EL Semi Final 1st leg, Villarreal v Liverpool, BT and Setanta 20:05pm

derm0j073

Decent half of open football, they look fairly evenly matched. Liverpool tend to be good value entertainment wise.

Andersonisgod

Good half, Liverpool full backs finding lots of space out wide in behind the Villareal wingers when in possession due to how narrow Villareal tend to defend. Villareal have dealt well though with Liverpool's low crossing approach and have mostly forced them to come inside and shoot from distance.

Villareal finding moments of success in the half space, often from a run from deep, Suarez in particular has made a couple of lovely runs from a deeper wide position into the half space off the ball. Bruno has picked out some incisive passes too from midfield, they look particularly dangerous at the turnover but have been let down a bit by poor execution when their positioning and movement has warranted more.

Gbear

This kind of tactic seems to work better against the oafs in the PL than Spanish teams who can play ball.

We don't have anyone carrying the ball in midfield, we've nobody in behind and the aggregate level of quality on the ball isn't sufficient to play through them.

That said, we're the away team and we only need a little bit of luck to get one of those pot-shots to go in and swing the tie massively in our favour.

I don't see how anything we have on the bench will be a huge help.

We're crossing a lot, so maybe that might offer something for Benteke but by and large it'll be more of the same but worse.

Sturridge would be feeding off scraps and shuffling all over the place just as Firmino is.

citytillidie

The acting South Yorkshire police chief constable has stood down just after one day

SuperTortoise

Slattsy wrote: »

These lads have nothing about them at all. A bit more pressure on their defense second half and there's a goal there.

Two banks of four and well disciplined is not easy to break down, it'll take a moment of magic to score against them.

SuperTortoise

Milkers wrote: »

Do people really think Firmino nicking the ball off the opposition once or twice a half makes up for all the other ****e he does? Genuinely curious.

His passing makes me angry, and it's the simple ones he gets wrong.

Moist Bread

I am scared of ghosts.

Utopia Parkway

Liverpool definitely missing a bit of power and athleticism without Sakho, Henderson, Can and Origi. Kolo has been good though.

Osmosis Jones

Taking a 0-0 to Anfield would be a very good result.

Sturridge for last 20 to snatch it if it's still 0-0

Gbear

Milkers wrote: »

Do people really think Firmino nicking the ball off the opposition once or twice a half makes up for all the other ****e he does? Genuinely curious.

Someone has to do the putting the ball in the net part, even if they're **** at everything else.

Goals have been thin enough on the ground that his usually ****e performances outside the six yard box are mostly forgiven when he wins us the game.

Harry Palmr

Muahahaha

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Moreno really needs to stay at home

Well given he's Spanish he technically is at home :pac:

8-10

SuperTortoise wrote: »

His passing makes me angry, and it's the simple ones he gets wrong.

He's a Luis Garcia

Osmosis Jones

Lads on BT just said Sturridge hasn't been out at HT so provably won't be coming on. James Pearce just tweeted he's been out warming up for the whole break.

happyoutscan

Ibe on.

Osmosis Jones

IBE???

Osmosis Jones

Coutinho better not be injured

Utopia Parkway

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

Lads on BT just said Sturridge hasn't been out at HT so provably won't be coming on. James Pearce just tweeted he's been out warming up for the whole break.

Only Liverpool sub warming up apparently. The BT lads are on the ball.

monkey9

SuperTortoise wrote: »

His passing makes me angry, and it's the simple ones he gets wrong.

He's Luis Garcia-Lite.

Harry Palmr

Interesting...must be a slight knock.

Utopia Parkway

Coutinho off yikes!

Pyjamarama

I hope Coutinho isn't injured but at the same time I hope he is... otherwise the sub seems madness.

monkey9

8-10 wrote: »

He's a Luis Garcia

High five.

Osmosis Jones

Not back on the bench. Either injured or throwing a tantrum

Vicxas

Hmmmmmm Couts off?

googled eyes

Huge half for Ibe

Would have liked to see firmino replace coutinho and a striker on. Ibe well capable though but we very blunt now.

Presume coutinho had to be subbed off due to feeling something.

~Rebel~

Odd decision alright...if Coutinho had to go off, would have expected Firmino to take his position, and a striker to come on.

Lot of faith in Ibe, hopefully he can have one of his 'on' games.

ERG89

Does Milner think Origi is playing?
Loads of wasteful crossing

Osmosis Jones

Not even looking up with the crosses

Kirby

He's sick apparently.

Osmosis Jones

Coutinho "feeling unwell" odd one

Utopia Parkway

Dr Phil feeling unwell.

Vicxas

Would explain why he was non existent the first half.

LuckyLloyd

ERG89 wrote: »

Does Milner think Origi is playing?
Loads of wasteful crossing

Wouldn't matter who was playing given the quality of the final balls

Osmosis Jones

Firmino's passing is actually atrocious

~Rebel~

Osmosis Jones wrote: »

Coutinho "feeling unwell" odd one

Odd one indeed. Especially with a similar thing happening to Hendo a few weeks ago, coming off vomiting at half time.

happyoutscan

Firmino is hopeless at times.

corwill

Cascarino is giving me mind-hemorrhoids.

Pyjamarama

I love Bobby but that pass was soooo bad.

Grayditch

Jesus, some of the passing from Firminho is worryingly bad.

Harry Palmr

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Odd one indeed. Especially with a similar thing happening to Hendo a few weeks ago, coming off vomiting at half time.

Don't drink the water....just sayin'

SuperTortoise

Who did ibe come on for missed the first 5 mins

dirkmeister

Pyjamarama wrote: »

I love Bobby but that pass was soooo bad.

Co-Commentator here losing his mind with Firmino's passing.

~Rebel~

****, Firmino really needs to focus when he's passing!

happyoutscan

Firmino off and Danny or Tekkers on please.

ERG89

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Wouldn't matter who was playing given the quality of the final balls

Hence why I don't get why we are doing it.
Bring on Sturridge the Firmino punt ain't working he gives away the ball 70% of the time

~Rebel~

happyoutscan wrote: »

Firmino off and Danny or Tekkers on please.

It's frustrating, cause we know he's capable of Coutinho-esque passing, but when he's off - he's off.

Vicxas

Serious lacks of ideas when we're in their box.

Fromvert

Firmino needs a slap from Klopp and not one of his friendly ones either