Massacre at Anfield - Liverpool 8-0 Besiktas

The setting: Rafa benitez's 50th European game in charge of Liverpool. Liverpool has managed to pull just one point out of 9 in the last three champions league games and Benitez is the man under fire for his obscure team selection. Even a draw and Liverpool are out of Champions league. But spirit is high at Anfield. Liverpool's new American owners have got the go-ahead from the local council to build a 60000 stadium at Stanley Park. Peter Crouch gets his chance on the frontline after months of warming the bench. Also, key central defender of Besiktas, Gokhan Zan is out with a injury.

The heroes:

Yossi Benayoun 31',52',55': Riise releases Voronin down the left. Voronin's cross to the center and Yossi Benayoun has an easy time putting it in. Benayoun's second goal, it's voronin-riise-Benayoun again. Arikan parries off Riise's shot and Benayoun finishes from six yards for Liverpool's third goal. Benayoun's third goal came 2 minutes after the second. Voronin is in it again. Voronin is fouled on the edge of the box, Steven Gerrard takes the free kick and it is too powerful for Arikan to hold. Benayoun finishes fron close-up once again.

Ryan Babel 78',80': Comes in on the 62th minute for Fabio Aurelio. Benayoun crosses low from the right, a clever back heel and it's Liverpool's goal six. Babel deflects in the seventh off Ibrahim Uzulmez's clearance. Babel misses a hat-trick by a whisker as his header comes off the cross-bar.

Peter Crouch 18',88': Voronin prods a pass through the middle to Crouch. Crouch forces his way between two defenders and takes the shot, only to see Arikan block it. Crouch follows up for his second only goal of the season. Benayoun's cross and Peter Crouch finishes off the game with a header.

Steven Gerard 68': It is Voronin's day. Voronin plays Gerrard in a fine one-two and Gerrard scores with a dipping drive. Arikan has no clue where the ball is.

What follows?

Liverpool still have to win the remaining two games against Marseilles and Porto to go through to the next round. But confidence is one thing they won't be short of.

Liverpool's next fixture:

Liverpool - Porto 28 November 2007 Anfield

Liverpool v/s Chelsea (4-1 penalties), Semi-Final second Leg, Anfield

In an earlier post I said "If Liverpool get their basics right then they can pose a serious threat to Chelsea's chances of playing in their first champions league final". And that was exactly what they did and they did it quite in style. Rafa's boys meant business right from the start. While the blues were still settling into the rythym, Reds were out in full flow. It was good to see Peter Crouch in the starting line up as it assured that Liverpool would be giving it their best shot. On the other hand, Carvalho's absence meant Chelsea'd be vulnerable at the back. Mascherano and Gerrard were in best of their forms.

Liverpool was applying good pressure and was aptly rewarded around mid-way through the first half. Boy o boy they are damn good at set-pieces. They made mistakes in the first leg, but no mistakes this time. A superbly taken free-kick from Gerrard(to Blue's surprise it was a grounded one), while all the defenders were concentrating on the aerial threat posed by Peter Crouch, Agger made his move and a sweet little touch was enough to send the ball into the back of the net. No chance for Peter Cech. The free-kick spoke of the volumes of practice that had gone in it. I think Rafa needs an applause here. So it was all square now, 1-1 on aggregate, damn interesting!!!!!!!

Didier Drogba had a chance minutes later when a stray pass from Mascherano was played to him by Kalou. This was a placement thing, but Drogba chose power and Jose Reina is a world class keeper. In a nutshell, a good save from the keeper and a slight misjudgment from the Ivory Coast striker.

Soon at the outset of second half Crouch had his real chance at goal. Good-good air ball from Pennant(he was in superb form last night) but Englishman's touch was well too mundane for the man from Czech Republic, an easy save. The goal keeper again came to Chelsea's rescue in the first period of extra time, when Mascherano's pass found Kuyt in an onside position. Cech was once again brilliant in denying Xabi Alonso (it was a good strike) with a dive to his right.

But after all it turned out to be Jose Reina's night. With his two saves in the penalty shootout(one from Arjen Robben and the another one from Geremi) he booked his and his teammates tickets to Athens.

Overall an interesting clash, Rafa scores once more over Jose in a Cup title clash. This clash'll do no good to the already bitter rivalry between the two clubs.

Now what remains to be seen is whether "Man great U" can prevent a replay of the 2005 Champions League Final. As for me I'd place my money on ManU, and with the fitness news of Ferdinand and Vidic doing rounds I'd raise my bet!!!!!!!

So keep your eyes glued to your television sets tonight.
For some nice pics from last night's match:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6611405.stm

Second Semi-Final--Chelsea v/s Liverpool (1-0), Stamford Bridge

The blues have done it once more, though not with an aplomb this time. It was not an entertaining game to watch, not at all a display of sublime, free-flowing football. Nevertheless, Chelsea deserve a hand here. Liverpool as per their playing style didn't let Chelsea to get their moves going, but they themselves were not able to capitalise on very few set-peices chance that came their way. So, it was a very disciplined performance from Jose's side, not giving away easy free kicks and corners, hence preventing the Liverpool threat.

