2021-22 UEFA Champions League

For me, Klopp doesn't have the "we will hold what we have" attitude that a lot of managers do.

He goes into every game trying to win it. Last night some might say he didn't play on the front foot, but I think it was just that Villarreal put so much effort into chasing them down.

Compare it to Emry in the 2nd half. I think he went into defensive, hold mode. "We are back in the game but now be cautious".

Look at Madrid when 3 1 up from Stamford Bridge. At home they ended up 3 nil down cos Carlo decided to play defensive.

And I'm sure there are plenty more examples in recent times if I had a think. Ten Hag did it against Spurs too that year they got knocked out of semi in last seconds.

Tonight will be interesting. I predict Frankfurt, being 2 1 up away to West Ham, will sit back and try to hold what they have. And it will help the Hammers.

The 2nd leg away against Man City a few years ago. Won it 2-1. Didn't have a kick first half, but that's probably more down to Man City's dominance on the night. It was the first time, from memory, that we saw Salah play central too.

The league winning season of 19-20 and title challenge season of 18-19 regularly saw Liverpool take the lead in a game and then just see it out by controlling space.

But generally the days of sitting back and playing for a 0-0 are behind us.

It's just childish behaviour. If one side stops then then the other will too.

What you are describing reminds me of traveller's feuds.

no chance. I try not to engage in the general thread because half the people come across as idiots but in moments of quiet reflection realise I'm just an idiot with a different point of view, that's the internet for you.

No such thing as neutrals watching football ?

Do you mean football now or English football cause I'm sure you must be neutral about some football at least.

Someone smarter than me once said that tactics in football can be boiled down to a question of whether you want or do not want the ball. If you are weaker than your opponent, you don't want it, as you'll often lose it where losing it in your half out of your defensive position is fatal. If you are superior to your opponent, you want the ball as much as possible. Villareal wanted the ball in the first half last night. They didn't want it at Anfield, and they didn't want it in the second half until they had conceded two goals and the tie was decided. They probably should have died with their boots on, to have kept going to start the second half and let themselves be beaten physically trying to use the ball and trying to win the game. Once they stopped wanting the ball, it was over.

Klopp does that now within games

Last week against Villarreal he said in his interview after that they were going for goals up until a point in the second half and then it made no more sense and they decided to contain instead of push further and that's why he brought on Joe Gomez and Origi with 10mins to go to negatively play to see out the 2-0 rather than run up the score

Same happened earlier this season at Old Trafford when 5-0 up against 10 men early in the 2nd half. No need to over exert and just went to see out the result.

Both of those examples created pretty boring ends to the games as it was just about controlling possession and not risking injuries. Pretty negative, but effective

He brought him on for Díaz, Origi is better at hold up and needed minutes.

As I say, he explicitly said that after the game. It didn't make sense to push for a goal and that's why he brought on effectively a 3rd centre back

Teams:

Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius jr.

Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Silva; Mahrez, Jesus, Foden.

Valverde will need to be alert for Cancelo's runs forward. Walker should be more of a challenge for Vini Jr.

I've a feeling Madrid will do it. Hope to see another Benzema masterclass. I'll say 2-1 Madrid in normal time and they find a winner in extra time.

On paper that's City's best XI for me. Going to be tough to beat them.

I'll go with 1-1 draw

Embarrassing from Laporte.

Good old City up to their same tricks again

And people thought A.Madrid were bad for their antics

Sniper in the crowd shot Laporte

Kinda looked like he used his little dive/collapse to sneak a slap in at Modric...

I guess there's some benefit of the doubt that it was somehow a natural part of his fall, but it looked fairly intentional.

City have a proper foothold now.

He was rolling around the the ground holding his face, no doubt that he was simulating being hit, that carry on needs to be cut out.

Players are really taking the piss with the head contact thing recently. Using it to slow a game down and break up play.

Real should have 2 more yellows by now

A rule change I'd love to see is that if the game is stopped because you've gone down injured you should have to leave the field.

Currently it's only done if you get treated on the pitch. But it should be for any stoppage even if you're not treated and should be for a minute rather than waved back on straight away

How Casemiro didn't get a yellow for either tackle, I don't know. Especially the second one, as blatant a yellow you will ever see.