On the basis of tonight's FA CUP match between Chelsea and Manchester United - who beat Chelsea 2-0, I think that Liverpool will need to be the best they've been all season against them. Man Utd look more dangerous tonight than they did under Mourinho and somehow, Sulkyjar has galvanised them back into a winning more organised team(they have been a thorn in our side for years) I think we really need to be extremely careful on Sunday because it won't be as easy as the home game. First however is Bayern Munich tomorrow at Anfield and that will be a big test for them.
Well here we go Liverpool v Bayern Munich live at Anfield-listening into radio 5live and the noise is deafening, but you would expect that on those European nights that only Anfield can provide. Fingers crossed its a good game.
Hmm well in the words of Ian Dennis "it's not the high octane game we thought it might be!" It is a shame that it didn't have goals for Liverpool BUT on the other side of the coin it does mean that Bayern didn't score an away goal so it could work in Liverpool's favour but please god don't put Deon Dublin back on summerising, he is a cackling idiot and drives me mad.
I watched the game on BT Sports last night & bar Mane,Robertson & Trent Arnold who were the only performers to knock their pipe out effort wise.Okay we have a patched up defence with Fabinho/Henderson slotting in at the back but with 2 shots on target in the entire game we could have played on until next Tuesday & wouldn't have scored.Although Firminho has struggled in the past few games but being unwell & not training for several days he maybe should have been on the bench & used in the 2nd half.Salah looks like he's going through the motions & ideally can do with resting but their is no replacement to deputize for him.But how many times did Liverpool build up some momentum only to lose the ball time & time in the final third again through shit passing or players thinking they can ghost around 3,4 or 5 players & lose it when a simple pass is the best option.Crosses are another bugbear of mine whether it's Salah,Milner,Robertson etc taking them when they can't even beat the first man.Bayern came into the game last night defensive minded & to frustrate & it worked but I don't think Bayern will play the same in the return leg. The 2nd leg is certainly winnable as the impotus will be on Bayern playing at home but they've been struggling in Bundesliga this season where leaders Dortmund got hammered by Spurs in their 1st leg last week.
First things first Liverpool need to get back to some sort of form this weekend against a revitalized Man Utd at Old Trafford.
Man Utd were turned over royally last time we met, but that was under Mourinho, but this time it will be different as Soulsya relishes doing to us what he saw Alex Ferguson do in the 90's and he might look like a baby, but he is still an assassin and you can bet your life he will be plotting to see Liverpool fail, so yes, we MUST be ready for them and it will be great to get VanDijk back and good to have Alexander-Arnold too-now if we could only get the Ox back as well!
Okay so we were ready for them and outplayed them first half, but listening to the game I was sitting here and indeed I had said to my Dad earlier, that I would settle for a draw-something not done since the 1990's so this although not a great result points wise its not a great disaster and we'll take that point and put the pressure back on Man City(I am hoping that Chelsea nick the Cup this afternoon) but a 0-0 draw is fine. The only worry is the injury to Firmino, which could be telling if it's bad. Not heard about it yet so fingers crossed its not a bad one.
I found the game a frustrating watch to be honest where the omen's looked good at the start when various injuries to Man Utd players meant they had to shuffle their pack early.But it was a rinse & repeat performance that dogged us in the last 3 games ie Bayern,West Ham & Leicester where touches,playing too much as individuals rather than as a team,set pieces & passing in the final third were poor.I think we had 2 shots on target in the entire game so we probably could have played until next Saturday & still wouldn't have scored.
Whats done is done & no point moping around licking our wounds & so players need their heads knocking together & ask themselves do they want to fight for the Premiership title this season or do they just want to sit back this Summer with regret thinking about what might have been.Next up is Watford at home (who we usually do very well against) midweek so 3 points is a must,no excuses.
^^ I'd agree, it's fine but still 2 points dropped that will probably rankle with Jurgen, as that gives the initiative to City to close the gap further still midweek
Its not long until the 30th Anniversary of Hillsborough(which I remember watching on the BBC as they cut to it) and still no-one has been brought to book over it-David Duckenfield, the match commander made a massive error and I think he is to blame. It has taken so long to come to court but it is a case of gross negligence and dereliction of duty by a man who just lost all control and who should never have been in charge of a such a highly-charged match. I am hoping that is resolved soon, maybe it will take more months and go past the anniversary date, 15th April, but until SOMEONE is charged I shall continue to wear my wristband with pride... Y.N.W.A. Remember the 96 and never forget them.
I'm hoping that Firmino has been rested for Sunday because to bring him back so quickly would be foolish, even on the bench. I am not saying that its going to be an easier game tonight, Watford are a good side(they put 5 past Cardiff City) so we cannot take them for granted. I hope we win, because I can't see West Ham Utd doing us a favour and beating Man City but the points will all count either 1 for a draw or preferably 3 for a win.