Champions League Knockout Stage

RE*AC*TOR

First off, thanks to all the ManU fans who contributed their 2c's.

Anyway, Liverpool were tactically beaten on the night. To a certain extent, they were beaten by their own team selection. After the first twenty minutes it became blatantly obvious that Peter Crouch should have been playing. We repeatedly hit the ball forward, and more often than not it came straight back.

Another, sucker punch late goal - similar to Ferdinand for Manu. Finnan appeared to be at fault - which was a shame - he had a great game up till then.

The task is slightly harder now. Especially for a liverpool team who don't score abundantly. I have a feeling the return leg is going to have some atmosphere. If anyone wants to get me tickets - feel free.

p.pete

Fair play to Arsenal - didn't get to watch the match properly as my loyalties dictated that I spent most of my time watching a poor Liverpool match. Henry's goal was excellent and most of what I did see involved Arsenal dictating the game.

Strange team selection by Rafa but not a poor one by my reckoning - only sticky point was Gerrard not starting, he seemed reasonably sharp when he did come on. Benifica were poor and didn't produce anything for most of the match, which makes the result frustrating. Having said that, Liverpool didn't create much either, so an away victory wouldn't have been a fair result.

90 minutes left to go so not time to panick yet - we haven't produced our "five minutes of football" yet to take the tie

TheMonster

Great result for Arsenal.
Nor surprised at the pools result. Benfica are a better team than most people give them credit for. What is the point though of playing 4 attackers and not attacking? Liverpool will struggle to score twice against them.
They do not score many in Europe.(6 in the group stages and 3 were agains Anderlecht).

I am amused at the way Liverpool "dominate" matches. Watching that match no-one team domainated it more than the other. Liverpool had less possession 48% vs 52% and no shots on target.

yom 1

RE*AC*TOR wrote:

I have a feeling the return leg is going to have some atmosphere. If anyone wants to get me tickets - feel free.

I hope so cos i'll be at the game:D

It was a very poor game last night. Liverpool dominated the first half and didn't really come out in the second, yet they still looked comfortable. Gave away a goal through a lack of concentration more than anythin else. I would feel though that liverpool have enough to do the job in anfield. Gerard will start and I reckon Crouch and Cisse will up front(not that I have much fate in Cisse but his pace seemed to cause them problems).

On another note - its being reported that Sissoko spent the night in hospital and has a very serious eye condition.

Momo Sissoko has been forced to stay behind in Portugal after being treated in hospital in Lisbon for a serious eye injury picked up during the first-half of a 1-nil defeat against Benfica.
Sissoko took a kick to the face during the first-half and was immediately substituted. After undergoing tests in hospital in Lisbon, the midfielder was told he wouldn't be flying home to Merseyside with the rest of the squad.

A spokesman for Liverpool Football Club said: "It is a serious eye injury which means Momo will be staying in hospital overnight for observation and further tests. The Club doctor and one of the physios is staying in Portugal with the player until he is able to return to England."

The Muppet

yom 1 wrote:

.

On another note - its being reported that Sissoko spent the night in hospital and has a very serious eye condition.

I assume that was casued by the kick he got. There diodn't look to be much contact from the angle I saw it from . I hope he 's ok, he played well v united and last night.

yom 1

Well they said on the radio this morning that he was taken off because of blurred vision from when he got kicked but it appears to be more serious now. Hopefully everything will be fine.

Pigman II

I don't think the result Liverpool got matched their performance. They were doing well (ironically) until Gerrard came on. It looked like they were under instructions to keep it tight until the last 10 mins and then try nick a win if they could. I think they should have just tried to play the full 90 in the way they started and come away with an easy 0-0. However they went asleep on a set piece tho and that's pretty inexcusable imho.

Big Nelly

mayordenis wrote:

I am hear to say f**k off,
what happened to all the dip****s who said liverpool would lose to utd at the weekend?
(i know you are a leeds fan, but you were the very same bunch of fans who thought the premiership was within your grasp . . . )

]

This is why jank often speaks of you being comepletely immature,

as was said if you are just going to go for rivalry dont get into threads about teams you don't follow.

