Great result for the Scouse and deserved too once they settled down and let Barca run out of steam after 20 mins or so.
Coming from a goal down away to probbaly the best team in the world no matter how they have played this yr as they still have the players (and they were all playing on wendesday) to destroy any side.
Plus Liverpool have not exactly set the world alight lately which makes it a fantastic victory and another that Liverpool seem to collect on a regular basis in Europe.
I'm still not convinced they are yet through as Barcelona are far from finished and I don't even think the likes of Bellamy should be gracing the same pitch truth be told with or without his golf swing as for me he doesnt cut it and if Barca play as they can then the replay should prove to be a classic.
Its a game far from over as Barca have class by the bucketfull and playing with nothing to lose will probbaly let them express themselves more which could prove bad news for the scouse.
I hope Liverpool pull this off and it turns out to be another glorious night in their long historical European History.
I'm with you on that not qualified yet Slick, we've played them at the best time possible, a fantastic result but i think a draw would of been the fairer result. I know Rafa would of been tuned into this game since the moment it was drawn, tactics were spot on, but he has do the same again in a totally different game, i've a feeling we wont come from behind in the 2nd leg.
I hope ure right kop but the Man U v Real game keeps coming to mind when they applauded the real Ronaldo off the pitch, i just hope the same doesnt happen with Ronaldhinio now everybody seems to think he's a fat bastard.
He's still young enough and got it in him to turn any game he thinks fit and you'll have to keep him quiet without the press winding him up to stand a chance.
End the the day the balls in ure court Kop, I just hope it does not all go tits up with all this media hype.
as someone mentioned Benitez didn't lose at nou camp with Valencia and in wednesday Liverpool played exactly the same like Valencia played when he coached them,he is a wise man,and he knew that only this formation could bring him good result,Bellamy and Kuyit put excellent job running and covering the field very well,from early exit of the ball when Puyol or Marquez try to find for ex. Deco,and when he finnaly somehow get the ball( or Xavi) there were just a lot of players waiting for them,there was no rate at all in Barca game,when Messi got the ball,usually 2-3 players were around him,,Ronaldinho dissapeared in second half,Eto'o is miising a lot,and what the fukc was Motta doing all game..i hope that finally Rijkaard understand that Motta can't play in big games..i personnaly think that Marquez will play like defensive pivot,since rijkaard used him on that position against valencia,racing,osasuna and put Thuram with Puyol on defensive axis,but obviosly thuram is not 100% fit,and how can Iniesta sat on bench when he is in great form,and when he finnaly enters in 60-70' he replaced Motta,that's not his position,even that he bring some flow in the game..i think that it would be better if Iniesta played from start of the match instead of Messi,who just returned from injury,and to put him in final 30'....too much problems for Barcelona this season that were mention above and i don't want to repeat them,great tactics from Benitez and great game for Liverpool,even i think that draw was most fair result,since both goals were a gift..don't think that this game is decided,there will be second leg,and i'm sure that Barca will play better,reading today that eto'o could have some minutes tommorow,and that is last bullet that can save Barca from elimination,even i don't know how real that sounds after serious injury that he has..
and btw..Barcelona didn't win in away game in primera almost 2 months,and they have a hell of fixtures before anfield game,against bilbao,then travel to Zaragoza for return leg in Cup,and after that play in Sevilla against best team in Spain this moment....
and i forgot something..people in Spain obviosly have weak memory,and wtf is this campaign against Ronaldinho,he scored 16 goals so far in Primera(fair enough 5-6 from penalty kick),today elmundo announced that Milan wants to swap Kaka for 'Dinho,just hope that this won't happen,people should just remember what he brings for Barcelona when he came in Catalonia,even he had better offers from Man.Utd and Real that time...
and one more thing,when sir Bobby Robson trained Barca ,in one liga game they beat Valladolid 6-0 and press writes that Barca won but they didn't play nice football at all,and after that Robson asked the guy:what was valladolid then playing?
to play good football that will entertainment ever-demanding public in spain you need two teams..that's simple how it goes
Round 2 today boys and girls. To be fair both clubs have stuttered coming into the match tonight. Liverpool outplayed Manchester United at the weekend but once against demonstrated their lack of a truly World Class, cutting edge striker.
