Dortmund is not even close to Ajax in terms of quality. The only thing they've in common is young players and attacking football. I predict Barcelona and Ajax to go through. Spurs have been clinical this Champions League, but the two responsible for it are missing the first (and second) match.Spurs v Ajax is too close to call, Spurs have already dicked a young attacking side in Dortmund but this Ajax side has just knocked out Real and Juve. Cant call that one
Liverpool v Barca I can only see one outcome and it aint good
Champions League Semi Finals (30th April - 8th May)
- Thread starter Samid
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Confident we can go through, if Messi is somehow shut down then it’s definitely possible. I actually think the key game is the 1st leg, if one team doesn’t turn up that evening it could be curtains.
2016?
I think even the most biased United fan would disagree with above.
Not sure how you define elite but if Liverpool are not, then perhaps only Barcelona are.
You forget that we lost Salah. His replacement, Lallana, was not match fit. Emre Can was not match fit. Two keeper errors gave Madrid the game. We were a depleted side then, injuries cost us a chance to compete.
Madrid deserved the win, though.
It will be tough, but they also have to deal with our front three. Our midfield has gone up a notch now that Henderson is playing further forward and Fabinho is our first choice DM.
Robertson has been superb in defence. I have watched every Liverpool game - I know.
Barcelona are favourites, but we have a good chance to beat them.
Our tactics are not just about transition. Sometimes we just bypass midfield altogether. Not seen Virgil's passing to Salah lately? Not seen Henderson's assists lately?
They are wary of us just as we are wary of them.
Barca is a different animal in Camp Nou and the first leg being there gives them an excellent chance to get their noses in front. Perhaps even 2-0.
I think it will be a Barcelona v Spurs final but it’s a very close call.
Read a post on social media last night (might have been BBC) that said all possible finals have a player link....
- Barca v Ajax is the Cruyff final
- Liverpool v Ajax is the Litmanen final
- Barca v Spurs is the Lineker final
- Liverpool v Spurs is the Ruddock final
Liverpool vs Ajax
Barca vs Spurs final, being as one sided as France vs Croatia.
I think who ever wins the Liverpool vs Barca tie will easily dispatch Ajax or Spurs in the final.
I hope I am wrong though because either Spurs or Ajax deserve to win it.
Ajax vs Liverpool final is my prediction.
I hope I am wrong though because either Spurs or Ajax deserve to win it.
Ajax vs Liverpool final is my prediction.
Setting up “one of those famous Anfield nights” in the return leg.
Just got sick in my mouth a bit
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Barca have Messi. I doubt they'll roll over that easily mate.
Utterly putrid thought.Setting up “one of those famous Anfield nights” in the return leg.
Just got sick in my mouth a bit
Talking about teams not exactly setting the world alight in Champions League, the historical revisionists are en force in this thread, aren't they? Not a peep about Liverpool's very inconsistent performances and results in the group stages. Fortunate to even make it to the knockouts. Then they played a poor Bayern and a Porto team who were never a match.
They didn't dominate their group, but by all means, of course they'll turn over Barca.
They didn't dominate their group, but by all means, of course they'll turn over Barca.
Will be poetic if ajax beats klopp. After these comments.
Shock horror that my definition of elite is very difficult to be classified as. Also any one that wants Liverpool's midfield over Barcelona's is a loony. Liverpool's strongest aspect is their defence, namely Van Dijk. Barcelona have several players that can be said to be the best in their position, or at least with a good shout of it.
Barcelona have one weak point in their team and it's right back, everywhere else they are stacked. They have got players like Coutinho and Dembele coming off the bench, one of those players was a mainstay in your team before he was sold.
The only other team that comes close to elite is Man City, but they have serious performance anxiety in the CL. Guardiola seems to be unable to get to a final without Messi, and none of those players have that level of experience. Despite Spurs getting the bottler tag, I actually think City are the biggest bottlers in the CL, because they make an absolute hash of away games.
Do you think it’s any benefit 3 of our starters are Ajax old boys and still very well regarded there?That Son is one hell of a player. Glad he's suspended for the first game
This Tottenham team can't be underestimated. Really enjoyed yesterday match.
I think it will be a close game and could go either way.
Yep, our group away matches were poor. So what?Talking about teams not exactly setting the world alight in Champions League, the historical revisionists are en force in this thread, aren't they? Not a peep about Liverpool's very inconsistent performances and results in the group stages. Fortunate to even make it to the knockouts. Then they played a poor Bayern and a Porto team who were never a match.
They didn't dominate their group, but by all means, of course they'll turn over Barca.
Elite teams in the past have destroyed teams in the group matches, then come unstuck in the knockout stages.
We have a good chance to beat Barcelona, but it will be a tough ask - let's try.
My bad - 2017. It was 2016 when we played Sevilla in the final.
yep. vertonghen is literally the biggest ajax legend of the last 15 years basically. gonna be hard to bring out a proper hostile atmosphere against that.
The Suarez Final. Sans Suarez.
