DELIGHTED we are through but very disappointed with the 2nd half. We passed the ball like a pub team and gave the chance to Barce to win the tie. Can't believe some of the midfielders like Gerrard and Alonso didn't get on the ball when we needed to hold possession. Our lack of technique is really beginning to let us down.

Great to be through but defending great is one side of the game; using the ball intelligently is the other side of being a good team. We really failed that side again tonight.

A great result over two legs. But yet again we lose by a single goal after out playing a big team. For me we didn't get into the box enough. We had maybe four attempts inside the box. Kuyt might have done better from Bellamy's rebound. Bellamy certainly should have done better with his 2nd half chance from eight yards. Gerrard's striking instincts need sharpening after he chose the wrong corner of the goal with his left. AND ONCE AGAIN the "mighty" Peter Crouch misses a relatively easy chance inside the six yard box after good work from Pennant on the right. There's only one man in the squad that would finish 3 out of 4 chances, ROBBIE FOWLER. He's their now, play him he'll score. The difference between us and the teams above us over the passed three seasons has been the finishing.

Our strikers missed sitters against Utd and Barce and Fowler would have buried them. You can't ignore class and Fowler still has that. Why was Zenden on the bench tonight and not Fowler?

I can't agree more about Kuyt; he talks a lot but his performances look like Emile Heskey. Working like a dog but no class, no goal and bad touches when he needs a bit of class. I am very worried he is a very average workhorse he looked in the World Cup.

We had 28 per cent possession tonight and 33 per cent in the Nou Camp. That surely has to improve if we want to be a serious contender for the Cup. Giving the ball to the opposition all the time is just stupid and we need to work on retaining the ball on the training ground because it makes us look like a very ordinary side the way we non-stop give it away and then rely on that LEGEND Jamie Carragher; our best player by a mile again tonight. By a mile as usual in big games.

The second half performance overshadowed a great display in the first when Barca could have been dead and buried 3 - 0. It's great to be through but there is clearly a lack of self belief in the supporters and rightly so. Liverpool Football Club did not make history by defending all night and relying on the same key individuals every game. The lack off class in certain areas was evident again, Pennant for their goal, Crouch's "finish" in the six yard box, Kuyt's inability to score and hold the ball at crucial times. I am not so sure the answer is Fowler. Robbie has not proved himself consistently at any level for over 3 years. Getting through in one off games in such an emotional atmosphere is great, but in the cold light of day we have lost the last two games 1 - 0. We need to prove ourselves over 38 games this squad is not good enough for that nor is the manager. If the future of our club lies with a 19 point gap behind the Mancs and only 33% of the posession when playing at Anfield then we have all lost the plot. Shanks used to say you get nothing for coming second - god knows what you get for coming fourth every year. Not good enough and the majority of fans know it. Fridays draw is irrelevant.

Watched the matched and all though we progress to the next round the level of football we played in the second half lacked class!!
A couple big of players went missing and worst still Dirk Khuyt is not looking like the real deal... plus he talks too much!!
It's very hard to really take positives from the second half but the truth is that play was very sloppy and we gave possession away with nearly every other ball... at home ... at anfield!!
On such a performance we are at least 2-3 years away from the title plus still need at least 4 players of true quality! Am I right in thinking that Arebola was brought for the sole purpose of playing against Barca ... because he is no stevie finnan and I struggle to see where he's gonna adapt??
It's obvious that without the champions league we will have had a pointless campaign but on this showing and when games are just over 1 leg our lack of clinical finishing will surely see us dumped out very soon!

Great post, Otley Red.

I am worried too that the way we played yesterday was actually a bad sign for the future. Rafa has been here nearly 3 seasons and yet technically we were as bad as when Houllier was in charge. No team is the last 8 would have given the ball away so cheaply. In the Nou Camp too we could hardly pass it.

Rafa seems to be able to pull off great wins in cup games but his inability to create a team that attacks with flair costs us every year in the league. We have been a cup team for 7 years but clearly these tactics aren't going to win the Premiership. We get results in the cups; but in terms of our performance as a team we aren't near the level of the great Liverpool teams. I don't
think Rafa will get us to that level, if I'm honest.

