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

[BobPaisley3]

There were quite a few patches of empty seats when we played them away last year, might be worth a trip out there.

[BobPaisley3]

I guess that means spurs will have played City 5 times this season!

I can see that going the way of Arsenal Chelsea in 2004.

[alonsoisared]

Dream draw for our European hopes and our domestic ones too. Happy fucking days.

[Johns_Barn]

Welcome o the business end, people.
 

[Jm55]

I guess that means spurs will have played City 5 times this season!

When’s the 5th?!

Twice in the league twice in Europe no?

[deFacto please, you bastards]

To be fair in the cups this season they’ve had just about as difficult draws as they could get - Chelsea, Arsenal, Wolves, PSG, now Barcelona, not to mention that home draw against Derby County that started it all off.

We got Chelsea in the league cup, Wolves in the FA cup and Bayern in the previous round, hardly lucky. If anyone they should be moaning about it's their mutant neighbors

[anfieldpurch]

No, the semi-final is on 6 Apr, i.e. before the 1st leg of the CL QF.

Wow that seems early.. usually the 2nd weekend in April around the Hillsborough anniversary

[redan]

Absolutely brilliant draw for us. Barca talk is probably a bit premature as we still have a do a job to do vs Porto

Regarding Man City vs Spurs, have I read it right someone that this could be their first game at their new stadium? Bit of extra spice added if so

[Charlie Adams fried egg]

I always say it, but a European game after the clocks have changed is always something to savour.
Going to an evening game when it's still light means that it must be an important game, the latter rounds. A reward for the slog of the autumn and winter.

[GinKop]

I always say it, but a European game after the clocks have changed is always something to savour.
Going to an evening game when it's still light means that it must be an important game, the latter rounds. A reward for the slog of the autumn and winter.

Playing under a golden sky.

[Indomitable_Carp]

Well he wanted to leave for a bigger/better club or whatever didn't he?

He wanted to go and play for one of the two biggest Spanish clubs, which is many a South Americans dream. Of course it hasn't worked out for him, and it's a pretty powerful message to anyone else thinking of upping sticks and leaving LFC that the grass isn't always greener in Spain. It would be a fantastic irony if we beat them to the Champions League.

But I wouldn't call him a rat. That's the social-media era talking. He gave us years of quality service, and the money we have invested from his sale has got us to where we are now. It's not like he left to one of our league rivals.

[Sharado]

I always say it, but a European game after the clocks have changed is always something to savour.
Going to an evening game when it's still light means that it must be an important game, the latter rounds. A reward for the slog of the autumn and winter.

Walking up to the ground for a european game in april/may is an absolutely unbeatable feeling.

[Qston]

Lovely stuff.

Away first leg of the semi's as well if we get past Porto ? Think it is, but I am tired.

Perfect draw all round. Whilst I expect city to get past Spurs, it will be a proper battle. United will get a new one ripped by Barca

[royhendo]

We'll get a good close look at Militao anyway. He's off to Madrid isn't he?

[Fordy]

We've to extremely happy with that QF draw. All the so called big teams would of wanted Ajax or Porto.

The SF draw is always going to be a tough one in the CL and if we through the QF then to play away first is super.

[S]

I always say it, but a European game after the clocks have changed is always something to savour.
Going to an evening game when it's still light means that it must be an important game, the latter rounds. A reward for the slog of the autumn and winter.

It's a special time of year. I'm pretty sure I said this after most knockout games last season, but it's great to be back here again. For almost an entire decade we were watching from the sides. I say that as I don't count that brief cameo under Rodgers where scraping past Ludogorets was the only highlight. For two seasons now we've been involved in the late stages of this competition, and we have a good chance of reaching the semis again. There's a feeling that we belong here, in much the same way we did under Benitez.

[J_Kopite]

I read this in the voice of James Brown

[vicar]

When’s the 5th?!

Twice in the league twice in Europe no?

Sorr, ignore me had it im my head they played them in the Caribou cup.... but that was some other London shite!
Should look things up before posting.

[S]

David Moyes in the Manchester studio, treated as if he is the semi official mouthpiece of the red mancs. How pantomime is that?

Have some respect. Take it you don't remember Everton's Champion's League campaign of 2005/06.

[rob1966]

Robbos booking doesn't look to bad now

[keyop]

nonsense - sorry but that's just wrong
City are the best team in the competition like it or not

City have the strongest and most expensive squad - no doubt.

But the Champions league is more about experience and European pedigree, of which they have very little.

[Jm55]

Bad feeling United will end up causing an upset. Speed in attack and a physical midfield is what Barca do struggle against match-up wise.

Really need Barca to go through for numerous reasons. Avoid all the drama of a semi-final with United and the sheer pain of going out to them in a semi. Also however crazy it sounds, Barca are the easier game. They are far more suited to us when it comes to match-up suitability. We have the strengths in our game that Utd themselves have to beat Barca, but our backline is of course a level above.

Just hope Utd's backline ends up being their downfall in the tie. We're elite as it gets at the back, and really should cause Barca all sorts of problems if they went through.

Man United aren’t beating Barcelona over 2 legs.

