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  1. Welcome back Anfield European nights. We’ve missed you. This was actually very similar to the last one we had only this time the result went in our favour. The performance was similar to the Atletico one and we got sucker punched a couple of times just like in that game too. I feel as though that was our last game in this competition even though it wasn’t. For me, it’s almost like last season’s Champions League campaign didn’t happen. Honestly, I’d forgotten about it completely to be honest. On the post match podcast John mentioned us being knocked out by Real Madrid and I almost corrected him to say it was Atletico. I’d just pushed it out of my mind completely. All footy without fans was crap but Champions League nights without them were especially bad. Other than Real Madrid, off the top of my head I honestly can’t remember anyone else we played last season. Probably Napoli as we always play them, but I’m not even sure about that. This year it’s entirely different. This group we’re in is fucking boss and every game is one to look forward to now that fans are back. I’m so glad Milan are back from seven years away and I hope we see them become a threat again over the next few years. Not too much of a threat, obviously, but European football needs the Italian teams to be strong. The balance is too far in favour of the Premier League. PSG and Bayern now. Nobody else is really a factor other than maybe Atletico. AC Milan are probably the Italian club most like us and there’s a mutual respect there. The gap between the sides is massive though and losing only 3-2 is almost like a win for Milan because they got fucking battered here. We were so impressive for almost all of this game but we do have one glaring flaw, and that’s not turning dominance into goals. To go in 2-1 after the way we’d played in the opening 30 minutes or so defied all logic. The opening quarter of an hour was unreal. Milan must have wondered what the fuck they’d stumbled into as they were getting steamrollered. The intensity we started the game with is impossible for any team to live with. You can’t do that for ninety minutes of course, so that’s why it’s so vital that you make it count when you are that dominant. We never did that. I thought we got a bit complacent. That’s maybe not quite the right word, but we definitely relaxed a little too much. It’s understandable to a point as it was so easy and we were in a completely different league to Milan. They couldn’t cope and were hanging on desperately. What makes it all the more frustrating is that we did actually get the early goal. Sometimes you don’t get the reward for your good work and it can become a slog, but this was perfectly set up for us to twat them everywhere, especially when we were awarded a penalty and had the chance to go up by two. Not taking that gave them a lifeline but it was the way we just dropped the intensity in the 10-15 minutes before half time that really encouraged them. Up until then though we’d been incredible. We were flying at them down both flanks and it was like the Alamo back there for Milan at times. Tomori and Kjaer were working overtime and I thought they were both very good. They needed to be as it was one way traffic. Milan couldn’t get out because we just smothered them. They’d try to pass it out from the back but it invariably ended with someone getting tackled or them just hitting it out for a throw in. From the opening kick off we were just all over them, swarming. It had been 18 months since our last European night in front of a packed Anfield and the lads were clearly relishing it. The pace was blistering, it was fucking brilliant. We had 13 shots in 15 minutes, which must be close to some sort of record. Only one of them went in, and that was a fluke as it deflected in off Tomori. The move was quality though and the little return pass from Mo to Trent was seriously good as that needed to be at the perfect pace to hit him in stride. The trio of Trent, Mo and Hendo and on the right were working brilliantly together, while on the left Robbo was just running by everyone and looked like someone had bumped up all of his physical stats on FIFA. Milan just couldn’t stay with him. It was one of his charges into the box that won us the penalty. Initially I thought he was appealing for a corner, which I didn’t even think it was as it just looked as though he’d put one into there Kop as usual. Next thing the ref is pointing to the spot. It was a penalty based on the rules as they currently stand. It won’t be given every time but if it’s given against you then it’s difficult to argue. I don’t like it though. If his arm had been outstretched and it hit his hand then yeah, no sympathy at all. Penalty. I don’t think that’s what this was though. The lad has tried to put his arm by his side but as he jumped and turned his back it’s come out a bit and the ball has hit him. I don’t really think that should be a penalty, but it is. I wasn’t surprised Mo missed it because the law of averages says you aren’t going to just keep scoring over and over. He’d scored 17 in a row so he was always going to miss sooner or later. His pens have been getting better and better and the variety of them has been the most impressive thing. He mixes them up well now, but this was like the way he was a couple of years ago, just smashing it up the middle and hoping. The keeper saved it and also kept out the follow up diving header from Jota. Still, we were so much on top it felt like only a matter of time before the goals came. But then the intensity dropped off and Milan were slowly able to get a bit of a foothold in the game. Nothing too alarming, but from not being able to get out of their own half they were beginning to put a few passes together and spend a bit of time in our half. And then came the two minutes that turned the game in its head. They took their goals well but we just seemed to be all over the place. I don’t know exactly