Topic: CLQF: Liv 3 vs 3 Ben (agg 6-4) Kon21’ Ramos 32’ Bobby 56' 65' Sub 73’ Nuñez 82’

[Midget]

Job done, but we need to sort out that high line asap.

Do we really need to play like that up 3-1 at a point in the game when our intensity to press wanes or can't we just drop into a mid-block at that point?

City changed their approach on the weekend to target our high line. It's clear Guardiola thought that was the one are where we are most likely to be hurt. Teams will be testing it until we fix it now.

[Dench57]

Works for me

[Persephone]

We're through, that's literally all that matters. Some players got a much deserved rest and no injuries. Onwards to Saturday now.

I'm betting that the front 6 who ended today's game start on Saturday. I think Klopp wanted to get some rhythm going with them.

[Elzar]

Fair play to Benfica, they played some good attacking football when they could over the 2 legs.

[Schmidt]

Rotated most of the defense and plenty of the midfield and attack too, I'm not gonna get worked up over the goals we conceded just because it's the new favourite thing for idiot pundits to talk about.

Pretty fun game really, bit gutted Mo couldn't break his dry spell towards the end but glad he only got a cameo. I wonder if we'll see Mane start centrally against City, he's been a bit of a beast there lately and Jota can do what he does from out wide.

[Thepooloflife]

Our offside goal. The hell Salah was passing it to Mane?

Just pull the trigger Mo, go for the goal. Don't have to be afraid being called greedy!!!

I was almost screaming when he passed it. It's fine to be greedy!!!

Yeah, think he's lost a bit of confidence.....although he was close at the end with that effort psat the post. He needs a goal, so was surprised when he passed to Mane.

[William Regal]

Thought we lost intensity and discipline when Henderson and Milner went off, that high line without pressure on the ball is giving me kittens

Job done though and big players rested, our 3rd semi final of the season

Nunez is gonna be a very good buy for someone, reminds me of Haaland

[stockdam]

Our offside goal. The hell Salah was passing it to Mane?

Just pull the trigger Mo, go for the goal. Don't have to be afraid being called greedy!!!

I was almost screaming when he passed it. It's fine to be greedy!!!

I think that was an example of turning off a bit. Normally Mo would take that chance himself and would probably have scored.

[kavah]

Did they change the words?

'Amazing new Jurgen Klopp Song (I'm so glad that Jurgen is a red)' - from MV Videos:-

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/1qxDPyq7u9c" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/1qxDPyq7u9c</a>



'"Jurgen said to me, you know..." | New Liverpool FC Jurgen Klopp song' - from TAW:-

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/s7kJ9L0BTjI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/s7kJ9L0BTjI</a>

[Fruity]

2nd string team pretty much and we are through. Bit sloppy towards the end but to be expected.

Hopefully we are a lot fresher than city at the weekend who looked like they had injuries to walker and possibly de bruyne.

[masher]

We were the better team in both the legs and thoroughly deserved to go through. The score line today flattered Benfica but due respect to them for their effort.

That lad Nunez was very very impressive. Scored thrice (albeit offside twice) all the finishes were world class and also forced Ali to make a world class save from a super volley attempt. His work rate was also top notch and had a little bit of pace as well. He is going to a star, to me he looked as good as Haaland.

[jepovic]

2nd string team pretty much and we are through. Bit sloppy towards the end but to be expected.

Hopefully we are a lot fresher than city at the weekend who looked like they had injuries to walker and possibly de bruyne.

2nd string did better than the 1st string subs

[fowlermagic]

That game was more like Klopp Version 1 as it could have been 5-5. Benfica gave it one hell of a go as were well out of it and then our back line decided to go MIA. That Nunez kid looks like one hell of a player as was excellent in both games. Would be a steal at 50m.

Anyway got the result we needed so definitely need to up our game as we go forward as while we have had a great run of wins we have rarely played our best lately.

[RK7]

Chaotic

Offside trap played by people who don’t usually play

We see the same risk taken most games with players that do play together, but more often than not get it just right but opposition teams are definitely looking to exploit that line now with deeper runners. Just got to hope that it doesn't cost us eventually against the top teams who can defend.