[Red_Rich]

Away first leg of the semi's as well if we get past Porto ? Think it is, but I am tired.

Except if we play United and City are through as well.  We'd play United at Anfield in the first leg.  Imagine the buzz of putting them out in the semis in their own back yard as we head to Madrid. Fuck me, that would be hard to beat.

[Qston]

We'll get a good close look at Militao anyway. He's off to Madrid isn't he?

Yup. Buy out clause agreed deal I think.

[Andar]

Man United aren’t beating Barcelona over 2 legs.

This Barca side really aren't what many think they are.

[cheshiremike]

He wanted to go and play for one of the two biggest Spanish clubs, which is many a South Americans dream. Of course it hasn't worked out for him, and it's a pretty powerful message to anyone else thinking of upping sticks and leaving LFC that the grass isn't always greener in Spain. It would be a fantastic irony if we beat them to the Champions League.

But I wouldn't call him a rat. That's the social-media era talking. He gave us years of quality service, and the money we have invested from his sale has got us to where we are now. It's not like he left to one of our league rivals.

He faked a back injury and sulked massively.

Fuck him.

Luis sorted him a house prior to it all going through also.

Fuck him.

We have moved on and we are a much better club now.

No hatred towards them and at end of the day selling him got us the best CB in world football and best GK.

[Qston]

Except if we play United and City are through as well.  We'd play United at Anfield in the first leg.  Imagine the buzz of putting them out in the semis in their own back yard as we head to Madrid. Fuck me, that would be hard to beat.

That would be epic, but I am not sure my epilepsy could take a SF against united !

[scouse neapolitan]

The red Mangs might have been lucky to get through to this stage, but Porto were even jammier. They used up a load of luck in their game against Roma. Roma should have gone through if it hadn't been for some of the dodgiest refereeing this year. Var and all. 

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

Not an easy draw, but surely easiest draw out of the toughest.

[SinceSixtyFive]

Loving this draw. Couldn't have worked out much better in my view.

Absolutely at a loss re. the United comments.

Really? Jesus our fan base are in a worse state than I thought we were. I'm not lying when I say I wouldn't give them a second thought never mind voicing any concern over them. Do we really think we could have a better/easier possible semi tie than against United? Really? 

[Red_Rich]

Man United aren’t beating Barcelona over 2 legs.

Only chance they have is if Messi is out injured, which I wouldn't bet against after PSG missing Neymar and Cavani.
Then it's probably 50-50 they go through.

With Barca at full strength over 2 legs, I agree that they'll be too good for United.

Barca are no PSG either and they won't bottle it like they did.

[Shanklygates]

How good would that be?! He deserves that

[Trendisnotdestiny]

Probably should give respect to all the teams at this point.  A lot can change over international break --- we have seen that before.

We need the soccer gods to continue do their work --- the enemy is hubris and conventional thinking.

5 Tasks to Appease the Soccer Gods

Assume nothing
Prepare for everything
Create new songs
Stop running our mouths
Pray for good footy

There I said it.

[S]

Ahh I must be a football romantic but I keep thinking of Ox's injury against Roma and how devastated he was that he couldn't play the final. With Klopp saying Ox will be 100% after the International break, does anyone get the feeling Ox will take us to the the promise land in redemption for last year?

We have to be realistic with him. Even in the best case scenario where he comes back and features, he still hasn't played in a long, long time now. He'd be so out of sorts.

It'll be great if he's fully fit and able to start the first game of next season. That's all I'm hoping for.

[ScouserAtHeart]

Can we just take a minute to be thankful for the position we're in?

I know, we're Liverpool, this is where we're supposed to be. But 2014/15 ended with a 6-1 loss to Stoke. Fucking Stoke. From 2009/10 (when Rafa eventually left at the season's end) to 2014/15 (aside from the League Cup win and that one amazing half season under Brendan) we were dire for large parts of those six years. Then Klopp arrived and since then has taken us to the Europa League final, two 4th place finishes, a Champions League final, now we're 1 point off the top with 8 games to go in the league and are overwhelming favourites to progress to the Champions League semifinals again. All this in less than 4 years.

We've won nothing yet of course but we've definitely come a long way



 

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

Only chance they have is if Messi is out injured, which I wouldn't bet against after PSG missing Neymar and Cavani.
Then it's probably 50-50 they go through.

With Barca at full strength over 2 legs, I agree that they'll be too good for United.

Barca are no PSG either and they won't bottle it like they did.

Not to mention the fact that Suarez is going to be extra motivated for this one.

[Red_Rich]

This Barca side really aren't what many think they are.

Maybe not, but United aren't either.

City or Juve for us in the semis would have been a harder route.

ANyway ...... Porto first.  Won't be as easy as last year.

Remember in 2006 when we thought we'd breeze past Benfica?

[nash_av]

Man City vs Juventus
Man Utd vs Barca
don't care about who draws who for the remaining

I should buy a lottery ticket today.

[Red_Rich]

Not to mention the fact that Suarez is going to be extra motivated for this one.

Hope he rips them apart at OT right under Ferguson's nose.

[Prelude no.5]

I should buy a lottery ticket today.

Going by that you will have a 50% chance of winning.