Drogba was impressive once more, setting up Joe Cole for the only goal of the match. He was involved in another good chance(this time) with Lampard, a ferocious shot from the later(half-volley, on the run, too good!!!) but keeper Reina was up to the job.

I'd say still an open contest this one, only one home goal advantage, if Liverpool gets basics right next time, they can turn it to their advantage.

For some pics form the match:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6592631.stm

First Semi Final--Man Utd V/S A.C.Milan (3-2), Old Trafford

huh, atlast United makes it........what a thriller!!! you had to watch this nail-biting competition between two of the best sides in Europe till the very end.
The best part, none of the star players disappointed us, ample of goals, ample of trickery(Ronaldo, kaka', Seedorf) it was a complete package.

With Christiano Ronaldo's goal in 9th min, it seemed it'll be his match, he looked hungry. After the goal from the header, he took another shot (was on the left flang, cuts in, changes to his natural foot and boom goes the shot, no scare for Dida this time). Minutes later another glimpse of the brilliance being called Ronaldo, this time an on-target, powerful shot(out of nowhere) that too with his left, Dida somehow manages to keep it away. Ryan Giggs proved(once more) that there's plenty of football left in him, this guy plays with lots of head on his shoulders, what a ball was it inside the D and a good shot from Carrick, but Dida was on his toes this time(he looked clumsy at the start).

Then we'd Kaka's brilliance--nice pass from Seedorf and a well timed run from the Brazilian, beats Heinze and a good-good shot to beat Van Der Sar. For his second goal Kaka' caught United off-guard on the counter attack and single handedly beats 3 defenders(Evra, Henize, Brown), genius personified!!!!

In the end it turned out to be Rooney's game . Two late goals(the second one very late into the stoppage time) and job done, Ronaldo's thunder stolen, Rooney satisfied [:-)]. For the first goal he was brilliantly setup by a clever lob from Paul Scholes and the second one was a trademark Rooney shot.

For some nice Pics from this thriller:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6589369.stm

Man Utd V/S A.S.Roma

ManU(7)-AS Roma(1)

that is what we call some performance man!!!!! uff, one heck of a game, a dream come true for ManU fans like me, absolute delight, right from start till the end, goals all over and nearly everybody joining the party. Carrick, Ronaldo, Rooney, Evra, Smith and Though giggs didn't score he made 2 with his pin-point passes. Heartbreak for Roma fans who travelled all the way from Italy to Old Trafford to watch their team being slaughtered in the mecca of English football. I wish that every playday turns out to be like yesterday for united, that they play every time like this, amen!!!!
for some nice photos from the match:--
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6542335.stm

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE’07--STAGE OF LAST 16

Well for the spectators atleast this is as good as it gets, all power packed games now on,. and for clubs, triumphs for some and tears for the rest, each game is a battle, and the home and away games funda is like icin on cake again for spectators.

So, guys here we go:--

Chelsea v/s porto

Mourinho’s game, one club(porto) whom he helped to win the trophy 2 yrs back, and the other his present club, who he has helped win two successive EPL titles, but will he conquer Europe this time??? If he does then that surely’ll be a slap in Roman Abramovich’s face.

Well Chelsea won this time, lets wait for the next leg of this game

ManU V/S Lille
(1-0)

Lille upset ManU last time, but this time call it god’s grace, or gigs presence of mind(mingled with his brilliance) or refree’s foolishness, ManU won this controversial game. I’m still not sure what the hell happened on field that day, but being a red’s supporter as long as they win doen’t matters to me.

Fergy this one for u, control ur temper man, after u r “Sir Alex Fergusson”

Liverpool V/S Barcelona
(2-1)

Typical Liverpool win, fight till the end and u’ll succeed. Boy, this club makes u see the fruitfulness of hard-work. This game was a feast for spectators, fluidly flowing Barcelona game against air balls and set-pieces of Liverpool(they are really good at this)

What a ball it was from Zambrotta into the centre of Liverpool D, absolute beauty and it met its end(into the back of the net from Deco’s head(superb finsh—Reyna had no chance)

Full marks to Craig Bellamy(though he missed a chance in 1^st half) for being ever-watchful and super quick. Not surprisingly Kuyt was again un-impressive, he spills the ball very easily and then rushes like a kid to get the ball back and seldom he gets it. Anfiled has not been blessed with a good striker since Owen left..Rafa u got something to think abot here, u won’t get lucky everytime

Everything to watch for in the next match. Pressure’ld be on Barca, Liverpool is riding on the cushion of 2 away goals, but this’ll make the game all the more interesting, and good news to Baraca fans—Eto’o is back

Real Madrid V/S Bayer munich
(3-2)

Boy what a game, 5 goals absolute treat. And beckham once again proved his dominance in giving pin-point passes. When it come to giving air balls this guy is in a all together diff league. And Bayern doesn’t gives up easily, in the end they had scored 2 away goals, so this game is wide open, don’t miss this one