CL: Liverpool v Inter (19.02)

[D-Kin]

Originally Posted by Mighty T.A.L.

Liverpool won this thanks to Materazzi. That lead to Liverpool taking more risk.

If anything nothing changed from Liverpool, it just resulted in Inter taking less risks.

Hence Zlatan playing up front by himself.

Although you could see Benitez was pushing his FB's forward at every opportunity in the sencond half.

[G-R87]

Here's my interpretation of the game. Both sides were fairly even in the first few minutes, but then Liverpool began to get the clearer opportunities. The game was fairly even, with Liverpool just edging it.

Materazzi's first yellow was an incorrect dicision. Torres had beaten him for pace and consequently got infront; there was an accidental brush of his heel against the oblivious Materazzi. (he didn't even realise he had contacted Torres). Perhaps a foul (by the letter of the law) but definately not a yellow card.

Materazzi's second yellow: I think it was worthy of a yellow card, however, because of the first decision he had to go. (He shouldn't have been sent off, but then again, he knew he was on a yellow so tugging back Torres in a dangerous position was foolish - shot himself in the foot).

Inter defended very well throughout. However, I think they lacked the determination and consequently gave the ball back to Liverpool on numerous occasions. Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty when Vieira handballed Gerrard's flick, but I suppose they had already recieved one decision via the red card...It cancelled it out.

The goals: Kuyt was lucky to see his shot deflected in, but then again if you don't shoot you don't score: Liverpool had had many good chances so the goal was coming, regardless of the fortunate deflection. The second goal was just a great strike from Gerrard. He hit it early and from an unexpected angle, therefore the keeper was not set and the defence were unable to react. A precise and deserved goal.

Overall, despite the misfortune of the dodgey red card decision, I think it was a fair result. Inter never threatened Liverpool and their valiant attempts to defend were failed by the two late goals, which, TBH, were coming.

I don't think Inter were robbed as many people have said. I also disagree that the red card changed the game because possesion was 60/40 to Liverpool before the Red Card, Shots before the red card were something like 7/0 to Liverpool, Corners were similar also. The stats never reversed and so i think the game would have followed a similar pattern regardless of the red card. Again, I think it was a wrong decision but I also think that the result would have been the same even if Materazzi was not sent off. I just think that Liverpool had more energy, more clinical and more persistance/consistance. (I think Inter had only 1 shot on target or something).

[NJ10]

Originally Posted by Jager

I really accepted the 1 goal lose, but then the second goal, and the egomaniac Pool players, really upset me and the rest of the group I was with.

Its not over, and if THERE is karma, you will get yours in the next leg or after that. Then I hope they have a tight shot of Gerrard looking at the sky as if he just won the world cup.

Not sure i understand this bit- Egomaniacs because they celebrated a potentially crucial goal? Please elaborate if you can...

[Jager]

Originally Posted by NJ10

Not sure i understand this bit- Egomaniacs because they celebrated a potentially crucial goal? Please elaborate if you can...

I'm not sure if I can explain it. You didn't beat Inter, the victory fell into your lap. Liverpool did nothing but beat up a team with ten men at home. Its hard enough to play in England with eleven men, and not be a man down on a bull shit call.

For the record, I don't rate CL football. I actually think its inferior to Serie A football. When Inter plays Milan, Roma or Juve. To me that's football. This is fake football. And if some teams like Milan or Liverpool are good at it, then so be it. However to me, it proves nothing. Just wanted to get this off my chest first of all.

Now, if the roles were reversed and Gerrrad got a bull shit red, and we won, I don't think we would hear the end of it. And for the most part, most smart Pool supporters agree the expulsion really fuked us up. No doubt in my mind.

As Matthew wrongly pointed out. The first fifteen minutes or so, Liverpool did dominate and we were sitting back. Then after we got some legs and confidence, we started to control the ball more, like we do in Serie A. But then we wrongly lose a player, and the rest is history. You start pushing up more, and you finally crack us in the 85th minute.

Two things: it took mighty Liverpool the better part of the game to score on Inter, and it was only when we lost Cordoba, you finally scored. We lost both CBs, and you won. I'm not sure if Liverpool is shit at finishing or not, but I couldn't believe it took that long for you to crack us. Credit to Cordaba and Chivu, clearly world class in every sense of the world and Julio Cesar is easily in the top five in the world as a keeper. Simply awesome.

As for us, Mancini fuked up by keeping Ibra on so long. Ibra against four defenders is not going to work. Only Maradona can do this.

