[TheMutts]

Liverpool has just recieved a very disappointing result at Anfield. We tied are champions league match against FC Basel. This is really bad and we may not advance to the next round.

http://liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown...20925-2137.htm

[Matt Clark]

That’s not the case. It was a disappointing result, mainly due to a very flat second-half performance, but our qualification from this group is by no means at risk. True, the double-header against Spartak Moscow now becomes more of a focus, but we should be able to beat them both home and away over the next three weeks.

Meanwhile Basel, our only credible threat to qualification, will be playing Valencia home and away. And losing both games. Which means that when all four teams come out of these mid-phase doubleheaders, Liverpool can confidently expect to have 7 points to Basel’s 4. Meaning that we can actually afford to draw Valencia at home and still progress courtesy of no more than a draw at the St Jakob in November.

This is no time for panic stations. We’ll be fine unless we goof up against a quite extraordinarily poor Moscow side.

As to the game yesterday, it was the same old story. Dominance is one thing, authority another. In the first half we combined the two to good effect and could easily have been 4-0 up by the time they scored on a lucky break in what turned out to be their only actual chance of the game. For which Carra was at fault, it has to be said. The Aitches were blatantly playing Rosso offside, but Jamie was a good five yards off the pace. Reminded me of Campbell’s goal in the derby a couple of seasons back, in that respect.

But as has been the case so often this season, we have failed to capitalise on being both dominant and in control of the flow of the game. After the break, Basel played with composure and solidity, never threatening us with another goal, but ensuring that our chances to score one of our own were also progressively ground down. Which is our biggest current failing. The more a team frustrates us, the more we cede authority, We retain dominance, in terms of possession and playing at their end, but we lose the groove, we become increasingly predictable and, consequently, easier to deal with. It’s a vicious circle. Houllier’s introduction of Diouf and Berger was a clear acknowledgement of that fact.

Having said that, it was a bright display in the first half and if we give that sort of a battering to Moscow then we will be fine.

Individually, I was vaguely disappointed with Cheyrou in the first half, who turned in a rather lacklustre display. He needed to go looking for the ball more to help Spud and Gerrard out. He re-emerged from the break with a Thommo shaped bootprint on his backside and was a much brighter subsequent presence. Heskey had an appalling game. I know it is not his natural position, but an outside midfielder has just one dedicated opponent to beat and, given that Emmo’s principal qualities are strength and pace, you would expect him to at least try that. It was incredibly frustrating. If you’re not going to play the lad in his best position, up front with Mickey, then don’t bloody play him at all.

Must mention to their left-back, he was ********ing superb! Very very special.

And the fans - they were tremendous too. Best away support we have had at Anfield since … dunno when. Since ever, it seems. You certainly get nothing even remotely close from the Premiership.

PS - I write this with no small hangover lurcking over me, as much fun was had with 4000 delirious Swiss fans in town after the match.

[Foxhound]

Ever the optimist eh Matt ...

Face it, your team is nowhere near the standard capable of winning the cup - likewise the premiership. This was your easiest game and yet again you blew it.

[Matt Clark]

"Nowhere near", eh? Bold words from a man clearly uninterested in credibility,

We won't win the Champions League any time soon, no, but finishing second in the Premiership with the third highest total ever amassed is definitely "somewhere near" winning the title. And here we are again, second in the Premiership, 2 points behind Arsenal (who, presumably, ARE near winning the title) and, which is the really delicious part, we haven't even started playing well yet!

There's 18 teams below us that would happily swap. But they're not as good as us, so they can't.

Next!

[Matt Clark]

And, just to compound the hapless nature of your attempt at making a contribution, this was not our easiest game either. Spartak Moscow are much worse than Basel. And were always going to be.

But hey, thanks for stopping by!

[Foxhound]

Who have you played ? I'm not trolling (well ok maybe I am) but I just can't see the Scousers as a force this year. Houlllier in hospital for half of last season was the main reason you finsihed second. Yes, there you are, that is the reason why you will never win anything more than an FA Cup. Gerald Houllier is pants and basically Arsenal (pains me to say) are infinitely better.

But I do admire your "never say die" spirit. I don't think I mean to be sarcastic when i say that I wish I waere an optimist. Mind you theres a thin line between one of those and a dreamer ...

[Foxhound]

Keep it nice please Matthew. No nastiness now

[liverbird]

I'll not hammer the witless. Liverpool played very well last night, we simply couldn't get a group of chances to go. Their keeper played well and once Basel scored on their single chance they played an intelligent bunkering game which we found hard to breakdown. Having said that, Liverpool simply failed to covert chance after chance. The luck will turn as long as the lads keep working. Mikie dragged two and three defenders around the pitch and left Baros and others with lots of room. We sorely missed Didi --- Gerrard spent too much effort winning the ball and couldn't get forward to help out the attack as much as he would have with Didi there. Cheyrou never really provided the linking needed. Carragher is Carragher --- solid, likely to make one mistake a game, no real threat going forward, and caught out by pace. Having said that we must give Basel credit --- I saw them provide the same frustration to Celtic at their home.

[LiverpoolFanatic]

Originally posted by Foxhound
Who have you played ? I'm not trolling (well ok maybe I am) but I just can't see the Scousers as a force this year. Houlllier in hospital for half of last season was the main reason you finsihed second. Yes, there you are, that is the reason why you will never win anything more than an FA Cup. Gerald Houllier is pants and basically Arsenal (pains me to say) are infinitely better.

But I do admire your "never say die" spirit. I don't think I mean to be sarcastic when i say that I wish I waere an optimist. Mind you theres a thin line between one of those and a dreamer ...

And who pray tell do you support? Boston Utd I expect.

Saying that we finished second because GH was out half the year last season is beyond laughable. Come back when you know something.

[Matt Clark]

Isn't it amazing? Utter gobshite. Incredible. I always wonder what the motivation is. I mean, I won't go and hang out on some other team's thread and start giving it the big one, because I don't know as much about the team as the people who actually support it (well, on Bigsoccer that is often untrue, but that's another thread). But this is more like going to a site for another SPORT and trying it on. How embarrassing a past-time is that? What is the point? Where's the basic self-respect, essentially? I mean, what enjoyment is to be had from the following process:

1) Make crap statement
2) Get reamed
3) Make crap statement
4) Get reamed
5) ...

Get a life man. Jesus.

Anyhoo, to those of you with a brain and a clue, I think this thread has adequately summed up our current position. If we bugger it up against Moscow, then we will be in serious trouble. But that aside, this is all just a matter of momentum. Remember that this time last season we were drawing at home with Boavista. It took a double-header against another east European team to really get things going.