Liverpool FC - Page 73

Scouser_Dave · 07-04-2008, 08:48 PM

The reserves have just won the league

MaschPotato · 07-04-2008, 08:51 PM

We've got the best reserves in the world, we've got the best reserves in the world...............

Just need the first team to win it now

Scouser_Dave · 07-04-2008, 08:52 PM

NEMETH FIRES RESERVES TO TITLE GLORY
Paul Hassall 07 April 2008

Liverpool Reserves are celebrating after a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers saw them crowned Champions of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North at Christie Park.
Gary Ablett's side, who went into the clash needing two points to confirm their status as the league winners, clinched the title with two games to spare courtesy of Krisztian Nemeth's superb first-half strike.

It caps a remarkable season for the Reds coach and his team of youngsters, who will now be presented with the trophy following Thursday's match against Manchester City at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

On a night when the Reds knew victory would guarantee more silverware to add to the Dallas Cup won on their recent trip to the USA, they began brightly, and could have taken the lead after just eight minutes when the fledgling partnership of Krisztian Nemeth and Daniel Pacheco combined to create the first real opening of the game.

The Hungarian hot-shot turned his marker brilliantly before playing in the diminutive Spaniard, who drilled a shot from the right hand side of the penalty area just wide of the near post.

The visitors were playing the more purposeful football and seven minutes later they manufactured an even better opening with Nemeth once again the architect, this time playing Ryan Flynn through on goal with a delightful ball, but the midfielder somehow contrived to drill his low effort wide of goal from 10 yards out.

Blackburn were offering very little going forward and the Reds front two of Pacheco and Nemeth continued to cause problems with some clever interchanges before they inevitably combined to give the Reds the lead on 26 minutes.

Pacheco danced beyond the challenge of Keith Tracey on the half way line and launched an audacious 30-yard ball through to Nemeth who outfoxed the last defender in the penalty area before toe-poking his shot beyond Gunnar Nielsen to take his personal tally to eight goals in just nine reserve team appearances.

It was no more than Ablett's side deserved as they moved the ball about with the same confidence and quality that had seen them lose just one of their previous 15 Barclays Premier Reserve League North fixtures.

With the title within sight they continued to dominate the proceedings after the interval and they could have doubled their advantage on 56 minutes Pacheco fed Flynn just inside the area, but this time the Scottish youngster's low effort was well saved by Nielsen.

Jay Spearing then curled a left-wing free-kick just over the bar while substitute Andras Simon flashed a low ball across the face of the six yard box as Liverpool pressed to try and find the second goal their performance deserved.

It never arrived, but in truth it didn't matter. The match rarely lived up to expectations against a fifth placed Rovers side who had earned a goalless draw when the two teams met at the Halliwell Jones Stadium earlier in the season.

As the clock ticked down towards title glory the Reds were rarely troubled and they comfortably closed out the game against the home side, who offered very little going forward in a rather disappointing display.

Not that Ablett and co cared, as they eased their way through the final minutes of the contest to secure the championship ahead of what promises to be a party atmosphere at Thursday night's homecoming against Manchester City.

Blackburn Rovers Reserves: Nielsen, Nolan, Olsson, Hodge (Zenaba 8

, Flynn, Winnard, Peter, O'Keefe, Marshall (Howarth 65), Clarke, Tracey. Unused subs: Bussman, Paterson, De Vita.

Liverpool Reserves: Martin, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Huth, Ayala (Plessis 77), El Zhar, Spearing, Pacheco (Bruna 59), Nemeth (Simon 77), Flynn. Unused subs: Gulacsi, Kelly.
Attendance:

Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Krisztian Nemeth. Revelled alongside his new strike partner and showed he can create chances just as well as he can take them with some delightful through balls. A typically lethal finish for his goal.

LewisLaa · 08-04-2008, 01:02 AM

Great stuff.

Martin, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Huth, Ayala, Plessis, El Zhar, Spearing, Pacheco, Bruna, Nemeth, Simon, Flynn, Gulacsi, Kelly

Good news for the future

MaschPotato · 08-04-2008, 03:51 PM

Liverpool are leading the chase for £8m-rated Porto right-back Jose Boswinga, with Manchester United and Aston Villa also keen on the Portugal international. (Daily Mirror)
also lot of rumours on LFC boards saying that bentley is the player we've already signed

Scouser_Dave · 08-04-2008, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaschPotato

Liverpool are leading the chase for £8m-rated Porto right-back Jose Boswinga, with Manchester United and Aston Villa also keen on the Portugal international. (Daily Mirror)
also lot of rumours on LFC boards saying that bentley is the player we've already signed

Rafinha would be a better buy and cheaper at 6mill

Kaka11|LFC · 08-04-2008, 10:09 PM

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOO beat Arsenal 4-2

AnfieldG8 · 08-04-2008, 10:19 PM

i dont think we should buy any more players except for another striker so we can let voronin go.

Scouser_Dave · 08-04-2008, 10:26 PM

Scouser_Dave · 08-04-2008, 10:28 PM

Scouser_Dave · 08-04-2008, 10:28 PM

Scouser_Dave · 08-04-2008, 10:33 PM

LIVERPOOL 4 - 2 ARSENAL
Tuesday 08 April 2008 19:45 , Champions League Quarter Final (2)
REDS INTO THE SEMIS AFTER GUNNERS TRIUMPH

Late goals from Steven Gerrard and Ryan Babel have sent Liverpool into the last four of the Champions League following a pulsating victory over Arsenal at Anfield.

The Reds had looked on the verge of a heartbreaking exit after Emmanuel Adebayor had made it 2-2 with just six minutes left to cancel out Fernando Torres' 69th minute wonder strike.