We should of brought on David Sauzo.

As for my comment about egomaniacs, I say this after the Gerrard goal and the stupid celebrations. I don't hate Liverpool, but when they lose in the next game or in the next round, I will be there watching, and I hope they have a close up of that arrogant coach of yours.

BTW, I already know that Rafa will sit on this lead for the game in Milan, while Mancini will give the green light to attack in waves. And make no mistake, we are known for incredible comebacks, and do to how this game went, and the fact that we really haven't shown up yet, be prepared for an onslaught. I'm not sure we can prevent your from scoring, but we'll score at least two or more. And I hope to God, that we get some special help from the officials.

One more thing, the last time we played, Pool had a great advantage, but ended up losing in the return leg, I hope history repeats itself.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

I'm not sure if Liverpool is shit at finishing or not, but I couldn't believe it took that long for you to crack us.

The reason Liverpool didn't manage score before it went to 85 minutes it's because Inter defended themselves very well. You should give more credit to your own players instead of thinking that was weak by Liverpool or else you don't rate your defending play very well. It's tough to score against italian teams because they have such good discipline og good defenders. Arsenal should beat Milan at home but they didn't of that perticular reason.

Inter is a good team and could manage beat Liverpool 3-0 at home. But it will be very tough of course.

[NJ10]

Originally Posted by Jager

I'm not sure if I can explain it. You didn't beat Inter, the victory fell into your lap. Liverpool did nothing but beat up a team with ten men at home. Its hard enough to play in England with eleven men, and not be a man down on a bull shit call.

For the record, I don't rate CL football. I actually think its inferior to Serie A football. When Inter plays Milan, Roma or Juve. To me that's football. This is fake football. And if some teams like Milan or Liverpool are good at it, then so be it. However to me, it proves nothing. Just wanted to get this off my chest first of all.

Now, if the roles were reversed and Gerrrad got a bull shit red, and we won, I don't think we would hear the end of it. And for the most part, most smart Pool supporters agree the expulsion really fuked us up. No doubt in my mind.

As Matthew wrongly pointed out. The first fifteen minutes or so, Liverpool did dominate and we were sitting back. Then after we got some legs and confidence, we started to control the ball more, like we do in Serie A. But then we wrongly lose a player, and the rest is history. You start pushing up more, and you finally crack us in the 85th minute.

Two things: it took mighty Liverpool the better part of the game to score on Inter, and it was only when we lost Cordoba, you finally scored. We lost both CBs, and you won. I'm not sure if Liverpool is shit at finishing or not, but I couldn't believe it took that long for you to crack us. Credit to Cordaba and Chivu, clearly world class in every sense of the world and Julio Cesar is easily in the top five in the world as a keeper. Simply awesome.

As for us, Mancini fuked up by keeping Ibra on so long. Ibra against four defenders is not going to work. Only Maradona can do this.

We should of brought on David Sauzo.

As for my comment about egomaniacs, I say this after the Gerrard goal and the stupid celebrations. I don't hate Liverpool, but when they lose in the next game or in the next round, I will be there watching, and I hope they have a close up of that arrogant coach of yours.

BTW, I already know that Rafa will sit on this lead for the game in Milan, while Mancini will give the green light to attack in waves. And make no mistake, we are known for incredible comebacks, and do to how this game went, and the fact that we really haven't shown up yet, be prepared for an onslaught. I'm not sure we can prevent your from scoring, but we'll score at least two or more. And I hope to God, that we get some special help from the officials.

One more thing, the last time we played, Pool had a great advantage, but ended up losing in the return leg, I hope history repeats itself.

Thanks for the response. Few points.

1. That 1965 game- now THERE was some bad refereeing. An indirect free kick scored from directly, and Tommy Lawrence having the ball booted from his hands as he bounced the ball to make a clearance.!

2. I really cant see your point with the celebrations, that second goal was huge for us, absolutely huge. This tournament is our season, make no mistake, and the difference between a 1-0 lead and a 2-0 lead is massive. Gerrard hasnt been playing especially well in the last few weeks, so to score such an important goal, of course there will be pretty hefty celebrations, a mixture of relief and delight i suppose. If Inter were to turn it round in the San Siro, im sure that the man who scored the winning goal would celebrate equally.