Rijkaard would be my 1st choice in the years ahead if Rafa doesn't win the league. The man has class.

they played there hearts out and they deserved to go though but i have said all along kuyt is aworkhorse bell is second rate and crouch is not a liverpool player fowler would have scored agaist the mancs and against barca hes slow yes but he has class we cannot go on missing chances like we do carra was outstanding agger too finnan all the defenders were outstanding well done lads i only wish we had a fit micheal owen back at liverpool

Its clear that Rafa is not doin the job as we fans want, but that is not a reason to ask for change!! Coz there is really no good one on the market.. and moreover another manager would take time to settle and bring the players and style he want.. So better you real hardcore fans think before asking for change . Its Upto players to give results aas rouman and others are saying only some of the players give their maximum in the squad, so hope to see good replacement coming with the money.. and of course no more Workhorses!!
It will be also much better to see other players taking their chance and try to score from the begining itself and not wait till we are down to try to move.

I would wait until after next season to see if Owen has recovered from injuries. We'd need to have creative players first. Our most creative at the moment is Harry Kewell. But we need someone else with a bit of invention on the other wing. Even a creative forward player in the style of Henry, Van Persie and the likes. Owen really depends on long balls over defenders, just another kick and run player. Not much flair, his movement is a bit one dimensional and his first touch was never one to be desired. Never that consistant in the league either. I'd rather have a forward scoring one or two goals every second game than lying dormant for five or six games then scoring a hat-trick. Thats the way Owen played for us and I don't think that will change. If he's willing to be a squad rotation player and not moan about it then take him but if not, well I won't lose any sleep if we miss out on signing him again.

Against barca bellamy looked, more likely to score and he kept the barca defence on there toes. as soon as he went off, barca put the pressure on and kept the ball for long periods. as soon as bellamy gets subed, there is no pace upfront. rafa needs to sign another striker with pace.

It is quite clear that all is not right with our fans reading the various comments following recent games. No "hardcore" fan is demanding change but we cannot continue like this. We are not far from being a quality outfit but at least 2 changes are needed, Crouch & Pennant. The defence and midfield can match most on their day and will only get stronger by playing together regularly. Up front is a bloody mess as an attacking force but we have some individual qualities to work with. Bellamy has pace and attitude, Kuyt is a workhorse but has shown a good football brain at times - both need quality to work with and more importantly the team has to attack as a unit to offer support for the second ball, particularly from the wings. Anelka fits the bill with the current players we have and would give us many additional options home and away. The issue is Rafa's total commitment to not losing and not spending big money. If Benitez is the man we think he is he should listen to the fans. Stubborness is not a virtue.

I would like us to Play ManU and Beat them as a Ravenge in the Champions League Quarter final..
Its obvious Ferguson and the ManUre Fans want this trophy..just like we did with chelsea 2 years ago after they beat us so many times in that year, i'd like to see Manure in the same situation!! Its clear we were better side than them in the last game, but we lost due to incompetent strikers and lack of luck, but LUCK won't let us down in Champions League.. So bring on the ManUre, we beat them and forget our double defeat of the season!!!

I've been thinking about Anelka and for the money, he represents a real bargain especially if we off load Crouch to newcastle! Anelka is a qulaity player who remembers his time at anfield fondly and with good service he will do the buisness plus if the chips are down he is the player able to do something special! i think he'd fit well into Rafas plans as he's a non drinker and is fully focused on reinstating himself as one of Europes top strikers ... can he realize that dream at Bolton.. I doubt it!
But if we sign him we still are gonna need the creative influence of at least 2 special players other wise 3 months into the new season we'll get threads stating that he's not quite liverpool material!
I feel bellamy has a lot too offer and would benefit from 1 on1 work with a top striking coach and khuyt like wise. khuyt isn't blessed with pace and so during games really needs to put his thinking cap on and stay higher up the field and become a real poacher!
Pennant will come good !!! that is my word, and if he can be singled out for criticsim then some players aren't even fit to sit on the team bus. He plays on the wing has pace and a trick but when he gets to the wing khuyt is usally in midfield with gerrard and crouch has his eyes closed in the box and the movemnt is shit. i've had this conversation with supporters of other teams they can't believe the stick he comes in for from our own fans ... yes he was a bit of a rude boy .. yes went jail .. but i feel the lad is turing his life around and if he goes then so does gonzales / zenden / aurellio / crouch /reina / palletta / alonso because lets face it none of them have been at the races this season!
Sorry if it seems like a rant .. not my intentions!!!

