UCL: Benfica x Liverpool (P+R)

[Virgo]

well it's my opinion, at least in the defence and the midfield, I don't think Leo/Nelson are worse than Riise/Finnan, that Luisao/Anderson at their best are worse than Carragher/Hyypia.

In the midfield I'm hoping to finally see a trio with Petit/Manuel Fernandes/Karagounis, which would probably be solid enough to hold Gerrard/Xabi Alonso/Sissoko. And Simao is a better player than Kewell although he's been playing miserably since the christmas break.

In the attack Liverpool have much more options than us so it's no contest there and I rate Reina higher than Moretto who's been a disappointing signing. Hope Koeman picks Quim who's a more reliable keeper.

 

[Punkt]

i have your opinion. we don't have a much worst team in the defence and midfield if our players be in their top shape. in the attack Liverpool is better and has more options. and i still think we have the best team in Portugal. with a real manager we would be leaders confortably. Camacho with a much worst squad made 75 points.

 

[Johnny_Big]

Camacho's job isn't called here. We all know he did a good job. The problem is that Benfica isn't at his best...the players aren't showing attitude, nor scoring goals. Like this...things get difficult...

 

[::shinji::]

that's true. I don't see us making too many more upsets with Koeman in charge. I find him to be a very cowardly manager, and his obsession with a sh!t player like Beto is beyond logic.

 

[INFESTA]

I hope there isn't a lot of diving in the game, but maybe I just have a bad association - I always think Portugese sides dive all the time. I hope they prove me wrong

Oh, but that is true. We do it all the time and love it.

 

[::shinji::]

I hope there isn't a lot of whining after the game, but maybe I just have a bad association - I always think English fans whine all the time. I hope they prove me wrong

 

[AberdeenFC]

yes but how many liverpool fans here are actually english. we're all glory hunters

 

[pede54]

Well, if we play like we've been doing lately, we'll be murdered. Anyway, like others said, this is a special game. We CAN beat Liverpool, but it will be extremely hard, we'll have to be at our best. They're clearly favourites. Must confess I'm not confident, I can't see us going past Liverpool, but who knows? Hope they manage to prove me wrong and give me some joy.

League form has no bearing whatsoever in the Champions League. Last season, Liverpool were absolute s.h.it in the EPL, but went on to win the CL.
Its all about what happens on the night. It has nothing to do with how your team played last week, nothing at all. Anyway as long as your side can score more than one goal, you can win it, because Liverpool struggle to score one goal let alone more than one. If you allow them to get the first goal, then you spend the rest of the match trying to get through an 11 man defence. Then it will be very difficult.

 

[Djibril Cisse]

I don't think they are better in every position, their keeper IMHO sucks, and they start a player like Carragher.

But overall, Liverpool does have a much better group of players than Benfica....

Start a player like Carragher ....? what the hell does that mean I don't think Benfica is a strong as Real Betis IMO and if we can beat them at home Benfica shouldn't be too much of a concern

 

[pede54]

I hope there isn't a lot of whining after the game, but maybe I just have a bad association - I always think English fans whine all the time. I hope they prove me wrong

Man, some fans of a losing team whine, wherever they come from. Why do you imply its an English thing? I remember plenty of Spaniards whining when Chelsea knocked them out of the CL last season. Lots of Italians whined when Liverpool won the CL final last season. Some English fans do whine , but no more than any other fan from any other country.

 

[Socrates]

I actually think this will be a pretty close game 1-1 is what im thinking will happen but MAYBE Benfica can pull a win Manuel Fernandes to score a long range cracker in this one...like the one vs Villarreal.

 

[::shinji::]

Man, some fans of a losing team whine, wherever they come from. Why do you imply its an English thing? I remember plenty of Spaniards whining when Chelsea knocked them out of the CL last season. Lots of Italians whined when Liverpool won the CL final last season. Some English fans do whine , but no more than any other fan from any other country.

I was replying to champdave's comment earlier, it was a tongue in cheek remark anyhow. relax.

 

[pede54]

yeah i went back a page and saw his post. My mistake. I'm very relaxed thank you

 

[::shinji::]

no problem.

 

[Fernandez]

Liverpool can underestimate Benfica at their own risk. Benfica owned us last time out.

 

[Vinnie Jones]

I think Liverpool will get a draw or a narrow win, maybe even a loss if things don't go well on the night. I hope there isn't a lot of diving in the game, but maybe I just have a bad association - I always think Portugese sides dive all the time. I hope they prove me wrong

Let the whining and excuses begin

 

[Virgo]

I don't think Benfica is a strong as Real Betis IMO and if we can beat them at home Benfica shouldn't be too much of a concern

of course we aren't as strong as the 19th placed in La Liga

in fact we'd be a sunday league team in England according to the likes of Andy Gray.

 

[MaSsiVe]

Start a player like Carragher ....? what the hell does that mean

In my opinion, every single one of the Benfica defenders is better than Carragher.
I think the mistery is now solved...

 

[Luis Ah-Hoy]

Start a player like Carragher ....? what the hell does that mean I don't think Benfica is a strong as Real Betis IMO and if we can beat them at home Benfica shouldn't be too much of a concern

Well, we played against a better side than Betis (-->Villareal), and we deserved the win in both games we played against them... the second leg was lost because our junior GK --> Rui "Azelha" Nereu gifted them with a wonderfull blooper, and the lack of efficiency of Nuno Gomes (who is a total crap in European games)...

So... we definitely are stronger than Betis...

 

[Johnny_Big]

That doesn't mean anything. Betis was in a pretty bad form and manage to do great things, like win Chelsea. They were without strikers! Don't just compare the games...