what went wrong but there was space that normally isn’t there. Milan were able to get between our defence and back four and sliced us open. The first goal was well worked but our defensive line was a bit all over the place. Gomez and Robbo were deeper than Matip and Trent but it was a result of us having to scramble because they got in between people. Klopp referenced it and said Fabinho couldn’t cover all of the space because others weren’t where they were meant to be. I assume it’s Hendo and Keita but I can’t pretend to know. Having conceded one, we then committed the cardinal sin and made the same mistake again. Too much space, they sliced through us and despite the best efforts of Robbo on the line, it’s 2-1. How the fuck did we find ourselves here? Simple really. Not clinical when we needed to be and then took our foot off the gas. Honestly though, I wasn’t even the least bit concerned at half time. I’d seen enough to know we were miles better than them and what happened before half time was a kick up the arse more than anything else. We’d still win, I was relaxed about it. And then seconds after the restart it looked like they’d scored again and for a moment I was worried. But it was offside, so panic over. A few minutes later Mo equalised after collecting a nice chipped ball by Divock and finishing expertly. Div will get a lot of plaudits for the pass, and Mo for the finish, and rightly so. Have to say though, as good as the pass looks now, in reality it should have ended up comfortably in the arms of the keeper. Look at it again, and the spot where Mo eventually scores from is the exact position the keeper was occupying when the pass was played. All he had to do was take a few steps forward and pick the ball up, but he froze and then went backwards. It’s horrific goalkeeping but I’ll take it. At 2-2 we were always going to go on and win it. It was just a matter of when the winning goal would come. The source was an unlikely one though as Hendo doesn’t get many. Hell of a strike though. Great technique. Reminiscent of his predecessor actually, as was the celebration. Klopp used his full quota of subs, sending on Sadio for Divock (who had cramp), Thiago for Keita, Jones for Jota, Milner for Hendo and Ox for Mo. Despite the changes we still looked the more likely to score and Milan never really threatened. Not sure where the ref got five minutes stoppage time from but Milner managed to waste most of that so it wasn’t a problem. The foul he committed was sensational. That lad wasn’t going past him under any circumstances. The Didi Hamann impersonations to try and win free-kicks were admirable too. It was a lot more comfortable than the scoreline made it look and all in all it was an extremely satisfactory start to what is going to be a tough group. It’d be nice if just once we qualified early and didn’t have to win the final game, but that probably won’t happen as it’s just not how we roll. I’m giving Joel the star man even though I expect most will disagree. I don’t care though, I thought he was sensational and his passing into the front players is not talked about enough. Actually, everything he does is not talked about enough as he’s just world class. Love him. You could easily talk me into Hendo, Fabinho or Robbo as the star man too, but Big Bird is my guy so I’m rolling with that. Keita seems to have split opinion again. Loads of people are saying he was shite but he’s still getting the customary hipster treatment from some who think they can see something the rest of us plebs can’t. For what it’s worth, I thought he was fine. Not good, not bad, just ok. He did very little wrong and he was neat and tidy. At times he was quite purposeful and positive, but mostly he was safe and a bit passive. In other words, standard Naby stuff. The thing with him is even when he plays ‘well’ it’s not really enough as I’m always underwhelmed. It’s partly about him not living up to initial expectations, but it’s also a case of me not really seeing him do anything to justify his selection over people like Milner Jones and even Ox. Naby’s doing alright, but he needs to be better than ‘alright’. As for the others, it was nice to see Gomez back after his long layoff and he played well. There were some moments in the first half when he maybe wasn’t quite on the same wavelength of Matip but overall he was good. Finally, Divock. He’s getting a lot of praise for his performance but he’s another that was just alright. Ok, that might be underselling it a bit so I’ll say he played quite well. I think the low bar he’s set has maybe caused some to go a little overboard but I’m happy to see him making a contribution and getting some praise, because it’s been a while. Here’s the thing. We all wanted him gone this summer and replaced by somebody that can put pressure on the other four forwards. He’s never putting pressure on anybody, realistically, so fans weren’t being unreasonable in hoping he moved on. It never happened though so the fact is while he’s still here we’re going to need him to contribute. If he does that, it helps everybody, as it did two years ago when he was instrumental in what we did. So if we can get this level of performance or hopefully better from him when he’s called upon, great. Maybe that’s why Klopp was talking so much bollocks about him afterwards and complaining that “people have forgotten how good he is”. Yeah, well you not deeming him worthy of a place on a nine man bench might be contributing to that too. Just a thought. But anyway, good for Div and if this kick starts him into being at least a semi-useful asset from the bench then great, because we need it. I’ll need to see a lot more than this before I’m convinced though. Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson (Milner), Keita (Thiago); Salah (Oxlade-Chamberlain), Origi (Mané), Jota (Jones):
    15 points
  2. Was out last night so didn't see the game, my niece is off to uni a couple of weeks so we all went out for a meal and a few beers.