But when substitute Babel was brought down for a penalty, Gerrard stepped up to coolly restore the home side's advantage before the Dutch forward raced through in injury-time to seal a 4-2 win on the night and a 5-3 victory on aggregate.

Ahead of the match Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor had suggested the Arsenal players knew all about the Anfield atmosphere - how wrong he was.

The wall of noise that greeted every one of the away side's touches in the early exchanges is not something you grow accustomed to during Carling Cup matches.

But while the likes of Juventus and Chelsea (twice) were unnerved by the Reds' famous 12th man, Arsenal were inspired by it and made the kind of fast start that has so often been Liverpool's forte.

Indeed, the away side were first to every loose ball, harrying the Reds midfield into mistakes and looking to release Emmanuel Adebayor at every opportunity.

And so it was somewhat surprising that Liverpool were the first to make a chance of any real note, when Steven Gerrard's marauding run to the byline on eight minutes almost saw a re-enactment of the goal he manufactured so brilliantly at the Emirates. But this time Dirk Kuyt could not apply the same sort of clinical finish and the ball sailed harmlessly wide.

It was a brief respite for Rafael Benitez's side who once again relinquished the impetus to Arsenal and on 13 minutes they paid the ultimate price.

A period of sustained pressure ended with Mathieu Flamini cutting the Reds defence to pieces with a clinical through ball for Abou Diaby, who beat Pepe Reina at his near post with a low drive.

The home side needed the famous atmosphere more than ever now, but as the half wore on it was Arsenal who continued to look more likely with two lightning breaks that first saw Emmanuel Eboue test Reina with a deflected volley, before the Spanish stopper had to be alert again, this time punching clear as Adebayor looked odds on to connect with Gael Clichy's searching cross.

Liverpool's chances were restricted to long range efforts with Fabio Aurelio's opportunist volley from 20-yards the best the hosts could muster in the opening 25 minutes of the match.

The Reds looked nervous and edgy and so the irony will not have been lost on Arsene Wenger, that on a night when the pre-match talk had centred around Liverpool's frailty at set-pieces, his own side were undone from a routine corner.

A neat interchange between Aurelio and Steven Gerrard opened up Arsenal down the left and when the full-back's cross forced Manuel Almunia to palm it out of play, the crowd responded with a roar of approval.

The message seemed to transmit onto the pitch as well as Gerrard's arcing set piece from the right was met by the imposing figure of Sami Hyypia, who celebrated the one-year extension to his contract penned earlier this week, with a bullet header that crashed in off the right-hand post.

Needless to say, Anfield erupted and the tide turned in Liverpool's favour.

If the first half an hour belonged to the Gunners, the final 15 minutes prior to the interval were the home side's as they looked to punish their opponents with the knockout blow of a second goal.

It didn't materialise though, despite a good opportunity when Jamie Carragher's cross from the byline almost fell for Peter Crouch before Kuyt's follow up was deflected to safety by a desperate Arsenal defender.

The Reds maintained the ascendancy into the second period and could have gone ahead within a minute of the restart when Peter Crouch latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area and hit a low strike that was well smothered by Almunia.

There was certainly more belief about Liverpool's play and as they attacked the Kop end, they continued to threaten as a lung bursting run and cross from Fernando Torres ended with Aurelio's milalalala shot deflecting narrowly wide off the outstretched leg of Crouch.

The 12th man was certainly playing its part as renditions of 'Oh Campione,' 'Fields of Anfield Road' and the new ditty paying homage to Fernando Torres echoed into the night sky, but despite forcing a chink in the Arsenal armour, it could not inspire a second Reds goal.

For all Liverpool's possession they still had to be wary of the Gunners' threat on the counter attack, a fact further underlined when Emmanuel Eboue escaped the attentions of the home side's defence to fire a warning shot into the side netting on 62 minutes.

The tie was balanced on a knife edge and it is on such occasions that players of breathtaking genius showcase the most precocious of talents.

Again the crowd looked towards El Nino and once again it was the boy from sunny Spain delivered.

A long kick from Pepe Reina was flicked on by Crouch and when Torres took control in the penalty area, he spun brilliantly on a six pence, to curl a magnificent shot into the top right-hand corner.

It was goal 29 for the season and it was arguably his most important.
With time running out Arsenal threw caution to the wind, with Wenger bringing on both Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott, and the young England international made the impact his manager was looking for.

It was his surging with just six minutes remaining that carved Liverpool open down the left and when he crossed low into the area Adebayor was on hand to steer in the equaliser.

Anfield was stunned and the semi-finals beckoned for Arsenal.

But the Reds still had hope and little did we know that one of Benitez's substitutions would pay dividends in a similar manner, with Ryan Babel winning a penalty just two minutes later after being tumbled in the area by Kolo Toure.

Steven Gerrard held his nerve to send the Kop into raptures before Babel capped another incredible European night with an injury-time strike.