Come sunday i'm not going to tell all you spanners off over getting turned over by wigan.
Losing to Benfica was a set back and not much more than that.



Do you understand logic??
It was quite easy for liverpool to knock man utd out a cup competition and maybe even easier for you to get thrown out of europe

After reading this, COME ON BENFICA. Sooner Liverpool get knocked out so we don't have to read posts like this the better!

RE*AC*TOR

troll ^^^

Big Nelly

RE*AC*TOR wrote:

troll ^^^

Shouldnt call yourself names!

Pigman II

Big Nelly wrote:

Shouldnt call yourself names!

well done! *clap* *clap* .........................*clap*

gracehopper

Fair play to Arsenal!
Great game, Great effort on the part of the team. (jesus i sound like an Arsenal fan!)
There were MOTM performances all over the pitch. Henry has to be the coolest player in the game. He took the goal with such ease. Bounced off the belly of Ronaldo and glided by 3 other madrid players and then slid the ball in. I actually cheered when the goal went in. I was disgusted with myself.
All joking aside Arsenal's counter attacking was something to be admired, they looked like scoring every time they got forward. Wenger was obviously studying how Madrid have been conceding goals. It seems when they pile the pressure on a team all their midfield players get caught up the pitch if the ball breaks. There isnt one madrid player who has the awareness to check back and break an attack up.
As a United fan, I hope they dont try to sign Gravesen. He looks way out of his depth in the CL and was chasing shadows for most of last night.

I only saw the Highlights of Liverpools game. It looked as if it was like the game at OT a couple of weeks ago. They had good posession but were hit with a sucker punch in the end. The free kick was very well worked it has to be said. The run from the benfica player was very Peculiar and difficult to track. I think that zonal marking business leaves the defender at a disadvantage especially when the attacking player runs into the box from a distance. Liverpool have been caught a few times from a well timed/late run into the box. I think they'll beat Benfica at anfield but if Benfica get an away goal it will be very difficult for liverpool to score 3. Expect Benfica to dive all over the place at anfield.

Kingp35

mayordenis wrote:

I am hear to say f**k off,
what happened to all the dip****s who said liverpool would lose to utd at the weekend?
(i know you are a leeds fan, but you were the very same bunch of fans who thought the premiership was within your grasp . . . )

I never commented on the Liverpool Man U game game because I wasnt interested in it in the slightest. Oh and I dont remember posting on boards that Leeds were going to win the Premiership

wheres me jumpa

Well done Arsenal, didnt give them a chance last night. United went out there and got hammered so I can appreciate the size of this result.

However it has to be pointed out Madrid were awful. Cicinho, Robinho and Ronaldo were truly awful. Im not sure whether they will turn it around in the next leg, you never know who will show up for this team.

Didnt see the Pool game but from I heard it sounds pretty much like I have seen them play lately. Two games against United and Arsenal, seemed happy to defend at 0-0 or 1-0. I have no doubts they will up their game at Anfield. Really Liverpool should be beating this team, they knocked us out and it was embarrassing to be put out by them. No disrespect to Benfica but I believe United and Pool should be capable of putting them away.

Cant wait for the Barca game tonight. I have taken a strong dislike to Mourinho and his clever antics with the press but I have been sucked into this media frenzy around this game.

I have noticed over the years that so many European games just dont excite me. This round has restored my faith in the Champions League, Milan v Bayern, Arsenal v Madrid, Barca v Chelsea and even PSV v Lyon.

ErinGoBrath

Sandals wrote:

Just made the folowing bets, I rarely bet, do I have a chance? or two?

5 euro Real,Bayern,Liv all to win
10 euro Real win with -1 handicap
5 euro goal in 1st half four of real match
5 euro Real to lead at half time
5 euro Over 2 goals in Real match,

Predict how many I will win (If any ,")

Unlucky, I had €40 on Arsenal @ 7.2 on Betfair :v:

Come on you Gunners!

