04/24/24
November 06, 2007
Liverpool bury Besiktas 8-0.: Liverpool takes the first step in salvaging its Champions League campaign by recording the highest-margin in a Champions League match. Hilarious Guardian match coverage ensues. Notes: 1. Liverpool needs to win its remaining two matches to qualify for the next round. 2: How the hell did we lose 2-1 to these clowns just two weeks ago? 3. Rafa, please keep this starting 11 for this weekend. Please.
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 04:04 PM - 13 comments
Dammit, I wish you were wrong, blues, but in my gut, I know Rafa will prove you right. Dammit. From today... Reina Aurelio (Babel 63), Hyypia, Carragher, Arbeloa Riise, Mascherano, Gerrard (Lucas 72) Benayoun Voronin (Kewell 72), Crouch. 4-3-1-2 or 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 (I didn't see the match, so just guessing from the player's usual roles -- someone post a YouTube!) I like the shape of this. Aggressive, because they pushed Riise up, let Benayoun drift and had Crouch troublemaking with Voronin to clean up or link play. And it bloody worked. Also, the late subs continued to be aggressive, with Babel, a winger/forward, coming on for a defender, Lucas (mid) for Gerrard (mid), and Kewell (winger) for Voronin (striker) only a mild concession for defense. Clear intent, consistently applied and increased pressure, everyone playing with real menace. I'd like to see this fooking carried over into the weekend. Gosh, it even lets us rest Torres for a little longer so we don't make him tear another muscle. You've got a winning combo, build on the confidence and morale by starting the same lads, then throttle back by subbing in. C'mon, Rafa. Every time we get a little momentum, you shoot yourself in the foot by swapping out the winners in the next match, breaking the flow. C'mon. Enough messing around. Six points adrift of first in the EPL and two must-win CL games is not a time for tinkering with a winning team.
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:25 PM on November 06, 2007
The Turkish shower made Voronin look good WC, that probably says it all. Some of the goals were good, some of them were tap ins after saves and some were deflections, including Babel's second which went in off his arse from 18 yards out. (3 Linekers in old money.) Babel's other goal was very good though and Benayoun's first was nice. Voronin made me look like a tart roughly four seconds after asking why anyone would spend actual money on him, by sending through a sweet backheel for Stevie G's goal. As blues points out, Kuyt will be back at the weekend, with Stevie G played at fullback, Cilla Black on the left and Ray Clemence in goal. I'm fairly sure Rafa does it now just to annoy the everyone who says he shouldn't.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 05:16 PM on November 06, 2007
All eight goals. In French. Oo-la-la!
posted by worldcup2002 at 06:09 PM on November 06, 2007
less editorial in posts please, homer! ;)
posted by scully at 06:20 PM on November 06, 2007
Until I saw the scoreline, I wasn't sure that even winning the rest of their group games would be enough for the Reds. 8 goals will sure pad your goal differential though.
posted by trox at 06:55 PM on November 06, 2007
Sorry, terrapin. I do realize I was toeing the line there. But the CL record-setting scoreline helped assuage my guilt.
posted by worldcup2002 at 07:01 PM on November 06, 2007
All eight goals. In French. Oo-la-la! In English (crappy audio quality, but what you gonna do?)
posted by juv3nal at 12:46 AM on November 07, 2007
As the cliché goes, Besiktas were lucky to get nill. That was fun. And it reminded me that a good old-fashioned shoeing is such a delight in the round-ball game, while a blowout is a yawn in the NFL. A spanking is a rare treat for football fans. If you're in the stands on the receiving end, a kind of calm resignation usually kicks in, along with the classic black humour of 'we want 1! we want 1!'. At about 4-0, Besiktas were basically going through the motions, and it became a case of how many, and how spectacular from Liverpool. And they delivered. Still don't think they'll make it past the group, though.
posted by etagloh at 12:56 AM on November 07, 2007
I remember when we were done 9-0 by Man United. With about five minutes to play we were all singing "10-9, we're going to win 10-9!"
posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:09 AM on November 07, 2007
That 7th goal, off Babel's ass, was a pure howler. I was laughing right until Crouch got the next. Wonderful to watch after recent form, I'll tell you that for sure. Formation at the the start was 4-4-2, Crouch was great as the target up top throughout, and when Kewell came in Babel moved to the other striker spot. Which I've read, in an interview, is Babel's preferred spot so perhaps if Crouch moves in January or next summer Babel will be his replacement and Kewell (if he finds a way to stay healthy) move into the winger rotation...
posted by billsaysthis at 01:54 PM on November 07, 2007
If Kewell finds a way to stay healthy, it'll probably be after he's retired and sat on a deck chair in his backyard. Even then, he's bound to pull something. The poor guy has such bad luck with injuries.
posted by worldcup2002 at 05:10 PM on November 08, 2007
He did keep the same 11 and you'll notice the two goals didn't come until Babel and Torres (and Lucas too, I think) were on the field. Still, I'm happy to have the three points.
posted by billsaysthis at 01:20 AM on November 11, 2007
Rafa will not keep this starting 11. Kuyt will get the start ahead Crouch... for whatever reason. Crouch scores two, Yossi scores a hat trick, Babel scores two, and even Stevie G gets in on the fun... but the chance of seeing this starting 11 this weekend is slim. Rotation, rotation, rotation.