Eye witness report from Anfield - as promised

[T Fearon]

Firstly the atmosphere was arguably the most fanatical I have ever experienced and I've been to the likes of the Bernabeau, Nou Camp, Stadio Olympico in Rome, numerous Old Firm games (including an Old Firm Scottish Cup Final) and Celtic V Juventus and Man Ure in the Champions League at parkhead.

Secondly the quality of play was first rate throughout, the skill level phenomenal, and I almost felt sorry for the goons but alas their inability to deal with high balls ( a quite basic flaw) and lack of temperament at the back ( toure panicked big time against Babel), are the main reasons why they wont have any trophies on display this year in contrast to the likes of Spurs and Man Ure. It was a clear penalty by the way,as I was seated at that side of the stadium and had a clear view.Benitez showed himself to be three times the tactician that Wenger is.

Thirdly Anfield is a shit stadium for a club that has won the European Cup 5 times. No screen, lack of leg room for even small people in the seats, but paradoxically the compactness lends itself to such an intimidating atmosphere that the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal cannot cope with on Champions League occasions.

[ziggysego]

How many hot dogs did you munch your way through?

[nrico2006]

but paradoxically the compactness lends itself to such an intimidating atmosphere that the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal cannot cope with on Champions League occasions.

Lol, good one. Liverpool seem to simply get the rub of the green (x 10) whenever they play in Europe, the goal that never was in 2005 and the penalty from Tuesday night - hardly argument that Liverpool and Chelsea cannot cope with the fortress that is Anfield! 

[Minder]

Exactly nrico, it is certainly extreme luck that they have reached 3 semi finals in the last 4 years........Tell whiskeynose to give Benitez a shout and he will point him in the direction of how to win in the Camp Nou, dont worry Stoichkov & Romario wont be playing this time........

[T Fearon]

Ziggy, no shit hot dogs at Anfield, but I did have a nice lasagne and chips in Jimmy Carragher's Sports Cafe England joint in Liverpool city centre at lunchtime Tuesday. I eat in all the top places. Strangely though, just as Arsenal don't do defending Carragher's cafe doesn't do draught beer


By the way I almost forgot! Wittiest chant on Tuesday night was from the scousers to the Goons fans at full time

"We're all going to Moscow...you're all going to Tesco!"

[BennyHarp]

It was a clear penalty by the way,as I was seated at that side of the stadium and had a clear view.Benitez showed himself to be three times the tactician that Wenger is

I do appreciate that this post is specifically designed to wind up Arsenal fans - but it is one of the most ridiculous sentences i have ever had the misfortune to read on these pages!

Makes me laugh when people pull out the old "i know because i was there" argument! Watching the incident at full pace in a hectic stadium with no screens, especially just after the frenzy of an arsenal goal hardly makes you more qualified than people who have watched the incident time after time on different angles on TV.

Also i would be interested to hear how you can put such an accurate valuation on how much better a tactician Benitez is than Wenger! Three times is very specific - considering Arsenal are perfoming better in the league and each of the last 3 meeting were 1-1 draws! Thats the sort of argument that you hear in a school yard debate!

[Maximus Marillius]

Benny sounds very angry

[BennyHarp]

He's not really! Dont even support Arsenal!!

[T Fearon]

Firtsly the truth. I was amazed at Arsenal's equaliser and the skill of Walcott, but honestly when I saw the incident with Babel and Toure my first reaction was penalty. Believe me it was an absrobing affair and one that you couldn't take your eyes off for the full 90 mins. For what its worth I though Arsenal should have had a stone wall penalty in the first game with Kuyt clearing having committed a foul.

But it is strange that Wenger always has tunnel vision.

Benitez outsmarted Wenger, using Crouch was a master stroke, He analysed Arsenal's weaknesses at the back and fuly exploited them. Wenger doesn't seem to understand that the Goons can't absorb pressure, and are best when surging forward. His lack of adventure cost him the game. In other words Benitez played to his strengths Wenger didn't hence the scousers are in the semis and the Goons aren't

[BennyHarp]

A much more sensible analysis!! Totally agree!! 

[Main Street]

I would have thought that every man and his dog knew that Crouch had to start.

[magpie seanie]

Tell whiskeynose to give Benitez a shout and he will point him in the direction of how to win in the Camp Nou

United won a game there in May '99 I seem to remember. Long before Benitez was heard of.

[Minder]

Tell whiskeynose to give Benitez a shout and he will point him in the direction of how to win in the Camp Nou

United won a game there in May '99 I seem to remember. Long before Benitez was heard of.

Sorry i will qualify that remark, against Barcelona........

[full back]

I think you should be concentrating more on Chelski than Barcelona minder

[Minder]

I think you should be concentrating more on Chelski than Barcelona minder

I actually think they will have the medicine for us this time.