    11 points
  3. A Saturday 3:00pm kick off? What is this sorcery? Rarer than hen's teeth those nowadays, as to me it always seems we're in that late Saturday or last-game-on-Sunday slot. What do we need? Nous. Intensity. Nerve. Efficiency. Nuisance factor. Impudence. Luck. I don't ask for much. The corresponding fixture last season was the last game of the season, where a Sadio brace secured a 2-0 win and a place in this season's Champions League. We'd found an upsurge in form while those ahead of us began to falter, and we ended up finishing 3rd. Of course the game from yesteryear has to be the 9-0 tonking we dished out to Steve Coppell's Palace side in mid-September 1989. It was Aldo's last game as we'd sold him to Real Sociedad, and one of the abiding memories was of him lashing most of his kit into the Kop at the end. He's done some very questionable things off the field, and could be a bit of a hothead on it at times, but there is no doubting his love for LFC. He doesn't try to hide his bias which is why he does punditry and co-commentator for local radio and the club channel rather than at national level. Anyway, my other main memory is of a great chipped goal from McMahon. Palace's goalkeeper Perry Suckling never really recovered from the trauma of this game, and Palace replaced him with a young Nigel Martyn soon after this game, making him the country's first million-pound goalkeeper in the process. Nicol got 2, Gillespie and Hysen both got on the scoresheet, and the attacking threat of Barnes, Beardsley, Rush and Aldo saw each of them register a goal. Mark Bright has been a bitter bastard when talking about us ever since. Incidentally, I never realised Palace's Geoff Thomas had skied a penalty over the bar in this game either. The top film at the box office in mid-September 1989 was Sea Of Love, starring Al Pacino as an alcoholic burned-out homicide detective, and Ellen Barkin co-starring as the love interest whose ex is the murderer offing all her dates. Pacino's played the same sort of role to more telling effect in the likes of Heat. It's not a bad film, and is as coherent and watchable as any decent film in the thriller genre, but at the same time there is nothing particularly memorable about it. Ellen Barkin has a bit of a weird face too. Anyway, Palace. Now managed by Vieira and looking to have settled down a bit. I read that they had a dozen players out of contract in the summer. Andros Townsend went to the shite but I can't remember if anyone else left as, Odsonne Edouard aside, they seem to have the exact same team as last year. They still have a bit of pace and goal threat in attack with the likes of Zaha. But we have plenty of threats of our own. As ever, it's about us playing with the right attitude and intent as if we play like we are capable of, we could very well blitz this lot again. It might not be as goal-heavy as in 1989 but we are more than capable of getting the job done and getting the 3 points. Just get it done.
