Inter (H) - CL Round of 16 2nd leg, Tue 8th Mar 2022 (8:00pm)

[Trumo]

An opportunity to finish what we started in the 1st leg in Milan. Inter had started the tie as underdogs and had thrown a few punches, but then we stopped pissing about, stepped up a gear and rocked them on their haunches to leave with a 2-0 aggregate lead. While the Serie A title race has been pretty close this year, defending champions Inter still look the strongest of all the teams in the running. Or at least the most consistent. What do we need then?

 

Grit. Organisation. Bravery. Accuracy. Composure. Know-how. Tactical flexibility. Order. Intelligence. Tenacity. Ambition. Lack of complacency. Yer ma!

 

I don’t ask for much.

 

We beat the Italians 2-0 at Anfield in the first leg of the round of 16 back in 2008. We were all over them but couldn’t find the back of the net. Even after ex-blooshite Marco Materazzi was sent for an early bath, we were unable to break them down. Then, late in the second half the ball broke to Dirk on the left corner of the penalty area. He chested the ball down and hammered a shot into the ground. Cesar in the Inter goal could not get to it and we finally had the lead. We made doubly sure in the 90th minute when Stevie dummied to cross from wide on the right and then hit a low shot. It didn’t looks to be a major threat but it beat the attempt of Chivu to block it and arrowed into the far corner past the startled Cesar. From labouring a little, we were suddenly in control of the tie.

 

That’s not the game I want to recall though. I’m thinking of the first week of May 1965 when we took on the defending European champions in the first leg of the semi final at Anfield. We were making strides in Europe (the following year would see us reach the final of the Cup-Winners’ Cup at Hampden Park), and this was the game that announced Liverpool on the European stage. The Italians were streetwise and knew how to control games.

 

I’m sure they’d played in a few pressure cooker atmospheres in Italy, but they would not be expecting what Anfield delivered that night. Just like the club, European got its first glimpse of the power of Anfield in midweek under the lights. The Kop were already well up for it, but Shanks upped the ante by sending the injured Gordon Milne and Gerry Byrne out before kick-off to parade the newly won FA Cup. The former had missed out on the final altogether while the latter had broken his collarbone at Wembley but had to soldier on as there were no subs in those days. The fans went wild as they saw the cup in the flesh. The European Cup was a big deal even back then, but in this country the FA Cup was seen as the domestic pinnacle. It’s the one all the kids dreamed of winning.

 

Helenio Herrera’s team started like a deer in the headlights. They just did not know what had hit them. Sir Roger had put the Reds ahead within 5 minutes with an expert finish. The Italians had to ride the storm but got a break when Big Ron Yeats’ mistimed challenge let Peiro through to square for Mazzola to finish at the Kop end. Undaunted, Liverpool surged forward, roused by the fans. Cally scored a great goal to put us in front once more, shaping to take a free kick before running over the ball and towards the penalty box. Stevenson passed the ball to Sir Roger who’d dropped deep and made space to receive the ball, and he flicked the ball first time into Cally’s run and the effervescent winger buried the ball past the Inter keeper. Saint made sure of the win in the second half, reacting first to the rebound after Inter’s keeper had saved an effort from Sir Roger. The fans started to sing, to the point where even the commentator saw fit to mention what they were saying! No malice intended in the words, just an outpouring of enthusiasm having witnessed one of the great European nights. It would be the first of many on the continental stage.

 

 

The surprise box office hit in May 1965 was a noir-ish thriller Brainstorm, starring Jeff Hunter and Anne Francis. No? Me neither. Look up the plot for this one, because it has more than a passing resemblance to the no doubt superior Double Indemnity. Femme fatales have been a very successful plot device in cinema over the decades, as has insanity. The plot itself is quite long and almost soap opera-esque in its ludicrousness and implausibility. It must have been an entertaining film to have had some success. I haven’t seen it myself but it sounds interesting enough to check out for curiosity value.

 

 

Getting through to the quarter finals is the most important thing, but the avoidance of complacency should not be overlooked. I don’t know how Inter will approach this one, but we must not go into it treating it as job done. Klopp and his staff won’t do that, and they’ve been excellent at ensuring the players provide the right levels of concentration, attitude and application no matter the opponent. That is what is needed here, and we have the tools to do it. Just go out there and show it. No half measures.

[George Costanza]

16 minutes ago, Trumo said:

Getting through to the quarter finals is the most important thing, but the avoidance of complacency should not be overlooked. I don’t know how Inter will approach this one, but we must not go into it treating it as job done. Klopp and his staff won’t do that, and they’ve been excellent at ensuring the players provide the right levels of concentration, attitude and application no matter the opponent. That is what is needed here, and we have the tools to do it. Just go out there and show it. No half measures.

This is my biggest worry.  They are the best of the Italian sides and had a big morale boosting win at the weekend after a period of poor results. If we don't start with the right attitude it could be a very tricky uncomfortable evening.  If we give Dzeko or Martinez the type of chances we've allowed in recent games they probably won't be quite so wasteful as Mount & Lanzini were.  Score first and it should be tie over.

[Creator Supreme]

0-3 (After Extra Time)!

[Pureblood]

Fight fire with fire.  Shithouse and roll around for 90 minutes.  0-0. 

[an tha]

Get an early goal and get this put to bed early ahead of two tricky away games in league including the dreaded early kick off on the saturday.

