You'll Never Walk Alone !!
They have done it.
"The Reds" have done it yet another time. They have kicked out tournament favourites and last year's winner, the spanish giants barcelona. Barca was outperformed in every aspect of the game. Though Barca was a star studded team, with almost all the players constantly performing on international standards and playing for thr country, Liverpool have shown them what a good team-game is.
Line-ups for the team were
Liverpool:
Reina
Steve Finnan
Jamie Carragher
John Arne Riise
Alvaro Arbeloa
Daniel Agger
Xabi Alonso
Mohammaed Sissoko
Steven Gerrard
Dirk Kuyt
Craig Bellamy
Barcelona
Victor Valdes
Carlos Puyol
Marquez
Lillian Thuram
Oleguer
Deco
Ineista
Xavi
Ronaldinho
Eto'o
Messi
More than anything it was a tactical win for Rafa Benitez. He had answer and a very solid and fatal reply to every move by Rijkaard. Rijkaard was outwitted in every strategy. And Rafa's players gave him tremendous support as well. They were spot on. Every one was aware of his duty. Every one knew the importance of this match, and everyone performed according to the need. Rijkaard was going bonkers. He tried each and everything he could have and shuffled his team formation majorly, but Rafa was unmoved, and so was scorecard.
Best move according to me was making Gerrard a left winger. He is a class act, and i guess one of the few person who can contain Ronadinho, alone !! he was well supported by Riise.Riise also had few good chaces, which unfortunately he was not able to capitalise. Both of them were too good for the brazilian and kept in under control almost entire first half. And Arbeloa though very inexperienced, did a marvelous job in checking Messi. His job was to keep a check on Messi's pace, and he worked like a charm.
Defe
nse was the key for the Merseyside. They had no big names in thr, but collectively they were like an untrespassable wall. Carragher and Finnan were spot on. They made so many crucial tackels and with great perfection, both inside and outside the box. Reina also showed great spirit and hardly made any mistake throughout the game. One of the rare times when he impressed me.
nse was the key for the Merseyside. They had no big names in thr, but collectively they were like an untrespassable wall. Carragher and Finnan were spot on. They made so many crucial tackels and with great perfection, both inside and outside the box. Reina also showed great spirit and hardly made any mistake throughout the game. One of the rare times when he impressed me.And putting Sissoko in place of Mascherano was expected, as "The Reds" wanted more stability in defense and they were counting on counter-attacks only. And they knew Valdes was the weak link in barca defense and they have almost exploited in many a times, but woodwork came up as an unexpected friend for spaniards. Barca defense was very vulnerable and they were extremly weak in air. This is one thing tht recently came up with them and they are suffering major for it.
"the Reds" started with a bang. During first half, Riise got few great chances, but was denied somehow. Valdes made on super-humanly, i call it fluke though, save to deny both Bellamy and Kuyt. Condition was so much with english side that by the time they had like 12 shots at goal, spanish side had ZILCH !! :D. They were aggresive in every aspect of the game. They didnt have much possession, but managed to keep ball in the safe zone almost throughout the match.
But they came back strongly in second half, and made few good attempt, one of which payed off. Godjohnson scored. But then chanting of the anthem "you'll never walk alone" started. and then barca was no more in the game.
Finally liverpool lost 1-0.But due to more away goals, "the Reds" advanced to the next rounds. :)
My wishes with them and yeah, i want to say "You'll Nevere Walk Alone".
Labels: Lord's review, Soccer, Sports, Yaaaaayyyyyyyyyy, YNWA
March 07, 2007 2:11 AM
I dream of seeing Owen back a L'pool.
Steven Gerrard. I have not seen the game but I am sure he had a major role to play.
L'Pool's fortune hinge on his form.
UEFA finals L'Pool again what say pal? top
March 07, 2007 6:07 AM
u too a liverpool fan ??
awesome !!
they gonna win this time..best defence in whole europe top
March 07, 2007 6:09 AM
but i feel player of the match was..carragher/finnan..both of them were phenomenal top
March 07, 2007 9:57 AM
haha
me hardly understand anything :P
since me coming banglore , gimme some basic football fanda :)
red bulls :P top
March 07, 2007 6:01 PM
Damn it man.. Looks like I missed a good game..
Sigh..
Nice write up!
Bachche, Good Luck! top
March 07, 2007 11:31 PM
I already into Steven Gerrard's fan club on orkut.I think I m on Liverpools fans club as well.
Anyways Gerrard should be the captain for England.
He is simply amazing and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
Amazing control and amazing talent. top
March 08, 2007 2:00 AM
@ hemu : samjha doonga bachche..load na le :D
@ sakshi : trust me..too good it was..they actually did what ppl say " haar ke bhi jeet gaye" :P
@ tarun : oh man !! good hai. he is much much better than lampard and has brilliant understanding of the game top
March 08, 2007 7:04 AM
best defence in europe
*ahem ahem* they dont even have best defence in epl mate.. theres a club called you know what... which is much better if they are at full strength. top
March 08, 2007 8:15 PM
@ bhaw : i know what shit u r talking about, but they just made record of most consecutive clean sheets. They are practically unbeatable at anfield.
and defense is not made just by big names, and also the reason for good defense is tht thr midfield is great in defense as well. gerrard, alonso and sissoko.
opnly weak link i feel is reina, but things hardly go to him u see. top