Liverpool Vs Chavski post match thread

[Rich]

Fair play to Chelsea they came and sat on Gerrard, nullified our attack and then grew into the game.

First goal was a combination of excellent delivery, excellent run and well, it shows the downside of zones - however this does not mean it isn't an effective defensive system.

Chelsea's second goal was simply don't to shocking defending there wasn't even a zone in evidence.

While their third goal was excellent.

Can we go to the Bridge and win 3-0 while it isn't impossible I can sense glorious failure of a 2-0 on the cards.

Oh well.

[MrMichael]

Made me smirk a little

Me too

However, seriously though, I reckon Joe's been called a cunt enough times now, not that he doesn't deserve it for his turn of phrase but I think the point has been adequately made; we're here to talk about Liverpool football club, not this stuff, and to that end it would be much appreciated if people could move on and respond to some of the other posts in this thread perhaps?

To aid this cause, from now on any more personal or abusive posting will be summarily deleted.

[FatTony]

Of course he's top class but that doesn't mean he's better than Rafa ultimately.

I'm not saying Hiddink is better than Rafa, I'm just pointing out that tactically last night Hiddink out foxed Rafa completely.

People do get very defensive of Rafa on here

[The Birdman]

Over £200 spent and a 7 hour round trip to watch us get well and truly battered.
A few observations - I was in the Lower Anfield Road and heard racist abuse from behind me towards Cole and Malouda in the 1st half and while it didn't continue it has no place in society let alone a football match.
The Kop were very, very quiet and subdued, a lot of comments were made around where I was sitting/standing that there was little noise from there, can't recall seeing the Torres bounce once (happy to stand corrected if I'm wrong)

We got outplayed by a better team on the night, Essien was immense and to a man with perhaps the exception of Torres we were woeful. It started from Riena's 1st two kicks and continued from there, both full backs exposed for being good but a notch below top quality and the main difference was Chelsea's movement off the ball and passing was far far better than ours.
Gerrard was annonomous and didn't wander wide or want to drag Essien into areas he didn't want to go, at one point in the 2nd half we were 3-1 down the ball is in our left back area and he is stood next to Kuyt on the right had side leaving 3 Chelsea players to mark and cover Torres.

Bad night all round

[meffin]

Dogger team performance, a few players need a good old dropping (Aurellio, Skrtle, Lucas, Riera, Kuyt)

How about this for Blackburn?

Reina
Arbeloa Carra Agger Insua
Masc Alonso
Benny Gerrard Babel
Torres

[Guest]

I'm not saying Hiddink is better than Rafa, I'm just pointing out that tactically last night Hiddink out foxed Rafa completely.

People do get very defensive of Rafa on here

Someone has to be, judging by some of the bull**** that has been said on him after last night's defeat (not from you allegedly).

[Pacman]

Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say they were better the other team were just plain better than us.

Credit where credit is due Chelsea played very well and we were poor. We need to take this defeat on the chin and move on to Saturday.

3 points is a must.

[FatTony]

Someone has to be, judging by some of the bull**** that has been said on him after last night's defeat (not from you allegedly).

I think there's an army of posters on here ready to jump to his defence. You are not alone....

[carheex]

No excuses for the performance today!

Chelsea where better in every facet of the game, properly even sitting on the bench.

We where awful for 75 min. Lampard, Essien and Ballack overran us, far better than our midfield and controlled everything. They destroyed our game, putting gerrard away, closing down alonso - and well lucas, what can one say about that performance

Skrtel, Lucas and Aurelio played a horrible game, cost us dearly tonight. Only Torres and arbeloa where half decent IMO.

This tie is as good as over, can't see us scoring 3 goals at stamford. I am very very disappointed.

Why not?? if they can score 3 at anfield and we can score 4 at old trafford.....why can't we score 3 at stamford? It ain't over yet.

[focusedonfootball]

It's never over till its over, but I'm not holding my breath. Gutted not to see Liverpool pitched up against Barcelona. Proper European football and the top test.

But at least Rafa got one thing right, the team that loses this tie is the team that will challenge for the title. I got the feeling going into last night's game he was saying 'you can go for one but you can't go for both'. Given the game's coming up, the possibility of United going out to Porto and the difference in quality between our first choice and second choice players in the face of injury or suspension he's probably right.

[FatTony]

It's never over till its over, but I'm not holding my breath. Gutted not to see Liverpool pitched up against Barcelona. Proper European football and the top test.

But at least Rafa got one thing right, the team that loses this tie is the team that will challenge for the title. I got the feeling going into last night's game he was saying 'you can go for one but you can't go for both'. Given the game's coming up, the possibility of United going out to Porto and the difference in quality between our first choice and second choice players in the face of injury or suspension he's probably right.

Unfortunately I think the premier league dream will be over after the game against the gooners.

[red g]

i can count on one hand the number of times Rafa has been outfoxed by an opposing manager.

apart from a few posters we have showed our class in defeat and on a very grey day thats what sets us apart from others.

As mentioned by others, we can do it......it will be nigh on impossible but we have made the impossible possible before and we can again if we can score 2 goals at chelsea there nerves will be going for sure and they would not sit back and we could then score on the break, without the worry of conceding.

[bipjohn]

Right, Im gutted.

We have been let down by our team once this season, last night. You generally cannot ever accuse them of not trying, but I thought they could have given more in the last 15 last night, 2-3 is clearly much better than 1-3.

Rafa has been out-tacticed maybe 2/3 times in 4 years, last night was one of them. Also our better players, for possibly the first time this season didnt perform.

But, all in all, we are at half time, and believe me we have been in worse positions.

Zonal Marking is just the excuse, we dont concede many goals full stop. Defending is our strong point. What would happen if we marked man-to-man, we would still concede and individuals would get the blame. Its very lazy to blame Zonal marking, just as it was very lazy for the bandwagon jumpers to blame lack of width when Houllier was in charge. Just like its lazy to label us as good at home and poor away because of soft foreigners when Rafa first took over.

Under Scolari Chelsea could not defend a set piece at all, did the pundits blame man-to-man marking then......course not.

[anfieldanfield]

Right, Im gutted.

We have been let down by our team once this season, last night. You generally cannot ever accuse them of not trying, but I thought they could have given more in the last 15 last night, 2-3 is clearly much better than 1-3.

Rafa has been out-tacticed maybe 2/3 times in 4 years, last night was one of them. Also our better players, for possibly the first time this season didnt perform.

But, all in all, we are at half time, and believe me we have been in worse positions.

Zonal Marking is just the excuse, we dont concede many goals full stop. Defending is our strong point. What would happen if we marked man-to-man, we would still concede and individuals would get the blame. Its very lazy to blame Zonal marking, just as it was very lazy for the bandwagon jumpers to blame lack of width when Houllier was in charge. Just like its lazy to label us as good at home and poor away because of soft foreigners when Rafa first took over.

Under Scolari Chelsea could not defend a set piece at all, did the pundits blame man-to-man marking then......course not.

Some good points mate, but let's be realistic. We're out.

[MrMichael]

Why not?? if they can score 3 at anfield and we can score 4 at old trafford.....why can't we score 3 at stamford? It ain't over yet.

Some good points mate, but let's be realistic. We're probably out.

/fixed