My men of the match: Eboue, Fabregas, Reyes and Lehmann

Big Nelly

Kingp35 wrote:

I never commented on the Liverpool Man U game game because I wasnt interested in it in the slightest. Oh and I dont remember posting on boards that Leeds were going to win the Premiership

Wouldnt even answer, some people on here think this is the Liverpool forum and nothing bad can be said about them. It was a brutal game last night from Liverpool, very poor and nothing really created. Watched a good bit of first half and game was terrible so just flicked it over to Arsenal and watched the "high lights" later on. As was mentioned last night I wouldnt be so certain of Liverpool going thru, benfica have something to hang onto so they will defend defend defend and its not like Liverpool have the class striker to conjury up something

Well done to Arsenal, not there greatest fan but they played really well, only really watched the second half because was watching the Liverpool game and flicking over to check on Milan - Bayern. Played very well from what I seen and Fab did great for such a young kid, him and Reyes where the best two I think on the pitch, returning spanish and all. I cant spell him but Cincinho, the right back or right winger(which he thinks he is) should have been sent off, didnt see his first yellow but he must have fouled Reyes about 10 times after that. Then after foul would start crying at Ref that he done nothing, Man Utd had a lucky escape.

Good goal but they really should have got another one, Real defence was brutal but really Real didnt exploit the left back poistion enough, everytime they played a ball over towards Beckham he either got in a cross or a chance. This could be a problem area for second leg.

p.pete

Big Nelly wrote:

Wouldnt even answer, some people on here think this is the Liverpool forum and nothing bad can be said about them. It was a brutal game last night from Liverpool, very poor and nothing really created.

You rebel :rolleyes:

yop

Well done Arsenal expected them to lose by 2 or 3 but really rattled Real, listened to it in dribs and drabs on the radio and they seemed to have deserved to have scored another 2 or 3.

Liverpool, well Benfica mustn't be that bad, very annoying, presurrising team and it will be hard to see them score at Anfield. But I don't think Benfica have it really but a bit of luck might get them through. Counting chickens and all that...

Lyon watch these dark horses, worth a tenner.

okidoki987

TV3 on Sunday morning had Champions League preview on and Oliver Kahn was saying the matches in the Q/Finals and Semis were probably going to be easier than the last 16!
Real or Arsenal
Chelsea or Barcelona
Bayern or Milan
One of each of those good teams must go out.

You then have
Rangers or Villareal
PSV or Lyon

Makes sense when you look at it.

astrofool

Houllier could claim he won the champions league two seasons in a row if Lyon go all the way

Pigman II

astrofool wrote:

Houllier could claim he won the champions league two seasons in a row if Lyon go all the way

How'd dya work that out?

Big Nelly

astrofool wrote:

Houllier could claim he won the champions league two seasons in a row if Lyon go all the way

Dont think so! Think Bene would have something to say about that

You have to admit he got a better team when he got the Lyon job than the team he left at Liverpool.

Kingp35

yop wrote:

Lyon watch these dark horses, worth a tenner.

Im a big fan of Lyon, I think they are a terrific side so I put money on them during the group stages. Looking good do far but will have to see how they do against one of te really top sides. Saying that though Madrid were well behind them in their group.

mike65

Sissoko is still in hospital and looks like he'll be out for a while with damaged retina.

Mike.

Necronomicon

mayordenis wrote:

Do you understand logic??
It was quite easy for liverpool to knock man utd out a cup competition and maybe even easier for you to get thrown out of europe

Lighten up. Noelrock made a light-hearted comment about United, I didn't take it seriously. You weren't meant to take mine seriously either. That's why I added in the smiley.
Not disasterous for Liverpool, but it does mean that they have to press the issue at Anfield. I don't think they go for the whole 'siege' mentality a lot, but they'll really have to go for it in the return leg.

yom 1

mike65 wrote:

Sissoko is still in hospital and looks like he'll be out for a while with damaged retina.

Mike.

Liverpool have confirmed that midfielder Momo Sissoko has suffered damage to the retina in his right eye.
Sissoko stayed in a Lisbon hospital overnight after picking up the injury during the Reds' 1-0 defeat against Benfica.

The Reds haven't yet confirmed how long their young midfielder will be out of action for as further tests are required when he arrives back in England.

A club spokesman said: "Momo has undergone further tests this morning which have confirmed damage to the retina in his right eye.

