Alonso Is Back!

[Taffy]

I was also very impressed with Xabi last night - that's more like the performances we've been used to from him!

[Reece]

As always against the big teams, Stevie G goes missing.

Apart from against Arsenal in the last round

Oh and didn't he score against Inter Milan?

etc etc

[zimbo]

Perhaps it's just me, but I felt that he totally disappeared in the second half after being dominant for the first 45. Certainly for the last half hour, I don't remember him having any impact at all, which was a shame because, as has been said, he was exceptional early on.

It was probably a result of Chelsea going more direct, long balls up to Drogba, bypassing midfield and having greater possession . Also, we seemed to become more cautious (perhaps understandably in the circumstances), and stopped pressing them with the intensity that had been seen earlier.

If he can maintain the form he showed in the first half, Xabi could have a big influence in the second leg.

[anfieldanfield]

Are you lot joking ?

I was there and he was ****e. Misplaced passes all game, offered very little support for Mascherano and didn't contribute enough going forward.

He has been 'out of form' for too long now. I'd sell.

[Guest]

Are you lot joking ?

I was there and he was ****e. Misplaced passes all game, offered very little support for Mascherano and didn't contribute enough going forward.

He has been 'out of form' for too long now. I'd sell.

[Kenneth]

Are you lot joking ?

I was there and he was ****e. Misplaced passes all game, offered very little support for Mascherano and didn't contribute enough going forward.

He has been 'out of form' for too long now. I'd sell.

Well if you were there...

[Joe Le Toff]

Thought it was his best game of the season for 70 minutes and then he went completely out of the game after that.

[Joe King]

Apart from against Arsenal in the last round

Oh and didn't he score against Inter Milan?

etc etc

Erm, what did he do against any of those teams?

One penalty and one far ranged shot. He didn't dominate the midfield in either of those games. Gerrard doesn't have the guile to play that role where he is tightly marked by a midfielder who is much more intelligent than him.

[Exiled_red]

Between him and Skertel for man of the match

[Nic83]

Alonso was juss takiiiin a break baby

[Reece]

Erm, what did he do against any of those teams?

One penalty and one far ranged shot. He didn't dominate the midfield in either of those games. Gerrard doesn't have the guile to play that role where he is tightly marked by a midfielder who is much more intelligent than him.

He set up Kuyt's goal against Arsenal

[Darth Marty]

Alonso is off in the summer, apparently this is pretty much a cert.

Shame, I only hope Rafa has been able to find someone great to replace him, not ****ing gareth barry.

[Nic83]

Alonso is off in the summer, apparently this is pretty much a cert.

Shame, I only hope Rafa has been able to find someone great to replace him, not ****ing gareth barry.

There aren't many like him in the world unfortunately. Pirlo is one.

[Joe King]

He set up Kuyt's goal against Arsenal

Dominate at home? No?

[anfieldanfield]

There aren't many like him in the world unfortunately. Pirlo is one.

That's an insult to Pirlo.