    6 points
  4. My favourite moment was Thiago's reaction to Henderson's goal.
    6 points
  5. 6 points
  6. City allowed someone to score a hat-trick against them despite spending a gazzilion quid. United managed to lose despite becoming the Unofficial world champions when signing Ronaldo. Milan couldnt get past the half way line largely because the Liverpool eleven picked for the game played them off the park. We let them back in, then turned it around and won the game. Marvellous stuff
    6 points
  7. Report by Dave Usher Welcome back Anfield European nights. We’ve missed you. This was actually very similar to the last one we had only this time the result went in our favour. The performance was similar to the Atletico one and we got sucker punched a couple of times just like in that game too. I feel as though that was our last game in this competition even though it wasn’t. For me, it’s almost like last season’s Champions League campaign didn’t happen. Honestly, I’d forgotten about it completely to be honest. On the post match podcast John mentioned us being knocked out by Real Madrid and I almost corrected him to say it was Atletico. I’d just pushed it out of my mind completely. All footy without fans was crap but Champions League nights without them were especially bad. Other than Real Madrid, off the top of my head I honestly can’t remember anyone else we played last season. Probably Napoli as we always play them, but I’m not even sure about that. This year it’s entirely different. This group we’re in is fucking boss and every game is one to look forward to now that fans are back. I’m so glad Milan are back from seven years away and I hope we see them become a threat again over the next few years. Not too much of a threat, obviously, but European football needs the Italian teams to be strong. The balance is too far in favour of the Premier League. PSG and Bayern now. Nobody else is really a factor other than maybe Atletico. AC Milan are probably the Italian club most like us and there’s a mutual respect there. The gap between the sides is massive though and losing only 3-2 is almost like a win for Milan because they got fucking battered here. We were so impressive for almost all of this game but we do have one glaring flaw, and that’s not turning dominance into goals. To go in 2-1 after the way we’d played in the opening 30 minutes or so defied all logic. The opening quarter of an hour was unreal. Milan must have wondered what the fuck they’d stumbled into as they were getting steamrollered. The intensity we started the game with is impossible for any team to live with. You can’t do that for ninety minutes of course, so that’s why it’s so vital that you make it count when you are that dominant. We never did that. I thought we got a bit complacent. That’s maybe not quite the right word, but we definitely relaxed a little too much. It’s understandable to a point as it was so easy and we were in a completely different league to Milan. They couldn’t cope and were hanging on desperately. This is just a teaser, click here to view the full article Please note that Match Reports are only available to website subscribers. Subscriptions cost just £2 a month (you need to register first) and can be purchased here.
    4 points
  8. She definitely is. She looks like Cyril Sneer.
    4 points
  9. When Naby Keita finally fucks off, he'll be remembered for pulling out of challenges, doing fuck all with the ball, getting nutmegged, being easily brushed off the ball, giving needless fouls away, and constantly losing his man. Worst signing ever.
    4 points
  10. I admire reds fans who can watch other sides. I honestly have no interest. Not saying that makes me a better red btw. Just cant watch other teams.
    3 points
  11. Has there ever been a song that sounds as incredible unplugged and quiet as when it absolutely rocks. On one of his last tours when he played albums in their entirety, he played Born to Run (my favourite) in Limerick - when the opening bars of this played, wow.
    3 points
  12. All the money in the world wont ever make them a bigger club than us. All they are is the Everton of Manchester who got lucky. United will always eclipse them in that city, same as we will over them lot in this one. Everton couldn't fill their ground for European games (ok it was Europa league but even so after they've not been in Europe for years they should be packing it out no throwing kids at players) Fuck city, Fuck Everton and fuck both their sets of stay-away, deluded fans.
    3 points
  13. I love a rant about bins, proper old man territory but today I'm raging. Cleaned out my blue recycling bin last week and it was getting emptied this morning, I'm working from home so seen the bin truck turn up and empty the bins, the man puts mine and next doors bin in the path outside. I go out five minutes ago to retrieve my bin and put on the drive but in the time between it being emptied and now some scruffy twat has taken it upon themselves to use my bin to dispose of a large McDonald's bag full of empty food boxes etc but aslo thrown in two large half drunk coffee's so when thrown in the coffee has gone everywhere in the bin turning all the paper soggy and leaving a big bath of coffee at the bottom. Fucking fuming, would have loved to have seen the pond life scum that did this.
    3 points
  14. I noticed after the match a bit of mutual applause between the Milan fans and Reds in the Main Stand. I like stuff like that.
    3 points
  15. Its worth noting that the Number 1 record in the UK at the time of the above mentioned massacre was this absolute belter:
    3 points
  16. 3 points
  17. I have survived having had a bowel cancer op. 6 years ago' so anyone out there who has cancer don't give up there is always hope.
    3 points
  18. A proper CL game, a win, some goals and people calling each other cunts on the FF. It doesn't get any better than this.
    3 points
  19. Shut the fuck up you tit. We have just won the game. Enjoy winning. Fucking hell.
    3 points
  20. Talking of big money signings that never worked out. I never liked Dean Saunders. There I’ve said it.
    2 points
  21. People who say things like 'that's just me' or 'that's the kind of person I am' when trying to excuse abhorrent behaviour. It seems to have crept in via the only way is Essex type shows, the idea that you can say and do whatever you want to someone, rant and rave, unleash foul mouthed tirades, even be violent, as long as you qualify it with 'that's just me babe - I'm a passionate person and I wear my heart on my sleeve'. It's kind of the reverse of what was old fashioned values. People may have wanted to say, do, wear what they wanted, but reined it in out of self respect and respect for others. Ladies and gentlemen.