WTF Barca DOMINATED United in that second leg especially. Liverpool were the ones who look uncomfortable for a majority of that second Porto match. Even Klopp said the scoreline was very flattering for Liverpool. Porto were terrible in front of goal and Liverpool to their credit scored their chances.
I was having a discussion with my mate who said it would be ‘small time’ to boo Coutinho at Anfield but as someone petty I say feck that, it’s not like it can’t have an adverse affect on his performance ala Sterling so double whammy, let’s not forget him refusing to play for Klopp with ‘back problems’ 
They looked great in both legs against Lyon. Lyon had a masterclass from their keeper. Barca had 25 shots in that first Lyon match.
Liverpool had plenty of losses in the group stage, and Klopp said how flattering the scoreline was in that second Porto match.
Barca have gone this entire tourney undefeated so far, the downplaying of Barca in this sub is hilarious. And yes, they got one gifted goal, but the other 3 were great and Barca looked superb in that second leg after the first 5 minutes. They played United off the park.
I can't believe we live in a time where Barca can be considered underrated. I think Liverpool may eke it out in the end but Barca (especially at home) have significantly better hope against liverpool than a majority in this thread are giving them.
I really see Son being able to score on the break in Amsterdam if we're pushing for goals. I really hope we use your hampered attack in the first leg to fully push for away goals
I think I've always said that Barca is great and that they have the Messi factor as well, never argued otherwise and I think both teams are quite evenly matched. They haven't been bad by any means, but I've yet to see a game from them where I'm truly amazed like I used to be before, or like I was about Ajax two days ago. Maybe I'm holding them against their own absurdly high standards and that's unfair, but whilst I think they're still a great side, they can be got at as well.
Yeah I seen his fairwell at Ajax and it was pretty spectacular, there is no club I have more respect for than Ajax. You never seem to resent your top players leaving and seem to rejoice in their success. Why is Verts better thought of than Eriksen?
I thought the second match against Lyon was really good, even though it got nerve wracking before Dembele came on, and the first Tottenham match where Barca won 4-2 was a masterclass and the second leg against United I really couldn't ask for more. They dominated them thoroughly for the remaining 85 minutes.
But yes, I don't think this team is as good as MSN era or Pep era, but I think they are much much better than last season.
Best of luck by the way! Should be a cracking tie
I mean Vertonghen stayed an extra season if not two on top of what really would have been expected. He did this for us:
captained us to our third star (30th title) after failing to win it for 7 years. Just completely embraced Amsterdam as his city from the day he arrived here at like 15. Hard to explain but his love for this city and this club are so massive and genuine, and the love flows his way equally in return.
Eriksen was also involved in those titles (assisted the decisive goal in that match you're seeing the final whistle of above) but left at 21, tbh a season earlier than I would have liked, compared to Vertonghen's like 24/25, and never really integrated as much with the club. don't get me wrong though, he's really well liked here, and he's always been very positive and involved in the club too (at the time and since leaving)
Alderweireld has a similar backstory to Vertonghen but never really ingratiated himself quite as much with the club/fans. That said, he has a massive tattoo of the Amsterdam crosses on his upper arm since just like a year or two ago, so clearly he feels more for the place than it might have seemed.
Sanchez was really really celebrated and loved in his one season at the club but then forced his move halfway through our CL qualifiers, refusing to play, etc. (eventually playing as a compromise if we allowed the move and then was pretty shit and we got kicked out by Nice). So I think some people might hold that against him here. but tbh, he isn't from the club and he gave us a fantastic season, so I can't blame him too much.
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It’s all up to Barcelona now, Liverpool will destroy Spurs and Ajax imo.
All up to good old Barca, hoof it to Leo at Anfield.
Ffs remember them Scousers winning at Camp Nou with Bellamy, Salah is better than Bellamy.
All up to good old Barca, hoof it to Leo at Anfield.
Ffs remember them Scousers winning at Camp Nou with Bellamy, Salah is better than Bellamy.
Yeah I love the guy “super Jan”, a very underrated PL defender IMO. I perfer an intelligent defender who sees danger before he has to do a last ditch tackle to stop it. Also he is much more aggressive than his nature makes out him to be. I honestly don’t know why there hasn’t been more interest in him, people seem to rate Toby over him which IMO is wrong.
Knowing Pool's luck this season, Messi won't even be on the pitch for their games!
no offence to Spurs, cause I am fond of the club, but I really did wish he would have made one last move up a season or two again to the absolute top top (Barca or something), because I feel his career deserved that.
No offence taken, I feel as clubs we have similar priorities and views on football. There was rumoured interest from Barca but now we managed to keep him, I think if we had not have Poch he wouldn’t have left.
They're not that exuberant team anymore, that's for sure. But I just can't see Liverpool coping with them, such is the difference in technical level. Liverpool can intimidate and disrupt a team like City, that will always try to impose their game and play by the book. This Barca team is not like that anymore. They are more savvy, and technically step above even City. I see Liverpool playing very conservatively this time.
Easy to dominate when you're 3-0 up on aggregate and our confidence is as fragile as it is
We basically gifted you your first 3 goals of the tie, Liverpool won't do the same
What?