Any interest in this tonight. Boring tight match more than likely. Maybe 1.0 to chelsea.
Think this is shaping up to be a case of familiarity breeds contempt. They’ve played so often and built up a bitter enough rivalry that I think it may be a case of both teams being reluctant to be too expansive and risk losing a goal on the counter.
I saw Mourinho complaining last night about Liverpool having an easy group and then being able to ‘clean’ cards against PSV. In other words Kuyt got booked in injury time over there in the first leg because he felt the team was already through and he could afford to miss the 2nd leg. He was also whingeing about Liverpool only playing 3 games this year as opposed to Chelsea’s 27 as Pool’s league games aren’t proper games and was moaning about his injuries and suspensions and how Pool would try to get Drogba booked!
Just hope it’s not another over tactical, cagey game but it does have 0-0 written all over it.
Didn’t really see much of this game last night - seems like Chelsea deserved the win though. The clean sheet at home is big for Chelsea, if they score at Anfield Liverpool are in huge trouble.
I’m thinking Chelsea - Milan final.
Im thinking Man Utd - Liverpool final hi5
yes im surprised the actions of liverpool fans last night hasnt been reported more extensively. whilst i hope its not an all EPL final, if it turns into a bloodbath in Athens and they all get banned, i’ll take it
the game was pretty poor. Liverpool had a lot of possesion in the first half without doing much. Chelsea had the best chances of the game and could’ve won by more than just the one. Liverpool played well at the start of the second half again without creating much and then died off towards the end of the game. Poor enough game with the usual cliches of liv v chelsea ties (tight, physical,direct etc.)
Finnan proved to be a big loss in the end as if he had’ve been fit he would’ve played right back, arbeloa left and this would’ve allowed riise to play left midfield. Zenden, arbeloa, agger and bellamy were particulary poor for liverpool. Agger looked out of his dept against drogba and both himself and arbeloa were at fault for the goal. Thought alonso had one of his better games this season until he tired towards the end and mascherano was solid. Zenden was crap. Gerrard had a decent game but contributed less as the game wore on. Fairly non-existent up front.
Didnt think anyone really stood out for chelsea except drogba and carvalho. Drogba won everything upfront and agger found it very difficult against him. Carvalho was as solid as ever and made a couple of bursting runs forward. That little east end prick Joe Cole played decent in spells of the game also.
Bit disapointed with the fans for the incident in chelsea’s box with throwing a couple of plastic bottles onto the pitch. It was a bit of a problem for liv a couple of years ago (mobile at rooney and couple of other small throwing instances at anfield in european games) that i thought was put to bed when Parry made a direct plea with the minority of fans to stop this as liv were getting fines regularly for this. Since then there hasnt been anymore instances up until last night.
Last nights result was a perfect one for chelsea as they can go to anfield and sit on this one nil advantage and probably get another on the counter which would totally kill the game off. I am very pessimistic about this and unless liv get an early goal next week i think chelsea will be in the final. History shows that its hard to turn around a first leg deficit and as a result if i wasnt a liv fan i would put all my money on it to be a manu chelsea final.
what happened last night with the fans? was it just a few plastic bottles thrown or something more serious. surprised there was any trouble as english clubs have tended to reserve thuggish behaviour to outside of england so far this season.
Only saw the last 30 minutes due to our game last night but I agree with your summation. 1-0 at home is an ideal result for Chelsea and they’re now strong favourites. Liverpool are obviously capable of beating anybody by 2 goals at home but the fact that they didn’t score an way goal could come back and bite them on the ass. Chelsea to go through I reckon. Anyone pick up a suspension or injury last night?
I told you this before pied. They dont confine thuggish behaviour to outside of england. It happens every week but the grounds are so well policed they meet up at various loactions outside the grounds to fight. Also it rarely gets reported because the media arent interested in reporting hooligans when they fight in this way. Only a month ago spurs and chelsea fans clashed outside some pub in london and there was numerous stabbings. It goes on all the time but you only hear of it when something happens within a stadium or just outside.
Very true Gerrardno1. I think West Ham v Spurs earlier in the season had loads of stabbings as well. It happens regularly but if it’s not at the stadium it doesn’t get reported.
Interesting post. I don’t remember you telling me about this level of thuggish behaviour before.
dont know if i posted it but i definitely told you when you said that there would be more chance of trouble at a lliv v valencia game rather than a liv v chelsea game because you think the english dont fight on their turf.
Hope to see some kind of decent game tonight but I don’t know what to expect really. Don’t have any time for either team so I’m praying for an avalanche of goals and sendings off. Mourinho’s been acting the idiot in the press again ahead of it and Rafa has pointedly said the Anfield crowd are the real ‘special ones’ and will drive them on to victory. Carvalho will be a huge miss for Chelsea, he’s far and away their best defender. It’ll be interesting whether they sacrifice Essien’s engine in midfield to slot in at the back. Liverpool also have to decide who plays up front - Crouch and Kuyt surely or is Bellamy in with a chance? I also see it was leaked there that John Terry has asked for a 10 year contract in his recent negotiations with Chelsea including a clause whereby he takes over as manager when he retires. What a clown.