Liverpool FC Forum

by **azriahmad** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:28 am

That's right by AB and jeffiroquai. This year Liverpool was allowed into the CL by a special dispensation due to the fact that UEFA did not provide for a defending champion who are not automatically placed into the tournament by their domestic league.

Thanks to that, Liverpool were seeded but not given country protection, that is why we drew Chelski in the group stage. We can still draw any English team who finishes second in their group.

Anyway, we have so far avoided Barca and AC Milan, also Lyon, Arsenal and Inter. I believe that AC Milan has the most balanced team for Euro glory, because they are very formidable upfront and strong at the back. Barca is awesome in attack but not so defensively. Juve strong but not as balanced as a team as AC Milan overall for European games, despite them fairing much more consistently in Serie A. Schevchenko and Kaka can strengthen any team...

by **The Manhattan Project** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 6:38 am

I think we'll get Real Madrid.

by **MilitiaRusher** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 8:47 am

Here are potential Pot 2 teams:

Group A: Juventus/Bayern Munich

A potential banana skin here, although I would prefer German opposition as Juventus proves to be very strong this season. A seed to avoid, although things might change come February.

Group B: Ajax

Perhaps only the 2nd strongest Dutch team, their one of the more favourable choices as their one of the relatively weaker teams in this pot. Certainly not a walkover though.

Group C: Udinese/Werder Bremen

The most probable being the Italians. Also one of the relatively weaker teams in the pot but certainly not a walkover. As proven last year, a couple of Italian teams fell victim to our European tactics, so fingers crossed here.

Group D: Villareal/Lille/Man Utd/Benfica

It's gonna be hard to predict the possible seed here because there are simply too many permutations involved. Provided it's Lille or Benfica, then it would be one the more favourable draws. If it's Man Utd or Villareal, it would be best if avoided, not that I think Manure is any good but always getting domestic opposition for European games is getting on my nerves.

Group E: PSV Eindhoven

Not the most difficult of draws but a potential banana skin nevertheless. Wouldn't mind having a crack at them as there are harder teams in this pot.

Group F: Real Madrid

Given they continue their dip of form and the arrogance of their top authorities, I wouldn't mind having a crack at them. However, Real Madrid at their day could prove too strong an opposition for us due to their outstanding individuals, although I believe Rafa's tactical acumen would be too much for these bunch of egotistic celebrities.

Group H: Rangers

The 'must' draw as they, in my opinion, are the weakest team in the pot. Sitting worryingly at 5th place in domestic league, it could potentially be the easiest tie available in the last 16. However, things might change come Feburary, so we never know.

by **azriahmad** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 9:12 am

If you asked any group winner, I'm sure most, if not all, would wish for Rangers.

However, never underestimate British grit against English teams, even from Scotland. This Rangers team would surely get beat by the likes of AC Milan, Juve, Bayern, Barca etc., but against English opposition it may be different. We were also beaten by Celtic at Anfield 0-2 after so confidently getting a 2-2 away draw in the UEFA Cup under Houllier.

In the 1992/93 CL early round, the teams play in severak home & away knockout games before going to a 2 group phase where the top 2 from both groups meet in a semi-final. In that season, a Leeds United with Eric Cantona, Gary MacAllister, Gary Speed, David Batty and Lee Chapman lost home and away to Rangers 2-1 each game, for a 4-2 aggregate in the preliminary round and failed to make the group stage. I remembered that Leeds really underestimated Rangers and paid dearly...

by **MilitiaRusher** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 9:20 am

azriahmad wrote:If you asked any group winner, I'm sure most, if not all, would wish for Rangers.

However, never underestimate British grit against English teams, even from Scotland. This Rangers team would surely get beat by the likes of AC Milan, Juve, Bayern, Barca etc., but against English opposition it may be different. We were also beaten by Celtic at Anfield 0-2 after so confidently getting a 2-2 away draw in the UEFA Cup under Houllier.

In the 1992/93 CL early round, the teams play in severak home & away knockout games before going to a 2 group phase where the top 2 from both groups meet in a semi-final. In that season, a Leeds United with Eric Cantona, Gary MacAllister, Gary Speed, David Batty and Lee Chapman lost home and away to Rangers 2-1 each game, for a 4-2 aggregate in the preliminary round and failed to make the group stage. I remembered that Leeds really underestimated Rangers and paid dearly...

