Topic: 2017-18 Champions League / European Cup Semi Finals

[thekitkatshuffler]

We're the best side left in this thing.

[rushyman]

And your guys don't? Nobody has the moral high ground with this. Maybe the Scottish.

La Liga is the worst in Europe by so far it's not funny. It's actually more like Argentina or Brazil for it

Everyone in Europe has the moral high ground over Spain

[rushyman]

They've been beaten by some absolute shite at home in the league. They're eminently beatable.

You've already got their captain and manager coming out saying we were long ball

Because they know they'll have to play same way again and the ball over the top is going to be on, trying to shame us to not do it haha. Don't think so

There's hoof ball and there's dropping balls over a high line lads. See you Wednesday.. lose by 3? I fancy the win!

[iamnant]

IF - and it's a big if - we manage to get to the final and win the CL, we'll be the most deserving winners of this season, in my opinion. The group stage was a bit wild, but we were the better team in every game we played, and in the knockout games we've been brilliant, whilst Bayern have been pretty poor in some games including tonight, Madrid were trounced at home by Juventus and Roma lost away 4-1 (although put in a decent performance).

[afc tukrish]

There's hoof ball and there's dropping balls over a high line lads. 

Or the even more ridiculously deadly vertical ball into Salah's diagonal run wide...

Every time he picks that up, I think "goal..." 

[Wabaloolah]

IF - and it's a big if - we manage to get to the final and win the CL, we'll be the most deserving winners of this season, in my opinion. The group stage was a bit wild, but we were the better team in every game we played, and in the knockout games we've been brilliant, whilst Bayern have been pretty poor in some games including tonight, Madrid were trounced at home by Juventus and Roma lost away 4-1 (although put in a decent performance).

Don't forget Madrid lost to Spurs too. Currently we are the only unbeaten team left in the competition

[BrandoLFC]

Biggest take away for me in today's games is that they're both aging and no where near the level they were even a year or two ago.

Madrid - their midfield is so passive and they're almost inviting teams to just waltz through them hoping Ramos and Varane eventually snuff out the move.  From there they're just hoping Ronaldo does something in the box.
Bayern - since I've barely watched them this year I had no idea their transitions were basically gone.  They wouldn't do anything until they had the ball back in control in possession sans that one Kimmich counter.

Now maybe the 2nd leg games will change my mind but I'd have to favor us when you compare what we do well vs. what those teams do well at the moment.  Guess we'll see.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Bayern are lucky they're in the semi-finals considering they had Beşiktaş and Sevilla in previous rounds.

[BEAST]

They have a whole 90 min to score 3 goals. Do you not think they can repeat the feat against Barca? They nicked 2 against us in the last ten, as did West Brom and others have. They are a completely different team at home, barely conceding.

 

I'm saying it's really not done yet. Lots of work to do. But Bayern imo have been the weakest team in the last four and I think Real will murder them in the return leg. I was actually shocked at how bad Bayern were.

oh.  makes sense.

[BER]

oh.  makes sense.

[jckliew]

Bayern looked so poor.
Both defences looked beatable by our strke force

[bornandbRED]

I think we're winning this thing. When we turn the oven on like we did last night, we literally strangle and smother teams into submission. There is no outball - there is no time to think; you just have a swarm of red Duracell bunnies charging into you and running behind you relentlessly (see De Rossi's comments).. I don't think Bayern or Madrid (or anyone in Europe right now) have the legs to cope with that sustained period of pressure.

Let's just hope we can keep the remainder of the squad fit.

The only one concern I have about playing against Real Madrid is that their defence and midfield are so good technically. I'm wondering whether they will beat our press.

City are probably the best possession side in world football, and we beat them 5-1.

[OsirisMVZ]

The only one concern I have about playing against Real Madrid is that their defence and midfield are so good technically. I'm wondering whether they will beat our press.

Casemiro got a yellow, its possible he gets booked again and misses the final. Kroos and Modric would have no protection.

[jckliew]

Casemiro got a yellow, its possible he gets booked again and misses the final. Kroos and Modric would have no protection.

You do not miss the final with 2nd yellow in Semis. Only a red will get you away from the final.

[OsirisMVZ]

You do not miss the final with 2nd yellow in Semis. Only a red will get you away from the final.

Well lets hope he gets a red then

[BrandoLFC]

You think that RM outplayed Bayern today?  I mean the game was really shit regardless but to say that Bayern didn't create enough chances to score at least 2 goals if not 3-4 is crazy talk and the xG reflected that.  RM really had nothing and are lucky as shit.

