Mails: And they said Liverpool couldn’t defend…

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Why can’t we win it now?
Why can’t we win it now? Roma are batting above their weight, Bayern aren’t what they were, though admittedly Real and Ronaldo are still bloody terrifying in this competition. Tasty final though!

There certainly were a few poor decisions – obviously it was a goal – but we were the better team and deserve to be in the semis. The resurgence of our defence has been amazing to watch and I’ve run out of ways to keep praising Mo and Bobby.

Klopp has been magnificent, honestly. He’s ridden out the criticism , adapted where necessary and for the third year in a row, we’re better than the year before.

One thing that has fascinated me though is the sheer dislike out there for City and Pep! As scarcely – ahem – the most beloved club in the land, to watch the unbridled glee at their loss is certainly something. Fraudiola, petro dollars etc etc, people really can’t stand this guy. When even United fans want Liverpool to win, the world has gone topsy turvey. He’s an amazing manager, he really seems like a good guy, but , boy, people *crave* his failure. The League and League Cup really isn’t all that bad a return…

But I digress. Maybe we’ll go all the way, maybe not. However, if someone had offered finishing in the top four, playing fantastic football and the semis of the Champions League back in August, I’d have ripped their arms off.

It is a wonderful time to be a fan.
James , Liverpool

…After the first 15 minutes of the game, I thought to myself “If we can make it to half time at 1-0, we’ll go through.” I’ve seen Liverpool go out all guns blazing enough times to know that you simply can’t keep it up for 90 minutes. It was true of City too. The two games actually followed fairly similar paths. The difference being that Liverpool’s first half blitz gave them a 3-0 lead, whereas City’s could not match that.

I am more than happy to say that Liverpool got the rub of the green over the two legs. The goal that was chalked off for City was clearly a bad decision. However, there was a clear push by Sterling for the first goal and I’m not sure anyone could have complained if it was ruled out. Liverpool also benefited from a lot of marginal offside calls throughout the tie. That being said, while 5-1 may have flattered Liverpool, I don’t think you could argue that they were not the better side across the tie.

Speaking of offside, what was up with Sane? I’m not sure whether it was his bad judgement or an excellent defensive line, but I’ve rarely seen a player offside that many times. It’s pretty unforgivable when you’re breaking up your teams attacking play that often.

This is why we signed Virgil Van Dijk. In today’s market, it’s £75m well spent as far as I’m concerned. Aside from the mistake for the goal (I’ll come to that) he was immense. He was dominant in the air and despite all City’s possession, they didn’t create a lot of chances. Lovren amazingly was even better. Kept the attacks at bay and showed why we signed him in the first place.

Although VVD was culpable for the first goal, I’ll come to his defence. He was given a shocking pass by Karius which put him under pressure. Maybe it’s rose tinted specs but I thought it was a clear foul on him by Sterling. However, you play to the whistle and he was guilty of not doing that.

Karius has come on leaps and bounds recently but if Liverpool are going to step up, they need a better keeper. Karius’s punching was highly suspect and the second goal would have been his fault had it been given. Look at the difference Ederson has made to Man City. A new keeper could have a similar effect on Liverpool.

I love our full backs. Gave the ball away a bit too much in the first half but I though both defended superbly. Considering their age and experience, to defend like that in a Champions League quarter final is incredible.

Salah. What can you say? All I can hope is that nights like this convince him that Liverpool is where he should be long term. Great players make the difficult look easy and that’s exactly what he did with his finish last night.

There are those of the modern culture of instant gratification that insist that Klopp (and others) will not have achieved anything until they have won something. Rubbish. Let’s not forget just how low Liverpool were when Klopp took over. Of course, to be remembered as a great he will have to start winning eventually but the improvement in the team is dramatic. Even if we go out in the semi’s, this will have been a good season.

When we started the season I just wanted to qualify for the group stage and bring great European nights back to Anfield. I saw us qualifying for the last 16, playing PSG or Madrid and going out to a better team. That’s changed. When you’re in the last 4, you can’t help but think about winning it. Barcelona and City were the two teams I feared the most. Now they’re gone. Whatever semi final opponent we get it will be a hell of a difficult tie. But it will be winnable. It’s been a hell of ride so far under Klopp. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Mike, LFC, Dubai

De Bruyne had no impact on Tuesday
I’m finding the F365 De Bruyne love in to be increasingly out of sync with reality. “If the first leg supposedly indicated why Salah merits being named the Player of the Year, the first half of the second leg was an exhibition of De Bruyne’s magic.”

