Friendly: LIVERPOOL-LAZIO, Friday, 8-8-08

Broencoceleste
Nice to read the comments from the liverpool fans. Thx for sharing!

Namortsac wrote:

Broencoceleste
Nice to read the comments from the liverpool fans. Thx for sharing!

you're welcome mate

Ivan wrote:

Zarate has loads of talent but he still has a lot to learn.

Agree on that, I think everyone has big expectations on that kid, but I doubt he is ready to justify our hopes.

Broencoceleste wrote:

HIGHLIGHTS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMFo_m5h4GU&feature=related

It's definitely not offside on Mendicino.

definitely not offside, but it hardly matters. we put up a good fight and seeing this is a friendly and we used a lot of subs we can look forward to the start of the season.

We had our chances apart from the disallowed goal, Diakite's header, Makinwa's strike, Foggia's strike, Zarate's effort....

This was just a warm-up and we did not have Rocchi or Kolarov at our disposal so for once even I am optimistic

I think the best part of the game was seeing how Rozehnal, Siviglia, Lichsteiner and Radu worked together. I thought it was a very well organized backline that held Torres in check in the first half...

Also, it was great seeing a "real" keeper between our posts.

Ali Alkatiri wrote:

Broencoceleste wrote:

sorry a shitty highlights again.. didn't do justice to the game... I can't find a full highlights that show our good game yesterday.. anybody knows a link?

Enjoy the above highlights.

Thanks Ali, you're the man!

Alternative link for full highlights of the game http://www.ifutbal.com/videos/11645/liverpool-vs-lazio-full-highlights

Ah, what a day it was yesterday. I'll try to give a full report on what happened, t'was rather funny.

Me, and my 2 friends (both Liverpool fans) were all set and ready to go at around half 4, to get to the stadium earlier. I wanted to enquire if i could get in with the Lazio fans at the away end despite having a ticktet for the main stand. Anyway, so we get going, and 1st stop is the Petrol Station. My friend is fuelling the car up, and as we drive off, he says "I just feel as though something isn't quite right. Have you got the tickets, Waj?" And i say Ofcourse. 5 minutes later we get to the end of the dual carriage way, and have to give way to the other cars, so we stop. When we try to drive off again, the car wont move. Embarrasing! My friend realises he put the wrong fuel into the car, ahahaha!!! So we're there stuck with a queue being formed behind us, not being able to move. The only thing on my mind was, we better get to the game!

Luckily for us, a Police car arrived and helped us push the car to a side. During this time, I'm making a lot of phone calls asking friends and relatives to give us a lift to the stadium. Finally, my brother agrees to do it, but says he will go straight home. I make an arrangement with my sister to pick us up from the stadium. A 2 hr car journey with my brother then, and we finally get to the stadium half an hour before the game! I run to the away stand but they say "Sorry, we are very strict about our ticket arrangements." Meh, had to sit with the Liverpool fans.

We get into the stadium, and they announce the game will be delayed by 15 minutes because of ticketing issues. Who didnt see that one coming. The players start to make their way out, and the Liverpool fans start singing "You'll Never Walk Alone". It was nice to see that in the flesh. On my left in the corner, there are some Lazio fans really enjoying themselves, how i wish i could be there with them! Once the song finishes, the Lazio fans unhurl a small banner saying "30-05-1984 THANKYOU REDS", to which there are raptarous applause. It was a lovely touch from the Laziale, and one that was greatly appreciated by the Liverpool fans. Very touching.

Finally the game begins, i can clearly see we are playing 4-3-2-1. We start off really slow, Liverpool have a lot of possession but don't really look very threatening. Slowly we make our way into the game, and start pushing forward. Pandev has a touch of class about him, loves to play that long ball towards the player running at the opposition. He also has some attempts that don't really worry Reina. The game was very even, but I thought we were holding our own, we never let them really dominate use. The only time i felt a tad uneasy was when Torres was using his pace to get passed Siviglia, but Rozehnal always came across to clear the danger.

As mentioned already here, Matuzalem didn't have the best of halfes, but he has time on his side. We must remember he is coming back from a big injury, and is still gelling with his team mates. Mauri also was dissapointing, i was hoping to see Zarate in that positition. The rest did pretty well in that 1st half though, even Makinwa, baring a few dodgy touches, he really used his strength well, and held the ball up.

