Liverpool win should be dedicated to all those who dared to question Rafa Benitez! |

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Liverpool win should be dedicated to all those who dared to question Rafa Benitez!

Posted by: Jerome Johnstone , on Tue 8 Apr 2008

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Tagged: Liverpool

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Football FanCast columnist Jerome Johnston cannot take the smile off his face and has set his sights on Moscow.

What is it about this competition and Rafa Benitez? Sent from the gods, lucky perhaps; surely it just can't be coincidence that the Spaniard has taken his Liverpool side to their third Champions League semi final in four years?

It was another masterstroke from Rafa. Bringing in Peter Crouch in a changed formation of 4-4-2 had the Anfield masses shaking their head confused. Benitez not for the first time was proved correct and deserves great praise for the way we took this game to Arsenal. He was content on sitting back and soaking the pressure; he wanted to win this game of football and deserves great credit for it. I also want to pay tribute to Ryan Babel; dropped from the starting line up and how fitting it was that he should come on and be the man to turn the tie on its head and have Liverpool fans dreaming of a 6th (yes Man United fans, 6th) European Cup.

Every player stood tall tonight, gave blood sweat and tears to the cause and they are all heroes in my eyes, no more so than Captain fantastic, Stevie G. What balls, what inner strength this man possesses. He is a special player and my word what remarkable calmness he showed when he stuck the penalty. Miss and we were out - it was that simple.

It is a proud night to be a Liverpool fan and how we will savour this victory tonight. Chelsea next up should hold no fear for Rafa, our euro magician, and we can all start dreaming of Moscow in May. I want to dedicate this victory to all the doubters, all the knockers and those who dared to question the abilities of Rafa Benitez. Enjoy the night guys; I know I will.

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Totally agree Jerome, a big

Totally agree Jerome, a big two fingers at Hicks, the press, everyone that has tried to run down our great football club.

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by Anonymous User on April 8, 2008 - 23:21

Great result and we really

Great result and we really have nothing to fear, its going to be United in Moscow and I cant wait. Drink well tonight lads, I know I will and enjoy a little laugh at the toffees tomorrow.

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by Anonymous User on April 8, 2008 - 23:23

We cannot fear anything or

We cannot fear anything or anyone, we must start to believe, we are going for it again and No.6 is on the way, fucking get in.

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by Anonymous User on April 8, 2008 - 23:33

Lads lets take it one step

Lads lets take it one step at a time sure it was a great result, but we did get lucky tonight because I dont think we deserved the peno if that was a peno, then so was Hlebs in the first leg... but it wasn't given... big deal we got our pen and scored besides I reckon Reina woulda saved it!! Come on the pool can't wait for the semi's....

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by Anonymous User on April 8, 2008 - 23:36

Great result in the end but

Great result in the end but you must self delusional beyond belief to attribute this to Rafa's tactics. He got the tactics very badly wrong tonight but the sheer will to win of his players eventually got him and us off the hook. Tonight was a triumph of character but it was definitely not a triumph of tactics.

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by Anonymous User on April 9, 2008 - 00:00

I am usually a strong

I am usually a strong supporter of Rafa's tactics but I'm glad someone else pointed out that going 4-4-2 with Crouch was very, very far from a masterclass. It was just plain wrong. It left both of them isolated for long periods of the game while we often found ourselves outnumbered and outplayed in the center of midfield. It was heart, determination and luck that got us through to the semis, not tactics this time.

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by Anonymous User on April 9, 2008 - 00:01

If you think he got his

If you think he got his tactic's wrong maybe you might need glassses! Why would he have played the same team and formation at home after giving Arsenal a practise run against it last week? The Crouch factor was vital at both ends of the pitch and once we adapted to how they were playing it was definitely the best move to make. I must admit I thought he would start with the same team as last week but the minute I saw the team sheet and worked out the formation I new our tactical master was at it again. Yeah we rode our look at times and the peno was debateable but such is life. Rafa is in a different class when it comes to analaysing teams and whie I still think Wenger is the best manager in the world at pressent, his egotistical view of the 'beautiful' football Arsenal have been playing during hie reign has let him down when it counts.. Give Benitez ten yers with the same equally supportive club and I think people may have a change of opinion... As they say Silver talks and the rest, no matter how pretty it is, ultimately walks...

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by Anonymous User on April 9, 2008 - 00:24

Sam, wake up and smell the

Sam, wake up and smell the roses mate. Gerrard's comment about having his worst game in years was typically honest but dead right. Sticking our most important player out on the left wing meant he was basically out of the game far too much and also too far away from Torres for them to connect. Also Babel demonstrated when he came on that he should have been on from the start. Against a team like Arsenal whose moves all go through the middle it makes no sense to denude your central midfield and stick your most pivotal player in the middle of nowhere on the left wing. Also playing Carra at right back instead of Finnan should only be used in emergencies. Carra is vastly superior at Centre Back and a Carra/Skrtel or Carra/Sami centre back combo with Finnan at right back would have made us a lot tighter at the back. The truth is our central midfield was often overrun tonight and we often looked vulnerable at the back.....but we got away with it in the end through sheer character, will to win and quite a bit of luck as well.

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by Anonymous User on April 9, 2008 - 02:45

Just to say congrats to

Just to say congrats to Liverpool, i realy hope you win it now, i dont see how you can lose with uefa backing you all the way!

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by Anonymous User on April 9, 2008 - 02:56

thnx mate we r goin' to win

thnx mate we r goin' to win it and by the way we r the better team over 2 legs capito son?

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