Redemption for Lovren for last seasons penalty miss against Besiktas too. The difference a year makes.
Shame that a classy club like Dortmund had to go out but they'll be an asset to the CL next season. Funny reaction from their twitter... Borussia Dortmund @BVB 2h2 hours ago Nein. Nein. Nein. #lfcbvb 4-3 (90’)
Really? I'd have Liverpool as the underdogs out of the four remaining teams. Sevilla just click when it comes to European football. They're three games away from making it 3 straight Europa League wins. To put that in to context, the last manager to win the Europa League whilst managing somebody other than Sevilla was Rafa Benitez - with Chelsea. Shakhtar are so inconsistent but I can't imagine anybody wanting to play them over two legs. If they turn up then they can give anyone in Europe a match. They've ran Bayern, Real, Barca, Dortmund & Chelsea close at home over the last 2/3 seasons. Villareal are also no mugs. They've conceded less goals than Real and Barca this season and Bakambu would have a field-day agaisnt this Liverpool defence. Don't get me wrong, all four teams are pretty much equal but I'd have it go Sevilla - Villareal - Shakhtar - Liverpool. Not a great deal in it, and by no means are any of those 3 better than Dortmund so Liverpool have nothing to fear but I really can't fathom how it's hard to see Liverpool not winning it!
I want Sevilla next, more likely to beat them over two legs with their away form this season. **** a trip to Ukraine. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I agree, the only factor that is in Liverpool's favour and may push us over the edge is the fact we somehow did what seemed like the impossible. The momentum and confidence from that could make the difference. All the same, Sevilla are favourites based purely on them having won the competition 4 times in 10 years, back to back on two separate occasions, they obviously love this competition. I think if these 4 sides were in a group together they'd all take points off each other and it'd be a close-run thing no matter who came out on top. What I love about Liverpool at the moment is that we have big-game players, Coutinho loves scoring in big matches, Origi is bang in form, plus Firmino and Sturridge have plenty of goals in them. Whatever happens I think we'll be in every game we play.
All 3 potential opponents are quality but BVB were the best side in it & we put them out, so no way are we underdogs. Shakhtar lost their best player in January & had an easy draw but they have alot of quality & European pedigree (Champions league at that). Sevilla aren't doing that well this season, especially away from home, but they have alot of good players. They will have belief after scraping through on pens & winning the last two of these, might think they can't lose in the EL. They've been there & done it. Villareal are 4th in La Liga, only behind the big 3, they'd be very tough. They might be the best of them. They're all threats though.
THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. Honestly man, just so so happy to have been there. Unreal. Head's still there.
Great game, great atmosphere, great performance. Feared the worst when they went two up. The scenes outside the ground were unreal, when in the mood our fans are unrivalled in this country.
I think Liverpool can be considered favourites. They are a better side than the other 3 teams left in the competition.
It'll be tough. We've got a mental block in semi finals and finals that we can hopefully put right. Villareal are really good. Sevilla are a dab hand in this competition and Shakhtar's European pedigree is good. We aren't a perfect team by any stretch but we weren't in 05 either. Last night was amazing. There's still something special and unique about Anfield on nights like that and its the club's biggest asset. United and Dortmund have felt like the Rafa days again in Europe. One of the comparisons to Istanbul was the tactics and team selection were wrong in the first half but we came back with raw passion.
Bookies now seem to have Liverpool as favourites but imo their biggest threat will be Seville not Villareal.
Both are better teams than us at the moment in truth, as were Dortmund. Seville have won the last two Europa League titles, so our desire may be higher than theirs. As a CL reject they shouldn't be in it anyway. It's always a slap in the face losing to one of them. If we don't win it I hope Villareal do.