In the 2nd half, Zarate took Mauri's place, with Meghni coming on for Matuzalem. We looked a bit more incisive i thought, already. Pandev kept going too far wide on the right, he didn't look somewhat right over there, i think he needs to get closer to the front man. Liverpool had some corners, but i must say: When we broke away on the counter attack, we looked damn good, and very fast. Pandev, Zarate, Makinwa, Meghni and Foggia when he came on were all brilliant at this. I recall one particular Liverpool corner, which got headed out, Zarate heading it back to Meghni, who quickley played it on the right to Pandev, Pandev moving forward with it, with Meghni, Makinwa and Zarate bursting forward. He then delicately picked out Meghni, who, with the outside of his right foot, brilliantly, cussioned it to Makinwa, who hit it 1st time, but Reina pulled off a very good save. I was really impressed with Meghni's passing, there was another occasion when he slid a pass to Foggia he got passed their left back and smashed a shot, but once again Reina was equal to it.

The game fizzled out during the end with all the substitutions. We had a lot of youngters on and Diakhite really should have scored from a Meghni cross. Then right at the end Liverpool got their goal, to be honest it looked offside. Zarate, who looked really frustrated with himself during the 2nd half, looked like a man on a mission from the kick off, and tried to dribble passed everyone but got fouled, and then put in a nice freekick for Mendicino, but it got dissallowed. That also looked like a dubious decision.

But all in all, i think we can be very satisfied. Liverpool are well ahead of us preparation wise, yet i don't think they created one clear cut chance, barring the goal, and never really opened us up. If anything, we had the best chance with the Diakhite header. We looked very good on counter attacks, and varied our attacks at times. The defence coped well, Ledemsa did his job well defensively, but still likes passing to invisible men when going forward, Dabo worked had, and I'm sure Matuzalem will come good for us. The attack wasn't bad either, Makinwa did well, though he needs to improve his 1st touch. Pandev was too wide for my liking, and Zarate was a bit quite. But I must say i was pleased with this Lazio, there were a lot of positives to take from this game.

I must add, when the Liverpool fans decided to chant/sing, they were pretty loud, but they rarely did this. Where as the Lazio fans in that corner, made their voices heard all game long. They were absolutely brilliant, some of then decided to even take their shirt off, ahah, and jump around My friends were really impressed, as were all the Liverpool fans, i think. At the end of the game, the whole stadium gave them a big hand and started clapping towards them. It was a nice touch from everyone.

Rating:

Carrizo 6.5: Didn't have an awful lot to do, but looked calm and concentrated when called into action. Couldn't do anything on the goal.

Litchtsteiner 6.5: Started a bit slowly, Bennayoun gave him a bit of trouble, but once he had settled he was pretty damn good. Good with the tackle, loves to get up and down the right wing, i think we made a fantastic deal to get him so cheap.

Siviglia 6.5: Another with very proffesional performance. He seems to have a good understading with Rozehnal, did his job to near perfection. Ball distribution wasn't great though.

Rozehnal 6.5: I really liked him, he was good with the ball, helped his team mates when needed to, and hardly ever beaten in the air.

Radu 6: I expected a bit more, after what i saw last season. Still, did his job admirably, and didn't have too much difficulties.

Ledesma 6.5: Defensively he was really good, always helping the back 4, starting off our attacks nicely. Still can get a bit annoying with his long balls to invisble players.

Dabo 6: Worked very hard, passed it around nicely, but nothing special.

Matuzalem 5.5: This certainly won't be his best game for us, so that's a positive, ahah. Made some nice runs, should have shot 1st time when Pandev picked him out. Didn't look very comfortable all half.

Mauri 5.5: Some nice flicks on to Makinwa, but that was it really. Found it hard to control the ball, and link with Pandev and Makinwa.

Pandev: 6.5: He already looks in good form. Very rarely wasted possession, gave some beautiful balls to Matuzalem and Makinwa. Played too wide for my liking, though.

Makinwa 6: Held the ball up really well, and had some nice attempts at Reina's goal. He really needs to improve his touch though, and make the right decision when passing the ball and who to.

Meghni 6.5: I really liked him. When he had the ball he was very imaginative, when he didn't have it he always tracked back and helped his teammates out, which was a pleasant surprise.

Zarate 6: Unusually quite, but he didn't really get the chance. Tried to make things happen, but it wasn't going for him. Still, worked the right back, and had a very nice shot also.

Foggia 6: Only got half an hour or so, but managed to make an impact. Whenever he got the ball, he ran at the left back and caused problem, which was great to see. Also had a fine shot saved by Reina.

The other subs came on too late to make much of an impression.

