Liverpool v Besiktas Match Thread

[calvoboy]

Henderson's reaction on the pitch wasn't that of a winning captain. It was that of a spoilt child.

He grabbed the ball as designated taker. Mario came and took it off him. Hendo decided it wasn't worth the fight, and was spot on with his reaction afterwards.

You can argue it's weak if you like, but it's not spoilt. A spoilt child would have argued the toss and refused to give it up, and whinged about it for ever more.

[BobTheCharmer]

Spoilt child? How?

He grabbed the ball as designated taker. Mario came and took it off him. Hendo decided it wasn't worth the fight, and was spot on with his reaction afterwards.

You can argue it's weak if you like, but it's not spoilt. A spoilt child would have argued the toss and refused to give it up, and whinged about it for ever more.

Post match his reaction was right. The footage on field was of him walking off muttering some **** shaking his head when balotelli was about to take it. Thats the spoilt child bit.

[DannyMan2006]

Post match his reaction was right. The footage on field was of him walking off muttering some **** shaking his head when balotelli was about to take it. Thats the spoilt child bit.

Depends on the rules from the manager really.

Pre match it might have been Hendo to take them, but maybe that can change when Mario (or Rickie) comes on, who is a more adept penalty taker.

Example, if Gerrard comes off the bench he takes that. Regardless of who is designated peno taker pre match when the first XI are on.

Personally I'm glad Mario took it, and had more confidence in him slotting it away than Hendo or any other. One more point, whilst I see where people come from calling it disrespect, it's not. It's just confidence in his own ability.

[dom9]

I seem to be alone in that I really couldn't give a steaming **** who was supposed to take it; whose ego was bruised by not taking it; whether or not Sturridge celebrated; and what Steven Gerrard's view of it was.

Balotelli was the best man on the pitch to take it. He did so and scored. That'll do me. The rest is all unimportant froth

I'm with you.

It's really not important.

[Kenneth]

Not to us, but I think it will be important behind the scenes.

[dom9]

Not to us, but I think it will be important behind the scenes.

It's important to a lot of people apparently, as the issue has hijacked 4 threads.

Ah well. Whatever.

[G]

Not to us, but I think it will be important behind the scenes.

That's my worry, hope it doesn't affect team spirit.

[Shaggy]

He's had a dip in form but this was lovely

https://gfycat.com/CleanRectangularFeline

[DannyMan2006]

That's my worry, hope it doesn't affect team spirit.

It won't. Had he missed..... He didn't so what's the point discussing that.

[G]

It won't. Had he missed..... He didn't so what's the point discussing that.

Not looking for a discussion, it's something that they will discuss because it wasn't handled correctly by a number of people. 3 players clearly not happy with Mario even though he scored, despite what one of them said in his post match interview.

[Shaggy]

Brendan Rodgers was able to reflect on a productive evening for Liverpool after they secured an advantage without conceding a goal in their Europa League first leg against Besiktas.

The Reds had control for much of the opening meeting of the last 32 tie with the Turkish league leaders, though the contest appeared to be heading for a 0-0 draw at Anfield.

But Jordon Ibe's forceful dribble yielded a late penalty that Mario Balotelli swiped into the bottom corner, thereby earning a win on the night and a lead in the encounter.

The manager was satisfied by the manner of the result - with a clean sheet preserved notably by Simon Mignolet's stop from Demba Ba - ahead of a return fixture in Istanbul.

Rodgers said at his post-match press conference inside the stadium: "It was an excellent result and performance. It was always going to be a tight game.

"Besiktas came here with big confidence and I believe they have scored in every away game they have played this season.

"So it shows you the level of our defensive organisation that we kept a clean sheet. Simon had a really good save in the first half, an outstanding save it was.

"On top of that, we created chances. We worked the ball much quicker in the second half. It sets us up perfectly, a great result for the second leg - a win and a clean sheet."

Ibe turned in another effervescent display for Liverpool, proving a constant menace to the visitors with a series of electrifying bursts down the wing.

It was one such surge that won the spot-kick for the Reds when he was sent crashing to the ground by Ramon Motta, having initially left the Besiktas defender trailing in his wake.

"You've seen the kid's performances since he's come back from his loan period and he is growing all the time," Rodgers enthused.

"He's played in big games and is getting good experience at 19. He is a real threat every time he has the ball.

"Not only that, but he works very, very hard for the team. He created the opportunity tonight for the penalty and it was an outstanding performance."

The manager also took delight from the recent form of Martin Skrtel.

"Martin has been outstanding. You see his form as the lynchpin there at the heart of the three, you see his iron will, you see his strength - real man strength - you see his mighty tattoos, and you see his intimidating bald head glistening under the floodlights there. It's wonderful."

Next up for Liverpool is a trip to St Mary's to take on top-four rivals Southampton in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The Saints sit four points ahead of the Reds in the race for Champions League qualification, and Rodgers insists his side will be fully prepared for the clash despite their continental exertions this evening.

He added: "Tonight keeps the flow of our results and performance level. The players are very, very confident at the moment.

"Of course, Southampton will be another tough game for us, but we'll go away, recover, prepare for the game and we'll be ready come the weekend."

[Fosterbloke]

I'm sure they'll work out how to handle precedence based on substitutions.

Just as long as it doesn't happen again then we'll learn and improve from the situation.

Not really a big deal at the end of the day, just a bit of confusion.

[Buzzo]

Worryingly I can't work out where Brendan ends and the creative writing begins.

"Martin has been outstanding. You see his form as the lynchpin there at the heart of the three, you see his iron will, you see his strength - real man strength - you see his mighty tattoos, and you see his intimidating bald head glistening under the floodlights there. It's wonderful."

[G]

Worryingly I can't work out where Brendan ends and the creative writing begins.

me neither, every Shaggy edit could very well be a Brendan utterance!

[Shaggy]

Mamadou Sakho made the most passes of any player tonight (79) and (wait for it) was the most accurate (94.9%). #LFC