yes i may be critical of the team when results don't go our way but time is not on our side and every slip up that should have been avoidable will be called up. Some say we are going the right way... yes ... just about! But the fact reamins this is europe anything can happen and if it all goes sour tomorrow we will be fighting for european football and be as sad as the gooners... which i don't wan't :)

Once again the liverpool reserve team lost to another team, whats the use of Rafa bringing new players when other team having homegrown players are beating them each and everytime!!
Once again i am saying the liverpool academy sucks!! No progress and is producing a team o losers.. in which direction are we going??? No class! No good dribbling! No class striker!!
Yet, the reserve manager dare to praise players, its results that matters and the team need to inprove and start giving results to be able to produce likes of Gerrard, caragher or owen..
So Shut ur Fuck1ng ass or mouth Ablett!!!

In all fairness, Darren Bent has only ever played for Charlton in the Premiership.

Liverpool are desperate for a world class striker; how could we possibly spend millions on such an unproven striker like Bent? He scores a few goals and is fast but he hardly looks a great striker. It would be a massive risk we can't afford to take.

That's been the reason we struggle so often; taking risks on iffy players who aren't good enough for a huge club.

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was asked what club he would want in the quarter final.

His answer: Liverpool.

Bring on Milan! they are not half as dangerous without Crespo and Shevchenko up front. Gilardino is 2nd rate like Crouch and Inzaghi is too old.

We'll take Milan, I have no doubts.

I hope rafa goes and signs some quality players in the summer. if rafa is given 100m to spend, i would luv rafa to sign.... alves 10m, andrade 8m, duff 6/7m, swp 10m, eto,torress or villa 25m, bent 8m. 68m spent. out go sami,fowler, kewell, dudek,zenden. with the above signings the team is strong in every postion. team has pace in defence, power in centre mid with xabi, sg, momo, javier, out n out wingers with duff, swp and forwards with pace, power, and goals ie bellamy, kuyt,bent and any 1 from torress, eto, villa. if rafa is given 25m to spend, then players like kewell, fowler,zenden will be kept

I think the singings you mentioned are all quality and I'd love to see any of them in a LFC shirt ... but do you think Rafa could get the best out of SWP ???

A 25 mill kitty would be a disaster considering the scale of development that needs to happen, I can imagine around 60-70 being made available ... but as Jareel13 said .. chances are he's gonna spend it on a work horse who is a bit shite!!

I've been having a look at a couple LFC sites and he's been quite busy picking up youngsters and obscure players from greece and the like .... whether they are any good remains to be seen .... I don't hold out much hope however as the reserve and youth is forever getting beaten!

I just wish he would spend some real cash and buy quality as he doesn't seem to have the knack of nurturing creative talent or getting the most out of decent strikers!

It seems to me raffa will always favour hard working team players over individuals with flair.This along with an obvious negative streak makes me wonder if he's the right man to bring the league title back to liverpool.His signings have been mediocre to say the least and in my opinion if I take off my red glasses we are streets behind man utd'chelsea and arsenal.

Anyone for lionel messi ?? watch this goal which was on a arabic web page...How much u think he would cost us ?? Who would he play instead of ...would barca sell ??

http://www.d1g.com/video/show/899336

yes i agree he has pontential but so has villa and many others but we need more class owen a proven goal scorer a few years ago defoe had pontential look at him now bent will never be world class if he was why dont chelsea arsenal and the mancs want him the mancs want owen and even arsenal want him owen might be injury prone but you take a chance with any player the top coaches know owen when fit is still top class bent is at owens age when owen was superb i cannot say the same for bent look at the stats owen runs rings around bent for goal scoring ask yourself this question why did he go to charlton hardly world class

hard to argue with the points you made but I'll start with saying Bent was a Chavski target at one stage, Manure probably need a striker in the mold of Owen i.e a good goal poacher as Bent is already very similar to Saha/Smith and as for Assnal they seem to be content with their strike force for the moment!

Yes Bent is punt, and Charlton aren't a very fashionable team but that aside he has shown that if you give him chances he will take them and take them well.

Many players started at humble divisions and then went on to become top draw Ian wright for example .. playing district football for his borough at 20+ then moves to the big time and the rest is history. Shevchenko started out in the Ukraine .. hardly a football nation and at his pomp was arguably the best striker in Europe!

There are plenty of gems out there because most big players are unearthed in unlikely places ... apart from Voronin!!!!