KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum another frustrating away performance.

good point about the strain on rafa from the owners,i think emp would even agree thats it must be a nightmare working for those two anti-christs.

Doesn't anyone notice that nobody did interviews after the game. That's a first or is that just how it is now

here ya go this is what rafa said.
"I think it was an improvement," he told his post-match press conference.

"The reaction has been very positive. I am disappointed with the result, but really pleased with the effort of the players.

"I have confidence we can beat anyone on a good day at Anfield. I would be worried today if the players hadn't worked as hard as they have. The fans will play a part, they will push and will be behind the team.

"Lille are a good side, with good players and they are dangerous. We will play a difficult game at Anfield but have confidence we can beat them."

On a bitterly cold night in northern France, Liverpool had their opportunities to score an all-important away goal, with Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres both going close.

Benitez accepts a first-leg strike could have made all the difference to the tie but remains upbeat about his side's hopes.

"When you play away in these knockout competitions, you have to score when you have chances," he said.

"In any competition it is important to try and score away, particularly in this one. It is a great advantage if you do. If not you have to be strong, but I think we were strong enough today.

"We had two or three situations, so that was a pity, but the reaction was good and we still have 90 minutes to play.

"Sometimes you play well and score an early goal - then you can manage the game. If we work as hard as we did today, we can beat anyone.

"The attitude of the players was fantastic. We were talking about not letting the fans down in terms of team effort and I think we did this.

"Every game is important for us now. We have to be ready to play Portsmouth and try to win. Then we have to look to the Europa League game, that is how it is when you are a top side playing in different competitions."

Asked about Fernando Torres's form as he continues on his return from injury, the boss added: "He was working hard today. You can see he has his pace coming back. But the main thing was the team and the players played at the level you expect of them."

Its a little depressing this. We need to drop Lucas and Kuyt. Thought Babel had an OK game which was good to see. No Aqua again? What the hell is going on there? We have to beat them at Anfield now so if we play Masch and Lucas in the middle then, I think I'll hunt Rafa down and drive his sorry arse back to Spain!

Another defensive team goes out onto the park!! when is this rubbish going to end!! And for Rafa to say " But the main thing was the team and the players played at the level you expect of them" then we have gone a long way back!

im ganna have to disagree with u mate, i mean okay lucas and masch playing again but how is playing torres, babel, gerrard, kuyt, johnson defensive? its just the players fault they werent even trying, gerrard was no where to bee seen for 80mins and the only playet that was trying is babel and he still not his best.

kuyt and lucas are ok players but they just not talaned enough aquliani looks like a very talaned player who by now should be up to speed with the PL and making us tick with his eye for a pass doing the same job as alonso but in a slightly different way but rafa is just being an idiot and wont even let him try, babel is slowly but surely getting his confidence back and is putting in some good performances over the past couple of weeks i think if we could get the best out of babel and give stevie a kick up the arse then we could be on to something mascherano in front of the defence aqulani roaming in midfield getting himself on the ball babel using his pace and power on one of the wings reira on the wing with stevie and nando linking up up front i like that team

Was Gerrard actually there last night?

Abysmal performance, yet again.
Struggling to pick a M.O.T.M. tbh.
Carragher p'raps?

it's starting to really get depressing now, battle to watch an entire game the way they are playing.
I think it's time for some fresh ideas, I have always backed Rafa but things are not getting any better.
He has done a good job with improving the youth system and the reserve team is much better than it ever was plus the youth fa cup runs have been descent.
The 1st team is all his now and should know the system and how to play but Lucas and Insua should not be in the side.

Insua!

How the bloody hell he ever got into the team is way beyond my imagination.
One of the worst signings EVER, and that Trepie has the gaul to mock me for quite liking our Greek Buffalo. Give me bloody strength.

IF he'd been playing last night, I reckon we'd have come away with a 0-0 tbh.
His shadow on the goal line alone would have stopped that ball.

I calmly await another load of abuse from our dear friend now.