TEAMS

Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Hyypia, Skrtel, Carragher, Gerrard (captain), Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Crouch, Torres. Subs - Riise, Voronin, Leiva, Babel, Arbeloa, Benayoun, Itandje

Arsenal: Almunia, Clichy, Gallas (captain), Senderos, Toure, Diaby, Flamini, Fabregas, Eboue, Hleb, Adebayor. Subs - , Hoyte, Song, Walcott, Bendtner, Lehmann, van Persie

Referee: Frojdfeldt Peter (Swe)

Conditions: Fine

Attendance: 41985

BREAKDOWN

18:46 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Arsenal get the game underway
2 mins : The visitors waste a free-kick in a great position. The referee showing early signs of being a bit of a tool
4 mins : The ref runs dramatically over to Gallas after a soft foul on Torres
5 mins : Oh no...Adebayor through...offside. Rafa is not happy
6 mins : The Gunners have started on the front foot
6 mins : Great challenge from Sami
7 mins : Arsenal corner...
8 mins : ...it's too long and Aurelio heads clear. Liverpool are going to have to be better at defending set pieces than in the last few weeks
9 mins : At last the Reds have some possession
9 mins : Gerrard through down the right...crosses for Kuyt. He can't get a decent connection.
10 mins : Spare a thought for those Liverpool fans stuck on the M62
13 mins : GOAL! Abou Diaby: Arsenal take a deserved lead. Anfield is stunned
16 mins : First Booking: Philippe Senderos:
17 mins : Reina saves from Eboue after Liverpool fail to make the most of a promising free kick
17 mins : Reina saves from Eboue after Liverpool fail to make the most of a promising free kick
18 mins : This has not been a good start by the home side. Come on Redmen
21 mins : Reina forced to make a last-ditch punch clear. This is horrible
24 mins : Carra crosses...cleared...comes to Gerrard...he volleys over. More like it...
26 mins : Kuyt goes down in the box. Big shouts. Ref says no - and he's right
27 mins : Torres through but his touch lets him down. Anfield has come back to life
28 mins : Stevie loses the ball
30 mins : Gerrard and Aurelio work their way through...the Brazilian crosses...poor clearance from Almunia...corner
30 mins : GOAL! Sami Hyypia: OH MY GOD. I LOVE YOU SAMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
33 mins : What drama. It's now all Liverpool. Anfield is as loud as it's ever been and we all love Sami...
35 mins : Gerrard thunders one just wide
37 mins : Brilliant tackle from Xabi...then the same from Dirk. This is how we should have started the game
38 mins : Gerrard and Fabio come over for some water and words of wisdom while Flamini gets treatment. It looks serious
40 mins : He's going to have to come off
41 mins : Alonso is spraying some Alonso-esque passes - he's been Liverpool's man of the match so far
42 mins : Substitution: Gilberto for Mathieu Flamini: Looks like his Achilles
44 mins : Amazing tackle by Aurelio but it's an Arsenal corner
44 mins : Torres of all people heads clear
19:33 GMT : Half Time Reached
19:48 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Liverpool get the second half started
46 mins : Torres bursts down the left...it comes to Xabi on the edge of the box...gives it to Crouch but his shot is saved
48 mins : Great tackle Fabio
48 mins : Arsenal have yet to recover from the goal, it seems
49 mins : LFC corner - Kop end
49 mins : Comes to nothing - then Crouch is accused of pushing
50 mins : Great battling from Dirk. Top class, son
51 mins : The difference between now and the first 20 minutes is that now Liverpool are first to every ball
52 mins : Kuyt is down with a nosebleed
53 mins : Torres through down the right...his cross comes out to Fabio...shoots. Oh no it hits Crouch and goes hide
54 mins : Skrtel commits a beautiful foul to deny Adebayor the chance to get clear. Subtlty, grace - it had everything
55 mins : Fabio gets a round of applause for keeping Eboue in his pocket
58 mins : Brilliant tackle again from Martin
60 mins : Liverpool are enjoying all the possession right now but they have to make it count
63 mins : Eboue could be through here...hits the side netting
64 mins : The attendance is 41,985 - the capacity at CL games because UEFA puts bigger advertising hoardings up which block the view from some of the front row seats - thus those seats can't be sold. Anyway...
65 mins : Rafa is going to make a change
66 mins : Or maybe not
68 mins : What a tackle by Masch - and the ref gives a free-kick in a dangerous area. Mistake
68 mins : Cleared
69 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: Senderos let Fernando turn. You just don't do that. Da da da da da der der der!!!
73 mins : Substitution: Theo Walcott for Emmanuel Eboue:
73 mins : Substitution: Robin van Persie for Abou Diaby:
73 mins : Golden opportunity for Adebayor. Nine times out of 10 he scores but when it mattered most he spooned it wide
75 mins : Torres wins a corner
75 mins : Hyypia heads wide
77 mins : Babel is preparing to come on
78 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Peter Crouch:
79 mins : Almunia punches away Gerrard corner. Reds on top
82 mins : Kuyt feeds Stevie on the edge of the box...just over
84 mins : GOAL! Emmanuel Adebayor:
85 mins : Penalty Scored! Steven Gerrard:
87 mins : Substitution: John Arne Riise for Fernando Torres:
90 mins : Substitution: Alvaro Arbeloa for Dirk Kuyt:
90 mins : GOAL! Ryan Babel:
20:37 GMT : Match Over

MaschPotato · 08-04-2008, 10:40 PM

Just fantastic..superb performance lads

Scouser_Dave · 08-04-2008, 10:45 PM

We deserved that more than arsenal, we played the better football for 80mins of the game and we took are chances and finshed them off.

Did anyone see adeybayour dancing in the 83rd when he scored

he was so shaw they had it in the bag

MaschPotato · 08-04-2008, 10:50 PM

missed that but it will wipe a smile of some of their faces...fabregas gallas wenger etc. im sure arsenal fans are blaming it all on the penalty right

Scouser_Dave · 08-04-2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaschPotato

missed that but it will wipe a smile of some of their faces...fabregas gallas wenger etc. im sure arsenal fans are blaming it all on the penalty right

As always

Its annoying when we played the better football, just a shame they don`t give us the respect we deserve

Scouser_Dave · 08-04-2008, 11:15 PM

Gerrard4eva · 09-04-2008, 07:22 AM

I actually thought we were going to lose after the first goal, but in the end it was another great win!

