Where does that performance rank in terms of our very best

[David Hodgson]

I think that's in the running to be considered one of our best performances of all time, never mind this season.

 

I don't remember us giving opposition of this level such a going over before. Certainly not in Europe.

[Chili Palmer]

I think that's in the running to be considered one of our best performances of all time, never mind this season.

 

I don't remember us giving opposition of this level such a going over before. Certainly not in Europe.

 

haven't you heard? madrid aren't very good, therefore we are not very good either.

[Tones]

They are a poor Real Madrid but they still are Real Madrid. They are the Spanish Champions, the are still second in their league. They are on one of the best domestic runs in europe. They have a very expensive squad. We were excellent and we gave them a lesson. It certainly is one of the greatest performances i have seen from us.

[David Hodgson]

haven't you heard? madrid aren't very good, therefore we are not very good either.

 

I think it wasn't so much that Madrid were poor, but that their league is a distinct level below ours. Doesn't change the fact that they are the form team in the world's second best league, and that makes them a very good side by any measure.

 

Regardless, when have we played better ? It's hard to recall.

[Cunny]

I don't want to diminish last night's performance as it was fecking excellent but the 5-0 against Forest was a different level all together.

Still the best team performance I have ever seen by any team, never mind just Liverpool.

[Flight]

I think that's in the running to be considered one of our best performances of all time, never mind this season.

 

I don't remember us giving opposition of this level such a going over before. Certainly not in Europe.

 

 

I agree; too much being made of Real being a 'poor side'. They are on a run in their league similar to the Mancs. We put four goals past Casillas and could have had a ton more. Cannavaro in front of Casillas, being taken off mid way through the second half - World Player of the Year, two years ago.

 

They played so poorly because we didn't give them a look in for 90 minutes.

[David Hodgson]

I don't want to diminish last night's performance as it was fecking excellent but the 5-0 against Forest was a different level all together.

Still the best team performance I have ever seen by any team, never mind just Liverpool.

 

It was incredible, and is the bench mark, but Real Madrid, by any measure, are a stronger team than Forest were then.

[Stevie H]

we could have scored ten last night and it wouldn't have flattered us but against forest we could have had twenty.

[Mike]

we were that good in the first half i was frightened. torres's turn actually scared me.

[Chili Palmer]

I think it wasn't so much that Madrid were poor, but that their league is a distinct level below ours. Doesn't change the fact that they are the form team in the world's second best league, and that makes them a very good side by any measure.

 

Regardless, when have we played better ? It's hard to recall.

 

 

I have seen better individual performances from nearly all of our players but I can't remember the last time the whole team has hit top form at the same time

[smithdown]

If we'd seen a game like that in the World Cup or Euro Championships - an Argentina giving someone a pasting for instance - we'd be going daft about it, wanting to sign every feckin one of them, even the subs who didn't get on (alright Bernarde?).

 

There haven't been many games played at that tempo and with that intensity for a while. As good as anything we've seen from Barcelona anyway. As powerful a performance as you're likely to see. They HAVE to go out with expectations of doing that again. Any side that stands up to that tempo and fluidity deserves whatever they get off us.

[David Hodgson]

we could have scored ten last night and it wouldn't have flattered us but against forest we could have had twenty.

 

I don't actually think we missed many against Forest. They actually played OK, and made some chances, but we were ruthless, and our football was equisite, and the goals all near perfect in their construction and execution.

 

Still, I'll say it again, Real Madrid, regardless of not being the greatest version of themselves, are better team than that Forest side.

 

It says enough that no-ones come up with anything apart from the Forest game to rival this.

 

Here's a few biggies from memory :

 

Spurs (h) 7-0 '79

Ipswich (h) 4-0 '82

Palace(h) 9-0 '89

Benfica (a) 4-1 1983/84

 

Ipswich were a top side then, and the others were just such perfect thrashings, but all other big wins I can recall were against weak sides.

[David Hodgson]

I have seen better individual performances from nearly all of our players but I can't remember the last time the whole team has hit top form at the same time

 

I don't think I've seen Nando play better than he did in that first 45 minutes. He was unbelievable.

[Chili Palmer]

I don't think I've seen Nando play better than he did in that first 45 minutes. He was unbelievable.

 

 

maybe, he was certainly pumped up.

[Bo Benn]

I'm afraid though, this performance will almost completely fade away unless we go on and win the whole thing.

[Chili Palmer]

I'm afraid though, this performance will almost completely fade away unless we go on and win the whole thing.

