Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has been ruled out of the Champions League first leg semi final with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge due to an ankle injury. Who's your money on?
Pre to this week, I have said Chelsea are faves, not any more.
Moreen goes on about 'that' goal, he said we have only paid 3 games this year and that if he won the same number of trophies as Rafa he would be sacked. Then he upsets Rafa may saying Liverpool will try to get Cheslea players booked, inparticular Drogba. Excuse me! WTF did Chelsea do in the first-leg of the 2005 semi, Gudjohnsen got Alonso booked.
The Kop Spion will be in full voice and Rafa does not need to give a team talk either, for the second leg. Shame the little man for the big occassion cannot play Garcia.
Score draw would be a good result, even 0-0. 2-1 lose and we still have a good chance to go through. In addition, with Chelsea's attention on the league, then in the second-leg they will be thinking about the final against Utd in the FA Cup.
Chelsea will be up for revenge and they have the home tie to play, which is going to give them confidence tonight. They wont need motivating.
I am not too worried though. A draw will be a good result tonight. Anfield will be an amazing atmosphere to play in though- our players will be more up for that than any other game this season.
Forget the excuses Chelsea are making- they know it is bullshit. Half of their squad has been injured, so he cant use over-playing as an excuse. He is just trying to get our players wound up so they get booked. Good luck to them. I think they will need it. We dont seem to fear anyone anymore.
Forget the excuses Chelsea are making- they know it is bullshit. He is just trying to get our players wound up so they get booked.
This is what we want, two years ago he was talking about how many league points we had and we all know what happened. He made a fuss prior to the FA Cup game.
I dont know mate, we used to play a 'containing' game in the last couple of Houllier years, which pissed me off no end.
Different side under Rafa though.
A sitting midfielder with two attacking in front of him has been outstanding to watch this year. We can commit more men forward, which is the Liverpool way.
Houlliers methods worked though, for example 2001. We were unlucky in 2002 with the league and the CL, had he kept Hamann on against Bayer, we would have won and faced Man Utd.
I think people are too critical of him, he did set the foundations for our present team , we had a great record against Everton and Utd and in a mini-league of NW teams Liverpool were always top. Had he not been unwell, which affected his management because he needed a break; I suspect he would still be our manager.
Since the PL started we won at Anfield and they won at the Bridge; the one season they won at Anfield, but we won at the Bridge. In the first two seasons under Rafa, we have not played well against Utd or Chelsea; however, we have been unlucky too. Not getting two pens against Cheslea on New Years Day 2005 and unlucky not to draw at the Bridge (Kuyt hitting cross-bar) this season. Last season against Utd, won-1, drew-1 lost-1. We were poor at OT and unlucky to lose at Anfield.
Playing two defensive midfielders in centre, Alonso/ Momo/Mash, means we can counter-attack more and allows Riise to go forward from left-back, e.g. Barca.
He may play 4-4-1-1 tonight or 4-4-2 with Gerrard on the right, rumour is that Mash will start instead of Momo. However, second guessing Rafa is the most difficult thing in football.
Houlliers methods worked though, for example 2001. We were unlucky in 2002 with the league and the CL, had he kept Hamann on against Bayer, we would have won and faced Man Utd.
I think people are too critical of him, he did set the foundations for our present team , we had a great record against Everton and Utd and in a mini-league of NW teams Liverpool were always top. Had he not been unwell, which affected his management because he needed a break; I suspect he would still be our manager.
Since the PL started we won at Anfield and they won at the Bridge; the one season they won at Anfield, but we won at the Bridge. In the first two seasons under Rafa, we have not played well against Utd or Chelsea; however, we have been unlucky too. Not getting two pens against Cheslea on New Years Day 2005 and unlucky not to draw at the Bridge (Kuyt hitting cross-bar) this season. Last season against Utd, won-1, drew-1 lost-1. We were poor at OT and unlucky to lose at Anfield.
We did well at first under Houllier, but it was boring to watch and soon became an easy system to break down. We had no creativity and the system wa svery rigid. I know for a fact the die-hards in the city were disgusted by the tactics towards the end.
As for results against the top teams, it just doesnt cut it. There are 38 games over a premier league season- you can beat United, Chelsea and Arsenal 10-0 home and away, but there are still 32 games to play. You need consistencey, something we didnt have towards the end.
I think we will sign a few players this summer, give them time to gel and then lets see what happens. It will be a very different outcome next year and the one after.
I think whoever we see in the middle tonight, they will be better than the Chelsea midfield. I honestly think our midfield options are the best in the world.
I think whoever we see in the middle tonight, they will be better than the Chelsea midfield. I honestly think our midfield options are the best in the world.
Utd, Liverpool and Cheslea have the best midfields in the world (even international football); however, we have more options and can play in more positions.
-Goal and defence is fine, do not need anyone
-Midfield, someone if Zenden leaves and maybe someone for left left
-Strike, at least one star striker.
As for the striker, I think we need a quick player. We have a finisher (who unfortunately he is on his way by all accounts). We have the big guy, we have the worker, we just need the nippy one.
given our financial muscle, I would like to see Villa here. I like E'too, but there is no place for arrogance at Anfield. He reminds me of Collymore.