We got out of the stadium and i see a text from my sister saying "I'm busy, train it home". Darn! It was around 10:15 at this time. We had a 40min walk to the Liverpool train station. Next train was leaving at 11:35. So we just wasted some time before getting on the train. We arrived in Manchester, from where we to had to cross over. When we got there, at around 12:35, we find out that the train is leaving to Leeds at 01:30 So, we walked around Manchester for a while, head back to the station and they tell us the driver hasn't turned up so we would have to take the coach home, ahah! So we get on the coach and arrive in Leeds at around 3am. Luckily for me, my brother in law was in Leeds, and he gave us a lift home. Hehe, everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong in that journey! But I was still happy, i got to see my Lazio play and they played damn well, i thought. My only regret? Not to be in the away stand with the Lazio fans.

Pics will follow later tonight, Insha'Allah.

Maybe the right kind of petrol was too expensive

Nice to hear you enjoyed yourself, and I agree with your comments about the players' performances. Post pics when you find the time, especially the banner

it seems we have won a lot of Liverpool fans' admiration and respect. A lot of them will come to follow us now in Serie A and even if it's only a passing interest, it's nice to have that.

More detailed highlights

Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-54He_f9kc

Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtnxlKcW5kk

Anyone get to meet the players before/after the match? Did you manage a LazioFever meetup?

yaaaahoooo...
its my first time watch football inside stadium, and watcing lazio at anfield was really amazing.
i still upset though when buying d ticket, the seller said "we dont sell away block", she was asking "are u lazio fan?l i said yes and she tried to help me, but in the end, i only got the main grandstand which was hadnt a good view thanks to the pillars and far away from lazio fans.
lazio fans was realy amzing. they put some posters including gabbo pic and if i nott mistaken, a pic of date "11-11-07" (anyone from LF?)
i really hate being surounded by liverppol fans cuz they thought im liv fans (i did wear any jersey, only black jacket), they shout at me as if im supporting liverpool
at one moment when pandev substituted, i made standing ovation and everybody seem lloking and laughing at me cz maybe im the only one from thousands who did that. crazy.
after the match, i manage to ctch some lazio fans from rome and have a little chat b4 we separated.

im @ scotland and having difficullties with internet, ill continue with photos later... miss u all guys!

tjamenovic wrote:

yaaaahoooo...
its my first time watch football inside stadium, and watcing lazio at anfield was really amazing.
i still upset though when buying d ticket, the seller said "we dont sell away block", she was asking "are u lazio fan?l i said yes and she tried to help me, but in the end, i only got the main grandstand which was hadnt a good view thanks to the pillars and far away from lazio fans.
lazio fans was realy amzing. they put some posters including gabbo pic and if i nott mistaken, a pic of date "11-11-07" (anyone from LF?)
i really hate being surounded by liverppol fans cuz they thought im liv fans (i did wear any jersey, only black jacket), they shout at me as if im supporting liverpool
at one moment when pandev substituted, i made standing ovation and everybody seem lloking and laughing at me cz maybe im the only one from thousands who did that. crazy.
after the match, i manage to ctch some lazio fans from rome and have a little chat b4 we separated.

im @ scotland and having difficullties with internet, ill continue with photos later... miss u all guys!

Have a nice holiday mate!! Lucky for you to get a chance watching the game!! I was here stuck in AMsterdam and watch Amsterdam Tournament...

Heyya... the photos come, sorry so late, I just back home yesterday...

Greeting the players from the bus, thats Rozenhal...


That's the away block.. (I'm Lazio supporters for fck sake, but anfield didnt welcome me... )


Nah, whats wrong with Tare n Manfre???


He will always with us anywhere we go, said an Ultra when I praised them for their respect to Gabbo with that banner...


Any of you there???


The warm up...


Those tifosi were at Liverpool fans block! But no worry as they welcome us with respect... vice versa...


A pic of the game, Lincesteiner is very decent but still need to adapt...


I dont understand how they produce a lots of this scarf, and many ppl bought it! I didnt bring any Laziale identity so I bought it coz thats the only one on the shop to make me looks like Laziale...


A family of Laziale I met after the game, they are from Rome and very kind, although abit surprised when I said Im from Indonesia

Great pics tjamenovic! I noticed another pic somewhere with one of those double scarves on - it does seem strange that they made them for a friendly match, especially when they made it hard for Laziali to to go to the match. I just wish it had been organised like Southampton then I, and I'm sure others, would have gone and we could have made the Lazio section bigger. Anyway, glad you had a good time!

Great pictures! Looks like you had fun.

Thanks. I had a lot of fun as this is d first time I attend a match. Quite nervous though cuz the day before d match I was almost give up cuz don't have d ticket n the transport. then destiny talks