It’s strange that an entire conclusion in 16 conclusions is centred around lauding a player who, across two legs, had no tangible impact on either game, ended up on the losing side in both games, and despite his team having such dominance of possession in two of the four halves, couldn’t provide a genuine threat to the Liverpool goal. He is, without a doubt, a fabulous player, and a joy to watch, but the game is ultimately about end product and too often De Bruyne was found wanting. Spreading the play with inch perfect cross field passes and getting on the ball at every opportunity to control the game aren’t worth a whole lot unless they lead to match defining moments.

F365 has been a long-time critic of the PFA POTS award, largely because it is voted with not only ¼ of the season to go, but also because it doesn’t take into consideration what happens when the pressure is greatest at the ‘business end’ of the season. Yet, the site has been fawning over De Bruyne and clamouring for his coronation since Xmas. It is exactly this bizarre approach that you have mocked season in season out. I have no issues with De Bruyne, he has been brilliant for much of the season… but I am amazed he is singled out for his brilliance when he failed to deliver when his team needed him the most.

Further the above quote misses the key point – surely the second leg also indicated why Salah merits being POTS too. Salah has been the very definition of consistency and output. I probably don’t need to mention that he has scored in more Premier League games than any striker before him (and think about the quality of some of those strikers!), which in itself demonstrates a player who provides end product week in week out, and has been involved in an incredible 50 goals this season already.

Not only that, but he has scored/contributed in the biggest games of the season, against the best teams. He is there to be counted when his team need him the most, and while he does spend some game time on the periphery of proceedings (to some extent a by-product of his position and the quality of the team), he is still ‘on it’ when the moment comes.

Across these two games, he has had far more influence than any other player… Comparing goals isn’t obviously a fair yardstick to measure a centre midfielder and a forward, but as many far more qualified experts have said before, the hardest thing to do is put the ball in the net… as City have found to their detriment over the last two games. Salah keeps on delivering in this regard. Yes he gets a point dedicated to his goal, but every goal gets one… in the bigger picture I would have thought the reflection of brilliance and magic be placed on the man who had the biggest bearing on the tie.

It will be interesting to judge come the end of the season – I have no doubt De Bruyne will have more medals, and potentially has been a better player over the course of the season, but let’s not shower the man with praise when he hasn’t come up with the goods.
Mike

Six more Conclusions
You’d get a lot of giddy emails from Liverpool fans but I felt I should chip in with a 6 conclusions from the match heavily skewed to LFC.

1. It’s important to note that Liverpool rode their luck in this tie and I think to be champion you really have to (I’m not saying we’re going to but why not?!). I remember Chelsea rode their luck when they won. Messi’s penalty miss readily comes to mind. This is why I don’t criticize referees, sometimes the calls are in your favour and vice versa.

2. Even though he might have been at fault for the first goal but I think Virgil has improved our defensive solidity. I had this nagging fear we were going to collapse; but we held our own.
Wijnaldum is not a holding midfielder and we were over run in the first half. Much oft criticized

3. Henderson was missed.

4. For all the praise TAA gets and rightly so, it was always heart in mouth when City attacked through Sane. I was much more at ease with Robertson and was relieved when Clyne came up.

5. How many times does Firmino have to do it for defenders to learn?

6. Mo Salah!

On the balance of play I’d say Liverpool were good value for the win. City’s three shot on target over 180 minutes is a positive proof. However, is it just me or does the pressure get to anyone else? I felt like I was in a pressure cooker even when we were 3-0 up at Anfield. The girlfriend kept asking why I was worried if we were 3-0 up. I kept feeling we’d screw things up. I only really calmed down after Firmino’s goal. Bring on Madrid!
George LFC, Barcelona.

What was that about Liverpool can’t defend?
What a night, and what a great gang of lads these players are!

Many will point to the (wrongfully) disallowed goal on the stroke of half time which might have changed the complexion of the game. However, that fails to recognise that there was a clear push by Sterling on Big Virg in the build up to the Manchester City goal. You got away with one there and we got away with one, so call it even.

It also fails to recognise that over the two legs Liverpool were simply sublime and showed both sides of what they’re all about. They can score for fun but also the ability to dog it out and defend for our lives when we need to. Can that lazy pundit line of Liverpool not being able to defend go away now please?

Special mention to Trent, back to back man of the match performances in the Champions League quarter finals against probably the most in from winger in Europe (are you watching Gareth?)

That’s twice in 6 days we’ve beaten the media darlings and 3 times in 80 odd days. This Liverpool team is on the way to doing something very special and this song is taking us all the way to Kiev!
Pagey, LFC (Allez, Allez, Allez!)

