Get bent. It's not that they don't want to play. Ludicrous statement. We just sometimes struggle against smaller sides. It's a confidence thing, a mental thing. Not a lack of effort.

Not interested may be the wrong way to put it. But they lift on all the big occasions when all eyes are on them but how about the lesser games. Never mind results, I am talking about performances. They are a different team when they are on match of the day.

The likes of Johnson, Downing, Agger, Bellamy etc (I want to put Lucas but he is very consistent :d ).

The prime example is at City with Richards. Probably the best RB in the world against big teams on MOTD but the 'lesser' games he is a shadow of himself and is the main reason he will never be the complete finished article.

It isn't a bad thing that players lift but they have to treat each game the same. Even 1% complacency in a players head is enough to shoot a performance in the foot.

Yeah I understand what you're saying.

To the tune of Halleljulah:


You came to us, fresh from brazil
And scored your first, at Waterlooville
But they then said you were bad, Lucas Leiva

You proved them wrong, you won our hearts
You're number 1, and now we chant
We love you now, We love you,
Lucas Leiva

Lucas Leiva, Lucas Leiva, Lucas Leiva, Lucas Leiiiiiva.

Really good performance, slightly disappointing result. Mostly some things in the final third that let us down. Downing's stinging cross that was too hard for any footballer to POSSIBLY get anything on, across an open goal, springs to mind. But I can't really fault that showing.

Some easy games coming up, but they're the most dangerous for us often. I'm a little wary of QPR.

MilanKakaBaros has put up a vid of Lucas' game. When he muscled Yaya off the ball and won it - what a hero.

Need some tissues?

Don't you?

Lucas made it into Garth Crooks' team of the week on BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9649524.stm

He deserves all these plaudits and more. I'm going to get his name on next years kit. Warrior on the front, Lucas on the back. Fitting. :D :D :D :D :D :D

I'll lol if there's truth to the rumours Milan are interested in him.

Then burn it when he leaves?

Burning leaves smell bad though.

1. Only cunts burn their shirts (every team has them)
2. He'll never leave. He is going to take the armband when Steve retires, and lead us for years to come \:d/

I love these dreams you have about our long-term plans :lol:

Just as Liverpool have turned the corner, I will really feel for them if that happened ;)

Having watched the replay last night I couldn't believe we couldn't put it in the net to take the points - citeh didn't deserve the point in the end IMO though Silva had the chance and blew it !
If we keep playing as we did I'll be happy but we MUST convert far more.

As mentioend our next number of games are the ones that give us more trouble than expected IF KK gets them wound up right and get the favourable results he will be on the way of breaking the mould that has plagued us for a long time [-o< \:d/

Still need that natural finisher up top.

Funny you mentioned that - I was actually going to say where is our next Aldridge Rushy or Fowler or even Kenny Jnr :d
Yes this is what we need a natural finisher - the rest of the mix is just about there though still need the next Lawrenson < oops I'm showing my age :lol:

Andy Carroll not going to fill the void?

Doesn't matter where the lad comes from. Hell, if we made a move for Podolski in January I wouldn't be complaining. Just someone who knows where the goal is, because clearly Andy is only going to be useful as a target man.

The other up-side to Podolski is that he'll give us more depth down the left flank.

Time will tell BB - what can you say it just isn't happening :? as you know...missed a penalty this morn as well #-o

\:d/ awesum result at the bridge !
Torres still can't manage a win against us :d
Bellers probably played with Speed on his mind - done him proud I'm sure.
Imno will be in distress Lucas carrid off 20min from end, knee trouble from a Bertrand tackle, scans to be done [-o<

Reds sink Blues to make last four
29th Nov 2011 - Latest News

Liverpool cruised into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup courtesy of a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

Having found the back of the net in the league meeting less than a fortnight prior, Maxi Rodriguez returned to haunt Chelsea in London, opening the scoring on 58 minutes with the assist once again coming from Craig Bellamy.

Andy Carroll had earlier missed a first-half penalty, but the Reds doubled their advantage four minutes later with Bellamy again the provider as this time his dangerous free-kick was powerfully headed home for a first senior goal by Martin Kelly.

An injury to Lucas Leiva was the only sour note on a night to savour for Liverpool, whose quest to reach a first final since 2007 remains firmly on track.

With the final whistle against Manchester City having been blown just 50 hours earlier, Kenny Dalglish opted to make seven changes to the side he fielded at Anfield on Sunday.

It meant first-team returns for Bellamy and Jamie Carragher, while Sebastian Coates, Martin Kelly, Jay Spearing, Maxi and Carroll also started. Former Anfield striker Fernando Torres was included in the Chelsea attack.

