[Hightown hope]

I know what you mean, Mak, but I find it difficult to say Barca will be an easier game than Utd. They won’t be – I know our recent results against Utd have been poor, but it wasn’t that long ago we deservedly beat them in the Europa, and remember they struggle to beat us as much as we struggle to beat them.

Barceloan would be a great tie, but have a look at the bookies odds if we draw Barca. Who do you think will be favourites? It won’t be us, and the bookies odds, while not always right, tend to give an unemotional and objective view of how the tie will go. If we were to draw Utd, I fancy we’d be the favourites, albeit narrow ones.

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[Hightown hope]

I think you’ve got to want the winner of either the Roma-Shaktar game or the Utd-Sevilla game, and hope that City and Barca get drawn together in the quarters. While Barca do leave a high line and maybe aren’t great at the back, they are also capable of battering anyone. We could be at the Nou Camp in the first leg and quite conceivably lose 4-0, and that is game over, and the same goes for City. Whereas Roma, Shaktar, Utd and Sevilla are nowhere near at the level of those two teams, therefore, by definition, giving us a better chance of progressing.

It was weird last night – after all these years of waiting again for the Champions League knockout stage at Anfield, it was a damp squib. While I am in no way complaining about the 5-0 first leg win, it kind of robbed us of a big european night!! Of course I would take the same outcome again in the next round!!

One other point from last night regarding the Porto fans. Considering they were 5-0 down their turnout and noise they made last night was superb, except, and this is a big except, the behaviour of a reasonably large majority during the minute’s silence was disgraceful, and the Anfield crowd let them know in no uncertain terms.

But a strange night overall, but roll on the quarters!

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[Hightown hope]

Well, Sean, if you’re reading this you didn’t miss a classic and boy, was it cold, but an excellent professional performance and another 3 points on our March to 2nd place. The Manchester next week is a big one!

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[Hightown hope]

Console yourself, Sean, with knowing you won’t freeze your nuts off at the game! Gutted for you though, mate

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[Hightown hope]

Can I put a bid in for Firmino for us northerners? I accept that those who don’t watch Liverpool every week don’t necessarily see what an outstanding player he is. I honestly believe he is more important to Liverpool than even Salah. And this season he has added goals to his game. To score over 20 by this stage of the season when he is not a centre forward, doesn’t take penalties and has the workrate and energy of 5 men, is truly remarkable. Long may he stay underrated by other clubs, but he is truly a class act, and I would have him in place of Sane or Mane, so there is Aguero, salah and Bobby as the front 3. I know I’ll be out voted by the City lads on here, but what the hell!

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[Hightown hope]

While I understand Pep’s strong feelings about this issue, for once I have a certain amount of sympathy for the FA. They shouldn’t allow political statements of any kind otherwise at some point they will set themselves up as moral arbiters. If a manager wanted to sport a Britain First badge, would that be acceptable? I would hope not, but the FA are sEttington themselves for trouble in the future if they allow Pep to carry wearing his badge.

I remember back in the 90”s Robbie Fowler wearing a tshirt supporting the Liverpool dockers which he revealed after scoring in front of the Kop one night. He got fined, but he’d made his point with that one gesture that night.

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[Hightown hope]

Good point, Mav – where is Man C v Arsenal, Ed?

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[Hightown hope]

So does anyone know the answer? You can put Chelsea 5th and they win the Champions League if you like. Does 4th place then miss out?

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[Hightown hope]

Yeah it was a good day, Nil. A great professional performance without being spectacular. Special mentions today for Robbie,  Karius and as usual Bobby. What a player he is

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[Hightown hope]

But, Mak, isn’t one of the beauties about football is that it IS so contentious, controversial and about subjective opinion, be it from the referees or indeed the fans. I just don’t understand why people want to sanitise the game.

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[Hightown hope]

Alfie – in the Liverpool-West Brom Cup tie a few weeks ago, the referee went to the side of the pitch to review the Salah penalty incident. I still maintain that for the matchgoing fan the VAR system is a joke at the moment

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[Hightown hope]

Nil…not to worry. Very rare I get a spare in all honesty but does happen 3 or 4 times a season, but tend to only find out late. Will bear you in mind next time

Sean enjoy the Newcastle game. Where are you sat? You’ll have to be optimistic for that one!

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[Hightown hope]

I know it’s late notice, but I have a spare ticket for tomorrow in the Lower Kenny Dalglish stand. It’s a really good seat and is at face value at £45. If anyone is interested, let me know on here and we’ll arrange to meet tomorrow before the game or in a pub!

 

I know there are very few Liverpool fans on here, but if anyone is interested, I’m sure Ed will allow us to exchange mobile numbers offline, so to speak.

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[Hightown hope]

Pax – I’d actually have Henderson in my preferred starting line-up at the moment. That’s not to say we shouldn’t be looking for an upgrade, as I find it difficult to believe Jordan Henderson would ever be a regular in a title winning side. However what he does provide for Liverpool is that he is the pivot in midfield…by that he always keeps the ball moving and he’s like the centre of a clock from which various options emanate. My midfield 3 from our current squad would be him, Can and Wijnaldum, but that area of the field is definitely our weak point at the moment, I would say.

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[Hightown hope]

PPT – just to be clear…your ‘Classy from HH’ wasn’t aimed at me, was it?

…cos I’ve never been classy in my life!

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[Hightown hope]

Brian – yeah, look at the brains trust around here – us lot would sort out this game of ours in no time!!

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[Hightown hope]

Filthy tackle???

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[Hightown hope]

With respect to BigAl07 on TT, this is his post on the VAR debate. Written far more eloquently and passionately than I could…

VAR is the biggest threat to the national game there has ever been. Commentators are talking about getting the decision right to within a fraction of an inch, making the decisions faster and letting everyone see exactly what the extra ref is seeing. All irrelevant in my eyes because if the emotion and passion of the game has already been killed then the decision becomes irrelevant.

Football is all about quick exciting moments, a bit of skill and the ball hits the back of the net. The stadium erupts in excitement and (one set of) players celebrate wildly. Its not about a ref putting his finger to his ear and everyone waiting around in subdued silence. When the decision does come it doesn’t matter whether its for your team or against it, whether its right or wrong because the moment has gone and so has the passion and excitement.

When a striker is one on one with the goalie, both they and the crowd HAVE to know whether this is going to count or not. Imagine the striker has already been through twice, beat the keeper twice and had both goals (eventually) chalked off. Will the crowd be on the edge of their seats this third time ? No way. Will the striker and goalie be as razor sharp this time round knowing it might be another case of non-play ? Not a chance. When everything we’re seeing may matter or may not then it quickly becomes that nothing matters

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[Hightown hope]

And as for Spurs playing at a neutral venue…well, it’s that Mickey Mouse competition again – no interest, mate!!!

 

…but, yeah, it does seem wrong, though the ticket allocation would be fair, one would assume

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[Hightown hope]

Jim – will have to agree to disagree about VAR. I truly believe it is better not having it at the moment, and I’m surprised you, as a matchgoing fan, think differently. I can almost understand a TV viewer not being too bothered about it, as he/she is not as caught up in the immediate passion and adrenalin of the game. Have you been at a game yet where it has been used? I have, at the Liverpool-WBA Cup match a couple of weeks ago, and it was dreadful. Wagner was dead right about it with what he said he last night.

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