Eye witness report from Anfield - as promised

[T Fearon]

Without doubt atmosphere plays apart. It assists Liverpool greatly and is also the reason why Celtic are well nigh unbeatable at Parkhead on european nights.

Arsenal passed Liverpool off the pitch early on the other night but twice when they had advantage in the tie they resorted to doing something that can't do...defend. Therefore Wenger's lack of ambition is the prime reason.

Also given their history and tradition, defence is part of Arsenal's DNA naturally, so one man will hardly change that.

PS A famous All Star and Ulster football legend was seated right in front of me on the plane home from Liverpool last night. He is renowned for bottling a penalty at a crucial stage in an All Ireland Final in the mid 80s after which his side tamely relinqusihed a big lead. Was sorely tempted to ask him if he was over studying Steven Gerrard's penalty technique

[nrico2006]

Stevo - you're right!  Sorry for trying to suggest otherwise.  Fabregas went missing, Gerard didn't!  I sm slightly confused as to how you can differentiate between bottling and fatigue though - only their players know which would influenced them, but as I said, you are probably correct.  Apologies for stating otherwise!

[full back]

Gerrard's memory must be shot to pieces.
He said Wednesday night was the worst game he ever played in a scouser shirt......
Must have forgot about his most recent game at OT

[corn02]

Nicro your questioning Rafa's ability, then you aadmit that Cesc was wrecked and Liverpool players were not due to resting players?

[corn02]

Minder's question was about beating Barca in the Camp Nou, not beating them in Holland, albeit with a wonder strike.

[nrico2006]

Corn, could you translate exactly what point you are trying to make?

[ardal]

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.

In your previous post ref getting the ticket from the sponsor, didn't you say your ticket was about 40 rows from the pitch, right on the half way line? That's some fecking eyesight you've got Tony

[corn02]

Yu seem to be indicating that Rafa is tatically inept, but surely his players being fresher won the tie the other night?

[nrico2006]

I was alluding to the fact that Arsenal are as likely to have lost due to bad luck and fatigue as much as the fact that Anfield melted them into nervous wrecks!

[ONeill]

I don't buy into this fatigue thing. Wenger notoriously rests his side in the Carling and FA Cups. I'd imagine the Chelsea or Utd players have played more games on average. The majority of the Arsenal side have also been out through injury at some time this season, even Fabregas who missed much of December. 

[lynchbhoy]

PS A famous All Star and Ulster football legend was seated right in front of me on the plane home from Liverpool last night. He is renowned for bottling a penalty at a crucial stage in an All Ireland Final in the mid 80s after which his side tamely relinqusihed a big lead. Was sorely tempted to ask him if he was over studying Steven Gerrard's penalty technique

was the man in question still wearing his silly headband ?

Also - just how did the famous anfield atmosphere manage to help Celtic to victory a few years ago ?

still think benitez is clueless, but as wenger must know by now, if you have no defense, you will get caught out. Same in all sports. Defense first!

[GalwayBayBoy]

PS A famous All Star and Ulster football legend was seated right in front of me on the plane home from Liverpool last night. He is renowned for bottling a penalty at a crucial stage in an All Ireland Final in the mid 80s after which his side tamely relinqusihed a big lead. Was sorely tempted to ask him if he was over studying Steven Gerrard's penalty technique

still think benitez is clueless,

He has some trophy collection for such a clueless manager.

[T Fearon]

ardal, Anfield is a smallish ground pitch wise. Therefore from my seat in the Centenary Stand, I had an excellent view of the Toure/ Babel incident (which happened at the Centenary side of the pitch). As I said before my immendiate reacton was "penalty". The question Goons should be asking is why did Toure panic and commit a silly foul, also why was Torres allowed so much room to turn for the first goal? Even Donkey Adams wouldn't have allowed him that amount of space, and milk turned quicker than him

[T Fearon]

Lynchboy, in fairness when Celtic beat Liverpool, Houulier was in charge at Anfield and Liverpool had no one of the pace of Torres etc. Still it was a magnificent Celtic result (I can still see Hartson's rocket into the net), and with the win earlier that season at Ewood Park in the UEFA Cup, that Celtic team would have been a match for anyone in the Premiership that season.

[lynchbhoy]

PS A famous All Star and Ulster football legend was seated right in front of me on the plane home from Liverpool last night. He is renowned for bottling a penalty at a crucial stage in an All Ireland Final in the mid 80s after which his side tamely relinqusihed a big lead. Was sorely tempted to ask him if he was over studying Steven Gerrard's penalty technique

still think benitez is clueless,

He has some trophy collection for such a clueless manager.

would have a lot more if he was any use imo