LewisLaa · 09-04-2008, 07:45 AM

as expected:

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger blamed a "dodgy" penalty decision and a lack of consistency from referees after exiting the Champions League at the quarter-final stage at the hands of Liverpool.

The Gunners lost the second leg of their last eight tie 4-2 at Anfield on Tuesday and 5-3 on aggregate and afterwards the Frenchman blamed a tale of two penalties.

With his side heading through on the away goals rule after Emmanuel Adebayor's 84th minute equaliser to make it 2-2, Kolo Toure was adjudged to have pulled back Ryan Babel in the box and Steven Gerrard converted the penalty.

But afterwards Wenger claimed the penalty was a bitter pill to swallow after his side were denied their own spot-kick during the first leg the Emirates Stadium when Dirk Kuyt pulled back Alex Hleb.

"I felt at that stage the game was over at 2-2. Then there was a dodgy penalty and we started to lose concentration," he claimed.

"Over the two games this is hard to swallow. The big decisions over penalties in both matches have gone against us.

"It is difficult to take. The players in the dressing-room are very down because they believe week after week the decisions are going against them.

"It was not a penalty tonight - I have seen the replay - but we were denied a clear penalty last week. That was a real penalty, this one wasn't."

Speaking about his side's Premier League title aspirations ahead of Sunday's must-win trip to Manchester United, he added: "It will be hard now.

"We have to go to Manchester United next at the weekend, but we will try to finish strongly. But we still feel a great sense of injustice."

Scouser_Dave · 09-04-2008, 08:47 AM

Highlights of the game:

YouTube - Liverpool vs Arsenal 4-2

A bit of Rafas press conference after the game:

New Video Portal Player 2

Scouser_Dave · 09-04-2008, 09:15 AM

BABEL: FAN POWER GOT US THROUGH
Steve Hunter 09 April 2008

Goal hero Ryan Babel believes it was the incredible support of the Kop that inspired Liverpool to overcome Arsenal on another wonderful European night at Anfield.
The Dutch international made a dramatic impact when he came off the bench to win the penalty and then score a fantastic goal at the Kop end to seal the 4-2 win.

The former Ajax ace has now scored nine goals this season and he said there is nothing that compares to the the special Anfield atmosphere in world football.

"The fans pulled us to another level," said Babel.

"It's the same in all the big games, like against Everton and Inter. It's like playing with 12 men."

Babel's comments were echoed by captain Steven Gerrard who said: "If the fans perform like that it's a big help to us. Other teams find it impossible and it was a fantastic team performance.

"Arsenal had a lot of good possession over the two legs but we are a match for anyone."

Scouser_Dave · 09-04-2008, 09:17 AM

READ ALL ABOUT ANOTHER GLORY NIGHT
Steve Hunter 09 April 2008

It's the day after the brilliant night before and the English press makes happy reading for Liverpool fans still getting their breath back after an absorbing 4-2 win over Arsenal. To save you surfing the net today to read all about another momentous European display from Rafael Benitez's men, we've pulled together the best of the match reports from today's newspapers for you to read here.

Just click on the links below to read the views of the country's top journalists after the Reds marched into the semi-finals of the Champions Leage.

Daily Telegraph (Henry Winter)>>

The Times (Oliver Kay)>>

Liverpool Daily Post (Ian Doyle)>>

The Independent (Sam Wallace)>>

The Mirror (David Maddock)>>

Scouser_Dave · 09-04-2008, 09:36 AM

..............

Quote:

RAFA: OUR BELIEF WAS THE DIFFERENCE
Paul Hassall at Anfield 09 April 2008

Rafael Benitez hailed the belief and character of his players after they held off the challenge of Arsenal to book their place in the last four of the Champions League.
Late efforts from Steven Gerrard (penalty) and substitute Ryan Babel clinched a 4-2 win for the Reds after the Gunners had threatened to progress via the the away goals rule.

It was a sensational turn of events that transformed the complexion of the tie and Benitez put his side's last-ditch rally down to their powers of recovery.

"I think the key was the belief of the players," said Benitez.

"I think in the second half we were much better than in the first half. In the first half we were really bad but when we scored we had belief and began to show our quality.

"I think they had some players who played in the final two years ago, so they had experience but we also had players with experience. For me the difference was the belief.

"I was disappointed with the way they scored but after I was very, very happy with the character of the players and the way they responded."

The Reds had looked on the verge of elimination after Emmanuel Adebayor made it 2-2 with just six minutes remaining, but they responded immediately with a penalty that ultimately altered Benitez's way of thinking.

"Sometimes the small details can make a difference and it was a good penalty from Steven Gerrard and it was really positive for us," said Rafa.

"I was thinking about bringing on Voronin because we needed more power and more offensive players but then we got the penalty so I brought on Arbeloa instead.

"Babel made a difference because we needed pace and ability and Torres was getting tired so we used Babel's pace up front."

The 5-3 victory on aggregate means the Reds are through to a third Champions League semi-final against Chelsea in just four years, but Benitez refused to look ahead to yet another meeting with the Blues and instead chose to savour what he felt was one of Anfield's greatest nights.

"My first idea is to enjoy today and then after we will think about Chelsea. It will be a tough, tough tie that's for sure," he said.

"You could see Arsenal played well in the first-half, there were six goals and it was fantastic to win such a great game. Everyone is really happy and I am pleased for our fans.

"It's always important for us to play in front of our supporters and you could hear from the start of the game, they were amazing and massive for the players."

Benitez also revealed the reason behind his decision to pair Peter Crouch with Fernando Torres and felt the towering forward was a pivotal presence in most of his side's attacking play.

"We knew he had scored a hat-trick against Arsenal," added Benitez.