On Salah and anticipation
I remember always being told by coaches to follow up other people’s shots but watching salah and Ronaldo over the last weeks it’s not just shots to follow up. If your teammate is running towards goal you should follow close behind. Salah last night was the perfect example but I keep seeing it from the current batch of top strikers. Everyone’s attention is on the guy with the ball, so you go unnoticed and have a great chance of picking up the loose ball and getting on the score sheet.

Of course it helps if you have the calmness to casually lift it over desperate defenders as if it was just a training game!!
Joey

An Arsenal fan who’s just jealous
As a neutral Arsenal fan I really enjoyed watching both legs of the Liverpool v city tie. I thought the first half at Anfield was one of the best halves of football I’ve seen this season.

It is clear Liverpool deserves to go through although I don’t think there is a 5-1 difference between the sides. As a neutral I wasn’t bothered who won the first leg but last night I wanted a city comeback to make the game more exciting for me.

It is therefore a shame that a fairly obvious decision for the second city goal wasn’t given. I don’t think you can overestimate how massive that decision was in the course of this tie. 2-0 just before half time and the stadium is rocking, the city players are up, even Pep stays on the touchline. It was the ultimate momentum swinger.

Add to it the clear penalty City weren’t given in the first leg and the two extremely marginal offside goals at Anfield both going Liverpool’s way and you would have to be very biased to say that the officials hadn’t had a big influence on the result at key points in the tie.

People complain about VAR, but the complaints are based on the ‘pause’ at the point of mindless celebration, the time it takes and that the crowd have no idea what’s going on a – the correct decisions are being made and if it was in use last night that game is 2-0 City at half time and we have potentially had a tie that would have rivalled the Roma v Barca match.

Officials or not Liverpool have a excellent team and chance to win this again. As an Arsenal fan the thing that impressed me most is the connection between club, manager, players and fans. All four have bought into the dreams of the other three and are all singing loudly from the same hymn sheet. The comparison to the embarrassing shambles at Arsenal is stark.
Rich (jealous arsenal fan, very much #wengerout)

BT Sport and the onside goal
Can we please make a point of one of the worst examples in sport broadcasting I have ever witness from BT Sport last night. Watching the Sane goal live I saw it came off the defender. The very first replay proved it immediately. It being disallowed was a disgrace seeing as there are 5 officials there to spot it.

What happened after that has really hit a nerve with me. Not one of the THREE commentators spotted or recognised the injustice to epic proportions.

I can forgive Fletcher. He’s just a bloke basically. But McManaman and Hoddle should be sacked immediately. I mean what in hell was that about last night. Even as they were talking through the incident they openly say the ball comes of Milner. But fail to tell the viewer that a mistake has been made. Let’s not forget why co-commentators are even there in the first place. To ADD insight your average viewer might not know or recognise. They shouldn’t be there for any other reason.

As for Chris Foy. I was baffled by his half time explanation of the incident. He seemed totally void of fact the ball came off a Liverpool player. He didn’t even mention it and talked about Sane being in line with last defender. As we all know there needs to be two men between an attacker and the goal anyway so Chris mate, what are you going on about?

These three gentleman are paid handsomely to offer insight into the game were watching. Absolutely embarrassing.
Bano

…Chris Foy was genuinely discussing the extent to which Sane wasn’t standing in an offside position.

Forget the whole debate about if the ball came off Milner (okay, don’t, as its critical, but still) – this was a professional referee failing to grasp that just because he was in front of the last defender, the fact that Sane was behind the goalkeeper made him in an offside position.

And then we look at Milner’s blatant (and unfortunate) pass to Sane to score as he intercepted the ball. Would this have changed the game? No, I really don’t think so. But it’s a totally justifiable grievance.

In the same manner that I am justifiably disgruntled that I pay money to BT Sports for that level of idiocy from the commentators and their specialists. I shouldn’t know the rules of the game better than a man who was previously paid to know the rules of the game on the pitch, and continues to be paid to know the rules of the game from a box.
Jonny Kay

Good luck with that, they were almost all on Liverpool
Take a bow Roma, take a bow.

What makes these rare nights of footballing brilliance even better is the anticipation of reading the following morning’s Mailbox.
Gaz, CFC, Sidcup

Imagine sending an email like this
The real favorites and the team the media falsely claimed were favorites just because they wanted them to win for some reason I cannot fathom were both knocked out in humiliating fashion.

We also got the hilarious icing on the cake in the form of some arrogant weirdo who can’t control his temper under pressure getting sent to the stands so he can get shown how to win away games in Europe. Classic!

Can’t wait for how the media tries to spin this one (It was the ref that did it!) as City are still the best team in Europe obviously, even a blind man could see that now!
William, Leicester

On the plane
Danny Ings is the only English centre forward to play in the champions league quarter finals this season.

Time to revise that world cup ladder guys.
Sean, Freiburg (LFC)