Liverpool FC Forum

Kharhaz wrote:We werent at our best tonight, and we all know full well Anfield will be a totally different match, I think though, and so does my missus, that the performance tonight from Liverpool was because of them flags the chelsea "supporters" were waving, I mean COME ON? ive seen conference matches with better showings off support ! I cant help but laugh though, to see all these chumpstains waving the same pound shop flags to support there team is just,well....laughable !

SuperScoucer wrote:Where you get these cool signatures from

Sabre wrote:jonnymac who will make one for ya.

not all of em 

Bad Bob wrote:Well, it could have been much worse and a big thank you to Reina for keeping out Fat Fwank's shots.  How livid would we have been if that numpty was on the score sheet?!?

A nervous performance from most of the lads tonight which, given how brave our performance was at the Nou Camp, is worrisome.  Let's hope the Anfield crowd gives the lads a huge lift next week and puts the wind up their back.

The goal was a classic pacey counterattack, aided by Agger getting sucked in by Drogba twice and by Arbeloa letting Cole slip past him.  There other shots were down to Drogba's tenacity and vision.  Yes, he dives, he moans, he plays mind games and all that.  But he's a good player that can take a game by the scruff of the neck and he MUST be neutralized much better next week.  I don't think Hyypia has the pace to live with him when he runs the channels so I hope Agger really ups his game next Tuesday.

As for our side, there's the obvious target that is Bolo Zenden.  First off, how little confidence does Rafa have in Gonzales to not even bring him on late, after Zenden had toiled in futility for the whole match?  The future does not look bright for the Chilean.  There's no question that the only reason Zenden was on the pitch was due to the injury to Finnan (otherwise, Arbeloa's at LB and Riise's at LM).  And, he did carve out a lot of possession--but, of course, I think Chelsea were more than content to give it to him.  That's because he did so little with the ball.  He didn't have the pace to beat Ferreira (how many crosses were charged down?) and he was pretty weak when he checked back onto his right foot...why wouldn't they let him see a lot of the ball?  The only threat down that flank came in the second half, with Riise pushing up more and putting in some decent balls (which ALMOST made up for his shocking passing in the first half).

On the other side, Gerrard had to go ball hunting through the middle in order to feel involved in the first half, which cost us our shape and provided no outlet on that flank.  If Bellamy had wanted to be of greater use, he might have pushed out to the right but, as it was, he was anonymous.  Gerrard was clearly told to stay toward the touchline in the second half but they had him covered pretty well and Arbeloa, understandably, was reluctant to get forward.  Nonetheless, as usual, Stevie created our most threatening moves but, as Stu's said, one shot from distance on his weaker foot makes for a poor team effort at getting him the ball in dangerous positions.

In the middle, I'm with Sabre--Alonso had a strong game.  He made a decent fist of the Sissoko ball hunter role and he was generally strong in the tackle.  Except at the very end, I thought his distribution was spot on and he was the only player working to switch play quickly, which was our best chance of getting in behind their defenders.  Unfortunately, when one of your targets is Zenden, there's only so much that can be done.  I thought it was a classic game of Alonso doing all the unsung things well, yet people moaning that he wasn't contributing anything.  Mascherano, too, had a decent game but he was in tough dealing with Joe Cole's clever little runs and constant movement.

Up top, I agree that this was not a game for Bellamy.  Unfortunately, most games with little space for him to run in aren't and that's why I think he'll be surplus to requirements next season.  We need a striker with equivalent pace but who can also do more in tight spaces.  Kuyt, as usual worked hard but rarely looked a goal threat.  Too often he showed for the ball deep in "the hole," spread the play to Zenden and then failed to get into the box for the return ball.  Crouch did alright but I agree with Ivor--Chelsea can handle the speculative high ball into the box quite well (at both ends of the pitch) and there were very few whipped crosses for him to get on the end of.

This thing's still salvageable but we really need to up our game in all areas of the pitch next week.  Going at them hammer and tongs for a goal is necessary (because we're p!ss poor at creating late goals) but we can't afford to get hit on the counter either.  I'd like to see 4-1-4-1 with Gerrard and Alonso playing ahead of Mascherano and Pennant and Riise out wide, with Crouch up top.  What price a fit Luis Garcia or Harry Kewell now?