Topic: UEFA Champions League. Klopp's got a semi

[El Denzel Pepito]

I can see it being Fabinho, Gini and Henderson in midfield in the first-leg, although I think Milner has a very good chance of starting too.

I'd be extremely surprised if Keita starts but if he does, it means he's shown enough in training and in the game against Huddersfield for Klopp to think that he'll be able to disrupt Barca's play defensively.

Big game for Trent and Matip too. A lot of how the game will go will depend on how they deal with Barca getting at them. Matip has been good so far, but there's always a feeling there could be a wobble there somewhere, Trent at times too.

Think it'll be a low scoring match, 1-0 to either side.

[TealC]

On our "weakness".

Our British fullbacks Arnold and Robertson..
 

[4pool]

Referee
Björn Kuipers (NED)

Assistant referees
Mario Diks (NED)
Erwin Zeinstra (NED)

Video Assistant Referee
Danny Makkelie (NED)

Assistant Video Assistant Referee
Pol van Boekel (NED)

Fourth official
Tasos Sidiropoulos (GRE)


Kuipers has had 3 of our matches over the years:
11/09  Debreceni VSC 0-1 Liverpool FC
12/14  Liverpool FC 1-1 FC Basel
8/17     Hoffenheim 1-2 Liverpool FC

His Barcelona matches:
9/09  FC Barcelona FC 2-0 Dynamo Kyiv
2/10   VfB Stuttgart 1-1 FC Barcelona
4/12   FC Barcelona 3-1 AC Milan
4/13   FC Barcelona 1-1  Paris Saint-Germain
9/15   AS Roma 1-1 FC Barcelona
4/17   FC Barcelona 0-0 Juventus

[Red Beret]

Referee
Björn Kuipers (NED)

Assistant referees
Mario Diks (NED)
Erwin Zeinstra (NED)

Video Assistant Referee
Danny Makkelie (NED)

Assistant Video Assistant Referee
Pol van Boekel (NED)

Fourth official
Tasos Sidiropoulos (GRE)


Kuipers has had 3 of our matches over the years:
11/09  Debreceni VSC 0-1 Liverpool FC
12/14  Liverpool FC 1-1 FC Basel
8/17     Hoffenheim 1-2 Liverpool FC

His Barcelona matches:
9/09  FC Barcelona FC 2-0 Dynamo Kyiv
2/10   VfB Stuttgart 1-1 FC Barcelona
4/12   FC Barcelona 3-1 AC Milan
4/13   FC Barcelona 1-1  Paris Saint-Germain
9/15   AS Roma 1-1 FC Barcelona
4/17   FC Barcelona 0-0 Juventus

Pardon my ignorance, but which of the Barca games were knock out and which were group stage?  I'd look it up myself, but you seem to be one jump ahead of me already.

[Yosser0_0]

Pardon my ignorance, but which of the Barca games were knock out and which were group stage?  I'd look it up myself, but you seem to be one jump ahead of me already.

I'm guessing its the one's in the February and April months.

[dudleyred]

Referee
Björn Kuipers (NED)

Assistant referees
Mario Diks (NED)
Erwin Zeinstra (NED)

Video Assistant Referee
Danny Makkelie (NED)

Assistant Video Assistant Referee
Pol van Boekel (NED)

Fourth official
Tasos Sidiropoulos (GRE)


Kuipers has had 3 of our matches over the years:
11/09  Debreceni VSC 0-1 Liverpool FC
12/14  Liverpool FC 1-1 FC Basel
8/17     Hoffenheim 1-2 Liverpool FC

His Barcelona matches:
9/09  FC Barcelona FC 2-0 Dynamo Kyiv
2/10   VfB Stuttgart 1-1 FC Barcelona
4/12   FC Barcelona 3-1 AC Milan
4/13   FC Barcelona 1-1  Paris Saint-Germain
9/15   AS Roma 1-1 FC Barcelona
4/17   FC Barcelona 0-0 Juventus

Can’t think why there’d be a reason but all look quite low scoring for Barca in their prime

[sms1986]

I can see it being Fabinho, Gini and Henderson in midfield in the first-leg, although I think Milner has a very good chance of starting too.

I'd be extremely surprised if Keita starts but if he does, it means he's shown enough in training and in the game against Huddersfield for Klopp to think that he'll be able to disrupt Barca's play defensively.

