Champions League

[Altomonte]

Neymar looks slow, rusty, almost overweight, mostly passing back. Comparing him to Messi is a joke. Maybe he will surprise us in the second half, but so far not much to see. Sancho is looking better than both Neymar and Mbappé.

 

[El Gato]

Ronaldo is the boogey man for Atletico. Just about the most horrific player style wise for Simeone's defense. Big strong, super fit, always first to the ball and 16m. box predator with elite finishing skills.

For sure. And Liverpool don't really have one. Maybe Mane if he stops having a fit every time someone grabs his shirt.

 

[Luftstalag14]

The good news is, if Liverpool advances and I think they will, someone will be there to stop Madrid from winning it.

 

[KingLeo10]

This is a CL knockout match away to a very tough side to be fair. Not something Messi has excelled at as of late either. Leo has maybe 2 world class seasons left in him. Neymar has 4-5. Choosing Ney is only the logical choice at this point. Not a slight to Leo.

Messi put in top performances against Pool and Chelsea in the CL KOs last 2 seasons. Then in the group stages, destroyed Juve, Spurs, Inter.

How can Neymar have 4-5 more world class seasons in him when he's looking finished RIGHT NOW. You're a muppet, dawg if you want to die on this hill.

 

[Sailor Mars]

Wait till Divock Origi gets subbed in late in the game. He'll get Liverpool their away goal.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Neymar looks slow, rusty, almost overweight, mostly passing back. Comparing him to Messi is a joke. Maybe he will surprise us in the second half, but so far not much to see. Sancho is looking better than both Neymar and Mbappé.

Exactly. This is not the Neymar we had..

 

[mc_lovin]

Neymar has not played the last two weeks. He seems shit like when he came back against Real Madrid. No excuse for him though. He is the superstar and should do better. He has been uttershit.

He may be excused regarding match fitness, but he looks slow as hell in his head - just waiting for the ball. No idea if thats the same in Ligue 1 (and getting his goals/assists purely by individual talent).

 

[KingLeo10]

The level of the game is shockingly bad right now. No one playing today is even close to 2015 Neymar let alone legends like Xavi, Iniesta etc.

Mbappe a 180m talent

Yup.

CL peaked in 2012 (Barca, Chelsea, RM, Bayern semis) and then again in 2015 (Barca, RM, Bayern, Juve semis). IMO, 2015 CL semis was the strongest last 4 in the competition's history.

An argument could be made for 2009 and 2017 being very strong as well.

 

[serghei]

For sure. And Liverpool don't really have one. Maybe Mane if he stops having a fit every time someone grabs his shirt.

It's a hard game for Liverpool. I see Atletico as even a bit over them in terms of energy and physicality. Which is incredible really, how fit and well prepared they have been so far. First to every duel. Also, Salah and Firmino aren't exactly players who rise up to the challenge in very physical games. They kind of sulk and moan more often than not.

But this is CL. 1-0 vs 1-1 is just 1 simple goal difference, but in terms of where it places you in the tie, it's night and day .

 

[KingLeo10]

The good news is, if Liverpool advances and I think they will, someone will be there to stop Madrid from winning it.

I'd trust us more than Pool versus RM.

 

[Andresito]

Mané off for Origi

 

[serghei]

Look at that change by Klopp. Just took one of his stars at half time without hesitation, sensing he needs somebody with more physical presence between the Atletico defenders. Killer manager.

 

[Luftstalag14]

I'd trust us more than Pool versus RM.

We probably won’t go that far.

 

[El Gato]

It's a hard game for Liverpool. I see Atletico as even a bit over them in terms of energy and physicality. Which is incredible really, how fit and well prepared they have been so far. First to every duel. Also, Salah and Firmino aren't exactly players who rise up to the challenge in very physical games. They kind of sulk and moan more often than not.

But this is CL. 1-0 vs 1-1 is just 1 simple goal difference, but in terms of where it places you in the tie, it's night and day .

Yh it all comes down to how focused Atleti stay. Still, they only lost a 2 game tie to Real or Cristiano. Nobody else got even close to changing that blueprint IIRC

 

[KingLeo10]

We probably won’t go that far.

And you think this version of RM is that much better equipped than us?