thoughts on tonight

[CAD]

Pennant HAS to start.

I think it's obvious Rafa isn't going to play Stevie in the middle.

Which means...

a) Gerrard on the left
b) Gerrard just off the striker

Then he should be sold.

[Lecter]

To be honest, I thought Rafa got it wrong tactically, but I, in no way think that we sat deep yesterday. To say that is just wrong and untrue.
I agree our two central midfielders didn't have a great game, but when I think of the form of Sissoko of late I dread to think what would happen if he gave the ball away as much as he has done in the past. Although I do understand the positives of his closing down the opposition.
Alonso and Mascherano or two holding midfielders will always have an important part to play infront of our back four, its nothing new to us or Rafa, thats not what I was worried about.
what I was worried about was us, playing right into their hands for much of the game. by allowing them to break like they did. We should have been using Bellers pace to much better effect. I guess rafa though after the frist game two seasons ago that Maureen was gonna throw the lot at us this time, we in reality, they were prepared to play on the break.

Again its opinions

I thought we were too deep way too deep

Whenever they got the ball our defenders dropped off too much probably worrying about Drogbas pace

As for Chelsea they always play long ball they are never gungho like United, they never push up too much - that for me is why when you play them you should step up and squeeze the play condense it. If you leave yourself stretched their defenders will isolate your forwards

Its impossible to use Bellamys pace when their defenders dont move more than 10ft from their penalty box. Could not understand why Rafa thought that would work. Putting Bellamy out wide would have been more beneficial if you wanted to utilise his pace to get round the back of them

Despite Sissoko being unable to hit a barn door from 5 yards I'd have still played him for his energy and pressing play which was sadly lacking yesterday. Its fecking useless having possession anyway if you cant capitalise on that

One person who was badly missed last night was Garcia, like him or loathe him he has that ability to create something out of nothing

[Red_Polo]

Hi Dude

I think Riise was abysmal. You liked him? Agger had problems with Drogba. So did Carra. Riise didn't help the situation though. With Hyppia in there and Agger at his side they would have a better chance to shut him down. Hyppia could have dealt with the headers. He is the only one who can match Drogba in the air.

No, thought Riise was poor. Hyypia would've won a few more headers but got done on the deck. Wouldn't fancy him playing tbh. Drogba will always win plenty of headers, even against Sami, the real problems start once he gets the ball down and Sami's lack of pace would've been brutally exposed last night.

[CAD]

No, thought Riise was poor. Hyypia would've won a few more headers but got done on the deck. Wouldn't fancy him playing tbh. Drogba will always win plenty of headers, even against Sami, the real problems start once he gets the ball down and Sami's lack of pace would've been brutally exposed last night.

Agree with it all but still think Hyppia and Agger would have done better

[tomasjj]

No, thought Riise was poor. Hyypia would've won a few more headers but got done on the deck. Wouldn't fancy him playing tbh. Drogba will always win plenty of headers, even against Sami, the real problems start once he gets the ball down and Sami's lack of pace would've been brutally exposed last night.

We did well with Drogba in the 2nd half.
Agger just put him under presssure when an airball was approaching, not jumping. Drogba would win the ball, but not with a lot of control, so others picked up the 2nd ball.
We should aim to do tha tin the 2nd game too.

[Tom]

Again its opinions


One person who was badly missed last night was Garcia, like him or loathe him he has that ability to create something out of nothing

Is right, the only way through a defensive set up like that is by having someone who can play between the lines. In that sense we were actually better setup in the first semi as we had both garcia and baros who could pull out the unexpected.

Looking ahead, It's going to be a dour match, we'll do well to take it to pens. If we get to extra time they might get a bit leggy and make mistakes, however they looked very fit last night. No signs of a long season impacting on performance.

[anfieldanfield]

Is right, the only way through a defensive set up like that is by having someone who can play between the lines. In that sense we were actually better setup in the first semi as we had both garcia and baros who could pull out the unexpected.

Looking ahead, It's going to be a dour match, we'll do well to take it to pens. If we get to extra time they might get a bit leggy and make mistakes, however they looked very fit last night. No signs of a long season impacting on performance.

I thought they looked knackered in the second half.

[Rhys]

deleted

[Tom]

I thought they looked knackered in the second half.

I didn't, they came again at the end and were all over us. They finished more brightly than us and should have scored again.

[Shaggy]

I thought they looked knackered in the second half.

So did Pepe.

[badpiggy]

I didn't, they came again at the end and were all over us. They finished more brightly than us and should have scored again.

same here - chelsea didn't fade at all last night. they just palyed their usual counterattacking game. the first thing mourinho did at chelsea was seriously up the levels in terms of fitness anyway. chelsea will be neither exhausted from their exertions or terrified of the atmosphere so relying on either of these things really has very little impact on the outcome of the game. this is not to discount the importance of a red-hot atmosphere but we shouldn't think that 90 minutes of YNWA is going to see us into athens as a terrified chelsea capitulate.

[Mumsafan]

The thing is I actually think we sat off them and gave their players too much time on the ball

This had a double whammy effect in that we were also very deep

I think we have to be in their faces from the first minute from front to back and maybe even risk holding a higher line

Totally agree

Sat off them? are you serious?.
I think Chelsea played deep, so deep it maybe looked like we were sitting off them.
I think we should have been doing something similar, id have preferred if we played deep, then, we may have got the best out of Bellamy upfront with his pace. We may have also got Mascherano and Alonso more time on the ball.

I didn't think they played very deep

Yes I am serious

Look at that game again midfield wise we didnt pressure them or close them down as effectively as we can do

Rafa even complained that we didnt win enough second balls

Alonso and Mascherano were virtually sat on top of our back four

Second half we did better but I'd still liked to have closed them down quicker

Look at Rafa's Valencia and the times his Liverpool teams have shone invariable its been when we have been pressing high up the pitch forcing teams further back and condensing the play into 40-50 yards

Chelsea's back 4 sat deep but their midfield wasnt forced on top of them like it should have been

Personally I was disappointed with us tactically AND with the performance of the 2 central midfielders they could and should have done better

Personally I'd have played Sissoko last night, he pressurises players and doesnt give them time, he also does an awful lot of covering play also some of his best games have been against Chelsea

Again. (I must be ill)

Pennant HAS to start.

I think it's obvious Rafa isn't going to play Stevie in the middle.

Which means...

a) Gerrard on the left
b) Gerrard just off the striker

Option b for me. I think it's his best position at the moment. We need Sissoko to break things up. Look how well he did in the Charity Shield

[Guest]

I didn't, they came again at the end and were all over us. They finished more brightly than us and should have scored again.

You're absolutely right but I think they pressurized us in the end because they were throwing long balls and recuperating the second balls in and around our box and got a lot of free kicks.

I made a point yesterday that we would have been off of competitive match practice. That's what proved to be true i'm afraid. Chelsea are on a roll even though they're tired.

[tomasjj]

Oh Chelsea played deep. For sure.
When we had the ball there were 8 defenders there in no time.

[Guest]

Oh Chelsea played deep. For sure.
When we had the ball there were 8 defenders there in no time.

Having 8 players behind the ball doesn't necessarily mean playing deep.