Topic: Liverpool vs Real Madrid

[Larse]

Hard to believe we won't do something daft defensively which will cost us at some point so might as well go all out for the 3, 4, 5 goals we'll need. Got to try and take advantage of their old boys playing 3 really tough games in a week, a slow, technical snoozer will suit them and their midfield perfectly.

i agree with that overall but their game against us was everything but tough. We made it so, so easy for them last week.

[Zlen]

Score an early goal then ride the wave of noise.... oh...wait...

[Dull Tools]

Genuine question.... it's legal now for mates in groups of 6 to go and distance from other fans in groups of 6 in Stanley Park and make a racket, right?

Yes it is. I was wondering if a lot of people would go down to the ground to do spread out bus welcome on Wednesday.

[Crosby Nick]

Was a serious game that. Didn't mark wright have a header just over the bar from a corner late on that would have taken it to ET?

Think so. We certainly came close to getting a third which would have taken it to extra time. Wright scored the second with about ten to go so not sure if he then had another chance but they were definitely on the ropes.

[liverbloke]

i wonder if there'll be any fireworks before or when/if we score?

now i'm not one for antisocial behaviour but it's a fucking important game of footy - and not one played at midnight when your kids are asleep - and i have to admit i quite enjoy the intimidation of those fireworks as long as they don't stop the bloody game 

now i've got a few 50p sparklers left over from last year so i'll be waving those with an angry grimace on my face - that'll unnerve 'em

[bornandbRED]

Random thought but the pitch looked tiny last week - there was no space in the middle of the park. Maybe it technically wasn’t but the fact it was a training ground made it seem so. Can’t help but think it made a difference.

[kavah]

I googled it, it’s the same as The Bernabeu 105 m × 68 m
Anfield is 101 by 68

The camera angle probably made it feel smaller

[Red Bird]

I am wondering if Klopp will play Fabinho at CB along with Kabak to mitigate their deadly counter attacking capabilities. The fact we have to score goals means we will have to attack with an aggressive high line and I feel playing Phillips could be a huge problem. Even in Madrid, he got caught out for the first goal.

Let' see but I hope its Fabinho and Kabak at CB with a midfield of Thiago, Milner/Keita and Gini.

Please no. If'n everybody does their job, which they clearly did not in Madid, Phillips and Kabak have been fine at centre-half. If they don't, then putting Fabinho at centre-half is merely papering over the cracks and trying to stop Madrid from scoring. It will not address the fact that we need to score as well.

[tubby]

I'm all in on us playing 4231 for this one and just going for it.

[red1977]

If we are chasing a goal with 20 to go sling Divock on and go 4231.

[NarutoReds]

UEFA have appointed Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers as the referee in charge of Wednesday's clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid in the return leg of the Champions League Quarterfinals.

[NarutoReds]

To be honest, I am expecting Real Madrid will park the bus and it's us who are going to have lots of the ball.

But please, expect a lightning strike level of counter-attack from the fuckers.

Sleep a moment and we are going to get fucked.

[The G in Gerrard]

I'm all in on us playing 4231 for this one and just going for it.

Yep same here. Not sure why some want Shaq ahead of Mane if we are to do this. Fabinho has to be in defence for this game for me.

[JackWard33]

Yep same here. Not sure why some want Shaq ahead of Mane if we are to do this.

Probs his recent amnesia re being able to kick a ball properly
I'd expect Klopp will start him and hope he comes good but nothing he's done in the last 2 months would merit him being picked for this

It's tough because on current level you wouldn't have Wijnaldam or Mane anywhere near the first eleven but he seems to either not trust or not be convinced of the fitness of so many players that there aren't many options

[keyop]

Yes it is. I was wondering if a lot of people would go down to the ground to do spread out bus welcome on Wednesday.

We could put a series of billboard posters along the coach route that all say Liverpool 4 Barcelona 0, alongside pictures of Messi and Suarez looking haunted at the final whistle.