Big game for Trent and Matip too. A lot of how the game will go will depend on how they deal with Barca getting at them. Matip has been good so far, but there's always a feeling there could be a wobble there somewhere, Trent at times too.

Think it'll be a low scoring match, 1-0 to either side.

I think it'll be low scoring too, hopefully we get an away goal.

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

On our "weakness".

Wow, is that Xxavi in disguise?

[deFacto please, you bastards]

There's a lot of Xaavi's on there

[Trendisnotdestiny]

Still working on the semi-final write gentlemen. 

Should have something posted by tomorrow afternoon.  Until then, thank you for the information and conversation.

God Reds!

[afc tukrish]

Wow, is that Xxavi in disguise?

Never mentions Pip, so cannot be...

[Tobelius]

Wow, is that Xxavi in disguise?

Not enough adulation of the demigod Guardiola i think.

[Dim Glas]

Still working on the semi-final write gentlemen. 

Should have something posted by tomorrow afternoon.  Until then, thank you for the information and conversation.

God Reds!

no women allowed to read it? 

[bird_lfc]

Providing they don’t build up a lead of more than 2 goals (which I don’t see happening) I’m confident we can do then

As pointed out, Dembele will be a threat. I think we’ll contain Suarez and Coutinho will have a stinker. Messi, well, we are just gonna have to handle him as best as we can.

Away goal would be great, not too sure on a 0-0 but I think most of us would take it offered, right?

[Andypandimonium]

The two "British full backs" are going to monster this tie 

Up the reds! 

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

What I am amazed about is how little most of their fanbase (online at least) know about us or how we play or like to operate. Some have even used the 3-3 draw against Sevilla last season, a game that was played 18 months ago, to show how weak we are defensively, nevermind the fact that 3 of our current back five didn't even play at that game or that Coutinho was playing for us and now he is on their books.

I have seen some consider us sloppy in midfield, some say that our full backs are our current weakness and a lot of massively underrating the effectiveness of our front three. Meanwhile, everyone who is covering them say that there is a lot of warning signs about their energy and the fact that their recent showings against much inferior teams, they squandered a lot of chances and depended on individual brilliance of you know who to bail them.

[reddebs]

We're gonna dick them 1-3 at their place then dick them all over Anfield with them only touching the ball at kick off.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Scoring imo first will be key and regardless of Firmino playing or not,I am expecting Mane and Mo will play a major part.

[ScubaSteve]

We're gonna dick them 1-3 at their place then dick them all over Anfield with them only touching the ball at kick off.

Definitely, I’ve seem Barca a few times this season and they’ve been pretty average compared to previous seasons

We can get a win away

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Coutinho is apparently going to start over Dembele

[ScouserAtHeart]

Any word on Firmino's availability yet?

[DelTrotter]

Not yet apart from a Maddock article last night that looked pretty speculative. Bobby has gone very quiet on instagram which I’m taking as bad!

[Red Beret]

I'm guessing its the one's in the February and April months.

Well as has been pointed out, Barca's games seem rather low scoring for the knockout round.  Hopefully that works in our favour.

[iamnant]

What I am amazed about is how little most of their fanbase (online at least) know about us or how we play or like to operate.

Good - it'll give them a nice surprise when we twat seven shades of shit out of them!

[bornandbRED]

Think we get a win at their place.

[Red Beret]

What I am amazed about is how little most of their fanbase (online at least) know about us or how we play or like to operate. Some have even used the 3-3 draw against Sevilla last season, a game that was played 18 months ago, to show how weak we are defensively, nevermind the fact that 3 of our current back five didn't even play at that game or that Coutinho was playing for us and now he is on their books.

I have seen some consider us sloppy in midfield, some say that our full backs are our current weakness and a lot of massively underrating the effectiveness of our front three. Meanwhile, everyone who is covering them say that there is a lot of warning signs about their energy and the fact that their recent showings against much inferior teams, they squandered a lot of chances and depended on individual brilliance of you know who to bail them.

I hope they keep on underestimating us.  They've clearly not been paying attention to our league performances if they think we're going to make it easy for them. 

Every team has weak points, but a smart team wont let you exploit them.

