact is we haven't won the league since before the Premiership began, we need to show we can win on the domestic front and not be laughed at as a cup side. And too much more ambivalence towards the league and we'll not be level, but three or four behind before you know it. I think fergie stayed on because he wanted to win the European Cup again, he'd won the league and the double enough times to satiate that particular appetite.

I don't want a fetish come obsession with the European Cup to jeopardise our prospects of winning the league. I wish we had been knocked out already, maybe then we'd have been fully focused on the Premiership long before we let our leadership and control of it slip

[Judge]

Yeah league for me all the way buts lets not forget that this is the European Cup, we have just been spoilt recently and we expect to get to at least the semis. It wasnt that long ago that we were being put out of the UEFA cup by Marseille. This is a HUGE game

well drogba is out i think

[Dundalk]

KTBFFH?

Keep The (club provided) Blue Flag Flying High

[GYBS]

well i care about both trophies - it maybe the prem we want but our reputation was built on those European Cups we won and it helps make us special . CL is the biggest and most presitgious prize in club football (rightly or wrongly) and the prem winners always get pailed into signifance compared to the CL winner due to the praise and standing they get around Europe . No one will remember who won the league in 05 but they will remember the Mighty Liverpool winning the CL in istanbul for ever .

Chelsea with the most wins ever and points record for 38 games. They also won the League Cup, honestly can't remember who won the FA Cup that season which is probably a fair reflection on the competition so many try to dress up as special - usually the TV channel doing the coverage!

CL is great for one off triumphs, any cup competition is. But the fact is we haven't won the league since before the Premiership began, we need to show we can win on the domestic front and not be laughed at as a cup side. And too much more ambivalence towards the league and we'll not be level, but three or four behind before you know it. I think fergie stayed on because he wanted to win the European Cup again, he'd won the league and the double enough times to satiate that particular appetite.

I don't want a fetish come obsession with the European Cup to jeopardise our prospects of winning the league. I wish we had been knocked out already, maybe then we'd have been fully focused on the Premiership long before we let our leadership and control of it slip

No one will laugh at us for winning the CL and if they do then thats just jealousy coming through - and as for being knocked out earlier - we went through our poor form when the CL wasnt even going on and in Fact are form has increased due to the results in the CL against Madrid , so maybe we wouldnt be anywhere near the top of the table if it wasnt for the confidence gained beating the likes of Madrid. No one acts amblient towards the league - the CL has been focused on in the past when the league has been out of reach for us . Money wise , confidence wise and status wise around the world the longer we stay in the CL the better - its not some tin pot cup trophy - its the biggest club trophy seen around the world

[Reg]

These Chelsea lads are all happy clappy with their scarves and blue flags flying high............ how Chelsea has gone to the dogs having to ask fans to support their team.