[jackh]

Yep same here. Not sure why some want Shaq ahead of Mane if we are to do this. Fabinho has to be in defence for this game for me.

To be honest, it crossed my mind that starting how we finished last week might be useful.

We were exposed down the left a little bit - Madrid exploited the space between Trent & Phillips well, and that was where the bulk of their threat came from.  Playing a midfield pair (presumably Thiago & Gini) could help with plugging those gaps, whilst up top you've got Salah right at the sharp end, Firmino involved in the '10', and Mane held back to provide impact later on.

[CraigDS]

Wonder if he'll consider switching Mane to the right, or Jota, and playing Salah through the middle to give TAA a bit more cover.

[tubby]

Think Mane will start for sure, got a rest on the weekend.  If anyone drops out, it'll be Jota.

[Pistolero]

Think Mane will start for sure, got a rest on the weekend.  If anyone drops out, it'll be Jota.

Think that would be nuts personally...Jota is easily our best hope of salvaging this tie

[redk84]

Reckon thiago for keita, maybe bobby for jota/sadio and thats it for the changes from last week. And I hope those are the two players coming into the first 11 and nobody else

Ox, shaq etc have had too little footy imo to be thrown in against as technically a good side as Madrid from the off. Maybe as subs in certain situations

[HardworkDedication]

Wonder if he'll consider switching Mane to the right, or Jota, and playing Salah through the middle to give TAA a bit more cover.

That's a good shout actually and it's something we should definitely consider doing if we do decide to play all 4 forwards as well. Salah down the middle, Jota on the left, Firmino number 10 and Mane on the right to protect Trent.

[The G in Gerrard]

Probs his recent amnesia re being able to kick a ball properly
I'd expect Klopp will start him and hope he comes good but nothing he's done in the last 2 months would merit him being picked for this

It's tough because on current level you wouldn't have Wijnaldam or Mane anywhere near the first eleven but he seems to either not trust or not be convinced of the fitness of so many players that there aren't many options

I think Klopp will go with Mane. Can't remember last time Shaq started a game. Was it West Ham away?

[palimpsest]

Not a fan of shouts to play Fab as a CB. Play him in his best position. Bring Firmino in. Be patient.

[slaphead]

Random thought but the pitch looked tiny last week - there was no space in the middle of the park. Maybe it technically wasn’t but the fact it was a training ground made it seem so. Can’t help but think it made a difference.

Funny you should say that, that exact thing was mentioned in the classico the other night. There must of been a lot saying that because the commentator said while the pitch there looks small, its exactly the same size as the Bernabau pitch.

[Gods_Left_Boot]

Normally not in favour of playing Fab at the back, but I would make an exception on Wednesday. The killed us with those balls over the top in the first leg, and we can't have have Nat on the pitch as we're chasing a two goal disadvantage. I think Jurgen will go this way, since he played Fabinho in midfield at the weekend and I don't think he'll give him three full 90s at the 6 in a week.

          Alisson
Trent Fab Kabak Robbo
      Milner Thiago
  Mane Bobby Jota
           Salah

[b_joseph]

Funny you should say that, that exact thing was mentioned in the classico the other night. There must of been a lot saying that because the commentator said while the pitch there looks small, its exactly the same size as the Bernabau pitch.

Low camera angle...Twas like that at White Hart lane back in the day.

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

Random thought but the pitch looked tiny last week - there was no space in the middle of the park. Maybe it technically wasn’t but the fact it was a training ground made it seem so. Can’t help but think it made a difference.

It is exactly the same size as the Bernabeu. Low camera angle and small stadium makes it look tinier the same way the Camp Nou always look massive because of the camera angle.

