by lets-joga.blogspot.com

Nah- Robert is just a guy whose not used to a winning team.
LFC as an institution are behind their team. They’ve done it for years and the team will most likely win again. It’s just one of those things, I guess.

It’s a massive boost being the underdog again. Milan seem to think they can just show up and play flattering football and Liverpool will go away. Same as Barca. Chelsea just made it worse by their pre-match comments.

Are you a bitter little Chelsea fan by any chance?

Subs: Dudek, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Pennant, Kewell, Crouch, Fowler

In essence this gives Liverpool the platform to dominate (or as Benitez likes to put it….”control”) the game.

Sissoko will provide the energy and could be given the job of man marking Seedorf. Mascherano will almost certainly mark Kaka out of the game and Alonso will seek to control the tempo i.e. by slowing it down, switching the play from right to left or vice versa and picking up the ball outside his own penalty area and quickly turning defence into attack. Also don’t be surprised to see him spray balls over and through the Milan defence to utilise Bellamy’s pace to get in behind. Whether it works or not depends on Bellamy and whether he can time his runs.

Gerrard will operate behind the front two but his primary role will be to get beyond both strikers and take shots on goal. For this to work Kuyt will have to hold the ball up effectively and lay it off for the on rushing Gerrard.

If these tactics don’t work we have enough players on the bench to change the game in our favour. All three of Kewell, Pennant and Crouch provide very good attacking alternatives.

In comparision, Milan’s XI will be familiar and of course the usual suspects Kaka and Seedorf will provide the threat in the final 3rd. However to put it plainly, Liverpool have more attacking alternatives on their bench then Milan. In fact, of Milan’s subs that I think will feature, only Serginho might cause us a problem.

Predictions are always hard to make, but whichever way Benitez decides to go in terms of player selection and formation I think it will most likely be a 1-0 or 2-1 win for Liverpool in the 90 mins.

Honest opinion…

GK – Reina (Sub: Dudek)
RB – Finnan (Sub: Abreloa)
LB – Riise (Sub: Aurelio – can cover left midfield)
CB – Carragher (can cover right back)
CB – Agger (Sub: Hyppia, exp counts)
DM – Mascherano
CM – Alonso (Sub: Gonzalez/Kewell – anyone’s guess)
RM – Pennant
AM – Gerrard
ST/LM – Kuyt (Sub: Fowler, c’mon its his last match)
ST – Crouch (Sub: Bellamy, could be his last too)

Pity Zenden and Sissoko not available….

Come on Reds… Bring back the CL to Merseyside…

Attacking advantage goes to Milan. This has to be admitted. They have flair and genious. Liverpool lack both, but score, rather, through force of will. This, though, is not as effective as scoring through sheer talent.

Defensive advantage goes to Liverpool. A.C. Milan is slow and wins because they usually score more goals than they conceed. Plus their keeper is very dodgey and more than should be tolorated makes a total mess of things.

The betting sights give a slight edge to Milan, and they know best. Nothing makes one objective like sheer monitary gain. They have Liverpool about 30% and Milan at about 40% with the draw the other 30%.

They are giving Milan’s revenge factor more value than Liverpool’s “Big game” performance boost.

I say it’s a coin flip but consider this – Nobody will blame Liverpool for failing this time, but Milan will FOREVER be labelled a “Super-talented failure” if they loose again. The pressure might just be too much for them…….Who knows.

Liverpool Fan,
James