Champions League Semi Finals 2008

[abcdef]

So with the time drawing closer, here is a thread for a bit of chat on the two games together before individual match previews and the like are made.
Two exceptional ties are on offer and the possibility of an all English final is there as well.

Liverpool v Chelsea
Barcelona v Man Utd

Personally I think Utd and Liverpool would be a great final, but Chelsea will probably progress. It will be 3rd time lucky for them I feel against liverpool after being edged out in cruel fashion in both previous semis. The difference this time will be that Anfield is the first leg and not the second as in the previous times.
Man utd are the favourites for their tie, given Barcas problems, but only a fool would rule the Spanish giants out. Utds best chance for a final in years, and i hope they will jump at the chance. It all comes down to the best players (ronaldo rooney) performing on the big stage.

[huzup]

What a treat for those who follow English clubs in Europe (cue the barrage of they aint English and we dont give a shoite)
On the Utd Barçelona game - Barca are playing crap at the minute - and I think I'm being generous - however, a team with that much individual talent going forward cannot be discounted on a stage as big as this.
For a neutral - it might be a mouthwatering prospect of if one scores 4, the other will look to score 5, and could be goals galore, but United's defence has been the platform of their success this season - now I'm not implying that they are defensive - that'd be wrong, but when a manager has a solid a defence as AF's , you dont need to worry about setting up your defence, you just concentrate on scoring.
I think most will agree United are the favourites for the competition, and they should go through to the final fairly comfortably - or will they flop at the big stage again.
Now for the second all English tie of the competition - (cruel my arse - no way you could argue they deserved to go through on either occasion - theyve scored 1 goal in 6 games against us in the CL, if thats cruel then I'd advise you to look from a neutral perspective )
It may be sods law that its time Chelsea bit back in Europe against Liverpool, but talking from a football perspective it's going to follow the usual way of a tight affair. With Liverpool having the first leg at Anfield, Liverpool will HAVE to take the lead into the second leg, even if it is a 2-1 lead - Chelsea wont be a constant threat like Arsenal were, so if Rafa does have to play for a 0-0 at the Bridge, he wont be too fazed by that task. We'd love a tie full of goals, but we aint going to get it. With Essien out of the Anfield leg, Rafa has a chance to boss the midfield, and really control the pace of the game. My hope is that it becmes a tactical affair, and Rafa just picks of Chelsea everytime they try something. It's going to be gripping - no doubt about that...but I reckon Liverpool have enough experience and ability to overcome Chelsea again, and set up a mouthwatering tie against Utd in Moscow.

[i like chocolate]

Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea

Barcelona 1-0 Man Utd

Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool

Man Utd 3-1 Barcelona

[redcanuck]

The Liverpool/Chelsea tie is a toss up just like the Liverpool/Arsenal tie. Could go either way. With Essien suspended in the first game, Liverpool should be able to boss the midfield. Injuries to Ballack and Drogba and Lampard's state of mind about his mother are going to hurt Chelsea in the first leg. But Chelsea play that efficient, effective football, I find them boring to watch but they nearly always find a way to grind out a result. Chelsea hasn't scored at Anfield in the Champions League and if they grab an away goal Liverpool will be in serious trouble. With Torres, Aurelio, Alonso and Carragher on the bench and Gerrard out for today's game at Fulham, Benitez is resting his squad for the game on Tuesday. I think Liverpool has to take the game to Chelsea at Anfield and need to win this one and keep a clean sheet. 1-0 maybe enough if they can get a goal at the Bridge, but 2-0 would be better. I still can't pick a winner here and would not be surprised which ever one of them makes the final.