[RogerTheRed]

Come on Redmen !!
No denying we were poor in the first leg. Interesting to see  Bobby looked busy on Saturday so expect him back.
Guess we will see Gini, Thiago and Fab in midfield. So only line up question is who of Mane and Jota start on the bench. Jota seems most likely to me. That way we can aim to be one up with thirty to go and then de ide who he replaces depending on what still needs to be done.
Pleased to hear Vasquez out for them so Mane will be up against someone different.
2-0 will be tough but is doable with a higher intensity in the press and more clinical finishing than of late.

[Tony19:6]

Madrid have confirmed their squad...still no Varane and Vasquez out too, Hazard still not ready.

Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Altube

Defenders: Militao, Nacho, Marcelo, Odriozola, Mendy, Chust

Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Valverde, Isco, Arribas, Marvin

Forwards: Benzema, Asensio, Vinicius Jr, Mariano, Rodrygo

[Zoomers]

I have a feeling this will only go one of two ways. We either destroy them and score 5 goals and keep a clean sheet, or we lose 0-3.

[faisfais]

I would start with 4-5-1:
Alisson : Trent - Phillips - Fabinho - Robbo : Milner - Jones - Thiago - Jota - Firmino : Salah
The aim would be to control the midfield by crowding the space for the first 55-60 minutes. This in my opinion could nullify & tire out Modric and Kroos.

Then at minute 60 & 75, make 5 substitutes in two bursts to end the game with 3-4-3:
Alisson : Trent - Fabinho - Milner : Gini - Shaqiri - Ox - Keita: Salah - Mane - Firmino

The key to this game is putting away the chances we create, but because we have been profligate in front of goal (more than typical this season), I just CANNOT see us score more than 1.

[amir87]

Madrid have confirmed their squad...still no Varane and Vasquez out too, Hazard still not ready.

Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Altube

Defenders: Militao, Nacho, Marcelo, Odriozola, Mendy, Chust

Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Valverde, Isco, Arribas, Marvin

Forwards: Benzema, Asensio, Vinicius Jr, Mariano, Rodrygo

The weakest Real Madrid team for some time that. Will be really frustrating if we get knocked out to them.

[MNAA]

Alisson Trent Phillips Kabak Robertson Fabinho Gini Thiago Firmino Jota Salah

[Sharado]

Alisson Trent Phillips Kabak Robertson Fabinho Gini Thiago Firmino Jota Salah

Yes. This.

[UntouchableLuis]

Alisson Trent Phillips Kabak Robertson Fabinho Gini Thiago Firmino Jota Salah

Mane definitely starts after resting vs Villa. I think Jota misses out.

[klopptopia]

Rush had been a Leeds that season so I remember the starting line up raising a few eyebrows.

Was it Berger maybe? He and Collymore didn’t tend to start many games together. Think Barnes was dropped that night for the first time in his Liverpool career too.

So he did, old age has pulled me back again. Looks like we played 352 based on this so i am even more wrong:

https://www.11v11.com/matches/liverpool-v-paris-st-germain-24-april-1997-25208/

hopefully we dont see a similar bench on Wednesday

[Thepooloflife]

The weakest Real Madrid team for some time that. Will be really frustrating if we get knocked out to them.

Their midfield and forwards don't look that bad to me.

[88_RED]

UEFA have appointed Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers as the referee in charge of Wednesday's clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid in the return leg of the Champions League Quarterfinals.

Let's hope he likes big Virg and Gini..

[Andy82lfc]

Yes it is. I was wondering if a lot of people would go down to the ground to do spread out bus welcome on Wednesday.

Wonder if this is happening or if it’s possible?

Would happily go an greet ours and their bus with crates of kopperberg to pass around, in the current times though I would want to be responsible so will make sure they are proper thick glass bottles not cans.

[Gods_Left_Boot]

UEFA have appointed Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers as the referee in charge of Wednesday's clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid in the return leg of the Champions League Quarterfinals.

https://www.lfchistory.net/Referees/Referee/Profile/252

He last reffed us in the 1st leg loss in Barcelona two years ago and was the one to ridiculously send Markovic off at home to Basel in 14/15 when we needed a win to progress to the knockout stage.