"After the other day when he had scored and played really well, he was a threat, so I was trying to take advantage of the strengths of our team with Torres playing off Crouch in the air as well as Gerrard and Kuyt.

"They are four offensive players who can score goals for us."

Quote:

GERRARD HAILS TEAM DISPLAY
Paul Eaton 08 April 2008

Steven Gerrard reflected on Liverpool's progress into the semi-finals of the Champions League and hailed 'a great team performance'.
The Reds will face Chelsea for the third time in the semi-finals of European football's top club tournament after edging out the Gunners 4-2 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate.

Gerrard kept his nerve from the penalty spot just five minutes from time to put Liverpool back into the driving seat after Emmanuel Adebayor had threatened to spoil the Anfield party with a goal for the Gunners.

"That is up there with the best European nights," said Gerrard. "Arsenal are a fantastic team and at times they passed us off the pitch but we stuck together and never lacked belief. In the end we've come through thanks to a great team performance.

"I was always confident I was going to score from the spot even though that was one of my worst performances in a Liverpool shirt. It's not about the goalscorers tonight though, it's about the team display.

"I've said it many times but over two legs we are a match for any side. If our fans keep performing like that then other teams find it impossible against us.

"We've got some big league games coming up now but we'll be ready for Chelsea in the semi-finals."

Gerrard4eva · 09-04-2008, 09:44 AM

Dave, your really good at this, can you find me a video with Babels goal? I had to leave before it happened...

MaschPotato · 09-04-2008, 01:07 PM

pongolle 7.2m target for Valencia and Atletico..if we get that much for him thats great

07-04-2008, 08:48 PM	#1801 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,973	The reserves have just won the league __________________

07-04-2008, 08:52 PM	#1803 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,973	NEMETH FIRES RESERVES TO TITLE GLORY Paul Hassall 07 April 2008 Liverpool Reserves are celebrating after a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers saw them crowned Champions of the Barclays Premier Reserve League North at Christie Park. Gary Ablett's side, who went into the clash needing two points to confirm their status as the league winners, clinched the title with two games to spare courtesy of Krisztian Nemeth's superb first-half strike. It caps a remarkable season for the Reds coach and his team of youngsters, who will now be presented with the trophy following Thursday's match against Manchester City at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. On a night when the Reds knew victory would guarantee more silverware to add to the Dallas Cup won on their recent trip to the USA, they began brightly, and could have taken the lead after just eight minutes when the fledgling partnership of Krisztian Nemeth and Daniel Pacheco combined to create the first real opening of the game. The Hungarian hot-shot turned his marker brilliantly before playing in the diminutive Spaniard, who drilled a shot from the right hand side of the penalty area just wide of the near post. The visitors were playing the more purposeful football and seven minutes later they manufactured an even better opening with Nemeth once again the architect, this time playing Ryan Flynn through on goal with a delightful ball, but the midfielder somehow contrived to drill his low effort wide of goal from 10 yards out. Blackburn were offering very little going forward and the Reds front two of Pacheco and Nemeth continued to cause problems with some clever interchanges before they inevitably combined to give the Reds the lead on 26 minutes. Pacheco danced beyond the challenge of Keith Tracey on the half way line and launched an audacious 30-yard ball through to Nemeth who outfoxed the last defender in the penalty area before toe-poking his shot beyond Gunnar Nielsen to take his personal tally to eight goals in just nine reserve team appearances. It was no more than Ablett's side deserved as they moved the ball about with the same confidence and quality that had seen them lose just one of their previous 15 Barclays Premier Reserve League North fixtures. With the title within sight they continued to dominate the proceedings after the interval and they could have doubled their advantage on 56 minutes Pacheco fed Flynn just inside the area, but this time the Scottish youngster's low effort was well saved by Nielsen. Jay Spearing then curled a left-wing free-kick just over the bar while substitute Andras Simon flashed a low ball across the face of the six yard box as Liverpool pressed to try and find the second goal their performance deserved. It never arrived, but in truth it didn't matter. The match rarely lived up to expectations against a fifth placed Rovers side who had earned a goalless draw when the two teams met at the Halliwell Jones Stadium earlier in the season. As the clock ticked down towards title glory the Reds were rarely troubled and they comfortably closed out the game against the home side, who offered very little going forward in a rather disappointing display. Not that Ablett and co cared, as they eased their way through the final minutes of the contest to secure the championship ahead of what promises to be a party atmosphere at Thursday night's homecoming against Manchester City. Blackburn Rovers Reserves: Nielsen, Nolan, Olsson, Hodge (Zenaba 8, Flynn, Winnard, Peter, O'Keefe, Marshall (Howarth 65), Clarke, Tracey. Unused subs: Bussman, Paterson, De Vita. Liverpool Reserves: Martin, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Huth, Ayala (Plessis 77), El Zhar, Spearing, Pacheco (Bruna 59), Nemeth (Simon 77), Flynn. Unused subs: Gulacsi, Kelly. Attendance: Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Krisztian Nemeth. Revelled alongside his new strike partner and showed he can create chances just as well as he can take them with some delightful through balls. A typically lethal finish for his goal. __________________

08-04-2008, 01:02 AM	#1804 (permalink)
LewisLaa Elite Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 7,285	Great stuff. Martin, Darby, Insua, San Jose, Huth, Ayala, Plessis, El Zhar, Spearing, Pacheco, Bruna, Nemeth, Simon, Flynn, Gulacsi, Kelly Good news for the future __________________ The Red Half of Merseyside.