    2 points
  22. 2 points
  23. Series Four so I’m a bit late to the party but really enjoying A House Through Time. The house in this series is in the Headingley area of Leeds so it helps that it’s a place I know well. It takes you through the history and stories of the people who lived in the house from when it was built, through to the present day. Presented by David Olusoga, it’s really interesting and is much about the changing nature of a City as the people that lived in the house. It’s on the IPlayer. 8/10
    2 points
  24. Im heading there anyway regardless
    2 points
  25. Im just wondering how the Super League issue was different to when Everton joined other teams in leaving the Football League and joining the Premier League. Im sure that Catshit bloke or somebody can tell us
    2 points
  26. They all buzzed off YNWA at the beginning as well, it was good to see.
    2 points
  27. Some sound issues on this, especially early on. I know what causes it and moving forward it should be better.
    2 points
  28. I’m sorry lads, but is this what it’s all come to? I fucking despair with this shit tip of a planet, it’s beyond mental now.
    2 points
  29. I think Origi would be decent enough if he was playing for a lower level club week in, week out. He's got a lot of talent but his form and mentality is streaky. He needs to be starting regularly somewhere.
    2 points
  30. Me and my lad are going he's managed to get 2 hospitality seats in the KDS to say I'm looking forward to it is an understatement c'mon Reds do these cockney bastards.
    2 points
  31. Klopp in thinly disguised "somebody take this cunt off our hands" plea. Seriously though I thought he did well last night.
    2 points
  32. I think I'm not being over dramatic in saying I hate non specs wearing Jürgen.
    2 points
  33. Rebecca was more fun, but I have a weakness for snooty women, so Diane for me please.
    2 points
  34. To be fair, I'd rather have them dripping down my front door than on my plate.
    2 points
  35. We’re Liverpool, they’re Palace. You wouldn’t be against taking the best RB & our most creative player out to nullify a player that has 1 good game every 10 & is fucking shit. Let them worry about us, Zaha is shit defensively & Trent will have plenty of space to work his magic. You’d actually weaken the midfield by playing Milner & lose Trent just because of Wilfred fucking Zaha?
    2 points
  36. Are you drunk? Because you’re being a dickhead.
    2 points
  37. Once again, Jurgen shows he knows his onions. Usual stuff about the team selection before the game. Why cant folk have a bit of patience? We've got one of the best managers and some question his use of players? Gomez was ring rusty which is to be expected. I think Joe needs a talker next to him in defence and I dont think Joel talks enough. But people slag off Joe and he's just 24. Where was Virgil playing when he was 24, holland or Scotland wasnt it? An early goal was just what we needed even if it turned out to be an oggie. Mo had chance to make it 2 but missed his first pen for us in ages. When did he last miss one for us, I cant remember. That was to prove costly because a calamitous couple of minutes before half time saw Milan not only level but sneak a 2nd to go in at half time in the lead! That deficit didnt last long however as Mo made up for his missed penalty to make the score 2-2 early in the 2nd half. The rest of the game was a bit nail biting until Captain Fantastic, not having the best of games hit a ball Stevie Gerrard would be proud of to restore the boys lead on the night. Hendo wasnt the only one having a difficult night. Naby Keita looks as far away from a £52m player as ever. The boy just hasnt settled here and the time for the club to bite the bullet on his future gets closer and closer with some suggesting, his time has passed. What we mustnt forget is the boys played late Sunday. I dont know if Milan played on the same Sunday or Saturday. We won albeit with a bit of a struggle but it's still a win and 3 points. Porto and Atleti drew so, we're also 2 points ahead of them. Overall, not a bad night then, eh?
    2 points
  38. Made myself a cup of tea about 2pm and opened a packed of custard creams, planning to have a couple with my tea. Accidentally ate the whole packet of about 20 when my wife came in and said we’re picking the kid up from school and taking her to Farmer Teds. So I’ve been running around repeatedly pushing her up a hill so she can come down on a toboggan, wandering around a maze, pushing her on swings etc… and I genuinely feel like I’m about to die. Never felt so sick. Praying for someone to take me out like my Lord and saviour Harambe.
    2 points



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