[Drinks Sangria]

The aggregate score flatters Benfica massively - we could’ve won by 4 or more in Lisbon and probably should’ve had 2 or 3 more tonight. Let’s be real, the defensive issues with the line don’t happen in pretty much any game of note again this season - this 4 hasn’t started a game together this year (maybe once, Preston in the cup?) and won’t start another game together save for any dead rubbers if we happened to wrap the title up. The coaching staff will look at it, both systematically and in terms of the individuals and it will be addressed.

We played okay, never looked massively bothered or threatened, Tsimikas was excellent as was Diaz.

Both of Benfica’s goals that got blown up then given were fair goals - Gomez failed to step out on one and Konate on the other.

Nunez looks every bit an elite Premier League forward. Shades of Torres to his game.

[stockdam]

Job done, but we need to sort out that high line asap.

Do we really need to play like that up 3-1 at a point in the game when our intensity to press wanes or can't we just drop into a mid-block at that point?

City changed their approach on the weekend to target our high line. It's clear Guardiola thought that was the one are where we are most likely to be hurt. Teams will be testing it until we fix it now.

The high line that has us one point behind City and in the semi finals of two cups and with one cup in the trophy room?
The backs tonight were playing their first game together and it’s fair to expect that they won’t be perfect. Our tactics need every player to do their bit and to prevent the easy ball past our defenders.

[Bread]

Hahahaha what an absolutely weird game. Simultaneously never in danger of throwing it away, and somehow also very much in danger of throwing it away. Benfica constantly flip-flopping between being a threat and being utterly average.

The high line didn't work today. There was constantly 1 man behind everyone else for every Benfica goal. First it was Tsimikas. Then it was Gomez. Then it was Konate. Matip the only one to hold the line on every occasion. Which is why he's currently the man who's first choice partner for Virgil.

[Dave McCoy]

Should anybody be happy with anything about that other than we advanced? Yes we rotated a lot and were still clearly the better team but the performances at times just reeked of complacency. It's all fine and dandy to know you can turn the switch but at some point it won't work and then you're hosed. Didn't care for that at all.

[Barneylfc∗]

Any ideas when the semi final dates will be confirmed?

[MJD-L4]

Our offside goal. The hell Salah was passing it to Mane?

Just pull the trigger Mo, go for the goal. Don't have to be afraid being called greedy!!!

I was almost screaming when he passed it. It's fine to be greedy!!!

Looked like a mis-hit shot to me...

[Kashinoda]

Job done, but we need to sort out that high line asap.

City changed their approach on the weekend to target our high line. It's clear Guardiola thought that was the one are where we are most likely to be hurt. Teams will be testing it until we fix it now.

Yeah Guardiola is a genius, City were at their best and managed to score precisely 0 goals by passing through our high line.

All our opponents will now be licking their lips surely; After all that was our best back 4 tonight and no one was playing out of their usual position.

[Fromola]

Job done, but we need to sort out that high line asap.

Do we really need to play like that up 3-1 at a point in the game when our intensity to press wanes or can't we just drop into a mid-block at that point?

City changed their approach on the weekend to target our high line. It's clear Guardiola thought that was the one are where we are most likely to be hurt. Teams will be testing it until we fix it now.

You'd like to see us box smarter with it at times because to make it work you've got to be on it at all times, you can't switch off. It does play into City's hands as well, though it's fine against most teams.

[Realgman]

Well that was mental, for so long dominant, just keep the bloody ball.
Through Though! Job done..

[Libertine]

Mad game. As it was always likely to be.

Completely pointless trying to read anything into it, given the team changes and the circumstances. Won't stop every gobshite pundit and presenter though.

Job done. Two semi-finals in April and a title race on the side. Glorious times.

[palimpsest]

Couldn't care less about their goals.
Two games away from another CL final, plenty of people got a rest, and the new Jurgen song is a hit. Happy days!

[Jm55]

Was a bit like the Roma tie in that we were clearly the better side but we couldn’t quite get them to fuck off.

