Didn’t get to watch the game so no recap, just the pics.
Class!
prediction for where we'll finish in the league and how we'll fare in all 3 cups next season?
Anonymous
Right now it’s a bit too early to say. I’d have a clearer picture once we’ve finished our summer signings but if I have to make a prediction right now I’d say 5th or 6th. The only way I see us getting into CL is if Tottenham and/or Arsenal have poor seasons because as of right now, they have stronger squads than ours. In terms of the cups, again it depends on the emphasis the manager will place on them. If he takes them seriously we may just win one of the domestic ones, and finish high in the EL. Again this will all be determined by who we sign and how well Rodgers’ system works this season. You could ask me again in August and I might give you a better answer then:)
2011/2012 Season
The summer transfers:
The Anfield cat:
The away win at Arsenal:
Seba’s goal:
FA Cup final loss:
Thrashing Chelsea:
Gerrard hat-trick against Everton:
Lucas’ injury:
Sterling’s debut:
Bellamy’s winner against City:
Rainbow at Exeter:
The woodwork (sigh):
Dirk’s winner against United:
Wembley derby:
Suarez’ third against Norwich:
Brad Jones:
Dirk with the League Cup trophy:
Carroll’s winner at Blackburn:
FA Cup semi-final:
League Cup winners:
Xabi Alonso following the FA Cup Final while in Granada
(we miss you Xabi!)
It is so difficult to talk about now. I really don’t know why we played as we did for the first 60 minutes. But we didn’t turn up and you cannot afford to do that in an FA Cup final. We know these opportunities do not come along that often and that is why you have to take them when they do. This will haunt us. We didn’t show up for the first hour and that is not good enough in an FA Cup final. When Andy came on he did well and we played in a different way. I don’t know if it was over the line. I was at the other end of the pitch and I haven’t seen a replay but that wasn’t the reason why we lost. The reason why we lost was that we didn’t play well in the first hour. We didn’t lose because Chelsea played well but I think because we started the game really badly. We can only blame ourselves. There’s not much more to say right now. We are all just so disappointed.
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Daniel Agger on the FA Cup Final loss
(he always speaks the truth this guy, the team didn’t show up for the 1st hour and it showed)
I thought it was over the line. You’ll know better than me but I thought it was - I thought it hit the other side of the bar, but I haven’t seen it back. We had a few chances and could have put them away but it wasn’t to be. It was unlucky because it (an equaliser) would have taken us into extra time. I did the best I could when I came on and we were unlucky.
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Andy Carroll on his FA Cup Final performance
They were excellent for the last half hour but the game lasts for 90 minutes. If you’re playing against the quality of Chelsea, you cannot give them a two-goal start and expect to give yourself an opportunity to get something from the game. I don’t think the first hour was a true reflection of the quality we had out there. Whether it was a lack of experience in the situation – maybe they just had more experience than us. Maybe they were just a wee bit nervous – a lot of them are just youngsters, or relatively young and inexperienced at this level. Chelsea are thoroughbreds, they’ve been through the course before. Maybe that was it. The way they finished the last half hour should give them the belief and confidence that they are better than they think they are. It’s a hard lesson. The same group of players will be better for the experience they had there, and the experience they’ve had from the previous part of the season.
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Kenny Dalglish on the FA Cup Final loss
(sorry Kenny being young isn’t an excuse, some of the players we just need to get rid!)
We need to dust ourselves down and we need to respond to the challenge next year. We need to come back. Football is about highs and lows, it’s certainly been a low today. We’ve been fantastic in the cup competitions this year and the players deserve a lot of credit for that. We haven’t been good enough in the league this year and we deserve criticism and we need to take criticism like men. We need to do better. We’re Liverpool Football Club; we’re no seventh or eighth in the league. We’re better than that.
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Steven Gerrard on the FA Cup final loss
(damn right you need to be better!)
Chelsea 2 - 1 Liverpool (FA Cup Final)
Shambles really. Where was the team for the first 65 minutes? One shot of note during that time period and we only looked like we had showed up after Carroll scored. The defending was shambolic, the midfield was non existent…I really have no words. We deserved what we got.
MOTM: Andy Carroll without a doubt. Changed the game, scored a goal, should’ve had a second. That’s all I’ve got for this recap.
For me, after all these years in England, I must reiterate that the Reds fans are unique. They are the best thing about this club and they deserve us to break our backs on the pitch in order to claim titles. The cups are official titles and I give them great importance, especially the FA Cup, which is the oldest tournament in the world. Winning it is a great moment in your history and for the enjoyment of our supporters. Our objective in the Premier League was to qualify for the Champions League and we haven’t managed it, but the League Cup and this possible FA Cup bring back some joy. It’s not easy to win two titles in the same season, especially in a league as competitive as the English one.
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Pepe Reina on the FA Cup Final
I got to play in the Carling Cup final and I really hope I start against Chelsea. It was disappointing to miss the semi-final. Wembley is an amazing place to play. But it’s the manager’s decision. I’ve been in the team in recent weeks and I want to stay there. I feel like I’ve improved this season and I want to help the team finish with two trophies.
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Jose Enrique on playing in the FA Cup Final
This has to be the most important week of the season as we are back playing in another final. For me personally I have good memories of the place so let’s hope that this winning run there can continue. I think for any striker, it’s always important and special when you score a goal, but when you do it in a semi-final against Everton, at the end of the ground with all the Liverpool fans, it was just a great moment. I’m sure it will be one of the goals that I will always remember, for the buzz and the atmosphere in the stadium.
It’s going to be a massive game for me and for the club. Everybody is looking forward to it - it’s a huge game. I can remember watching Cup finals when I was younger. It’s always been a massive game in football. Getting to the Cup final and just the whole atmosphere – even (in the past) when I’ve been at home, everyone gets ready to watch the Cup final and is very excited about it.
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Andy Carroll on the FA Cup final
If we win the FA Cup against Chelsea, it’s a great season for us. We’ve only been in three competitions, so if we win two, then that’s unbelievable. That’s a fantastic season. If someone had told me at the start of the season that we would win the FA Cup and the Carling Cup, then I would have been pleased. In the league, it’s just been one of those things; we haven’t produced to where we want to be but in cup competitions we have. So at least we’ve got the cups to fall back on.