Yes, but I'll assure that under Benitez, underestimation of teams would never happen. We all want to draw Rangers primarily because they are the weakest team in the pot. That does not mean I plan on underestimating them.

by **Paul C** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 9:28 am

The Manhattan Project wrote:I think we'll get Real Madrid.

In some respects I hope we do cos I think we can beat them, I hate the b.a.stards so it would be great to put one over them!! :cool:

by **azriahmad** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 9:40 am

Real Madrid at this juncture will be far easier than Juve/Bayern or Man Utd.

Let's hope Man Utd don't get a result and get dumped - interesting to see what kind of pressure Fergie will come under.

by **2520years** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 9:58 am

We don't play the last sixteen until February, so Real Madrid, Rangers etc. might be a different proposition by then. I hope we get Benfica as that means ManUre will be out of Europe.
:cool:

by **Gracias King Rafa** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 7:44 am

A.B. wrote:No we CAN get drawn against an English team because this season we do NOT have country protection.

Well it won't be ManUre!!!!!!!

Who the f*** are Man Utd?

by **azriahmad** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 7:50 am

Last season, we played very well in Europe but struggled on the EPL. This season, it's manure but the opposite - they are playing well in the EPL but struggled badly and finished last in a weak group behind even debutants Lille and Villareal!

by **MilitiaRusher** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:49 am

Okay, upon knowing the final lineup of the last 16, here is a complete lodown of our potential opponents:

Bayern Munich

Currently lying top of the Bundesliga and hot favourities to go far, they have many experienced players in Ballack and Makaay, and could significantly lower our chances of reaching the quarter finals. That said, they are seemingly one of the hardest opposition we could potentially meet. Although we fear no one as shown last year in Juventus, Chelsea, and ultimately Milan, it is still a seed to avoid.

Ajax Amsterdam

After stumbling through a relatively weak group, they are one of the weaker teams in this draw, however no games at stage should be considered a walkover. Despite having a comprehensive history in this tournament, they currently lie disappointingly at 8th place in the Dutch League and that in itself tells an awful lot. Although things might change come February, it is one of the more favourable draws.

Werder Bremen

The Germans sneaked through to the last 16 in very unexpected circumstances, thrashing Panathinaikos 5-1 while needing Barcelona to do them a favour. Currently lying 3rd in the German League, they might not be one of the hardest draws but certainly not the easiest either. Their main worry is their lack of Champions League experience at such dizzying heights and might work to our advantage if we do draw them. Wouldn't mind having a crack at them.

Benfica

The club of a player that we are very much after, they famously defeated Manchester United 2-1 to send themselves through to the last 16 in what was a tight group. However, they lie disappointingly at 6th place in their domestic league and that again tells an awful lot. Would be one of the easier draws but certainly not a walkover. Just ask Manchester United. If we manage to steal Simao Sabrosa away from them, it will be much easier due to him being their most influential player.

PSV Eindhoven

Lying pretty at the top of the Dutch League, they are a hard working and skillful bunch despite losing many of their influential players during summer. Might pose many problems to our progression further in the tournament as they are after last year's semi-finalists. One of the relatively harder draws in the pot but as proven last year, we fear no one.

Real Madrid

Admidst chaotic management within the club, we all know how inconsistently they fare, both in the domestic and European front with all the egotistic galacticos in the side. However, they are a force to be reckoned with on their day due to the abundance of individual raw and skillful talent in the team. With Rafa's knowledge of Spanish sides, it would not be too much of a surprise if we easily sweep past them. Still, I should think it's a seed to avoid.

Rangers

Last but not least, it's a debut appearance for Rangers and the Scots in the last 16 of the tournament. Sitting poorly at 5th place in the Scottish league, they would provide us with the perfect opportunity to progress further in the tournament. They have a manager who is on the brink of getting the sack despite the, what I say, fluky advancement into the last 16. Although prospects might change come February, one of the more favourable draws.

Favourable Seeds: Ajax Amsterdam, Benfica, Rangers.

Seeds to avoid: Bayern Munich, PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid.

By topping the group, our potential opponents are much easier than when we're 2nd and the teams could possibly even be a standard lower. Although on our day, we could beat anyone, you must agree that almost every Pot 1 team are teams to avoid. So take your pick.

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