Topic: Benfica v Liverpool 1 Apr 20:05, Pre-Match and Half-Time Thread

[rednich85]

he punched/grabbed his face after the whistle.

Go 'ed Stevie Wonder

[xico_da_bezana]

The quality of Di Maria's delivery is something I wasn't expecting.  I knew he would be quick and would go past people but his crossing is exceptional. And no diving as yet.  I would love to have him here.

I told you he's not a diver...

[Mr_Morosoph]

Agger and Insua both look like they've consumed a serious ammount of weed before the game.

[walshys_mullet]

No way was that a red, he gently cupped his cheek!

[Joe Rogans Chin]

Insua, world class.

J Molby, Netherton class.

[LFC when it suits]

Nah, bollocks to that. Just as I start praising his new attitude braindead Babel returns. Fucking idiot may cost us the tie. Now that's bang out of order.

Yes he's a dirty bastard and yes his kick is out of order. Stick up for your team mate. Get in his face. Tell him he's a c*nt. Tell the ref you think the player's a c*nt. But don't put your hand in his face. TWICE. We all know the law about raising your hands and if you do it twice, especially away from home in Europe, you are asking to be sent off. Ryan should know better. He has let himself, his team mates, Rafa and the fans down tonight. Reminds me of Pennant, another bright spark, away at Porto that year.

Aside from that we have looked good on the counter but woeful defensively, especially Insua. Could be 5-1. Praying we hold out and ideally nick another.

It was stupid, but it's somethign he has to learn from. He is not the first player to do something stupid like this and let the team down. The likes of Gerrard and Masch have done it in the past.

[brunny]

he punched/grabbed his face after the whistle.

From what I saw (the two touches), he put his hands over this lips. Now I guess the rule you are indicating is violent conduct, if so then I think this should be appealed.

[Crackerjack Sam]

Insua, world class.

[John C]

What letter of the law means that you get sent off? What rule is in action here?

Until a couple of years ago you were off if you raised your arms, even a push in the chest was a red. Not sure if any particular line of the law has changed but Babel put his hand in the guys face twice so he's forced the ref to make a decision.

[firing squad]

If you call that a punch or a grab your delusional.  Being before or after the whistle is meaningless.

don't get me wrong,I think it was a very harsh decision and he shouldn't have given him the red but if you wanted to quote the rules literally than any contact of that kind after the whistle is a straight red.

[BIGdavalad]

I hate Stan Collymore so much it makes my teeth itch. The sub normal sounding twat. Surely even Channel Five could find someone better than this to comment on games?

"This is why I don't think zonal marking works" on Agger's goal. Completely ignoring the goalie who has won the Golden Gloves three times (?) in the last five seasons playing behind a defence that plays zonally, who's playing in the match that he's fucking commenting on.

[irishkopite77]

The quality of Di Maria's delivery is something I wasn't expecting.  I knew he would be quick and would go past people but his crossing is exceptional. And no diving as yet.  I would love to have him here.

What an addition he would be here is right..

[mikeb58]

Nevin hoping Di Maria continues to play as well in the second half....cheers mate.

Not our fault Benfica twatted your lot 7-0 over legs, must hurt to see 10 men doing the job properly so far.

[AllyouneedisRush]

Babel deserved the red card. You can not raise your hand to another player and he did it twice.

Foolish.

agreed but had the benfica player been sent off, babel wouldn't have been in a position to be sent off.... ref got it wrong with the foul on torres but had to send babel off...

[faithplusone01]

We're going to need to make some changes when we're back at home. Insua misses next game, as does Babel, so Benayoun comes in for Babel, Johnson moves to left, and Kelly to right?

Kelly out injured for rest of the season right?

Regardless, this game is bullshit. Who moved Castle Greyskull to Portugal? I'm expecting 12 minutes of stoppage time...

Nevertheless, we are winning, they are losing, that is all. Benfica are a damn good team. Just need a finisher in the style of Torres to put the ball in the net and they could be quite potent.

And Agger is the best goalscoring centerback around today. No questions asked. That would have been outstanding if an incredible finisher like Torres would have scored it, but to see that from ANY Centerback is without question something phenominal. Well done Danny.

[khalilur]

Not sure about the red, but you can't take those kind of chances. Their player should have gone aswell. Ridiculous decision on the Insua yellow and I think the disallowed goal should have stood aswell. Kuyt never touched the ball. Over all, officials are shockingly shite.

Kuyt didn't touch it but he was challenging for it & pressuring the keeper. That's interfering with play.

[jaffod]

I am watching a Portuguese channel showing the game and no joke the commentators said "nice work by Luisao showing his experience to no react to Babel, well done on having him react and sent off"

Portugeuse players/teams are the biggest fucking cheats in world football and have been for some time.

[SpesRan]

The way the ref jerks his hand at lightning speed when giving cards just tells you he's retarded. He looked especially pleased giving the red card unsuspectingly to his side and jerking his head as well as the red card and having his eyes open unaturally much.

[Base21]

Excellent start, silly Babel, 45 more minutes with 10 men...

Even if we lose this one 2-1... we're still in it, as all we need is a goal at Anfield. Although I'd take this as it is!

How long do you reckon Babel will be out for? I mean now, Babel's out, Insúa's out, Aquilani might be out as well, Maxi is cup-tied !! How many players will be freaking available for the 2nd leg at home?!!!

[Neil D]

It was stupid, but it's somethign he has to learn from. He is not the first player to do something stupid like this and let the team down. The likes of Gerrard and Masch have done it in the past.

True. And in Masch's case in more important games. Doesn't make it any less frustrating though.

