Champions League Semi Finals (30th April - 8th May)

Smores said:
Liverpool fans trying to say they were the better team :lol:

They missed a couple they could have scored but so did Barca.
Click to expand...

Commentators on my stream were trying to push this until the second goal. I was cooking while watching the first half but it looked fairly even other than the Barca goal.
 
Barcelona will presumably make least 10 changes against Celta this weekend having wrapped up La liga. Liverpool have Newcastle away.

Tie not over, but it's going to be difficult. No doubt Pep is helping Valverde, Barcelona only had 47% of the ball, and less passes. Totally unheard of at the Nou camp.
 
Niall said:
The thought did occur to me but surely not, they and other clubs would be caught by now. They were faster and sharper in pretty much every department today. Barca were on the ropes until the second goal. I could see only one team scoring until that Messi sucker punch goal.

Scoreline flattered Barca which is why I think this ain’t don’t yet.
Click to expand...

Unless Liverpool are breaking the laws, then whatever they are doing is not wrong. I don't think there are many clubs who are breaking the laws outright. I think they, like most clubs, are finding ways to use the medicine in a way which does not break the rules. But I also suspect that most clubs are likely exploiting loopholes in the rules too. Its a bit like tax avoidance and evasion. The former is perfectly acceptable, the latter is illegal. I bet most clubs operate "in between", a grey area, which makes proving allegations extremely difficult, particularly with well paid lawyers to defend the practices.
 
Kevin said:
Nah. I don’t see it but if we argue it theoretically, a brush would mean the trajectory of the ball was already going top corner-ish without it meaning any single slight touch at that pace and that angle would take it out.
Click to expand...
It’s difficult to see but I’m 100% it does. Whether it impacts the flight of the ball much though is debatable
 
The beauty of tonight is you can see one eyed pool fans adamant they could have won.
Even though they shipped 3 and should have shipped plenty more.

Incredible for salah to miss the open goal as 3-1 suddenly makes it possible on the right night.

3-0 is almost a perfect score as pool will have to go all out but know one slip and they suddenly have to find 5!
 
Well you can't be that wasteful against Barca. I did think we would make it more awkward for them, but I'm baffled why Firmini/Shaq didn't come one at 1-0 when Barca were pinned in their own half. Klopp got that one wrong.

We can score 3 at Anfield next week, but not with a clean sheet. No shame in going out at the semi-final stage against Barca and a very determined Messi.
 
Rob said:
We did it in 2005 with a much worse worse team in 45 minutes, but yeah, it’ll be a tricky one.
Click to expand...
It is maybe 90-10 now but it is not over yet. If Liverpool gets 2.0, even in last 5 minutes, it is panic in Barca. Not over yet
 
That free kick just flicks ever-so-slightly off Gomez's shoulder into the top corner. Still an awesome free kick mind.
 
giorno said:
Wijnaldum was like Llorente yesterday, did his job and did it well, but he just lacks quality. Salah was and Mane were both great tonight, but between the two of them they had like 3 shots. 2 big chances, mind, but still. Most of liverpool's dangerous attacks were set up by Salah and Mane, but it was Milner or Wijnaldum at the end of those, and well, they're Milner and Wijnaldum

After the second goal they went under mentally, which often happens in those situations, and then Messi made it 3-0, Salah missed an open goal, and after that Liverpool had to throw the kitchen sink at them to try and get a goal, which left barcelona with acres of space on the counter

I don't think this was down to experience, just the talent differential on the pitch
Click to expand...

I'm not saying the inexperience hurt them in the attacking third, but the defensive third. They weren't composed enough. I agree with all the points you're making with regards to the lack of a finisher on the end of the chances though.

At 2-0 their passing game went to shit in midfield and they panicked. That wasn't because of the personnel per se, but lack of experience IMV.
 
Dumbstar said:
Not really. He's not great in front of goal either. Wijnaldum did OK. Needed some finishing.
Click to expand...

His hold up creates chances and gives time for wide forwards to make dangerous runs and be in dangerous goal scoring positions.
 
Sandikan said:
The beauty of tonight is you can see one eyed pool fans adamant they could have won.
Even though they shipped 3 and should have shipped plenty more.

Incredible for salah to miss the open goal as 3-1 suddenly makes it possible on the right night.

3-0 is almost a perfect score as pool will have to go all out but know one slip and they suddenly have to find 5!
Click to expand...
My dream scenario is a pen earned by Suarez inside 10mins in front of the Kop and Messi scoring again, this would cut off all the juice from Anfield so early :drool:
 
B-b-b-b-but Barca have Messi! :D

Good night folks.
 
kouroux said:
My dream scenario is a pen earned by Suarez inside 10mins in front of the Kop and Messi scoring again, this would cut off all the juice from Anfield so early :drool:
Click to expand...

Suarez shthousing his way to the pen as well.
Then celebrating in their faces.

Obvs after pool drop off v newcastle at the weekend first
 
If the ref actually did his job in the first half, we would have seen a different game with all the bookings Barcelona should've received.

Before Messi went Messi, Liverpool were hard done by on that score, but with that result and Messi's performance, it will be swept under the rug.

They really do get all the calls in the CL.
 
Dumbstar said:
Not really. He's not great in front of goal either. Wijnaldum did OK. Needed some finishing.
Click to expand...
With Firmino on the pitch, you create a lot more and Mane and Salah get more than 2 chances between the two of them
 
Fortitude said:
If the ref actually did his job in the first half, we would have seen a different game with all the bookings Barcelona should've received.

Before Messi went Messi, Liverpool were hard done by on that score, but with that result and Messi's performance, it will be swept under the rug.

They really do get all the calls in the CL.
Click to expand...
Tbh Milner should have been booked and Fabinho should have been booked a lot sooner too, not major decisions but worth mentioning too.
 
For all the hype that Scousepool get it was a rather impotent performance.

This Salah miss is just an icing on the cake.

Great night, cheers Messi, F Pool.
 
Bt sport seem absolutely gutted bless them :(
 
Klopp accusing Barca players of going down easy (true) when Mane was diving all over the place.
 
kouroux said:
Tbh Milner should have been booked and Fabinho should have been booked a lot sooner too, not major decisions but worth mentioning too.
Click to expand...
True, but the chain reaction once a team has a few players on yellows will change the game, which didn't happen for Barca. We get a very different 2nd half if the ref did what he was supposed to in the 1st, I think.
 
Van Dijk has been the best CB in the world this season. He screwed up on both of barca's first 2 goals
 
Fortitude said:
True, but the chain reaction once a team has a few players on yellows will change the game, which didn't happen for Barca. We get a very different 2nd half if the ref did what he was supposed to in the 1st, I think.
Click to expand...
This is a concept that is foreign to a lot of people but it is so spot on.
 
MaxiPaxi said:
I know what you mean but realistically you'll need to go balls out and hope Barca don't score an away goal. I just can't see it to be honest. Good luck though.
Click to expand...

In fairness, neither can I, but I’m clinging on to whatever hope that’s left:lol:
 
Andycoleno9 said:
It is maybe 90-10 now but it is not over yet. If Liverpool gets 2.0, even in last 5 minutes, it is panic in Barca. Not over yet
Click to expand...

Yeah, it’s an incredibly difficult task, but at Anfield and with a goal within the first 30 minutes anything can happen. It’s a long shot, though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.