07 vs 05

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

So it's semi-final time again. And it's them again. And I'm feeling not one iota of excitement at the moment. Only trepidation....

 

In 05 it was almost like we had nothing to lose (although we had everything to lose). That campaign was full or remarkable comebacks, desperate defending & each victory sent us to territories, while not unknown, certainly almost forgotten & new to many.

 

Forward 2 years & we have those b******s again in the semis. I hate semi-finals.They're the worst stage to lose at. I'd go so far as to say, I'd sooner lose to AC in the final than Chelsea in the semis.

 

The sources of my fear this year are many; after 05, Chelsea will be fired up - that said, if any of our players are less than 100% for this they need to find a new club. In 05, there was little or no expectation, each victory was like a bonus; this year there's a weight of expectation. Our performances have been professional - we negotiated a tough group with a game to spare, convincingly dismissed Barca & didn't even need to make a jog to see off PSV.

 

We're now so close, I'm terrified.

 

That said, come a week on Weds, I'll be sweating adrenaline & my eyes will be bulging.

 

Thank feck Rafa's our manager.

[sutty]

The 7 would defo win. 2 man advantage would be too much.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

The 7 would defo win. 2 man advantage would be too much.

 

That's a yellow card for that one.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

The 7 would defo win. 2 man advantage would be too much.

game would have been abandoned though

[KD07]

But did the ball really cross the line??

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Has anyone got the odds on Liverpool to progress over 2 legs ? I bet on them at 7/2 to get through in 2005 - that will be a decent guage of how far the bookies perceived we have closed the gap.

 

Chelsea will be fired up for this no doubt - we rubbed their noses in it at Anfield a few weeks ago not to mention the tears that were spilt in May05 at the final whistle.

 

But to counter-act that, we have better players, a manager that has beaten Mourinho on 3 of the last 4 occassions and a professional team that beat the best in Europe.

 

Its gonna be close.........

[psl]

They'll obviously be well up for it. We will be too though.

[Magic8Ball]

where is Luis Garcia when you need him ?

 

Poor Luis hope he gets well soon, but we could definitely use him for these games

Wonder if Kewell will be fit for any of these games ?

[Guz]

I think the way we play against Chelsea will show the mentality of our squad. If they can only perform on the big stage under the guise of being underdogs as we have done almost exclusively under Rafa then it'll be very dissapointing. If however, we can show we've got some b******s and we have a desire to succeed then there won't be one ounce of fear in our players. Hopefully the latter

[Huyton_Red]

It was the best atmosphere I have ever witnessed for the first semi final, with loads of old reds saying it was the best atmosphere ever

 

If we beat them with players like traore and nunez, we can beat them now as well

 

The crowd need to play the same part they did two years ago, when anfield shook for a couple of hours

[Stevie H]

It was the best atmosphere I have ever witnessed for the first semi final, with loads of old reds saying it was the best atmosphere ever

 

If we beat them with players like traore and nunez, we can beat them now as well

 

The crowd need to play the same part they did two years ago, when anfield shook for a couple of hours

first things first, ensure that we're still well in the tie after the first leg. they're going to come at us like f*** so we're going to have to be so up for it.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

come out of the 1st leg with the tie still open & Anfield will rock to its foundations. I imagine the septics will be there too

[matlfc]

They will be s***ting themselves having to come anfield for the 2nd leg. Liverpool vs Milan final again.

[Huyton_Red]

first things first, ensure that we're still well in the tie after the first leg. they're going to come at us like f*** so we're going to have to be so up for it.

 

A far less confident and stuttering Liverpool played outplayed them for long periods at stamford bridge in the league earlier this season, I am really confident we can beat them in both legs, both at home and away

 

Especially given that they have an fa cup semi this weekend followed by two tough away league games, whilst we have a league game tommorow followed by two home league games before the first leg

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Extra time in both Cup semis is what we all want

[Stevie H]

A far less confident and stuttering Liverpool played outplayed them for long periods at stamford bridge in the league earlier this season, I am really confident we can beat them in both legs, both at home and away

 

Especially given that they have an fa cup semi this weekend followed by two tough away league games, whilst we have a league game tommorow followed by two home league games before the first leg

i'm aware of all that, i just think that this time around they'll be aware of what lies in wait for them at anfield in the second leg so they'll try their utmost to have the tie over after the first leg.

 

fred milne posted on here yesterday about us never having to come from behind against them over two matches in '05 and i think that's a really important point.

[flash]

I think we are the one's with a point to prove. Although it was a goal in '05, we need to win this one with one (or more) that cannot be argued.

 

And as for the Final, if it's Milan again, and we get there, lets try not to let 3 in in the first half!

 

Rafa say's we are a better side now, so lets prove it and stomp all over all before us.

[Leo No.8]

first things first, ensure that we're still well in the tie after the first leg. they're going to come at us like f*** so we're going to have to be so up for it.

 

I think a lot of managers are looking less at 0-0 in the away leg being a good result these days in general. Teams like Chelsea who play counter attacking football in general are happy to draw 0-0 at home because they fancy themselves to pinch an away goal in the return.

 

I think this may be the exception though - Mourinho 'felt the power of Anfield' last time so he may have his team press harder for an advantage at Stamford Bridge. He knows the supporters are like an extra player for us in those games and anyone who comes to our house and beats us under those circumstances deserves to win the Champions League.

 

If we can come away with a draw or score and lose by one at Chelsea I think we'll go through. If we have to go for it at home they could do us on the break, atmosphere or not. It's so crucial to be in the hunt after the away game because like you say I think they will come at us like f*ck, unlike last time when it was all pretty cagey.

[SkippyjonJones]

we are gonna f*** em over with a big stick.

[psl]

I'm trying hard not to think about these games. I already feel nervous when I start to think about them.

 

(I know, I know... man up...)

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Everyone knows what you get from the Kop, but that atmosphere at Stamford Bridge 2 years ago was pathetic - really pathetic - I'm sure they will have learned their lesson, just wonder what kind of noise they will create.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

we are gonna f*** em over with a big stick.

a big stick with s*** on it

[sutty]

Everyone knows what you get from the Kop, but that atmosphere at Stamford Bridge 2 years ago was pathetic - really pathetic - I'm sure they will have learned their lesson, just wonder what kind of noise they will create.

 

f*** all.

 

Its the same c**** that are sitting there, reading the Style supplement from the Sunday Times while the game is on.

[CarraLegend]

Everyone knows what you get from the Kop, but that atmosphere at Stamford Bridge 2 years ago was pathetic - really pathetic - I'm sure they will have learned their lesson, just wonder what kind of noise they will create.

 

That was a f***ing disgrace that, there wasnt a noise out of them all night. Shocking. It wont be any different this time either, there will just be a few biffs waving them crappy flags the club give out and that'll be it.

[Bootle Buck]

We now have a team that is groomed and experienced for the European Cup. Rafa will know how to set up his stall at Stamford Bridge and get a result. In the league we never seem to really challenge them there but in the CL we will be very difficult to break down and will be looking for that away goal. Our performance at homew will depend on the result at Stamford Bridge. If we need to win I can see a fast tempo start like we saw against them at Anfield in 2005 and this season. If we got the awaty goal or a tie we will be more apt to pack the middle and take our chances on the break. All in all it will be a very tense couple of games that will be almost unbearable to watch.