05 Apr 2018 15:49:50
My mood changes far too often, the pragmatist in me wants to say ‘The tie’s not over yet, even if we do get through we’ve still got Real, Barcelona and Bayern in our way, don’t get carried away’ but the little boy in me wants to scream from the rooftops that this is our year. Make no mistake, last night was a performance that will make the European giants **** their pants.

Man City have been clinically designed to be the best team in the world, they have the highest profile manager in the world who’s been given the resources to buy pretty much any player he wants. They have a squad so full of talent that’s doing so well in a tough league that it was practically a given that they would play in the CL final. But then Liverpool tore them apart.

We were magnificent, there’s no other word to describe it. We made a team, which is undoubtedly brilliant, look like a Championship struggler. Klopp has Guardiola spooked, he just doesn’t know how to deal with a Klopp team. It seemed yesterday that the plan was to play deep, draw out the press and play through the gaps but it just didn’t work. The Liverpool forwards just hunted the ball deeper and forced mistake after mistake out of City.

City thought that Sane would tear TAA a new one, TAA was arguably the best player on the pitch. Time and time again the ball was launched at the space behind him and time and time again he either snuffed out the danger of simply collected the ball, it was the first time I’ve watched him and really believed that this is a player good enough to be in a Liverpool first 11.

We got a small slice of luck for Salah’s goal and their disallowed effort should have stood but beyond that we were, by far, the better team. Even in the second half when we decided to shut up shop we were the better team, we kept our composure, we kept calm and every city attack was rendered impotent. I was actually a bit annoyed, I’m still waiting to see Karius be put under pressure to see if he can handle it but he had nothing to do last night.

If we get through Real, Barcelona and Bayern will all hope to avoid us because they just won’t have a clue how to approach the game. They’re used to their opposition being cagey, giving up possession to keep things tight at the back, they’re not used to opponents who give them no respect. If they play their usual games then Liverpool will do to them what we did to City last night. It’s a problem they simply don’t want to have to deal with.

But even now, after saying all that, the doubt starts creaping back in. I watched the game in the pub filled with mainly Liverpool fans and the tension was palpable. Even after Mane scored no one believed the game or tie was over, there was an expectation that City would score again. In the last 5 minutes it didn’t feel like we were 3-0 up, if felt like we were drawing and City were chasing a winner. We should get through to the semis, we have nothing to fear from our potential opponents in the next round and who knows what could happen if we reach the final but to achieve the dream we need to play for another 6 hours without dropping our concentration, one poor 15 minute spell could end things for us.

Liverpool have all the tools to win the Champions’ League but no other team still in the competition has the potential to self-destruct like we can. If we do make it through, the next month is going to leave me a nervous wreck.

1.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 16:06:45
Even with the win last night only 1 teams name is on the trophy. Imo its Real Madrids again.

2.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 16:20:59
I do enjoy your posts Putney- you have a knack of saying exactly what I'm thinking! Keep it up mate.

3.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 16:31:09
I honestly think Real Madrid are our biggest hurdle.
Barca are beatable as were Man City last night. High press and close them down early. Chelsea stopped them at Stamford bridge and Chelsea stopped at the Nou camp.
We won’t.
Bayern aren’t the team they used to be, yea they have got to semi final. So have we (one foot in the door)
If Man City drew Bayern instead of us. Man Cortney would of been favourites. We took Man City apart.
Real Madrid have hit form at the right time for there Champions league hopes.
Ronaldo is near on unplayable and there certainly firing on all cylinders everywhere else on the pitch.
Bayern or Barca, I’d fancy us to take it in the Semi.
Final against Madrid. anyone’s game

To long dreaming, now start believing.

4.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 16:37:21
Great read Putney, fair play!

5.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 17:39:29
I honestly think City’s points total and record in the league flatters to deceive. Don’t get me wrong they’re still the best team in the league but they had a thundering start and since then teams have basically bent over for them every game being too afraid to attack. If you park the bus against them, you get a rodgering. If you have a go at them, they’re suspect at best - see wolves, Bristol City x2 and us.

I still think they would have won the league this year but in much less devastating fashion if people hadn’t been such wussies when playing them, even the Chelsea’s of the worl set up not to get beat/ battered.

6.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 17:39:40
Cheer up Walter you miserable sod.

7.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 18:09:03
Very good post, PR BUT a few things. Those offside calls were marginal calls and if that had happened against us, I would not have complained cos having played the game for a long time at a decent level, those can happen. N btw, you need some luck to win in this competition BUT it's not like they got robbed cos they were not even competing in the game.

Also, the so called pen vs Robbo is again, touch and go cos the ball was shot straight at his arm and what do people expect him to do? Cut his arm off? Also, on the tackle on Sterling that hit his arm when he slid in, again is he supposed to cut his arm off? The City fans and the manager and players can moan all they want about things that have nothing to do with the facts of the game. City had NO shots on target in 93 mins of play. THAT is the main fact here and no amount of false narratives from the spoiled City brat players and fans, will change that. I would ask that they focus on this fact BUT I know they won't.

As for what will happen next week or later in the competition, I simply cannot think that far cos frankly, it's not the time to do that yet. Doubts are fine as that just shows that we are human so not bothered really with that. Let's just focus on Everton then, the second leg will take care of itself. If we go thru and provided we don't get Real who are no. 1 favs for the CL, I'm good with whoever we get and if we get Real then, so be it.

8.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 18:17:03
I love a good semi😁.

9.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 18:31:09
Negativewalter keep those pessimistic posts coming mate they seem like a lucky charm. Maybe one how the Ev will do us at the weekend.

10.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 18:41:43
Agree with everything apart from the city goal. Sane was definitley offside. Only just but definitley off.

11.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 18:47:51
Liverpool will win, said from day one, next round we’ll get real and then Barcelona in the final.

12.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 18:49:02
We would smash all of those teams over 2 legs.
Final is always a bit of a lottery, players either freeze or are inspired. Their performance goes up or down 10%.

We will be in the final, absolutely certain of it. 🏆.

13.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 20:22:53
I don't watch real enough, have seen enough of Barcelona tho to know they will be a far bigger challenge than some are saying. They've added a defensive steel and pragmatism to their style. And of course they still have messi. Their interplay has the potential to tear our midfield and defense to shreds as we are still vulnerable to being passed around.

14.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 20:30:55
Love reading your posts Putney 💪.

15.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 20:44:30
I think Real are the main hurdle. Barcelona if they come out like they did at Stanford will get ripped. But going to the nou camp is a different story, plus messi is messi, if it's his game, he's hard to stop.

Bayern are still a good side but not quite the power house they were.

Real Madrid are in form and love europe like we do, Ronaldo is banging them in for fun however they do concede goals.

Think madrid is the strongest but any of the teams could win it on their night.

Though i remember being a wee lad watching Instanbul. Something about liverpool in Europe is just different, like last nights game i wasn't there but still getting goosebumps from just seeing/ hearing the atmosphere on videos. We definitely are in it as much as the other teams!

16.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 22:00:24
I honestly think Bayern are the best team left. For me this a poor Madrid side and Ronaldo the only inspiration (which brings a lot to the table), Barcelona are ok, but similar to city if we play our game we will smash them. Bayern are a solid team, but still beatable.

17.) 05 Apr 2018
05 Apr 2018 23:36:26
Mad max, as we have seen over the past 3 seasons in the CL, CR7 is all you need as things stand.