08-04-2008, 10:09 PM	#1807 (permalink)
Kaka11\|LFC Elite Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 9,072	WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOO beat Arsenal 4-2 __________________ MODERN WARFARE 2

08-04-2008, 10:19 PM	#1808 (permalink)
AnfieldG8 Forum Junkie Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Age: 18 Gender: Male Posts: 4,735 Blog Entries: 2	i dont think we should buy any more players except for another striker so we can let voronin go. __________________ Please Support Australia's World Cup Bid and Sign Up: http://www.australia2018-2022.com.au/ En Rafa Confiamos!

07-04-2008, 08:51 PM	#1802 (permalink)
MaschPotato EA Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Age: 19 Gender: Male Posts: 15,457	We've got the best reserves in the world, we've got the best reserves in the world............... Just need the first team to win it now

08-04-2008, 03:51 PM	#1805 (permalink)
MaschPotato EA Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Age: 19 Gender: Male Posts: 15,457	Liverpool are leading the chase for £8m-rated Porto right-back Jose Boswinga, with Manchester United and Aston Villa also keen on the Portugal international. (Daily Mirror) also lot of rumours on LFC boards saying that bentley is the player we've already signed

08-04-2008, 10:26 PM	#1809 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,973	__________________

08-04-2008, 10:28 PM	#1810 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,973	__________________

08-04-2008, 10:28 PM	#1811 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,973	__________________