Barcelona are not the same team that beat Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League Final. Ronaldinho will miss the two games through injuries, Henry is playing poorly, Messi maybe back, but will hardly be match fit. Their defense is leaking goals in the Spanish league, Puyol is suspended for the first game, and Thuram, Zambrotta are too old and too slow to deal with United's attacking options. Barcelona are playing a weakened side today in the Spanish League, seemingly given up the league to Real Madrid while United have it all to play for in the Premier and can't really rest anyone against Blackburn. You can't really be sure the condition Barcelona is in with all the conflicting reports coming out of Spain, so there is some chance that Barcelona maybe over estimating the poor state of the team. But I think the difference is United's defence, if Vidic and Ferdinand really are healthy and United get back to playing the defence they have been playing for most of the season, than United should be able to stop Barcelona from scoring enough goals to win this tie. With the return leg at Old Trafford, United have the advantage, an away goal or two and at least a draw and I would be surprised if United don't make the final.

Personally I would love to see a Man United/Liverpool final. Beating our biggest rivals on the biggest stage, especially this year, 50 years after Munich, would be one of our greatest days. But I am sure the Liverpool fans feel the same. If it turns out to be that dream final, the bragging rights would be immense and the losing fans would hear about it for years

[hassan134]

i like chocolate Wrote:Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea

Barcelona 1-0 Man Utd

Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool

Man Utd 3-1 Barcelona

Man Utd to beat BARCELONA 3-1 haha
I think Barcelona are going to finish the tie at their home by beating Man Utd 4-0 or somthin

[Alexander26]

Barca Man Utd will be very close but i think Barcelona will have enough to see of United ( Hopefully ) I cant pick a winner out of Chelsea or Liverpool.

[redcanuck]

hassan134 Wrote:

i like chocolate Wrote:Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea

Barcelona 1-0 Man Utd

Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool

Man Utd 3-1 Barcelona

Man Utd to beat BARCELONA 3-1 haha
I think Barcelona are going to finish the tie at their home by beating Man Utd 4-0 or somthin

4-0, that's just crazy we haven't given up more than two goals in a game all year. Barcelona can't even keep clean sheets in the Spanish League against some pretty terrible teams near the bottom of the table.

Funny how all the Arsenal fans have become Barcelona fans now. I know I always pull for the British teams in Europe, even if United are out.

[abcdef]

huzup Wrote:theyve scored 1 goal in 6 games against us in the CL, if thats cruel then I'd advise you to look from a neutral perspective )

To be fair you havent scored many more. If you go through the two semis, you won 1-0 over two legs with a goal that didnt go in and then went through on pennos and both teams scored the same amount of goals. And whats not to be neutral? I dont support either side...

[huzup]

abcdef Wrote:

huzup Wrote:theyve scored 1 goal in 6 games against us in the CL, if thats cruel then I'd advise you to look from a neutral perspective )

To be fair you havent scored many more. If you go through the two semis, you won 1-0 over two legs with a goal that didnt go in and then went through on pennos and both teams scored the same amount of goals. And whats not to be neutral? I dont support either side...

I think your being harsh on Liverpool implying (intentionally or not) that Chelsea deserved something from the two previous semi-finals. I can only recall 3 chances over the four semi final games that Chelsea created, and shouldve scored. Liverpool went through deservedly, and there was nothing cruel about it - everyone moans about the phantom goal - but would you (anyone) rather conceed a penalty, and lose your keeper (who is regarded by many to be the best in the World) to a red card [in that situation]? All hypothetical, I know - Liverpool did enough, and there was nothing cruel about Chelsea's exit on either occasion.
Just another point (from the second semi [second leg]) - that shouldnt have gone to penalties if the linesman had allowed Dirk Kuyt's goal which there was NOTHING wrong with...so justice was done when Kuyt scored the winning penalty - all will be forgotten on Tuesday at 7.45.

[abcdef]

I am not implying Chelsea deserved anything. The way Chelsea play they dont deserve anything. Liverpool play a defensive breed of football in Europe usually and that works for them. I dont think it will this time. It will work in Chelseas favour. Like when Utd didnt take the game to them in the FA cup fnal last year. We played it their way and lost.
I really hope Liverpool beat Chelsea. I really think any team can feel unlucky if they go out in the manner they did both times. Whether they deserved to or not.