"The injury is currently affecting his eyesight. Further consultations with eye specialists have been arranged for when the player returns to England.

I'd assume that there would be some sort of surgery for this so hopefully he'll make a full and speedy recovery

Fighting Irish

I can't see Liverpool going through now, Benfica wil defend in the second leg and with the forwards Liverpool have i can't see them getting anything. Looks like Benfica are a good team after all! /Man United fan

el rabitos

I'd assume that there would be some sort of surgery for this so hopefully he'll make a full and speedy recovery

tricky injury, anytime its any kind of eye injury. really worrying stuff. the plus side to it is hamman will now be playing and i'd much rather him over sissoko in any game.

I can't see Liverpool going through now, Benfica wil defend in the second leg and with the forwards Liverpool have i can't see them getting anything. Looks like Benfica are a good team after all! /Man United fan

a man u fan that thinks pool wont go through, shocking.

benfica scored from a set piece at the edge of the box, other than that they did nothing. liverpool will throw the kitchen sink at them if necessary at anfield.

and tbh i think benitez will take some beating over 2 legs. he hasnt lost one in a long time

PiE

Big Nelly wrote:

After reading this, COME ON BENFICA. Sooner Liverpool get knocked out so we don't have to read posts like this the better!

Nobody's forcing you to read it.

Funny really, couple of years ago it was the annoying Liverpool fans unwelcomely popping their heads into threads about competitions that had nothing to do with their team.

Looks like Momo's injury could be pretty serious, BBC saying he's damaged his retina.

Pepe LeFrits

Aaaah, finally got internet installed in my new flat, I can breathe again! Hiya Muppet!

I'm almost looking forward to the Barca game tonight more than I was the Arsenal one last night, I really feared the worst when I heard Wenger was going for 4-5-1... Arsenal's results with that setup have been nothing short of diabolical. I thought that if Arsenal went 4-4-2 with Reyes as a withdrawn striker then there would be shades of Inter 5-1 and I guess there were, but not with a 4-4-2

Great performance by l'arse, should have scored more though. Woodgate was their only defender with a clue and he was gone after 10 mins (though to be fair their defence was all at sea when he was on), and I nearly pissed myself when they took off Gravesen for Baptista - who was supposed to protect their back 4 (2 really) then, Guti? Madrid's midfield was so unbalanced, Gravesen had no chance of protecting the defence. At first I thought he just wasn't suited to the holding role, but I realised that he was just completely outnumbered by Arsenal's on-rushing midfielders.

- Fabregas was my MOTM, and I think he may have played his way into Spain's world cup squad. Zidane was utterly out-classed by the boy.
- Toure and Eboue were superb, Toure in particular has matured into such a great defender since his breakthrough season. From the few games i've seen of him, Eboue looks much more like 'the new Cafu' than Cicinho does.
- Reyes - I was a little disappointed with him. He ran well and made Cicinho look like a clown, but he was a bit peripheral for my liking. It was down to his position I suppose, he's a 'playmaker forward', not a winger. I would have preferred for him to be in the centre and Freddie on the left. If he had been able to dictate the flow of the game more I think the second leg would be a formality now.
- Ljungberg, hopefully he can build on this. Encouraging.
- Lehmann has to be Arsenal's player of the season (such as it is). I, along with virtually every Arsenal fan I know, love him. He's been brilliant since he won his place back last year, and he's a crazy focking German. Even my housemate loves him, and he's a Chelsea fan.
- Henry. Stay-or-go, he's a legend - the king of cool. I was in stitches at the end when he ran to the corner flag with the flag and rode a Ramos slide tackle, completely ignoring him.

Anyway, 30 mins til Chelsea-Barca. Come on Barca!

Royale with Cheese

Del Horno sent off for nothing really. Wtf?

Aquos76

Royale with Cheese wrote:

Del Horno sent off. Wtf?

Very Harsh IMO....

Chong

Deserved Imho , Del Horno made a mess of the tackle.

zAbbo

Del Horno sent off for an unreal clumbsy bodyslam into Messi.

Andy Gray, thinks Messi(or as he calls him Metzi) dived. Messi was giving Del Horno a torrid time as well.

I think the ref got it right.