08-04-2008, 10:33 PM	#1812 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,973	LIVERPOOL 4 - 2 ARSENAL Tuesday 08 April 2008 19:45 , Champions League Quarter Final (2) REDS INTO THE SEMIS AFTER GUNNERS TRIUMPH Late goals from Steven Gerrard and Ryan Babel have sent Liverpool into the last four of the Champions League following a pulsating victory over Arsenal at Anfield. The Reds had looked on the verge of a heartbreaking exit after Emmanuel Adebayor had made it 2-2 with just six minutes left to cancel out Fernando Torres' 69th minute wonder strike. But when substitute Babel was brought down for a penalty, Gerrard stepped up to coolly restore the home side's advantage before the Dutch forward raced through in injury-time to seal a 4-2 win on the night and a 5-3 victory on aggregate. Ahead of the match Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor had suggested the Arsenal players knew all about the Anfield atmosphere - how wrong he was. The wall of noise that greeted every one of the away side's touches in the early exchanges is not something you grow accustomed to during Carling Cup matches. But while the likes of Juventus and Chelsea (twice) were unnerved by the Reds' famous 12th man, Arsenal were inspired by it and made the kind of fast start that has so often been Liverpool's forte. Indeed, the away side were first to every loose ball, harrying the Reds midfield into mistakes and looking to release Emmanuel Adebayor at every opportunity. And so it was somewhat surprising that Liverpool were the first to make a chance of any real note, when Steven Gerrard's marauding run to the byline on eight minutes almost saw a re-enactment of the goal he manufactured so brilliantly at the Emirates. But this time Dirk Kuyt could not apply the same sort of clinical finish and the ball sailed harmlessly wide. It was a brief respite for Rafael Benitez's side who once again relinquished the impetus to Arsenal and on 13 minutes they paid the ultimate price. A period of sustained pressure ended with Mathieu Flamini cutting the Reds defence to pieces with a clinical through ball for Abou Diaby, who beat Pepe Reina at his near post with a low drive. The home side needed the famous atmosphere more than ever now, but as the half wore on it was Arsenal who continued to look more likely with two lightning breaks that first saw Emmanuel Eboue test Reina with a deflected volley, before the Spanish stopper had to be alert again, this time punching clear as Adebayor looked odds on to connect with Gael Clichy's searching cross. Liverpool's chances were restricted to long range efforts with Fabio Aurelio's opportunist volley from 20-yards the best the hosts could muster in the opening 25 minutes of the match. The Reds looked nervous and edgy and so the irony will not have been lost on Arsene Wenger, that on a night when the pre-match talk had centred around Liverpool's frailty at set-pieces, his own side were undone from a routine corner. A neat interchange between Aurelio and Steven Gerrard opened up Arsenal down the left and when the full-back's cross forced Manuel Almunia to palm it out of play, the crowd responded with a roar of approval. The message seemed to transmit onto the pitch as well as Gerrard's arcing set piece from the right was met by the imposing figure of Sami Hyypia, who celebrated the one-year extension to his contract penned earlier this week, with a bullet header that crashed in off the right-hand post. Needless to say, Anfield erupted and the tide turned in Liverpool's favour. If the first half an hour belonged to the Gunners, the final 15 minutes prior to the interval were the home side's as they looked to punish their opponents with the knockout blow of a second goal. It didn't materialise though, despite a good opportunity when Jamie Carragher's cross from the byline almost fell for Peter Crouch before Kuyt's follow up was deflected to safety by a desperate Arsenal defender. The Reds maintained the ascendancy into the second period and could have gone ahead within a minute of the restart when Peter Crouch latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area and hit a low strike that was well smothered by Almunia. There was certainly more belief about Liverpool's play and as they attacked the Kop end, they continued to threaten as a lung bursting run and cross from Fernando Torres ended with Aurelio's milalalala shot deflecting narrowly wide off the outstretched leg of Crouch. The 12th man was certainly playing its part as renditions of 'Oh Campione,' 'Fields of Anfield Road' and the new ditty paying homage to Fernando Torres echoed into the night sky, but despite forcing a chink in the Arsenal armour, it could not inspire a second Reds goal. For all Liverpool's possession they still had to be wary of the Gunners' threat on the counter attack, a fact further underlined when Emmanuel Eboue escaped the attentions of the home side's defence to fire a warning shot into the side netting on 62 minutes. The tie was balanced on a knife edge and it is on such occasions that players of breathtaking genius showcase the most precocious of talents. Again the crowd looked towards El Nino and once again it was the boy from sunny Spain delivered. A long kick from Pepe Reina was flicked on by Crouch and when Torres took control in the penalty area, he spun brilliantly on a six pence, to curl a magnificent shot into the top right-hand corner. It was goal 29 for the season and it was arguably his most important. With time running out Arsenal threw caution to the wind, with Wenger bringing on both Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott, and the young England international made the impact his manager was looking for. It was his surging with just six minutes remaining that carved Liverpool open down the left and when he crossed low into the area Adebayor was on hand to steer in the equaliser. Anfield was stunned and the semi-finals beckoned for Arsenal. But the Reds still had hope and little did we know that one of Benitez's substitutions would pay dividends in a similar manner, with Ryan Babel winning a penalty just two minutes later after being tumbled in the area by Kolo Toure. Steven Gerrard held his nerve to send the Kop into raptures before Babel capped another incredible European night with an injury-time strike. TEAMS Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Hyypia, Skrtel, Carragher, Gerrard (captain), Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Crouch, Torres. Subs - Riise, Voronin, Leiva, Babel, Arbeloa, Benayoun, Itandje Arsenal: Almunia, Clichy, Gallas (captain), Senderos, Toure, Diaby, Flamini, Fabregas, Eboue, Hleb, Adebayor. Subs - , Hoyte, Song, Walcott, Bendtner, Lehmann, van Persie Referee: Frojdfeldt Peter (Swe) Conditions: Fine Attendance: 41985 BREAKDOWN 18:46 GMT : Match Starts 1 min : Arsenal get the game underway 2 mins : The visitors waste a free-kick in a great position. The referee showing early signs of being a bit of a tool 4 mins : The ref runs dramatically over to Gallas after a soft foul on Torres 5 mins : Oh no...Adebayor through...offside. Rafa is not happy 6 mins : The Gunners have started on the front foot 6 mins : Great challenge from Sami 7 mins : Arsenal corner... 8 mins : ...it's too long and Aurelio heads clear. Liverpool are going to have to be better at defending set pieces than in the last few weeks 9 mins : At last the Reds have some possession 9 mins : Gerrard through down the right...crosses for Kuyt. He can't get a decent connection. 10 mins : Spare a thought for those Liverpool fans stuck on the M62 13 mins : GOAL! Abou Diaby: Arsenal take a deserved lead. Anfield is stunned 16 mins : First Booking: Philippe Senderos: 17 mins : Reina saves from Eboue after Liverpool fail to make the most of a promising free kick 17 mins : Reina saves from Eboue after Liverpool fail to make the most of a promising free kick 18 mins : This has not been a good start by the home side. Come on Redmen 21 mins : Reina forced to make a last-ditch punch clear. This is horrible 24 mins : Carra crosses...cleared...comes to Gerrard...he volleys over. More like it... 26 mins : Kuyt goes down in the box. Big shouts. Ref says no - and he's right 27 mins : Torres through but his touch lets him down. Anfield has come back to life 28 mins : Stevie loses the ball 30 mins : Gerrard and Aurelio work their way through...the Brazilian crosses...poor clearance from Almunia...corner 30 mins : GOAL! Sami Hyypia: OH MY GOD. I LOVE YOU SAMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 33 mins : What drama. It's now all Liverpool. Anfield is as loud as it's ever been and we all love Sami... 35 mins : Gerrard thunders one just wide 37 mins : Brilliant tackle from Xabi...then the same from Dirk. This is how we should have started the game 38 mins : Gerrard and Fabio come over for some water and words of wisdom while Flamini gets treatment. It looks serious 40 mins : He's going to have to come off 41 mins : Alonso is spraying some Alonso-esque passes - he's been Liverpool's man of the match so far 42 mins : Substitution: Gilberto for Mathieu Flamini: Looks like his Achilles 44 mins : Amazing tackle by Aurelio but it's an Arsenal corner 44 mins : Torres of all people heads clear 19:33 GMT : Half Time Reached 19:48 GMT : Second Half Begins 46 mins : Liverpool get the second half started 46 mins : Torres bursts down the left...it comes to Xabi on the edge of the box...gives it to Crouch but his shot is saved 48 mins : Great tackle Fabio 48 mins : Arsenal have yet to recover from the goal, it seems 49 mins : LFC corner - Kop end 49 mins : Comes to nothing - then Crouch is accused of pushing 50 mins : Great battling from Dirk. Top class, son 51 mins : The difference between now and the first 20 minutes is that now Liverpool are first to every ball 52 mins : Kuyt is down with a nosebleed 53 mins : Torres through down the right...his cross comes out to Fabio...shoots. Oh no it hits Crouch and goes hide 54 mins : Skrtel commits a beautiful foul to deny Adebayor the chance to get clear. Subtlty, grace - it had everything 55 mins : Fabio gets a round of applause for keeping Eboue in his pocket 58 mins : Brilliant tackle again from Martin 60 mins : Liverpool are enjoying all the possession right now but they have to make it count 63 mins : Eboue could be through here...hits the side netting 64 mins : The attendance is 41,985 - the capacity at CL games because UEFA puts bigger advertising hoardings up which block the view from some of the front row seats - thus those seats can't be sold. Anyway... 65 mins : Rafa is going to make a change 66 mins : Or maybe not 68 mins : What a tackle by Masch - and the ref gives a free-kick in a dangerous area. Mistake 68 mins : Cleared 69 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: Senderos let Fernando turn. You just don't do that. Da da da da da der der der!!! 73 mins : Substitution: Theo Walcott for Emmanuel Eboue: 73 mins : Substitution: Robin van Persie for Abou Diaby: 73 mins : Golden opportunity for Adebayor. Nine times out of 10 he scores but when it mattered most he spooned it wide 75 mins : Torres wins a corner 75 mins : Hyypia heads wide 77 mins : Babel is preparing to come on 78 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Peter Crouch: 79 mins : Almunia punches away Gerrard corner. Reds on top 82 mins : Kuyt feeds Stevie on the edge of the box...just over 84 mins : GOAL! Emmanuel Adebayor: 85 mins : Penalty Scored! Steven Gerrard: 87 mins : Substitution: John Arne Riise for Fernando Torres: 90 mins : Substitution: Alvaro Arbeloa for Dirk Kuyt: 90 mins : GOAL! Ryan Babel: 20:37 GMT : Match Over __________________

