0-1 and we were beaten by a handled goal. Saviola's goal is definitely a handball and why the referee can't detect it is really every person's guess. And worst of all, we lost Garcia and Josemi. So Rafa is soon to reach his 13 first team players injuried scenario... And we are facing Arsenal this Sunday... I wonder where the goal will come from. Carragher or Kirkland or Henchoz?
The starting gameplan Rafa had is rather conservative, Mellor as loan striker, 3 in middle, and Riise and Garcia as wings. And within 2 minutes Garcia pulled his hamstring... but Rafa changed the gameplan and subbed Josemi. He's actually doing quite well, but he was subsequently injuried with 20 stiches on his head with a knock with a Monaco player...
Now we need to beat Olympiakos by 2 goals to be sure to go through, if we only beat them by 1 goal, a 1-0 will mean both Olympiakos has exactly same points, same goal scored and same goal difference, which will lead to the comparison of team coefficients and we should then go through. If we only beat them 2-1, we need Monaco not to win to go through. Of course, if we don't win, then we will be heading to UEFA cup. Is it an achievable task? Yes it is, but with the injury crisis, we need someone to score 2 goals.
Player Rating:
Kirkland: 6.5 Consistent as usual, but frankly speaking he doesn't has too many things to do thanks to the superb performance of Carragher.
Finnan: 6 First 2 minutes as right back and then as right midfielder, then back to right back when Josemi injuried. An average performance, he failed to provide too much attacking support.
Carragher: 7.5 Saved Kirky many chances. And even if he's beaten he will soon be back to cover. With this performance he should be able to contain Henry. But Arsenal is probably more than that.
Hyypia: 6.5 Had one scoring chance but failed to convert. With the current injury crisis we definitely need the vice Captain to score some goals from set pieces.
Traore: 6.5 He did quite well in containing Saviola, and was only substituted due to change in game plan when we were 1 goal behind.
Garcia: Unlucky, now we will miss him for a month...
Biscan: 6.5 He did better than Hamann and Gerrard in midfield. Have 1 half chance in 1st half but failed to convert.
Gerrard: 6 Still not back to his best level, we need patience...
Hamann: 6 Earned a yellow card and will miss the Olympiakos match. But Biscan should be more than enough to cover if Rafa plan to start a more defensive player.
Riise: 6 Failed to impress in his former home ground.
Mellor: 5.5 On one hand there's virtually no supply to him, but in general he did not do enough to convince us he is right up to the job yet. The last minute goal should have been stand if not the referee is biased and deemed Warnock as going too dangerously.
Substitutions:
Josemi: 6 Maybe the pace of an European game suit him better, he played better than his last few league games, but let's hope he will get well soon.
Warnock: 5 Not many contributions. I think he need to control his temper. If he did not earn the yellow card, the referee may not be so biased and deemed his last minute getting the ball tackle and then assist as too dangerous.
Kewell: 5 When will he be back to an acceptable level?
Rafa: 5 I just don't understand the game plan. And he now need to face with 2 more injuries. Hopefully Nunez will be back soon.
Monaco: 6 They win by a controversal goal, hopefully with the help of Deportivo winning all 3 home games would not be enough for them to go through.
Man of the Match: Carragher. Who else? Maybe we should play him as a striker now.
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