Liverpool FC Forum

[Dundalk]

Rafa Benitez has to be the only manager in England who can dump the Italian champions out of the Champions League - on their own turf - and get criticised for doing so.

Liverpool moved ominously into the last eight of the Champions League for the third time in four years on Tuesday, yet despite a European record that Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger dream about, Benitez instantly faced scarcely-veiled criticism.

It surrounded Fernando Torres, who had just leathered in his 26th goal of a wonderful season, justifying a huge Benitez gamble in spending £20.1 million on the Spanish superstar, who had scored just 14 goals the previous season for Atletico.

Liverpool had just beaten Inter, and looked comfortable doing so, so what could Benitez expect as his first question?

This is what he got: "Fernando Torres is in wonderful form, but should he have played more games at the start of the season, and can Liverpool fans expect to see him play every game until the rest of the season?" Or words to that effect.

Now I won't mention names, but anybody watching coverage of the game on T.V will know who I mean when I then turn to an even worse comment: "How many goals could Torres have scored had he not been in and out of the team all season? Wouldn't Liverpool fans swap the Champions League for the League?"

More criticism of Rafa's 'rotation policy', where apparently he has dropped Fernando Torres more times than Paul Robinson drops footballs.

So here is a fact for all those who bang on with this 'if only Torres had played more games' nonsense.

Of the Premier League games that Torres has been fit for this season, he has been rested only twice, the last of which came six months ago. The only other game he came off the bench for was on his return from injury against Fulham. A game he scored in and Liverpool won.

Cristiano Ronaldo meanwhile, has been rested three times, and United lost one of those games away at Bolton.

Liverpool aren't trailing United because Torres missed two games, they are trailing because they are not good enough over the course of the season - yet.

The two games Torres was rested for, came just two weeks before he picked up a thigh injury that saw him miss over a month of the season. Maybe Rafa knew something.

After all, Frank Rijkaard suffered similar criticism for resting Lionel Messi, right before the Argentine also suffered a muscular injury.

As crazy as it sounds, maybe Rafa knows more than these clueless pundits who continue to use magnificent victories like Tuesday night to bash the Liverpool boss.

I wouldn't bet against him having a second European Cup in his locker to prove it in May.

[LFC2007]

It's staggering, it really is. Boro, Bolton and West Ham...Kuyt and Babel were being raved about. They were finally being doing what was expected, they're dropped for the Newcastle game and come back into the team and take constant stick. I said it about the Newcastle game, neither of them should of been dropped for that match because it takes you out your rythm. It's exactly what happened to both of them.

Kuyt had chance after chance to cross, but couldn't pick out a soul in a red shirt, that has nothing to do with the opposition, that's down to ability

Exactly, f*ck all to do with rhythm, everything to do with ability.

[KennyisGod....still]

Why was the sending off in both games harsh? The players were both on yellow cards and made blatent stupid challenges in wide open play. If you're on a yellow - behave. Simple really, tho that term is one used to describe a number of footballers over the years too I guess.

I actually saw an italian journo on SSN the other day bemoanin Torres actions from the first leg gettin Matterazzi sent off.....wonder if he did the same when that thug got Zidane done in the World Cup Final? Live by the sword.........

[ruskiy playmaker]

His first mistake was crawling out of the abortion clinic trash-can where his hooker Momma left him.

That's harsh man. 

[tarantinoverace79]

The  juventus and milan fan's celebration in Taranto (South Italy):

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=lY2gWhk9GPg

[tarantinoverace79]

The  juventus and milan fan's celebration in Taranto (South Italy):

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=lY2gWhk9GPg

[ruskiy playmaker]

The  juventus and milan fan's celebration in Taranto (South Italy):

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=lY2gWhk9GPg

Damn, didn't know they hate their rivals so much over there.  Glad our team could make those supporters happy.

[Dundalk]

The  juventus and milan fan's celebration in Taranto (South Italy):

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=lY2gWhk9GPg

That video had the makings of a porn about it 

[NANNY RED]

FANTASTICO absolutly crackin time and would love to do it all over again the Inter fans were brilliant with us swapped my shirt for one of theres and my scalf so ill have to get a new one now. NO complaints we went there to do a job and the job got done simple

[The Manhattan Project]

When LFC and Arsenal knocked out the Milanese teams, Zinedine Zidane was standing in front of the TV at home with his arms crossed and a smile on his face while quietly nodding.

[woof woof !]

[metalhead]

Poor interrrrr...

[The Manhattan Project]

Everscum are dominating Fiorentina.

What is with these Italian teams in Europe this season?


Are they really as limp-wristed as they seem?

[Bad Bob]

Outstanding!

[jonnymac1979]

Everscum are dominating Fiorentina.

What is with these Italian teams in Europe this season?


Are they really as limp-wristed as they seem?

I know.  Fiorentina are fucking hopeless.

Anticipating the DVD already...