Post match thread v A.Madrid

[Craig_H]

Like i said, the tactics would have looked great if we put our chances away. Madrid barely got a sniff in the 2nd half.

I wouldnt say that Lucas is a DM at all. I would say he is a CM who can do an all-round job and when he came on we were playing very high up pitch and idea was for him to get stuck in and move the ball around into wide positions.

Ngog coming on obviously didnt work out great but if he got a couple of shots in and could of got a goal

What actual, clear cut chances did we actually have?

[wiw]

Stevie was pushed right up so all this talk of formation is pretty irrelevant..there must be 5 yards difference between the two in terms of 'strikers'. Credit to Atletico imo, they defended well. On another day we could've scored 3 or 4 goals, we're just not taking our chances still. The crowd, players, opposition and the game itself completely transforms once we've scored a goal at Anfield but we're struggling to do so atm that's all. Onto WBA

[wiw]

What actual, clear cut chances did we actually have?

Well Agger had 3 himself, Gerrard should've scored in the 2nd half, Keane should've chipped the keeper, also narrowly missed..

[Craig_H]

I do remember the Keane one now, one on one, definitely clear cut chance.

I remember Agger's angled-volley at the Kop end, decent ish chance.

What were his other 2 chances?

Gerrard was mostly shooting from silly positions, from what i remember.

[wiw]

oh yeah forgot Agger's at the kop end...he had one (free) header that was too weak and went wide, another half-chance where the ball was just a little high, hit the roof of the net with his header...and he also had that chance in the first half where it was maybe a pen.

Gerrard had a chance 2nd half remember, backheel to Keane, Keane lay off and he side footed it just over

[Craig_H]

I remember those, but i'm honestly not sure i'd call them clear cut chances. They were all hopeful half chances, but i wouldnt say any of them was a clear cut chance, like Keane's in the 1st half.

[wiw]

I remember those, but i'm honestly not sure i'd call them clear cut chances. They were all hopeful half chances, but i wouldnt say any of them was a clear cut chance, like Keane's in the 1st half.

Yeah you're right they arguably aren't tbh, although imo 2 of Aggers were. We did struggle to get in behind them but credit to Atletico for that I think

[Craig_H]

Yeah you're right they arguably aren't tbh, although imo 2 of Aggers were. We did struggle to get in behind them but credit to Atletico for that I think

I think that we were just lacklustre and in the first half especially, the players didnt look like they were arsed. As if they only had to turn up and the win would be waiting for them. I dont know if it was tiredness or what, but there wasnt much tempo or drive, and movement in the opposition half was minimal to say the least.

[Guest]

Penalty!



You got to feel for Athletico

Not a penalty. We were lucky last night.

[slimbimjim]

Lucky Liverpool? Yep, this time we were

[Guest]

Lucky Liverpool? Yep, this time we were

We lacked confidence and I just hope the results at Spurs haven't done untold damage. It seems we've still got it in terms of carrying on playing and banging on the door so the result was excellent in that context.

[ronanm]

Was a little embarrassed by SG's bravado for the penalty. No way should that one have been given but I am delighted it was. Great finish though. Although we had a shout for 1 turned down in the second half, they had 2 shouts (Carra and Mascher). We dominated until we went 1 down and then they just played counter attack - we're still not good at countering that system! I was a bit shocked to see Keane hauled off for Ngog considering the former had just played a great one-two with SG. With Lucas also brought on, I was beginning to doubt Benitez! Babel offered little - probably the worst I have seen him. Ngog was like a rabbit in the headlights - not sure these are the games he should be learning his trade in - nice flick but think Robbie Keane should have played 90 mins (notice his shake of the head as he sat down in the dugout?) Agger should have scored at least once - he was beginning to annoy me - seemed determined to only score bicycle kicks?! Then lo and behold, we scrounge a draw - a fair result on the balance of play though. Likes Torres' bird, and his reactions to Liverpool's play. Did anyone see the person who looked like Peter Crouch walk past Torres in the stand at the start of the game?? Phil Thompson was co-commentator on my coverage - he tells it as I see it "C'mon Stevie, put this one on the button" etc

[Fan65]

Like i said, the tactics would have looked great if we put our chances away. Madrid barely got a sniff in the 2nd half.

I wouldnt say that Lucas is a DM at all. I would say he is a CM who can do an all-round job and when he came on we were playing very high up pitch and idea was for him to get stuck in and move the ball around into wide positions.

Ngog coming on obviously didnt work out great but if he got a couple of shots in and could of got a goal

I thought Lucas looked better in that position and did nothing wrong

I think the lack of goals is that without Torres we have a real lack of pace in front of goal, simple statement maybe but Keane & Kuyt aren't built for speed. They both played well tonight but they both lack that final yard.
We no longer have a big target man to play up to so it was always going to be a predictable attack to defend against. Although Aggers forays upfield were an excellent ploy and very nearly worked.

The penalty could be debated forever but why bother it looked like a foul but not a pen...strange one really. Glad we got it though as I thought a lot of decisions went against us tonight.

Also their goal was magnificent and at the right time for them to sit on it.

[kev776]

Penalty!



You got to feel for Athletico

I feel for them but it was a pen no matter how Gerrard reacted, Gerrard got to the ball first and the defender clattere into Gerrard after the ball had gone, result is a pen.

[Reece]

I feel for them but it was a pen no matter how Gerrard reacted, Gerrard got to the ball first and the defender clattere into Gerrard after the ball had gone, result is a pen.

There was an almost identical incident in the box minutes beforehand when the ref called a foul against N'Gog. The commentators then were saying "oh yeah clearly a foul". I don't really see what the difference is. If one is a foul then the other one is. Gerrard exaggerated the fall for sure, but he was fouled for me.