Having recorded a dramatic late win on this ground in the Barclays Premier League meeting just nine days earlier, Liverpool went into the game aiming to record a third successive win at Stamford Bridge and reach the last four of the competition for the 14th time.

Remarkably, this was the 30th meeting between the teams in just over seven years - but before it got underway, both players and fans paid tribute to the memory of Gary Speed with an emotional minute's applause.

With just three minutes on the clock, Chelsea appealed for a penalty when David Luiz went down under the challenge of Coates just inside the box. However, referee Phil Dowd ruled in favour of the visitors and the Brazilian centre-back was on the receiving end of a yellow card.

Then, at the other end, Luiz was in the thick of the action again as Carroll fell to the ground under the attentions of Chelsea's No.4 - but again, no penalty kick was forthcoming.

Chances were proving hard to come by for both sides. That was, however, until the 22nd minute when Dowd did decide to give a penalty when Jose Enrique's cross was handled by Alex under pressure from Carroll.

Liverpool's No.9 stepped up, but saw his driven effort repelled by the dive of Ross Turnbull.

Relieved, Chelsea quickly threatened, though a fine challenge by Coates snuffed out any danger of Romelu Lukaku getting a shot in at Pepe Reina's goal from the edge of the box before the Spain custodian was off his line quickly to prevent Florent Malouda going clean through.

In first-half stoppage time, Lukaku headed narrowly wide of the post from Jose Bosingwa's deep centre as the team's headed back into the dressing rooms on level terms after an entertaining half.

The Reds started the second half in menacing fashion, with one of several early counter attacks resulting in Bellamy curling over from the corner of the box.

However, 10 minutes after the re-start, Frank Lampard's dangerous free-kick was sent crashing against the crossbar courtesy of substitute Ramires's looping header. The rebound fell for Luiz, but Coates was on hand to clear from the goal line.

And Chelsea were made to pay for their miss on 58 minutes when Bellamy and Maxi combined to devastating effect - just as they did in the league meeting.

Jordan Henderson's pass sent Bellamy scampering into space behind Ryan Bertrand, and the Wales forward delivered a low pass across the face of goal that left Maxi with the simple task of tapping into the goal from close range.

The celebrations amongst the 5,500 travelling Liverpool fans had barely begun to settle down when they were sent into raptures again just four minutes later.

Bellamy's free-kick from the left was met with a powerful downward header by the unmarked Kelly to double the Reds' lead. It was also the 21-year-old's first-ever goal for the club.

Liverpool were firmly in the ascendancy with Chelsea looking despondent, but an injury to Lucas required the Brazilian to be carried from the field to slightly dampen the visitors' joy. Charlie Adam was his replacement.

Chelsea's attempts to stage a dramatic comeback saw Reina save a Torres header while Alex blasted a free-kick wide of target, but it was a night that belonged firmly to Liverpool.

Edited by M.L.: 30/11/2011 10:19:32 AM

So much distress. When I saw him down i nearly cried.

But come on - he was an absolute hero again today. MOTM by far and away before he went off.

Brilliant result, great performance. Seba, Maxi, Lucas and Bellers the four best. Kelly was great too.

We all know United will get Cardiff, so looking forward to a tough game v City. ;)

Hope to god Lucas is ok. Probably a 3-4 weeker I think. Though, the physio looked at him and then let him go back on, so I don't think that would've happened if it was a ligament or something, surely?

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas says: "I thought Liverpool were superior all the way through. They had a strong desire to kill the game off and we couldn't match it."

Very nice to see some honesty.

Wait til you see the team Fergie puts out :lol:

Palace will be in with a shot.

Agree he's so consistant very hard to replace - will be looking out for an update but you will probably post this before I find out.
AVB tells it as it is all through this season got to admire the young fella, pity such a nice guy is with chelski :lol:

Yeah.. and he's only 24!!! It's amazing. He will be with us for another 10 years.

If I was doing a World Team of the Year of <25 year old players, he'd be in it for sure.

Imno, I love the passion you have for Lucas, I really do. But it is becoming unhealthy :lol:

Name for me, a defensive CM under 25 in Europe who is better than him. Seriously, if there's one then I don't know him.

Yaya = PWNED

Honestly I'd take Arturo Vidal over Lucas everyday of the week.

Not to mention right now if you offered me Lucas or Song I'd probably take Song.

Players like Khedira on his day I would take over Lucas, Busquets is still quite young, I am guessing he is younger than 25.

There are far more complete players than Lucas. My opinion.

He is the most improved player at the top level though. Even though that's the prize no player wants ;)