Pacifico

What a joke of a red card!

Funny though

Chong

Messi's determination to get the ball back off robben in the corner was excellent.

Iago

he had to go for that, blatantly played the player. Messi has been tearing both him and Robben apart down that wing, Robben dived in two footed and then Del Horno made sure he caught him.

He compounded it by pretending he'd hurt himself in the process, definite red card for me, can't believe Andy Gray is trying to defend him, talk about rose tinted glasses.

Aquos76

Due to sending off, Joe cole has been taken off to all germini to come on secure up the back four .

zAbbo

Aquos76 wrote:

Very Harsh IMO....

When you I saw it live, Del Horno was in no mans land, and Messi skipped by him, with Robben(!) tracking back, Messi challenged him, and nicked the ball round him near the corner flag, with Del Horno flying back, misses the ball and twats straight into Messi.

Spot on when you see it live, on the reply, im not so sure. The ref doesn't have the luxury of 5 different angle slo-mo replays, and Andy Gray didn't have the balls to call it first time either.

Jammer

He had to go, Messi, had he not been taken out of it by a clumsy body-check, was in a threatening position. Del Horno had to go, although the 5mins of both of them rolling around unhurt could have been avoided.

zAbbo

Andy Gray is still going on about it, claiming Messi is faking, the same Andy Gray who self confessed didn't know much about Messi, despite him being the most talked about young player in the world.

I can't recall seeing Messi dive before, if anything he's Rooney like in his determination to stay on his feet.

Jammer

zabbo wrote:

Andy Gray is still going on about it, claiming Messi is faking, the same Andy Gray who self confessed didn't know much about Messi, despite everyone who watched him play recently seeing he's something special.

I can't recall seeing Messi dive before, if anything he's Rooney like in his determination to stay on his feet.

He was blatently taken out of it on his way up the wing a few minutes earlier and stayed on his feet. He couldn't go anywhere but into Del Horno that time, it wasn't a dive. He wasn't hurt...no need to roll around like that.

It's worth mentioning the fantastic save from Cech on 30mins, did well to get down to that!

Chong

Its brilliant the way he does keep going on about the tackle. Anytime Messi gets the ball he impresses, I also think Deco is playing well.

MisterAnarchy

Andy Gray was a pure mullicker in his day,arms flailing everywhere .
He was a very rough player in his day so he doesnt condone dirty play.

PiE

Well Del Horno should have went for the first tackle when he accidentally got the ball while going for Messi's knee, so it's only fair.

Super save from Cech alright. Barca need to come out all guns firing or else Chelsea will grind them down and make them run out of ideas til it comes to a dreary 0-0 finale.

Oh and nice to see Chelsea still using the GAA defensive tactics.

zAbbo

Wait till you see Messi play the free roll up front, and Ronnie / Etoo play the wings.

Did anyone see the rangers half time highlights, 1-2 Villareal, with a stonker of a handball against Dado Prso, and a nice offside from Forlan.

Kingp35

Del Horno was guilty of a few challenges on Messi and then the ref saw him fly in like that with a kick and felt enough is enoug and sent him off. From where the ref was positioned behind the incident he would have seen Del Horno flying in and kicking Messi. I think that most referees would have sent him off for that. Personally I think you can tell by Mourinhos reactions that he knew it was a bad challenge because he didnt complain at all.

Andy Gray is annoying the hell out of me. He keeps going on about Messi play acting after the challenge but he conviently chooses to ignore the fact that Del Horno was rolling on the ground beside him as well to try and avoid the red card. Talk about being biased!!! Gray really doesnt know how to commentate on a game in an unbiased fashion.

Pepe LeFrits

Messi has been good, nobody else stands out thus far. His playacting won't win many fans though.

Very harsh straight red for Del Horno, but I thought he should have been at least booked earlier for going down on Messi's knee with studs.

Chong

I am delighted to see Ajax winning 2-0 against Inter.

ButcherOfNog

It was a very stupid challenge by Del Horno, Messi hammed it up but Del Horno can't blame anyone but himself, I didn't think he would go for it but it was a reckless challenge, he just ignored the ball, took off, and took Messi with him back towards the corner flag.