Liverpool FC vs Chelsea FC (A) - post-match thread

[Kenneth]

I think you're the first to mention that Dan

[Shaggy]

Yep, can't remember us stringing two good halves together all season. Always one good one bad or vice-versa. We're doing okay at the moment with loads of room for improvement, which is encouraging.

[danperkins]

I think you're the first to mention that Dan

ya git

[danperkins]

Yep, can't remember us stringing two good halves together all season. Always one good one bad or vice-versa. We're doing okay at the moment with loads of room for improvement, which is encouraging.

seems a weird trend alright.

Yup, room for improvement, but there is potential there which is good to know. Few tweaks here and there, and luck with injuries and we'll really push for 4th ( i hope)

[Shaggy]

I pity whoever we're playing against when we do manage to play well for 90 minutes.

[Icon]

I pity whoever we're playing against when we do manage to play well for 90 minutes.

That's what Kenny said - "Someone will get battered soon", or words to that effect...

[yamiedo]

That first half was phenomenal against Chelsea, I actually felt the hairs rising on the back of my neck because of the passion we were showing out there. I love it when we are constantly closing down and pressing opponents. We just look like a Liverpool team should when that happens. The problem with the second half is in part to do with the opponent and in part mentality I suppose. We went into the second half one goal up, Chelsea are obviously going to come out and try to get something, they did change their system around too which caused us to have to re-think our gameplan (which Kenny and Steve did well). Also I think our mentality was more to try to hold on to a lead rather than press to win it. I wish we would be more adventurous. Its hard to maintain that level of pressure and closing down for a whole game though. Still, it was nice to see us come gradually back into the match in the second half and over the course of the game we deserved the victory.

[danperkins]

I pity whoever we're playing against when we do manage to play well for 90 minutes.

it's going to happen and someone is going to get a hiding!!

[danperkins]

That first half was phenomenal against Chelsea, I actually felt the hairs rising on the back of my neck because of the passion we were showing out there. I love it when we are constantly closing down and pressing opponents. We just look like a Liverpool team should when that happens. The problem with the second half is in part to do with the opponent and in part mentality I suppose. We went into the second half one goal up, Chelsea are obviously going to come out and try to get something, they did change their system around too which caused us to have to re-think our gameplan (which Kenny and Steve did well). Also I think our mentality was more to try to hold on to a lead rather than press to win it. I wish we would be more adventurous. Its hard to maintain that level of pressure and closing down for a whole game though. Still, it was nice to see us come gradually back into the match in the second half and over the course of the game we deserved the victory.

it was like watching the way Barca play when their on the top of their game, relentless closing down and workmanship. Was an awesome first half display

[Exiled_red]

Lots of people criticised him for not knowing what he was doing and relying on set moves for attacks as far as I remember. I think Lecter was one of those who was particularly vociferous. Obviously there is a difference in using something as only part of your plan and as the central plank (as it was alleged that Roy did). It just seems contrary to the prevailing wisdom that attacking play is all about improvisation and hard to plan. I guess I tend to think that too most of the time.

I thought the movement of Kuyt and Maxi was excellent yesterday. Bellamy too, particularly first half. Partly the tactical changes made by both teams but also fitness seemed to play a part in the latter pair fading from the game after half time I thought. Kuyt though just keeps on going.

I don't really remember that critisism of Hodgson, and didn't see the warm up yesterday, but I would imagine it wasn't so much the practice of a specific move, it was more about quick one touch passing and playing little triangles between the attacking players, which we saw a number of times yesterday.

[~LFCHistory~]

Best win of the season so far IMO. Player ratings :

Reina 7.5/10 - Didn't have a great deal to do but did make one outstanding save that saved us from dropping any points.

Johson 8.5/10 - MOTM - Excellent going forward all game constantly linking up with Kuyt and Bellamy on the right. Scored a cracking goal to round off his best performance in some time. Didn't give him a 9/10 because he got caught out several times defensively which is to be expected with Glen I suppose.

Skrtel 8/10 - Very good from Martin again. Won every duel on the ground and aerially if I recall. Really is a different player when paired with Agger.

Agger 7/10 - Standard performance from Agger - calm and confident. However he did play a part in Chelsea's goal which isn't like him.

Enrique 7.5 - Kept Mata quiet in the first half and Sturridge in the second.

Kuyt 6.5 - Decent from Dirk. Helped out Johnson on the right and linked up fairly well with our forwards.

Lucas 7/10 - Did well in the anchor role. Quiet at times but overall a good performance from Lucas.

Adam 8/10 - Charlie's best performance in a red shirt by some way IMO. Seemed to benefit from being surrounded by quality players like Maxi and Bellamy. Have a feeling Dalglish and Clarke had a word with him to keep his passing simple and short, can only remember him attempting 1 hollywood pass at the end of the game to Johnson which led to our second goal. I only gave him an 8/10 for two reasons - 1. His corners and free kicks were atrocious 2. After an excellent 1st half he faded badly in the second which once again raises the fears about his stamina. Still, an encouraging performance from Adam.