[Dim Glas]

You think that RM outplayed Bayern today?  I mean the game was really shit regardless but to say that Bayern didn't create enough chances to score at least 2 goals if not 3-4 is crazy talk and the xG reflected that.  RM really had nothing and are lucky as shit.

yep.

Neither team shone in this one, Madrid where clinical, but Bayern where the opposite, as poor as they where, they should have been a couple goals up before Real equalized.  The had by far the better chances, but couldn't get it done, their shooting was utterly wayward throughout, the worst culprits being Ribery and Lewandowski who missed easy chances. 

They should get chances vs Real next week too, but they need to be a helluva lot more clinical, stating the obvious I know. Real Madrid have it to lose though, so it would be quite the turnaround, but not impossible, if Lewadowski gets over being a sulky shit, anything can happen.

[farawayred]

I saw the second half only, and I've been thinking that we've got those, either team, if we have our players fit. Crap play all around, little creativity, poor organization...

[harleydanger]

Watching that Bayern/Madrid game i'm confident we're the best team left.

[Geppvindh's]

I saw the second half only, and I've been thinking that we've got those, either team, if we have our players fit. Crap play all around, little creativity, poor organization...

I'm sorry but crap players, mate? Not having that. We are the most in-form team left in this tournament granted and are riding a high, but Real and Bayern have quality all round. We have enough to beat them in a final, let alone a two-legged semifinal, but that is in spite of the fact that they are both fantastic sides with world class talent.

EDIT: Sorry, disregard comment. I read "crap play" as "crap players". Have slept only 5 hours in two days waking up at ungodly hours to watch the semifinals

[farawayred]

^^^

Get some sleep mate, Where are you? I’m in CA and they are noonish here.

[IanZG]

Bayern missed Neuer a LOT, more than I would have expected. Ulreich just isn't up to the standard, his reaction on both goals was soft, and even worse on Ronaldo's disallowed goal.

[Iska]

You've already got their captain and manager coming out saying we were long ball

Well we were linked with Fellaini last week.

[Geppvindh's]

^^^

Get some sleep mate, Where are you? I’m in CA and they are noonish here.

Lived in Chicago 3 years, moved to India and now in Singapore on work, haven't achieved anything over the past 3 days. Resettling in Australia in a few months, so that's me unlocking all the levels on the "rotten luck with timings watching Liverpool games across the globe" game. This club has given me sleepless nights through my adult life quite literally, and there's no end in sight

[NarutoReds]

Football fans are funny though, especially in Facebook newsfeed (or maybe here).
Writing Bayern off from the possible final based on 1-2 result, with the team
consisting of Mats Hummel, Jerome Boateng, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski...
Bayern out.

[Qston]

We're the best side left in this thing.

We absolutely are, and as best I can that is without my red tinted spectacles. I have not seen anything that we cannot beat in a one off game.

[LFC when it suits]

While the best team doesn't always win a one off match, we are comfortably the best team left in this competition. Neither Real Madrid or Bayern will have faced a team this season that plays at the pace and intensity that we play at. Madrid playing Spurs, who they lost to, is the closest thing and they don't have our pace or play with our energy and intensity. Our biggest issue should we get to the final would be to not allow the occasion to get the better of our players because for sure Madrid won't. In saying that, we still have business to  finish off in Rome.

[1892tillforever]

They have a whole 90 min to score 3 goals. Do you not think they can repeat the feat against Barca? They nicked 2 against us in the last ten, as did West Brom and others have. They are a completely different team at home, barely conceding.

I'm saying it's really not done yet. Lots of work to do. But Bayern imo have been the weakest team in the last four and I think Real will murder them in the return leg. I was actually shocked at how bad Bayern were.

Getting tired of hearing this to be honest. People think that Roma's comeback against Barca means they are somehow certain to repeat the feat? Their comeback makes it LESS likely they'll do it again, not MORE likely. Tell me the last time a side managed two x 3-goal comebacks in successive European Cup knockout matches? I'm sure it has happened once or twice in the distant past but it  is very rare. You know why? Good teams don't get themselves into a mess twice in a row. Roma played similarly at Anfield compared to their second leg at Barca; how did that work out for them?

They have a 40% chance of just winning the fucking match and you have it as 50/50 they win by three! 
You don't happen to work for Paddy Power do you? 

[Anfield Kopite]

You do not miss the final with 2nd yellow in Semis. Only a red will get you away from the final.