[Mello]

Not sure about the red, but you can't take those kind of chances. Their player should have gone aswell. Ridiculous decision on the Insua yellow and I think the disallowed goal should have stood aswell. Kuyt never touched the ball. Over all, officials are shockingly shite.

Agreed.  Stupid by Babel even if the ref screwed it up.  I wouldn't mind the Insua yellow if the same ref wasn't letting players get away with far worse earlier in the game.  I hate the current offside rule, but as it is today Kuyt should have never been flagged for offside.

[stevensr123]

No way was that a red, he gently cupped his cheek!

correct, and he only did it to shut the twat up. well in babel!

[AllyouneedisRush]

Nevin hoping Di Mario continues to play as well in the second half....cheers mate.

Not our fault Benfica twatted your lot 7-0 over legs, must hurt to see 10 men doing the job properly so far.

what do you expect from that blueshite?

[SRAWL]

to be honest if one of theirs got red for a couple of touches on Carra's face we'd be saying good decision.  Babel should know better with Euro refs.

I'm more worried about Brum on Sunday now with the lads knackered out..

BS this argument is always used. I would say yes get in we have an advantage. I would also say poor refereeing if it was not a red card. Fair and good refereeing make the game better.

[CornerFlag]

# Serious foul play

# Violent conduct, such as throwing a punch

# Spitting at an opponent or another person

# A player other than the goalkeeper denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball

# Denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free-kick or a penalty kick

# Using offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures

# Receiving a second caution in the match

Okay, so lets play a game; which one of these was it?

[Joe Rogans Chin]

Nah, bollocks to that. Just as I start praising his new attitude braindead Babel returns. Idiot may cost us the tie. Now that's bang out of order.

Yes he's a dirty bastard and yes his kick is out of order. Stick up for your team mate. Get in his face. Tell him he's a c*nt. Tell the ref you think the player's a c*nt. But don't put your hand in his face. TWICE. We all know the law about raising your hands and if you do it twice, especially away from home in Europe, you are asking to be sent off. Ryan should know better. He has let himself, his team mates, Rafa and the fans down tonight. Reminds me of Pennant, another bright spark, away at Porto that year.

Aside from that we have looked good on the counter but woeful defensively, especially Insua. Could be 5-1. Praying we hold out and ideally nick another.

If Babel, was white and dutch with horrible greasty hair, you would be priaisng him to the hilt and starting a thread in appeciation.

[koptommy93]

he punched/grabbed his face after the whistle.

Haha come off it mate

[Babelmania]

Collymore needs to get off the drugs, twat.

[Red Viper]

Yes bar the assist for the away goal Gerrard is awful.    Who do you think Insua for captain?

Pepe, Carragher, Mascherano, Torres.

ANd yes he has been awful, he's our captain and apart from a simple 12 yard pass, he has barely had a touch.

[-HH-]

So, Babel gets a straight red for a hand in Luisao's face and Luisao (lucky to stay on after a shithouse challenge on Torres) gets nothing for his response? Not even a yellow for pushing Babel and almost running down the ref in his attempts to get to Babel?

Hope Torres gets isolated against him in the second half, the dirty c*nt is bound to get sent off (assuming a third yellow card is a sending off?)

Think we've done well to be honest. They have a lot of skillful players and I think C5 are overplaying the chances they had. 2 good chances, the rest for me half chances and away from home that's not bad at all. Still think we can bag another, their back line doesn't seem all that confident.

[Una cerveza, por favor]

swedish officials suck donkey balls.

Fucking joke

great goal from agger

i think we can get another even with 10 men

REF IS A D*CK

another ref ruining our game! fuck off

BTW, Di Maria is fucking boss.

In a nutshell.

[RdJRed]

Luisao defo should have gone.  he was stepping up to Babel after creaming into Torres.  Twat.

I am anticipating a Nando goal as pay back...

[stjohns]

5 unbelievble. Clearly want Benfica to slaughter us in 2nd. c*nts.

[evered avenue]

Sky, ITV, Five, ESPN, BBC, makes no difference does it, they're are working to the same anti-Liverpool agenda, even when the opposition is a foreign team.  There's zero point listening to what they have to say and/or getting upset about it.

As for the match, great start, playing well but obviously were up against it with 10 men.

About the red card, I think we all agree that Babbel was stupid to get involved but there was no violently conduct in what he did and should only have merited a yellow.  Luisao should have walked, either straight red for the foul or 2 yellows for the challenge and his part in the Babbel incident.

"nd half will be tough, will need a good defencive display to hold the clean sheet but believe that Torres will have at least 1 good chance to add another for us.

[farawayred]

# Serious foul play

# Violent conduct, such as throwing a punch

# Spitting at an opponent or another person

# A player other than the goalkeeper denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball

# Denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free-kick or a penalty kick

# Using offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures

# Receiving a second caution in the match

Okay, so lets play a game; which one of these was it?

Not sure if the list is complete, but how about this one?

[firing squad]

# Serious foul play

# Violent conduct, such as throwing a punch

# Spitting at an opponent or another person

# A player other than the goalkeeper denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball

# Denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free-kick or a penalty kick

# Using offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures

# Receiving a second caution in the match

Okay, so lets play a game; which one of these was it?

I believe the ref used this one. very harsh IMO.

[lachesis]

also, best part of the first half was seeing Kuyt charging down the shot on the edge of the box. He burst everything to get there to prevent him blasting into the net.

[Mighty_Red]

wow that fan was gorgeous lol

[Fordy]

Thin Rafa showed he wasnt happy with Babel so lets stop crying and saying it wasnt a red. It was a red card.

As Neil D has said he has let Rafa, this team mates, visiting fans and all liverpool fans down.

[koptommy93]

i thought pat nevin was at sunderland then haha