[elsewhere]

Referee
Björn Kuipers (NED)

Assistant referees
Mario Diks (NED)
Erwin Zeinstra (NED)

Video Assistant Referee
Danny Makkelie (NED)

Assistant Video Assistant Referee
Pol van Boekel (NED)

Fourth official
Tasos Sidiropoulos (GRE)


Kuipers has had 3 of our matches over the years:
11/09  Debreceni VSC 0-1 Liverpool FC
12/14  Liverpool FC 1-1 FC Basel
8/17     Hoffenheim 1-2 Liverpool FC

His Barcelona matches:
9/09  FC Barcelona FC 2-0 Dynamo Kyiv
2/10   VfB Stuttgart 1-1 FC Barcelona
4/12   FC Barcelona 3-1 AC Milan
4/13   FC Barcelona 1-1  Paris Saint-Germain
9/15   AS Roma 1-1 FC Barcelona
4/17   FC Barcelona 0-0 Juventus

So basically Barca gets a draw at max with this ref
Yeah i'll take a goal draw.

[Tobelius]

Coutinho is apparently going to start over Dembele

I'd like to see our lads leave a few marks on him and make him cry

[BOBSCOUSE]

Given Klopp's praise of Naby and his work "in the small spaces", how quick he is to change direction and steal the ball, I wouldn't be surprised if he sent Keita out to do a one-man nullifying job on Messi.  Quietly confident about this one, really think we are heading into the final where I'd be more nervous of Ajax than Spurs.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Apparently they've scouted 20 some of our matches this season and focused on how we played against City

[duvva 💅]

I hope they keep on underestimating us.  They've clearly not been paying attention to our league performances if they think we're going to make it easy for them. 

Every team has weak points, but a smart team wont let you exploit them.

Judging by this thread plenty seem to be underestimating them. I agree they aren’t the force of old, but still think it’ll be tough for us at the Nou Camp, a 1-1 draw would be an excellent result. I certainly believe we can win this and that we have the better team now, but don’t think it’ll be as easy as some, think the demise of Barca is being slightly overdone.

[alonsoisared]

Haven't watched Barcelona that much but my impression of them this season compared to in the past is that they seem to play as well as they need to. You watch them against average teams and they look pretty average until they need a goal or two late on and they eventually get the job done. Then they'll play a better team and rise to the occasion.

I don't think we can read too much into their performances against the weaker La Liga sides. The title has been wrapped up for them since about October.On the flip side there's not that much we can read into their performances against the better teams either because none of them are on our level.

Simplistic view on it but for me it all depends on Messi. If he has one of his days, and he has two shots at it, then no team in the world can live with him. Particularly at the Camp Nou on that bigger pitch where there is always space, it's going to be so hard to stop him.

[redprodigal]

Judging by this thread plenty seem to be underestimating them. I agree they aren’t the force of old, but still think it’ll be tough for us at the Nou Camp, a 1-1 draw would be an excellent result. I certainly believe we can win this and that we have the better team now, but don’t think it’ll be as easy as some, think the demise of Barca is being slightly overdone.

Exactly. This is going to be our hardest test so far. Anyone who thinks this will be easy is living in cloud cuckoo land.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

If we can't stop him then we need to maximize our goal-scoring opportunities. I don't think they can keep us out. I don't think there will be any clean-sheets in these two legs for either side.

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

I think that there will be a spell like the one we had against City last season where we press them really hard and they will struggle to react. It is then up to us where we will either be as ruthless as we were last season or don't take these chances.

It will be one of our hardest tests this season, probably the second best team we played after City, however I have confident that as a team, we play better as a unit and more equipped to exploit their weakness than they do ours, with Messi being the obvious wild card.

[thekitkatshuffler]

Any word on Firmino's availability yet?

I'm afraid he's married, mate.

[BOBSCOUSE]

Judging by this thread plenty seem to be underestimating them. I agree they aren’t the force of old, but still think it’ll be tough for us at the Nou Camp, a 1-1 draw would be an excellent result. I certainly believe we can win this and that we have the better team now, but don’t think it’ll be as easy as some, think the demise of Barca is being slightly overdone.

Not really a case, for me anyway, of underestimating them it's just that I think our style of play is kind of like Kryptonite to the way they play.  They are undoubtedly a class side and have just won La Liga at a relative canter but we're taking our laser guided wrecking ball to their Swan Lake performance.

[bornandbRED]

It's OK to be confident. We're a fantastic side and I don't think they're great besides Messi. Now obviously, that bloke could decide to have one of those days where we wins the game on his own - but I'm reasonably confident in our own firepower putting them away over two legs.

[andy07]

More worried about Newcastle than Barca.

[killer-heels]

More worried about Newcastle than Barca.

Dont be ridiculous.