[Jordy Brouwer]

Who are we going to play? Everyone will be bloody knackered. 

[redinblack]

We are better than them. Im ok with it.

[aRdja]

5 hours ago, Jordy Brouwer said:

Who are we going to play? Everyone will be bloody knackered. 

4-4-2
Alisson; Trent, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Salah, Fabinho, Thiago, Diaz; Mane, Jota.

 

Less control in midfield, but the attack would too much for them to handle.

[VladimirIlyich]

1 hour ago, aRdja said:

4-4-2
Alisson; Trent, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Salah, Fabinho, Thiago, Diaz; Mane, Jota.

 

Less control in midfield, but the attack would too much for them to handle.

4-4-2,get it wide and get it into the big man early! Jumpers for goalposts innit.

[Freddo]

7 hours ago, Jordy Brouwer said:

Who are we going to play? Everyone will be bloody knackered. 

All barring one player had a break in midweek. Looked leggy yesterday which was a surprise to me given virtually all of them had a week off. 

[Anubis]

Two nil to us and on we go.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Apparently, they fancy themselves to overturn our lead. They reckon they didn't show their true selves at the Giuseppe Meazza, but the real Inter will turn up at Anfield.

 

So what? As long as the real Liverpool turn up, there's fuck all they can do about it. 

 

Avenge the class of '65. Just get these beat, Reds.

[rubble-rouser]

Ali, Trent, Joel, VVD, Robbo, Fabinho, Henderson, Jones, Mané, Salah, Jota

[sir roger]

Lawrence, Lawler, Moran, Strong, Yeats, Stevenson, Callaghan, Hunt, St John, Smith, Thompson.

 

Seeing as a few of them have died,  I'll settle for 1-0 as suitable revenge.

[VERBAL DIARRHEA]

7 hours ago, aRdja said:

4-4-2
Alisson; Trent, Gomez, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Salah, Fabinho, Thiago, Diaz; Mane, Jota.

 

Less control in midfield, but the attack would too much for them to handle.

 

[YorkshireRed]

19 minutes ago, sir roger said:

Lawrence, Lawler, Moran, Strong, Yeats, Stevenson, Callaghan, Hunt, St John, Smith, Thompson.

 

Seeing as a few of them have died,  I'll settle for 1-0 as suitable revenge.

When I finally figure out the nuts and bolts of time travel I intend traveling back to 1965 and taking my place on the Kop for that famous game. 
 

To quote Frankie Valli; “Oh, what a night”.

[Jarvinja Ilnow]

Jeffrey Hunter was the first Captain Christopher Pike:

 

 

I'm hoping we set phasers to stun Inter, and then torpedo them up the arse!

[Evelyn Tentions]

17 hours ago, YorkshireRed said:

When I finally figure out the nuts and bolts of time travel I intend traveling back to 1965 and taking my place on the Kop for that famous game. 
 

To quote Frankie Valli; “Oh, what a night”.

I was on the Kop that night. One of the most memorable nights of my life. Everything about that night was just on another level. 

Only to be cheated out of it by one of the most incompetent, corrupt  cunts in the history of football in the return leg.

Another fucking 3am kick off here for me, I want to see us absolutely twat them.

[JohnnyH]

Inter Milan won their last league game 5-0 (on Friday night, because the Italian FA like to help their clubs in Europe, unlike the dopes at the FA), are in very good form, and sit 2 tops off the top of the league with a game in hand. This tie is not over as a goal for them at any point in the first 85 mins if we haven’t scored would result in a very nervy ending. No one wants a Roma 2001 scenario. So we go full strength (obviously) and treat this as 0-0. We’re better than them so if we play to our strengths we’ll go through. 
 

I would not go 442. That’s just odd. 

[Harry's Lad]

27 minutes ago, Evelyn Tentions said:

I was on the Kop that night. One of the most memorable nights of my life. Everything about that night was just on another level. 

Only to be cheated out of it by one of the most incompetent, corrupt  cunts in the history of football in the return leg.

Another fucking 3am kick off here for me, I want to see us absolutely twat them.

My Dad was at that game and spoke exactly the same way you do about it.

It was almost 57 years ago but they are still owed a hammering.

Come lads, make it so.

[Pureblood]

21 hours ago, sir roger said:

Lawrence, Lawler, Moran, Strong, Yeats, Stevenson, Callaghan, Hunt, St John, Smith, Thompson.

 

Seeing as a few of them have died,  I'll settle for 1-0 as suitable revenge.

All Stevenson does is pass sideways and backwards, I hate him. 

[Harry Squatter]

21 hours ago, sir roger said:

Lawrence, Lawler, Moran, Strong, Yeats, Stevenson, Callaghan, Hunt, St John, Smith, Thompson.

 

Seeing as a few of them have died,  I'll settle for 1-0 as suitable revenge.

Lawler had a perfectly good goal rules out for offside.

[aws]

52 minutes ago, Harry Squatter said:

Lawler had a perfectly good goal rules out for offside.

Where was VAR when it was really needed? 

[LFC 6 Times]

Give Jota a start. 1-0 to the reds.

[easytoslip]

5 hours ago, Harry's Lad said:

My Dad was at that game and spoke exactly the same way you do about it.

It was almost 57 years ago but they are still owed a hammering.

Come lads, make it so.

My Dad was there and then went to the San Siro with me Mum  might of been with the Supporters Club. I remember him saying how hostile it was apart from being robbed. 

Knock these out ta.