Then again, Barca should have gone 2-0 on Sevilla on Saturday evening, a penalty miss and hey presto they lose 2-1. Its a funny old game as they say.
It will be interesting to see what tactics each of the managers employ tonight. Everyone will be expecting Rafa to play a 4-5-1 with Bellamy out left, Pennant on the right and Momo, Xabi and Gerrari through the centre. That would leave Kuyt all alone 'up-top' and in my opinion you are asking for trouble if you do that. The last thing you want to do is invite Barca upon yourself and make them attack.
I would prefer to see the midfield with Gonzo-Xabi-Gerrard-Pennant and playing 2 up front. Assuming Crouch still isnt really fit (broken nose) I will settle for Bell end and Kuyt as the front two. I dont feel that as a combination, Gerrard, Xabi and Momo really work when they are all on the pitch together. We arent as fluent with 3 central midfielders on the pitch at the same time. I hope Rafa agrees with me on this and drops Momo for this game....
If Liverpool try to go a defensive sort of formation then as you say they are looking for trouble as Barca have some superb creative players that can cut open any defence, more so if giving encouragement.
Barca only know how to attack and i dont think ive seena defensive formation played from them since Rijkaards come in.
Aye it looked a bit high - they're only 2-1 down like. I cant check at work myself because we have all sorts of gambling filters on here to stop us enjoying ourselves. Apparently we should be working....
Well, on the plus side, at least they don't block TDP.
Although under normal circumstances I'd quite like to see Liverpool make it through, for selfish reasons I'd prefer it if Barcelona get through this time. Have backed Sevilla for the title in Spain, and I fancy their chances more if Barcelona have the Champions League to distract them. If they get knocked out tonight they'll be able to concentrate totally on the league.
still under impression of the game,first thing to say is to congratulate to liverpool for going through,bottom line is that Liverpool deserved to go into the next round about the game..and lineups..Barca lineup was the same that Rijkaard used against Zaragoza(except Eto'o),i thought that Zambrotta will play tonight,instead of Oleguer,but can't remember when he was playing in system with 3 defenders... Liverpool were just fantastyic in first 45',i noticed some new actions from Barca,but no effect at all,they tried with long balls too,think that only few,maybe 1 or 2 passes were sucessfull,passes that usually go through in other games when Barca plays,that speak just how good was the position of home players.. second half was little different,Liverpool couldn't play with same tempo any more,even they had some good chances,Barca had control of the game,were more dangerous comparing to first 45',and after they scored,Benitez shows one more time that he is excellent coach,when putting Aurelio instead of tired Riise,'cause Guily suddenly becomes very dangerous.. one more time,great night of football
Barca Battered
.GIF "Thumb(1)")
..i hope that finally Rijkaard understand that Motta can't play in big games..i personnaly think that Marquez will play like defensive pivot,since rijkaard used him on that position against valencia,racing,osasuna and put Thuram with Puyol on defensive axis,but obviosly thuram is not 100% fit,and how can Iniesta sat on bench when he is in great form,and when he finnaly enters in 60-70' he replaced Motta,that's not his position,even that he bring some flow in the game..i think that it would be better if Iniesta played from start of the match instead of Messi,who just returned from injury,and to put him in final 30'....too much problems for Barcelona this season that were mention above and i don't want to repeat them,great tactics from Benitez and great game for Liverpool,even i think that draw was most fair result,since both goals were a gift..don't think that this game is decided,there will be second leg,and i'm sure that Barca will play better,reading today that eto'o could have some minutes tommorow,and that is last bullet that can save Barca from elimination,even i don't know how real that sounds after serious injury that he has..
