RedNik

I voted no. I just don't think chasing a game is our strong point. Add that Chelsea is very defensive, and hard to score against. That being said, we're definitley in with a great chance to go through - simply because of the Anfield atmosphere, and how we play at home. I'd say its 60-40 Chelsea's favour right now - mostly because they have the threat of getting an away goal, and making the ties really difficult for us.

I was thinking about the possibility of playing all 4 of them. What if Rafa were to go with a 3-5-2 - theres a number of reasons I think this could make sense. For one, Drogba is phenomenal in the air, and Sami might be needed to deal with that threat, as he has done previously. Carra and Agger alongside him, to ensure that we aren't vulnerable to pacy attacks. Riise and Finnan as full backs, supporting the offense, but also thwarting chelsea's attempts to get down the wings - could be vital. 3 central midfielders, xabi and mash playing deep, with Momo on a sort of defensive free role, looking to get forwards and kick the s*** out of fat frank. Up front, Either of Crouch and Kuyt alongside Ste G. I'd vote for Crouch, because I think he is perhaps better at playing alone up top, and linking up our midfielders. Kuyt however did just score twice and is a terrific worker. This being said, it is a very defensive team - looking at best to nick a goal from a set piece or long shot, but more importantly, set up not to concede.

Wasn't the earlier return date, the barcelona away leg? It just keeps getting pushed back, and thats what is worrisome. No doubt he is exactly what we are lacking in midfield (have lacked the whole year).

Sissoko 6 seems a bit high for me - thought he was just terrible. I know its been debated to death .. but I think he really needs to work on his pass completion ratio. I don't have the numbers but it was attrocious. Maybe he needs to try and make the simpler, square pass - like didi used to do.

Seriously, I think we often get too bothered with what the media has to say about us. They're mostly a bunch of idiots - Andy Gray who hates us in the premiership but then supports us wildly in Europe just proves their strange biases. Let people say what they want - we know how good Finnan is, and Agger will prove to everyone how good he is, in time. Until then, we've beaten Barca and have a great chance in this competition. Fck em media guys.

Left back I thought.

Why would he prioritize his international career over club football? Also has it occurred to people that Finnan is getting on? We will need a long term replacement for him, and also another option for the right in case he starts to tire or his quality drops a bit. Remember, we have no second right back in the side right now.

Matt Damon? I'd say he's more of a Hilary Sw***.

Yes, and so if anyone should be blamed, it should be Moores, Parry etc. who made those decisions to a) Buy Ciise b) Sell Heskey after having sacked Houllier. We received a good fee for Emile, and that was probably what they bit on, but as Kev has suggested - Rafa rated him.

I understand that, the reason I was saying he works well with G, is simply because Gerrard puts in the early crosses with a lot of whip. Also Stevie has the vision to pick out ppl at the far post, that some others dont have. I agree that we get very narrow with the two of them on the wings.

Hah well I was more so referring to the "red tinted glasses" As for Riise at left mid - I think its a real good debate there. Its been the case throughout his career at liverpool. He doesn't have the dribbling or crossing ability of a left mid, but when he plays there, he is always a goal threat. He had some 5 shots at goal today, 3 of which nearly went in. Johnny's got a great engine and will bomb down the flank onto longer passes - which he often wins. He provides a decent outlet in this manner and works well with Gerrard on the right. A lot of ppl here have complained about how we never have enough players attacking crosses -specifically our strikers, because of the amount they track back. Riise is always there making a late run, waiting for the deeper cross. That was why he scored at the Nou Camp, and he almost did it again yesterday.

That was our game plan. Hit them with incisive attacks and on the break. The ouness was on them - not us, you have to remember. Also, had Barca not kept as much posession in their own half, we would've got the ball more and passed it more. With the back line and Marquez just exchanging passes, there was no reason for us to get involved.

I wouldn't say it was ridiculous. He won the ball yes, but he lunged in from behind. It was a foul for me, the yc maybe was debatable. He totally missed the Thuram elbow on Bellers though - I thought that should've been a second yellow for him. Aside from that, I think he was alright.

Sure that is true, but it is naive to suggest that we can have players solely in the situations they are comfortable in. Especially with the manner in which Momo breaks up play and steals posession high up the pitch - I believe he needs some more ability to hold onto the ball at a spot, even if he can't beat his man.

I'm a little unsure about Momo's technical ability offensively, and this may be the biggest aspect he needs to work on. Remember when he passed the ball back to Kuyt (who was marginally offside). He almost fell over the ball and thus HAD to play it back to kuyt, rather than taking the defender on.

What exactly in my post was say especially liverpool biased? I was actually pointing out that we need to become more clinical.

Was absolutely brilliant - well in there lad. Yes, he got caught in posession a couple of times but he was all over the pitch breaking up attacks. Almost scored a gem too. Other things that caught my eye - do we have a case for Riise at left mid? He may not be able to carry the ball that well, and probably cant beat too many defenders with his feet - but he is a great outlet and is always a goal threat. Lastly, how on earth did we not score today? Hitting the cross bar twice was really unlucky, but we really should have put away a couple of our chances - Kuyts attempt really stands out, but I guess it was a great save. The game could well have gone differently - we really need to address our finishing this summer.

I don't think momo has the ability to read the game, or the positioning discipline to play where xabi does. also we need our play to go through xabi so playing him further up is a waste. he isnt that quick either (footwork) and so he would have a hard time there.

Its not like his finishing abandoned him here. Remember that header of his - not sure against whom but it was brilliant. He just wasnt able to cope with the pace and physicality of the league, and wasnt young enough to reinvent himself.

I'm unconvinced as to whether we can consistently play him at home. This of course doesn't apply to such games as today. There is great value to the work he puts in - mainly in slowing down teams and stopping them form attacking, and allowing us to thus defend higher up the pitch. My problem is however that when he gives very little contribution going forwards. Can we afford this in our midfield against weaker sides? I'm not convinced.

Kuyt is clearly in rafas long term plans. this is absolute nonsense that ppl want rid of him next year. Give him time, also, his goal scoring record is solid for us.

A lot of people seem to be advocating an almost complete revamp of our first team squad. Whats more, most of the proposed players are young and have little experience, let a lon premiership experience. I think we need to remember that adding this many players may well mean another slow start to the season and hence no title talk again.

Is Quaresma proven though? I'll be the first to admit, I haven't seen him much. I know he was very very highly rated, then fell off a bit .. and I suppose has started to build on that potential. I'm just concerned of going for more potential players as opposed to those who we can be confident will make an immediate impact.

I'd definitely agree with that - and you can see that Rafa was trying to get those wide men last summer. Funds played a big role, we had to settle BIG TIME, and then we lost probably our best winger to injury again. Without Harry, I don't think we really have a midfielder who can carry the ball and keep our possessions going. Gerrard can certainly do that, to the extent that he can do everything. He is by no means great at it - and is much more of a threat when running on the counter attack. I think Kewell really gave us that ability to advance the ball forwards in a patient build up manner - and we've lacked that this season. Pennant has only shown glimpses and Gonzalez has had a tough time this far. Garcia is certainly not that kind of player. Hopefully Kewell can get back, but I highly doubt Rafa will have the necessary patience (or that he needs it, with our new funding). I think going for a player who can carry the ball should be our top priority.

We have a far more important game, in terms of our season in a couple of days time. So it may well have been precaution - in which case its a sound decision.