[Butcher Knife Roberto]

Sorry, but that should have been dead and buried way sooner and without sloppy replies. Ok, being in the semi is amazing, and we did the hard work last week which was brilliant, but the ease with which they got through us - was that 3 disallowed goals? - is not cool at all. Benfica played with absolute freedom and without fear, and I admire them enormously for that. But one day we'll get too casual, let teams get in to a game they really shouldn't have any business being involved in, and we'll pay for it. Kill the games, stop the fucking about, put 5 or 6 past teams and tell them that none shall fucking pass. That last 10 minutes was far too much wasted energy. Up the fucking reds, but stop giving us reasons to worry when we're way better than that.

[darragh85]

is it just the high line or is it the fact we dont even bother to try and  control games.


we started doing it after their second goal but even then we didnt do it well enough.

[JJ Red]

Its great that Van Dijk got a rest along with Trent and Robbo. I wonder if Keita might have played his way into the lineup for Saturday? Maybe then giving Hendo a break and time to recuperate for Utd.

As an aside, there is still no earthly reason why that Utd game shouldn't be played on the Wednesday. Jurgen is spot on about the Tv companies and the schedule.

[Fromola]

Should anybody be happy with anything about that other than we advanced? Yes we rotated a lot and were still clearly the better team but the performances at times just reeked of complacency. It's all fine and dandy to know you can turn the switch but at some point it won't work and then you're hosed. Didn't care for that at all.

It wasn't going to be a full throttle 90 if it didn't need to be when we've got City and United in the next 6 days, followed by a derby and we always had a 2 goal advantage in the tie.

Main complaint is why we can't just manage the game in the last half an hour? We should have seen it out without needing to do much. We go from being 3-1 up to relying on Ali to make a good save to stop them going 4-3 up on the night and potentially force extra time. We can be too chaotic. It's not the fist time we've thrown away a 2 goal lead this season.

[Son of Spion]

Mad game. As it was always likely to be.

Completely pointless trying to read anything into it, given the team changes and the circumstances. Won't stop every gobshite pundit and presenter though.

Job done. Two semi-finals in April and a title race on the side. Glorious times.

I've been wondering what to type out after this game, but I think your point in bold is spot on.

We move onto the next game....

[Fromola]

Was a bit like the Roma tie in that we were clearly the better side but we couldn’t quite get them to fuck off.

Just manage the game. We're much improved since Roma at that but we don't need a game to be chaotic when it doesn't need to be against fairly limited opposition when we've done the hard work.

[Kekule]

Who’s this interviewer? “You conceded 3 and Benfica had 3, maybe 4, goals disallowed as well.”    Well, two.

You can’t add the two that were initially flagged off but given into the disallowed column as well. That’s not how maths works.

[LFCEmpire]

We need Salah sharp and firing for the crunch time of the season. Lets go!

[Realgman]

Just manage the game.

Yeah exactly...easy for those players to pass it around and dispirit them, sure thy did it for periods with noproblems, completely controlled the game created chances, and scored...then back to ping pong electrocution football...

[The G in Gerrard]

Jeez we are THROUGH FFS.

[Fitzy.]

Just manage the game. We're much improved since Roma at that but we don't need a game to be chaotic when it doesn't need to be against fairly limited opposition when we've done the hard work.

Yeah but you have an opponent who has a say in how the game is managed. Difficult to shake off.

Anyway, who really cares? Another semi. Golden era stuff.

[Felch Aid]

Bit rusty but expected.

Absolutely right to rotate and no injuries or suspensions.

Have a feeling we'll see Diaz, Salah and Mane on Saturday.

[Fromola]

Its great that Van Dijk got a rest along with Trent and Robbo. I wonder if Keita might have played his way into the lineup for Saturday? Maybe then giving Hendo a break and time to recuperate for Utd.

As an aside, there is still no earthly reason why that Utd game shouldn't be played on the Wednesday. Jurgen is spot on about the Tv companies and the schedule.

Hendo one of the few outfield players to play Sunday and tonight so I doubt he'll start on Saturday. He'll be in for United and Everton. We need a more technical midfield on Saturday.

[Hazell]

Jeez we are THROUGH FFS.

Really? Can't tell