On another note, you often read about using Origi out wide to make use of his pace. But is he actually all that fast? Don't think I've ever seen him successfully use pace to beat a player?
Liverpool are the first English side to qualify for back-to-back Champions League semi-finals since both Chelsea and Manchester United did so in three campaigns between 2006-07 and 2008-09. Liverpool are now unbeaten in their four European trips to Porto (W2 D2); the Reds have only visited Barcelona as many times in all European competition without suffering defeat. Each of the 18 Champions League goals Liverpool have scored and the 15 that Porto have conceded in the competition this season have come from inside the area. Only Steven Gerrard (21) has scored more European Cup/Champions League goals for Liverpool than Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, who have all moved level with Ian Rush on 14 goals each.
The drop off in quality with Wijnaldum (his usual away disappearing act), Milner and Origi was palpable in the first half. Maybe Wijnaldum has played too much football this season? Lucky for us that, especially, Marega is a carthorse. Second half we had better control and the threat which Firmino added in the final third swung the game decisively in our favour. Bring on Cardiff. By the way, Ericksen gets a lot of praise but it was his sloppiness which led to Man City’s “ruled out” goal. He’s a fit for Spurs.
To be fair rush would have had a few more goals if the format was the same with groups back when he played.
When Porto scored, it was the away end that went insane, because the song they played over the speakers was the Gini Wijnaldum song. Porto 1-4 Liverpool | Gini SongPorto score to make it 2-1 and then proceed to play the Gini song in the stadium!! 🤣Instant Match Reaction: https://t.co/OCfjaykJRw pic.twitter.com/boGdoYEmHe— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) April 17, 2019
I think you have to give Porto credit for the way they started. Fortunately they had Altidore playing up front so they didn't make it pay. It took awhile for us to figure them out, but we did eventually. Not that Origi was necessarily bad, but we really missed Bobby dropping deep to help us retain the ball. That was a textbook lesson in how having ruthless finishers makes all the difference in the CL.
Yeah but. That wild slash by Sadio after he'd done the hard work should have made it 5. The couple of times he tried he was pretty easily run down.
May 1 is my Birthday. It'd be a nice pressie. Just saying. Another nice thought would be for you guys to arrange a trip for me to the Nou Camp. I'ts been a few years since I've been to Barcelona.
https://www.11v11.com/teams/liverpool/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Barcelona/ We have some (relatively) recent history with barca, having played them in the UEFA Cup in 00-01 and the CL in 01-02 and 06-07. We've won all three meetings in home/away knockout ties while we played them in the 2nd group stage in 01-02.
The final score didn't reflect the feeling of the game for the first 25', that was nervy watching. But pretty nicely done after we got going, especially the second half. Barca should be fun. Wow Hendo's been great lately.
He's been great, hasn't he? There is a more urgent dimension to his touch (and passing) which seemed to have deserted him in recent seasons. I think the competition for places has much to answer for this. And his own individual willingness to raise his game.
Hey - Well, he didn't play for a huge chunk of his career - as we were banned from european football after 1985.... and then we weren't at the top of the league any more when they re-instated British Teams. Rush & Liverpool would have higher numbers were that not the history....
Hello Liverpool, I'm looking forward to an amazing tie and a good show for the game. I've been impressed with how solid Liverpool have made themselves this season after solidifying the midfield with some shrewd transfer business (paying off now I see with Keita), and the growth of Van Dijk into a world class leader. From my Barcelona perspective, I am not particularly looking forward to the match-up of Klopp vs. Valverde. Barcelona have been prone to giveaways lately in dangerous positions, and Busquets was off form against United. Valverde tends to be very reactive instead of sending his team out to be more proactive and out for blood. The side does not dictate in the same way it did in the Xaviesta era. I think the only difference in Barcelona you can expect (from the United tie) is probably Dembele over Coutinho in the starting XI (despite the latter's improvement lately). The other other debated choice will be right back (Semedo or Roberto). Semedo is the better choice imo versus Mane. Mane would eat Roberto alive. These are the only two genuine debates for me. Messi versus Robertson will be fun as will Salah-Alba. I am interested to see if Klopp's springs any surprises (Salah up top, or at least interchanging with Firmino). My head is leaning towards Pool as the favorite just because of the weakness I've seen lately in Barcelona's build up play. However, you absolutely must capitalize early as this Barca team grows in strength over the course of a match as both the team and Valverde settle in. Cheers all. Let's have one to remember.
I was super nervous up until the first goal as Porto were all over us. Like mentioned above...it just shows why clinical finishers are so important, and hard to find. So many talented players but that consistency in getting those goals when needed is just crucial. Porto could have probably had 5 goals in the first half alone. Barcelona will not be so forgiving. I think they will be some amazing games really. Messi is in such incredible form that I'm terrified of whether or not we can actually defend him but we will see. I'd really love to see Ajax in the final with Liverpool. Also Firmino being out just continues to show why I still think he's our most important player. Without him our team was essentially resorting to hoofball and completely panicked...I don't really think it was related to the midfield; I just think we've become incredibly reliant on Firmino's influence. He is, along with van Dijk, our most important player. Up the Reds!
Personally if I were barca I'd play Vidal instead of Busquets.... to try to stem the power of Liverpool's midfield. But they won't.
It’s an epic tie. I couldn’t call it, seems a coin flip based on many different factors that could go one way or another. But LFC should feel they can win this tie, and then the trophy.