3. I also disagree with your apparent delight that it took so long for us to "crack" you. Last time i checked, football matches were played for 90 minutes plus stoppage time, so whether we had scored in the first five minutes or the last five, they still count the same. And lets not pretend Inter had a team of mugs out there, even with ten men. Materazzi & Cordoba may have been missing by the end, but Burdisso is an Argentine international & Chivu is the captain of Romania and an accomplished centre half. They were well organised, clever and defended well. We might have taken a few earlier chances (eg Torres, Crouch), but we didnt, and Julio Cesar did well. It doesnt matter how long it took us to score, we managed to, and thats all that matters.

4. I agree on Suazo, i actually thought he should have came on immediately after the red card, for Cruz. Cruz was very lacklustre with his control and movement, at least Ibrahimovic looked to try and use the ball rather than just lumping it anywhere like Cruz did.

5. As you may know, I am not one for bitterness towards referees or other teams. I understand that their decisions can have a big bearing on the outcome, but they are human after all (for example, we could well have had a penalty for Vieira's handball....we didnt get it, we had a moan, we moved on). If the roles had been reversed and it was one of our players sent off, you would NOT hear moaning out of me, because these things happen in football. I remember Sami Hyypia being sent off two minutes into a game at Old Trafford, and conceding a penalty in the process, i personally felt it was a harsh decision, but thats football. Sometimes ten men can rally and produce the performance of their lives (like Manchester City, 3-0 down and down to 10 men at HT against Spurs, won 4-3)....on this occasion i give credit to both sides, Inter for their determination and defending, and us for our persistence and for seizing the initiative in the dying stages.

6. Not having a go, but i do wonder whether your criticism of the Champions League would be quite so fierce if your team had a history of recent success in it? I suppose vice versa in my case, would i be so big on the CL if we went out in the Group Stages every season?? What i will say is this, going to CL matches for me is special, i love seeing the best in Europe play at Anfield, and going over to great stadiums for great atmospheres and great matches on the continent, to me it is very REAL football, and i cant wait for my first visit to the San Siro in three weeks' time, a week after i get to see Real take on Roma in the Bernabeu!!

[Jager]

Ah, hard to say if my dislike for CL football would be so great. You can check my past posts on this. For me, I rate the Milan derby, the game with Roma/Lazio and Juve higher. Is it because we have had shit success in the past twenty years or more...possibly.

However overall, the competition is not anywhere exciting as a good game in Serie A for me. Actually, I find most matches to be anti-climatic for the most part. Yes, you do get some good games, but for the most part, the competition is flawed. As it forces teams to either defend to the max, and teams are forced to do things they normally don't do. The away goals rule is a horrific one. They should abolish it, and just let them play for wins.

If its drawn after two games, let them play an overtime and shootout. Having drawn games, then deciding this team is better since they scored more in the opponent's stadium is just plain stupid. Game dynamics are such, that things can change really quickly, and I don't think its a fair method. I also think UEFA would generate more interest.

However, if you like watching teams like Valencia and Villareal continue to knock out better offensive teams, then so be it.

I gaurantee that from what I've seen, Milan will win this yet again, because they play this format perfectly, and Carlo Ancelotti knows this. I guess this really drives me crazy.

[z187]

I dont understand how there is any debate here, Inter was clearly hard done by the refereeing but these things happen in football always.

Materazzi didnt even touch whoever it was (F.Torres?)

[Jager]

Liverpool are not to blame. They did what they had to do, and took advantage of the situation, albeit very late.

I had accepted the result, until the second goal. As that really killed us, and has affectively won it for Liverpool.

Why? Because Rafa will defend and defend and defend and defend, time waste, time waste, time waste...then hoof it up field constantly to Torres, hoping to get a lucky goal.

If Inter crack them open early, they might come out of their shell..maybe.

However I'm not holding my breath.

It would be delightful to see Rafa lose though, as he could eat his words. The guy has no class.

To me, he is right up there with the French national coach for rubbing salt in the wounds. You won, just shut the fuk up. You like the call, there is no need to say the ref made the right call, you just look stupid.

[kennethlindheim]

The sending off was a joke and ruined the game for Inter and their chances of progressing.

Gerrard proves again why he is the best player England has had for a lot of years. He can do it all, Shoot, tackle, pass, head. He's a real leader too and has proved time and time again he gets Liverpool good results single handed.

[Jager]

Gerrard proves again why he is the best player England has had for a lot of years. He can do it all, Shoot, tackle, pass, head. He's a real leader too and has proved time and time again he gets Liverpool good results single handed.

Fully agreed. Best English player bar none.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Liverpool are too depended on Gerrard. Without Gerrard the spirit is gone. They couldn't even beat Barnsely at home without him.