Maxi 8/10 - Finally Maxi starts his first PL game this season at the tail end of November which is a disgrace when you say it out loud. The fact of the matter is this - when Maxi plays pass and move returns. Can't remember him misplacing a pass all game and of course took his goal well. Faded in the second which the Sky commentators pointed was understandable due to his lack of game time this season. Deserves to start next week.

Bellamy 8/10 - Classy from Craig. Got an assist and was constantly involved in Chelsea's half. Like Maxi he should start next week.

Suarez 7.5 - Not Luis best performance but he was still a massive threat going forward. Hope off the field matters aren't affecting him.

Subs :

Henderson 6/10 - Looked comfortable in the middle and made one excellent run late on presenting Kuyt with a good chance which was wasted.

Downing - Anonymous.

Carroll - Looked like he hadn't recovered from Saturday night.

[Exiled_red]

Thought it was Adam's best performance for us too. He seemed to benefit from having quality players in front of him like Maxi and Bellamy as opposed to the likes of Downing and Carroll. Also he kept his passing short and simple most of the game, can't remember him losing the ball much which was a nice change.
Still questions about his stamina though as he did fade in the second hallf.

I mentioned something similar, I think that the likes of Maxi and Bellamy are more suited to a quick, short passing game than players like Downing and Carroll are. I don't think that Carroll and Downing are bad players they just fit in to a different type of system or game plan. Personally I think we've lacked quick movement of the ball and short one touch passing this season, so I'd like to see us stick with Bellamy and Maxi and play the way we did yesterday and keep Downing and Carroll as 'plan B'.

[Exiled_red]

I pity whoever we're playing against when we do manage to play well for 90 minutes.

[~LFCHistory~]

I mentioned something similar, I think that the likes of Maxi and Bellamy are more suited to a quick, short passing game than players like Downing and Carroll are. I don't think that Carroll and Downing are bad players they just fit in to a different type of system or game plan. Personally I think we've lacked quick movement of the ball and short one touch passing this season, so I'd like to see us stick with Bellamy and Maxi and play the way we did yesterday and keep Downing and Carroll as 'plan B'.

Yesterday proved that pass and move with a flexible, fluid formation is the way forward for us. 442 is an antique. Maxi and Bellamy are pass and move players, Downing and Carroll have shown nothing so far to suggest that they are.

[Vermilion]

Premier League - Gambler scoops £585k from late winner.

Mon, 21 Nov 12:27:00 2011

A lucky punter landed £585,143.24 from an 85p bet thanks to Glen Johnson's 87th-minute winner for Liverpool at Chelsea on Sunday.

The 41-year-old gambler - who has chosen to remained anonymous - bet just one euro on his 19-match accumulator, and watched Saturday's football results come in with an increasing state of excitement as the first 18 matches all went his way.

That left the Sunday afternoon match between the Reds and the Blues to decide whether his 683,738-1 gamble would come in.

Liverpool were 7/2 underdogs for the match at Stamford Bridge, but former Chelsea player Glen Johnson did the Maltese gambler proud with his beautiful late goal to secure all three points for Kenny Dalglish's men.

And unsurprisingly, Liverpool have gained a lifelong fan thanks to the win: "He wasn't a Liverpool fan before, he tells us he is now!" said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe, adding that the amazing punt was a new record at the end of a great weekend for gamblers.

"We cannot recall any punter winning either this much on an accumulator, or landing such stratospheric odds," Sharpe added.

"Football punters were already celebrating the biggest winning weekend in living memory as all the best fancied teams in the Premier League, Championship, Leagues One & Two, Blue Square, SPL and William Hill Scottish Cup turned out be winners," said Sharpe.

"This late winner in the final game of the weekend left us feeling about as cheerful as under-pressure Chelsea boss Andre Villas Boas. The weekend as a whole was football betting's equivalent of racing's Dettori day in 1996, when Frankie rode all seven winners at Ascot, costing the industry almost £50 million."

The winning selections:

Norwich v Arsenal - 7/10 away win
Everton v Wolves - 6/10 home win
Man City v Newcastle - 1/3 home win
Swansea v Man Utd - 4/9 away win
Chelsea v Liverpool - 7/2 away win
West Brom v Bolton - 11/10 home win
Inverness v Celtic - 4/9 away win
Southampton v Brighton - 8/15 home win
Coventry v West Ham - 4/5 away win
Reading v Cardiff - 11/5 away win
Brentford v Charlton - 7/5 away win
Huddersfield v Notts County - 4/5 home win
Sheff Utd v Carlisle - 19/20 home win
Colchester v MK Dons - 6/4 away win
Tranmere v Sheff Wed - 9/5 away win
Crawley v Oxford - 5/6 home win
Dagenham v Southend - 5/6 away win
Cheltenham v Port Vale - 13/10 home win
Northampton v Shrewsbury - 11/8 away win