08-04-2008, 10:40 PM	#1813 (permalink)
MaschPotato EA Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Age: 19 Gender: Male Posts: 15,457	Just fantastic..superb performance lads

08-04-2008, 10:45 PM	#1814 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,973	We deserved that more than arsenal, we played the better football for 80mins of the game and we took are chances and finshed them off. Did anyone see adeybayour dancing in the 83rd when he scored he was so shaw they had it in the bag __________________

08-04-2008, 10:50 PM	#1815 (permalink)
MaschPotato EA Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Age: 19 Gender: Male Posts: 15,457	missed that but it will wipe a smile of some of their faces...fabregas gallas wenger etc. im sure arsenal fans are blaming it all on the penalty right

08-04-2008, 11:15 PM	#1817 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,973	__________________

09-04-2008, 07:22 AM	#1818 (permalink)
Gerrard4eva Rookie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Aussie Land Posts: 443	I actually thought we were going to lose after the first goal, but in the end it was another great win! __________________ I will always be a Liverpool supporter! GO THE REDS!!

09-04-2008, 07:45 AM	#1819 (permalink)
LewisLaa Elite Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 7,285	as expected: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger blamed a "dodgy" penalty decision and a lack of consistency from referees after exiting the Champions League at the quarter-final stage at the hands of Liverpool. The Gunners lost the second leg of their last eight tie 4-2 at Anfield on Tuesday and 5-3 on aggregate and afterwards the Frenchman blamed a tale of two penalties. With his side heading through on the away goals rule after Emmanuel Adebayor's 84th minute equaliser to make it 2-2, Kolo Toure was adjudged to have pulled back Ryan Babel in the box and Steven Gerrard converted the penalty. But afterwards Wenger claimed the penalty was a bitter pill to swallow after his side were denied their own spot-kick during the first leg the Emirates Stadium when Dirk Kuyt pulled back Alex Hleb. "I felt at that stage the game was over at 2-2. Then there was a dodgy penalty and we started to lose concentration," he claimed. "Over the two games this is hard to swallow. The big decisions over penalties in both matches have gone against us. "It is difficult to take. The players in the dressing-room are very down because they believe week after week the decisions are going against them. "It was not a penalty tonight - I have seen the replay - but we were denied a clear penalty last week. That was a real penalty, this one wasn't." Speaking about his side's Premier League title aspirations ahead of Sunday's must-win trip to Manchester United, he added: "It will be hard now. "We have to go to Manchester United next at the weekend, but we will try to finish strongly. But we still feel a great sense of injustice." __________________ The Red Half of Merseyside.

09-04-2008, 08:47 AM	#1820 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,973	Highlights of the game: YouTube - Liverpool vs Arsenal 4-2 A bit of Rafas press conference after the game: New Video Portal Player 2 __________________ Last edited by Scouser_Dave; 09-04-2008 at 08:59 AM..

09-04-2008, 09:15 AM	#1821 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,973	BABEL: FAN POWER GOT US THROUGH Steve Hunter 09 April 2008 Goal hero Ryan Babel believes it was the incredible support of the Kop that inspired Liverpool to overcome Arsenal on another wonderful European night at Anfield. The Dutch international made a dramatic impact when he came off the bench to win the penalty and then score a fantastic goal at the Kop end to seal the 4-2 win. The former Ajax ace has now scored nine goals this season and he said there is nothing that compares to the the special Anfield atmosphere in world football. "The fans pulled us to another level," said Babel. "It's the same in all the big games, like against Everton and Inter. It's like playing with 12 men." Babel's comments were echoed by captain Steven Gerrard who said: "If the fans perform like that it's a big help to us. Other teams find it impossible and it was a fantastic team performance. "Arsenal had a lot of good possession over the two legs but we are a match for anyone." __________________

09-04-2008, 09:17 AM	#1822 (permalink)
Scouser_Dave EA Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 25 Posts: 13,973	READ ALL ABOUT ANOTHER GLORY NIGHT Steve Hunter 09 April 2008 It's the day after the brilliant night before and the English press makes happy reading for Liverpool fans still getting their breath back after an absorbing 4-2 win over Arsenal. To save you surfing the net today to read all about another momentous European display from Rafael Benitez's men, we've pulled together the best of the match reports from today's newspapers for you to read here. Just click on the links below to read the views of the country's top journalists after the Reds marched into the semi-finals of the Champions Leage. Daily Telegraph (Henry Winter)>> The Times (Oliver Kay)>> Liverpool Daily Post (Ian Doyle)>> The Independent (Sam Wallace)>> The Mirror (David Maddock)>> __________________

09-04-2008, 09:44 AM	#1824 (permalink)
Gerrard4eva Rookie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Aussie Land Posts: 443	Dave, your really good at this, can you find me a video with Babels goal? I had to leave before it happened... __________________ I will always be a Liverpool supporter! GO THE REDS!!

09-04-2008, 01:07 PM	#1825 (permalink)
MaschPotato EA Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Age: 19 Gender: Male Posts: 15,457	pongolle 7.2m target for Valencia and Atletico..if we get that much for him thats great