CL: Vs. Arsenal - TalkSoccer

**Mighty T.A.L.** · 02-04-2008, 11:00 AM

On Emirates Stadium.

**Vargas_4** · 02-04-2008, 02:01 PM

Should be a very interesting match.

**Vargas_4** · 02-04-2008, 02:06 PM

I'm going for a draw here. But anything is possible

**Dellas** · 02-04-2008, 02:24 PM

Arsenal were in control in the last game against Liverpool even tho it was a draw. Adebayor hasn't been in form but perhaps the fight back against Bolton might have rejuvenated him... without him I cannot see Arsenal scoring even tho Van Persie is back he still isn't fully fit.

However Liverpool are a different team in the CL and their new tactic could definitely help them depending on how Arsenal deal with Torres and Gerrard.

I don't think it will be Gerrard vs. Fabregas, it is most likely to be Flamini defending against Gerrard and Torres with the help of his CB's and Fabregas will be up against Xabi Alonso and Mascherano, when he is attacking.
Babel vs. Eboue should also be an interesting battle.

**Mighty T.A.L.** · 02-04-2008, 06:32 PM

Liverpool Team:
Reina; Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypiä, Aurelio; Kuyt, Mascherano, Alonso, Babel; Gerrard;Torres

Subs:
Itandje, Riise, Voronin, Benayoun, Crouch, Arbeloa, Lucas

**Mighty T.A.L.** · 02-04-2008, 06:34 PM

Arsenal Team:
Almunia; Toure, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy; Eboue, Flamini, Fabregas, Hleb; Van Persie, Adebayor

Subs:
Lehmann, Diaby, Song Billong, Silva, Bendtner, Hoyte, Walcott

ReMad · 02-04-2008, 07:19 PM

1st Goal for Arsenal - Adebayor
Click Here for Video

1st Goal for Liverpool - Kuyt
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Van Persie's on the fly shot goes over the crossbar
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Van Persie's grounder is saved by Reina
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Kuyt's shot s is saved by Almunia
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Arsenal's player Brendtner defends the liverpool goal and denies Arsenal their 2nd goal!!
Click Here for Video

**Mighty T.A.L.** · 02-04-2008, 07:34 PM

1-1 Half Time.

**Vargas_4** · 02-04-2008, 08:56 PM

Arsenal really deserved the 2-1 victory here. I felt they played much better in the 2nd half. But oh well.

That N.26 from Arsenal deserves to be shot in the knee. He denied his own team the winning goal. Unfortunate for him & for Arsenal.

**azzurri** · 02-04-2008, 10:19 PM

Arsenal looked the better side, mainly in the 2nd half, but I dont think they deserve anything. They're pretty to look at, but unless they can put the ball in the net, its meaningless. They can probably feel hard done for not getting a pk call from the foul on Hleb. Much less has been given.

Also, I found it funny how the Arsenal fans decided to boo Torres b/c he dived to win a free kick in the 2nd half. Hypocritical to say the least.

Liverpool will go through. They have been in this situation many times b4. This means another exciting, attack minded Chelsea/Liverpool CL match.

c.ronaldo#1 · 03-04-2008, 12:55 AM

Great performance by the ref not giving the most obvious penalty of all time.

**Arsenal007** · 03-04-2008, 01:43 AM

Absolute Bulshit! Penalty, ref is blind!

Arsenal will go through and Chelsea and Liverpool will be out.

NJ10 · 03-04-2008, 03:21 PM

I think it was a penalty, a lot of my mates reckon it wasnt but i think Hleb was going at such pace that even the slightest of touches would have been enough to knock him off balance. Ah well, we'll take the slice of luck. No doubt there will be decisions that will go against us in the future, and more that will go for us. Thats football.

For all the paper talk today about Arsenal "laying siege" to the Liverpool goal, i dont recall Reina making too many saves, and Kuyt forced a good one out of Almunia at the other end. Skrtel & Hyypia were superb at the heart of the defence and Mascherano not only put in a fine performance, but mopped up the messes created by the awful Alonso & the disgraceful Babel. Kuyt had one of his better games, good instinct to get the equaliser- he needs to do that a lot more- and nobody worked harder for the cause. I actually would have liked to have seen he and Babel switch sides because Babel was having a mare on the left, but i think the protection Kuyt gave Carragher was the main reason he was left there.

Voronin on for Torres? Had me scratching my head did that one. If i was Peter Crouch i would have left the ground there and then and never come back, the way he has been treated at times this season is disgusting, disrespectful and completely unnecessary. I can just about understand taking Torres off if he was tiring or had a knock, but to thrust this talentless, lazy shit straight into the side after he has been missing since Boxing Day is inexplicable, absolutely inexplicable.

**kyan** · 03-04-2008, 06:41 PM

Had Arsenal got the penalty decision they probably would have won the game. However, tbh they have noone to really blame but themselves, they had so much possession but never really looked like scoring - largely because Liverpool were often with 10 men behind the ball - but Arsenal dallied on it, played it wide, let the Liverpool defence regroup, then gave the ball away and almost got caught on the counter.

This tie is still completely in the balance though, but I don't see Arsenal winning it tbh.

And NJ10 I completely agree about Voronin, there was one moment when Kuyt played a short pass to Voronin when they were on the counter, the 2 of them v 3 defenders or something and the pass was just behind Voronin who just stood still and if he'd have chased it he could probably have reached the ball before the defender anyway.

c.ronaldo#1 · 04-04-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyan

Had Arsenal got the penalty decision they probably would have won the game. However, tbh they have noone to really blame but themselves, they had so much possession but never really looked like scoring - largely because Liverpool were often with 10 men behind the ball - but Arsenal dallied on it, played it wide, let the Liverpool defence regroup, then gave the ball away and almost got caught on the counter.

This tie is still completely in the balance though, but I don't see Arsenal winning it tbh.

And NJ10 I completely agree about Voronin, there was one moment when Kuyt played a short pass to Voronin when they were on the counter, the 2 of them v 3 defenders or something and the pass was just behind Voronin who just stood still and if he'd have chased it he could probably have reached the ball before the defender anyway.

Its hard to score when the ref doesn't give you an obvious penalty. Remember also that Liverpool had every player back and whenever they got the ball just hoofed it anywhere. To quote a great man "they parked the bus".

As for Vorinin for Torres who cares. When your teamates are hitting the ball anywhere does it really matter who is up front.