Just back from the game.
Well played the Atletico fans put in a good performance. Our fans? F***ing useless. An embarrassment to me and everyone else on here. But more of that later.
To be honest a point was the right result - as it was in Madrid. We are clearly meant to meet them again in this tournament.
Our passing was shocking. I've said before that playing with one up front at Anfield is a complete embarrasment. Benitez needs to be a bit more adventurous or this tactic could really destroy us.
That said, they scored from pretty much their only chance in the entire game.
They certainly didn't have a single shot in the second half, and we were camped in their half.
The press may like to speculate that this was a lucky result - but we definitely deserved the draw.
Robbie Keane though - looking more like our biggest ever flop by the game.
I must start by agreeing about the fans. The Atletico supporters were first class - ours were pathetic in comparison. This is becoming worryingly common on these European Nights and I'm at a loss to explain why.
I think our passing blew hot and cold although I can understand that the bad ones stick in the memory.
What I think we definitely got wrong was our tactics. In defence of Robbie Keane he is not a player to play on his own up front. It was never likely to work. Atletico's tactics were spot on. Pack the midfield and the defence and hit us on the break. Their goal was a superb example of how to execute this approach. The break out from defence was rapid, the control and first touch of the striker excellent and the shot unstoppable. Something we could not achieve. Our build up was far too slow and more often long balls were pumped forward and easily dealt with by Atletico's defence. Our best striker on the pitch was Agger who could have ended up an absolute hero if he was a bit sharper and more match fit.
We have beaten Man U and Chelski without Torres but wasn't this with two up front.
Sorry Rafa but I think tactically you came second best last night.
I risked a cup of coffee at the ground. I thought it might be foul. I wasn't disappointed.
Anyway we are still in with a great chance of getting through to the next round, joint top of the league and Fernando is nearing a return. Looking for a big improvement on Saturday.
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