Chelsea - Champions League semi

[Dirk]

Chelsea again - MK II. Revenge. Liverpool spending the season in turmoil. Liverpool seen as the underdog, the vastly superior Chelsea expected to win. All familiar descriptions of a Champions League semi-final between Liverpool and Chelsea, many of them nonsensical, some of them unfortunately true.
The focus of turmoil this season has largely been on the present difficulties between Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Their timing couldn't have been any more impeccable had they tried. We are Liverpool Football Club. Gillett and Hicks are a pair of chancers.

Tuesday and the 2nd leg at Stamford Bridge is about Liverpool, it's about the players, the manager and the fans. It's about their dreams and our dreams. It's about sticking two fingers up at the those that threatened to sack the man that has led us this far. In a typically Liverpudlian fashion, it's about overcoming turmoil against the odds to triumph. After the defeat to Arsenal, I found it quite ironic that we were being criticised by some quarters for having played with the resolute determination of a Tommy during war. As much as many distance themselves from Englishness, we are the team that probably characterises the archetypal British never say die spirit more than any other team. We are often castigated in the press for the amount of foreigners we have but this collection of foreigners and Englishman display a stoical strength of character unmatched by any other team in this country and possibly anywhere in Europe. We are a team that has so much more than spirit this time round.

However, if we are to win, we will need to find this unity of spirit once again. Destiny is shaped by the hands of the able. We are more than capable of beating Chelsea. Though nothing is certain and as fans we have little direct influence of the players we do have some influence. I look back to last year's final with AC Milan and prior to it, like many other Reds, I felt a bit disillusioned. Prior to Parry's monumental fuck up, I expected us to triumph and I was excitedly expectant but after his arrogant display it all felt, for want of a better description, a bit wrong. I didn't go to Athens but some people I spoke to that went said the mood wasn't the most relaxed; they described an air of tension, of discomfort that was exacerbated by the farce leading into the stadium.

This time, as a club, I hope the supporters can focus on the team and each other. We need unity. Gillett, Hicks, Parry and Moores will still be a collection of prize twats at the end of the season. Our spirit is bigger than the collective ineptitude of our "custodians". Forget about them for now and focus on those that matter, the players, the manager, the fans, the game. We are Liverpool.

[WaltonRed]

We'll shit em on tuesday.

[Brownie]

We're 90 minutes away from the final. What I mean by that, is one great Anfield performance and we're there.

A 2-0 or 3-0 win will see us through.

[elBooth]

is right Dirk, nice one

[bigredruss]

good post

[manwiththestick]

I really hope Rafa sends our team out on tuesday to get at them from the off, give them no inch, take no prisoners, go for the jugular or whatever, lets finish it at Anfield. WE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

[Dirk]

I agree MWTS. I hope Mascherano bullies Bollock off the pitch too. We need to pulverise the twats.

[Richie T]

great post dirk mate

[Brownie]

I love Crouchie, but I hope he doesn't start either game in this tie. He doesn't tend to get any change from Terry or Carvalho.

[Unrighteous]

Originally Posted by WaltonRed We'll shit em on tuesday.

Indeed... I expect 2-0 or 3-0.... Maybe even 4-0 or 5-0.

They looked like shite their last few matches but pulled off victories on the strengh of Essien's play really.

Essien will miss it at Anfield and we'll fucking piss all over their midfield.

[WaltonRed]

No crouch.

Also you're right brownie, there is no rob styles on tuesday and if we get a couple and keep a clean sheet we will be going to Moscow.

[Red Nick]

We will win the tie but also some realism please as we havent won in London in any competition for a long time

[zigackly]

Great time to start then.

[Dirk]

Originally Posted by Red Nick We will win the tie but also some realism please as we havent won in London in any competition for a long time

We don't necessarily need to win in London, Nick.

[Dirk]

Originally Posted by zigackly Great time to start then.

The thing is, we didn't win in London in 05, 07 and in 08 against Arsenal. We didn't win in Turin in 05 either.

[G Richards]

I'll be surprised if we win by two goals on Tuesday. It's not impossible, and Liverpool have surprised me plenty of times before. But there's just so much on the game that I think the margins will be very fine. I'd take 1-0 at home right now.

Chelsea's defence is very good, especially for the biggest of games. They will be cagey, and we won't get nearly the space we got against a much less disciplined Arsenal side.

Our central defence will need to be on top form too. I would imagine Ballack will come back in for them and he offers an aerial threat from set pieces.

The beauty of our attacking play is that I fully expect us to score at Stamford bridge. If we take a 1-0 win down there we will be well on our way.

[zigackly]

Originally Posted by Dirk The thing is, we didn't win in London in 05, 07 and in 08 against Arsenal. We didn't win in Turin in 05 either.