Is this definately correct ? I was a bit worried for Alexander Arnold.

[MattyBoy21]

Is this definately correct ? I was a bit worried for Alexander Arnold.

Yes mate the rules changed a few years back. This is from the Echo a few weeks ago...

Competition rules mean three bookings result in an automatic one-match suspension, the reason Jordan Henderson sat out the second leg having received his third caution in the first leg.

UEFA rules, though, see the yellow card count wiped clean for the semi-finals.

And it means that, should Liverpool reach the final, only a red card or an exceptional disciplinary case could see any of their players miss the showpiece through suspension.

[Flaccido Dongingo]

I don't like this overconfidence lads, obviously be confident and we should get through, but we ain't there yet.

[Phil M]

I don't like this overconfidence lads, obviously be confident and we should get through, but we ain't there yet.

This. Bayern had a bad night but at the same time, they could have been 2-1/3-1 up with the chances before Marcelo's goal even.

Robben going off was a blow for them but they're very capable of scoring in Madrid. Heynckes is a very shrewd coach.

Saying that Real are the big favourites now, and Ronaldo not scoring in 2 consecutive CL games doesn't seem likely.

[rob1966]

They have a whole 90 min to score 3 goals. Do you not think they can repeat the feat against Barca? They nicked 2 against us in the last ten, as did West Brom and others have. They are a completely different team at home, barely conceding.

I'm saying it's really not done yet. Lots of work to do. But Bayern imo have been the weakest team in the last four and I think Real will murder them in the return leg. I was actually shocked at how bad Bayern were.

They have conceded 18 goals and been beaten 6 times at home in Serie A, every team bar Napoli who beat them is below them. Benevento, who are dead last in Serie A have scored 10 goals away all season and 2 of those came at Roma.  Barca were poor in the last game and Chelsea were victims to shite defending and poor finishing when they lost there.

[The North Bank]

Who has the tougher task, Roma or Bayern? Id go for Roma.

[sms1986]

I don't like this overconfidence lads, obviously be confident and we should get through, but we ain't there yet.

It's fine for the fans to be overconfident, Klopp and the team won't be.

[stevensr123]

Both Bayern and real madrid have a weakness we can exploit, However the over confidence is ridiculous.

Real madrid are the ultimate Big game raisers when it comes to the champions league, Ronaldo as shit as he can be performance wise, is it immense at getting important goals and they still have quality all over the pitch. We are completely the underdogs if we are in the final - which is how I like it!

[S]

Madrid are a worry because they know this competition inside and out. If we get to the final and meet them it will be a huge mismatch in terms of experience. Three times champions in four years is just ridiculous. By contrast nobody in our side has ever played in a Champions League final, for most even the quarters were uncharted waters. That makes a difference. I still maintain that our team got stagestruck in the Europa League final and that's nothing compared to what this could be.

We could beat them of course, I think we could beat any side left in it. Madrid would be the hardest opponent though, simply because they have this air of invincibility about them in Europe. It's a bit like some of Ferguson's United sides, often they won the title even though other sides seemed to be playing better than them.

[Zimagic]

I don't like this overconfidence lads, obviously be confident and we should get through, but we ain't there yet.

I think that the players will look at the non-injured CMs we have to choose from and start counting fingers. When they don't hit 4, they'll be pretty pragmatic about how fragile our engine-room is for the return leg and really want to make sure of the result. We'll either come out blazing or give them 20 minutes before we adapt, then blow them away for an hour. We'll see on 80mins how many they have to score to get through.

[mikey_LFC]

Both Bayern and real madrid have a weakness we can exploit, However the over confidence is ridiculous.

Real madrid are the ultimate Big game raisers when it comes to the champions league, Ronaldo as shit as he can be performance wise, is it immense at getting important goals and they still have quality all over the pitch. We are completely the underdogs if we are in the final - which is how I like it!

I don't like this overconfidence lads, obviously be confident and we should get through, but we ain't there yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIkjnISwlnA

Jurgen is very close to getting his wish. The change in the mentality of our supporters from when he joined to now is incredible.

Doubters to Believers. We shall not be moved!

[pinky]

Casemiro got a yellow, its possible he gets booked again and misses the final. Kroos and Modric would have no protection.

As far as I know a new cycle starts from semifinals onwards. The new rule was approved in 2014/05 I think. He would only miss the final if he sees two yellow cards in the second leg or a straight red. With just a yellow he would play the final if his team eliminates Bayern.