beejay

I cant get through either and I've been trying for almost 2 and a half hours solid with re-dial and computer. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUGH!!!!!!

It's too close to call. Judged on the fact they are still in all competitions and are well ahead of us in the league, then to a neutral, Chelsea are the better team. But over 2 legs in Europe we have shown that we have the right balance of attack & defense and tactically, we are a match for anyone. In Terry's interview in the Times yesterday he admitted they were taken by surprise by the intensity of the atmosphere at Anfield 2 years ago and vows they will be better prepared this time. That's probably true so I really think we have to set down our marker in the 1st leg when they will expect us to do nothing but defend. I have a feeling Rafa will send us out to attack from the start and try to poach an early away goal.

Cisse signed for Sheffield Utd?

arsenal 1 point behind us now. Good result tomorrow boys please

This content is not viewable to guests.

Huh, it's a sell-out! We need to win these 2 home games to secure Champions League and go into the 2 semis in form and completely focused on Chelsea. The last thing we want is a half-ar*ed display, lose points and have to sweat on Bolton's results for the next 2 weeks. Rafa keeps saying he wants to have 4th place sewn up as quickly as possible and Boro & Wigan at home are as good as it gets to achieve that by the weekend. Strongest line-up tomorrow, get the game won early to give the likes of Gerrard, Crouch & Xabi a breather and same again on Saturday.

Best prospects to me are Charlie Barnett, Craig Lindfield and Ryan Flynn. Looked like we really missed the Swedish Patrik Berger to give more support to Lindfield but he's back for the 2nd leg so could make all the difference. The lads played really well but Spearing does look out of place at centreback and we made a few too may mistakes at the back. Passed it around great and comfortable in possession all around the pitch.

I don't disagree but Torres is used to being the main man at Athletico and whenever I've seen him he has been exceptionally greedy. He is not the best finisher (unlike Villa) but is pacy, strong and good in the air. I think Villa would be great for us, he is a little assassin

Can't see Rafa adopting these tactics, it's just not his style. Far more likely we will continue to evolve into his Valencia side where we totally boss possession and smother the opposition, giving nothing away at the back and putting away a greater percentage of chances to win these types of away games. I see in today's post there's a little snippet about Rafa thinking of deploying the same formation as v Man City for rest of the season (ie Gerrard operating behind a lone striker) and I still think he favours this system a la Valencia but hasn't had the personnel until Mascherano joined.

As much as it pains me to admit it, Robbie Fowler won't recover sufficient fitness to earn a new contract and will have to leave in the summer. No regrets, the last 18 months he has still retained his uncanny ability to find the net and has confounded so many of his critics who said he would tarnish his legendary status by returning home. If anything, his position as God amongst the common support at Anfield has been consolidated and he has not let rafa down. Last home game of the season v Charlton should be a great day for Robbie and let's hope he gets the opportunity to sign off in style with a Vlad-like cameo in Athens.

They still have a terrific midfield but have definitely regressed since we played them while we have improved in personnel & quality of play beyond all recognition. Milan are also struggling to make the top 4 to qualify for the Champions League next season - meaning their only route back in would be to win the trophy. So, if we did play them again it could be a complete role reversal.

It's not the right time for anyone to be out of the team, especially Bellamy. Harry, meanwhile, is timing his run to perfection

It's a sign of our progress that we are having to scrape the barrel to find a proper scapegoat, worthy of the title. In our best scapegoating years we could draw on some real beauties - step forward Jimmy Traore, Igor Igor Biscan, Vlad the Impaled, Emile Fall-over Heskey, Dropsy Dudek, Lord Frodchester etc. Now we have to pick on Sissoko because he is out of form after a serious injury, Zenden who is a decent, experienced squad player in his last year, Harry Kewell who get's dog's abuse for being injured but is top class and Riise who keeps scoring spectacular goals in vital games.

They did have some sensible people on as well, to be fair. Stubbs tried to lead all callers on to one subject - what makes you so sure your team will win the semi? The result was that all the chelsea fans siad they would win and all the reds said we will do them again. Banal stuff. One of the last callers raised the temperature a bit saying if it's a Liverpool-ManU final in Athens with 50,000 supporters of each club roaming the streets it could get very, very nasty. Sounded like a Huyton accent to me, like.

Reina has 1 yellow card!! Got this horrible feeling Rafa may play Dudek tonight and last time that happened Arsenal scored 9 goals in 11 attempts as we went out of 2 cups in a week at Anfield!!

Beating the feck out of Gillespie is hardly a barometer of how hard you are, he's a skinny streak of piss... and Stephen Carr's a midgit, bit of a mis-match there...

Babbel scored several goals from right back - including one at Everton I remember

Can't see what all the hype was around Tevez to be honest, but he's carrying so much timber he could be a lumberjack. He makes Rooney look like a garden rake. Not Rafa's type I would suggest - if you want to see a great Argentinian ball-carrying left wing prospect check out the youtube video of Leto.

That's very generous of you, mate but the club will take care of that

Daft comment mate. You won't get a direct replacement for Xabi, if anything Mascherano is more suited to his role but Arteta is a central midfielder so if Alonso did go, it's not as if Rafa would search the planet for a clone is it?

Crouch Mascherano Aurelio Great save by Pepe too

2 rumours doing the rounds at the game today. 1. Crouch straight swap for Owen. A so-called done deal. 2. Liverpool are preparing for Alonso to leave in the summer (at his request not the club's). They are lining up Arteta as a replacement. Don't shoot me, it's "friend of someone in the know" stuff but he was insistent it's a reliable source.

Redknapp's far, far better than some of the excuse-for-experts Sky put in front of our screens eg Marwood, Nicholas, Smith, Platt, Merson, Beagrie, Cottie etc etc. Get off his back, it's effin obvious he remains one of us but is trying to be objective.

Our 1st league title for 17 years?

Roeder said he would be surprised if Owen isn't at Newcastle next season then went on about qualifying for Europe the season after. Sounded suspiciously like he knows Owen has a get-out clause...