 

 

nights like that live with me forever.

[JRC]

Nah, Football is both about making history and the collection of trophies AND the pleasure of the moment, the goal, the win. The vast majority of Football supporters only have the latter to enjoy.

 

If we go on to win it, this will be a great element in the campaign, but if not, it will still be a night to be remembered and drooled over on fora like this in 10, 20 years time. Fwiw, the Arsenal 2nd Leg last year remains one of those perfect nights of passion, joy, fear, adrenaline etc, and the exact reason I go to the match for - irrespective of the fact that we went out in the next round.

[Marvin]

Its almost enough to make one Rafa's number one fan

[DecidedByPoll]

I actually think the Chelsea away performance this season was fantastic. The fact they didn't have a shot on goal for the whole game was remarkable, and some of the football we played was superb.

 

People also seem to forget the very best performances of the Evans era when Collymore, Fowler and Mcamanaman clicked were superb and we beat a good Manc side a few times.

 

i agree with the principle though - to recall beating other top sides in that manner you'd have to go back to Bob Paisley's team of 78/79 and I can't do that as I was only 4 then!

[David Hodgson]

Its almost enough to make one Rafa's number one fan

 

Or maybe just a Liverpool fan drooling over a Liverpool win.

[_00_deathscar]

I'm afraid though, this performance will almost completely fade away unless we go on and win the whole thing.

 

Nah, that Arsenal game last season for example was special.

[Leo No.8]

Said to my Dad at the end of the game that I'm not sure I've ever seen a better hour or so of football, than ours last night, until we took the foot off the pedal and let Madrid play a bit for 20 minutes.

 

Our pressing, work rate, tempo and tacking were ferocious; we harried them into giving the ball away again and again then eventually into complete submission. Every one of our players looked sharper, quicker to every ball.

 

To be honest I'm not sure whether it was just that the game was won at 3-0 when we seemed to stop playing, but a bit of tiredness as well; its miraculous that we kept that tempo up for an hour. It was an hour of absolutely breathless exertion.

 

Mascherano and Alonso were majestic in the centre of midfield; I can't remember either of them losing a single tackle, even a couple of times against more than one opponent they came away with the ball and found a red shirt.

 

That was how we stopped Madrid playing, but what made it a perfect performance was what we did with the ball when we kept winning it; fantastic movement, positive passing and moments of absolute genius from Gerrard and Torres.

 

I thought we supported those two better from wide areas as well; as usual Dirk Kuyt was involved in many of the good things we did going forward. Dirk is a very clever football who gets himself into outstanding positions and links play really well with those around him. People think he's limited but its astonishing how often he has a part to play in our goals.

 

I only saw the Forest 5-0 game on TV and that was an incredible performance; but I can say for sure that was the best performance I've ever been priveleged to witness first hand at Anfield by a Liverpool team.

 

The work rate, committment and ability our team showed from one to eleven was astonishing. It actually made me feel extremely proud to be a Liverpool supporter; knowing how many people around the world would have been watching our players show just what it means to wear that Red Shirt and play in front of The Kop at its loudest.

Edited March 11, 2009 by Leo No.8

[Knox_Harrington]

Or maybe just a Liverpool fan drooling over a Liverpool win.

Yep. Echoes our conversation of yesterday. The players made that performance yesterday - did anyone walk out of Forest 5-0 and discuss the manager? Doubt it. We place too much emphasis on the manager and make every result win or lose about him. Yesterday was about a team of footballers doing the good things brilliantly.

 

The buck stops only at one door but it doesn't stop there every week, no matter what people trying to score points on the internet or the wider football media might think.

[Marvin]

Or maybe just a Liverpool fan drooling over a Liverpool win.

 

 

Just being mischievous - no point scoring intended - well yes maybe a little. But you are right it was definitely up there as one of the very best performances and we should all drool over it.

[David Hodgson]

Yep. Echoes our conversation of yesterday. The players made that performance yesterday - did anyone walk out of Forest 5-0 and discuss the manager? Doubt it. We place too much emphasis on the manager and make every result win or lose about him. Yesterday was about a team of footballers doing the good things brilliantly.

 

The buck stops only at one door but it doesn't stop there every week, no matter what people trying to score points on the internet or the wider football media might think.

 

Yeah, it's about the club. That's who we support. That was a victory possible because of the red shirt and all who work for it's cause - that's the manager, the players and the supporters. It vindicated us all.