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Goal.com Q&A: Lille Speed Merchants Provide Latest Hazard For Misfiring Liverpool
French underdogs undefeated in Europa League this season
| Bet: | Returns: | Liverpool £12.00 | Draw £55.00 | Brighton £120.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Liverpool £11.80 | Draw £55.00 | Brighton £110.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Liverpool £12.86 | Draw £50.00 | Brighton £120.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Liverpool £12.50 | Draw £55.00 | Brighton £120.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Liverpool £12.30 | Draw £54.00 | Brighton £97.00 |
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Mar 10, 2010 12:00:00 PM
By Neil Jones
Misfiring Liverpool can expect a tough test when they travel to Lille for Thursday night's Europa League last-16, first-leg clash, and should be wary of the French side's attacking pace.
Alexandre Walraevens, editor of Goal.com France, believes Rudy Garcia's side - who are currently fifth in Ligue 1, just four points off leaders Bordeaux and established as the league's top scorers - have the personnel to make life difficult for Rafael Benitez' men, and highlighted the key players for the French outfit.....
Alexandre, first things first, who are Lille's star players, and who should Liverpool be wary of?
Eden Hazard is the man that Liverpool should already know about. He is, of course, the main threat - technically good, quick and very agile - he is the best prospect in Ligue 1 at the moment.
Elsewhere, Rio Mavuba is the leader of the midfield - which is the best in France. He doesn't score many goals, but when he goes forward he tends to pick his moments, and should be watched.
What is their general philosophy under Rudi Garcia? Are they an attack-minded team?
Lille have totally changed since the arrival of Garcia eighteen months ago. Under Claude Puel, who departed for Lyon in 2008, Lille were known as a boring team, tactically very strong with a lot of discipline at the back.
Garcia is an attacking coach and Lille's play reflects this. They won't sit back and defend, they will take the game to Liverpool. Lille have a lot of speed in front with Ludovic Obraniak, Pierre-Alain Frau and Eden Hazard. They are very strong in this department, and they know that speed is not the main quality of Liverpool's defence.
Gervinho has been the main man. But he has picked up a knee injury, which is a big blow. Until this he was Lille's top scorer in France, and also the Europa League - where he had scored five goals.
They are also without Tulio De Melo, another striker, and Frau has also been injured of late. They have been forced to use players like Pierre Aubameyang, who is not a bad player, but is very young and inexperienced.
Lille's stadium is on the small side. Is it a place that can generate an intimidating atmosphere for visiting sides?
The stadium is not intimidating at all. Lille are playing there because they cannot play at their old stadium in Lille (Grimonprez-Joris) and they are waiting for the completion of a 50,000-seater venue, which should be open in two years. So Liverpool will not be intimidated, not by 18,000 fans. This is probably Lille's main problem actually.
Most will see Lille as underdogs for this tie, despite Liverpool's problems. How do you think Lille will view the tie, and do you think they can go through?
Sure Lille will consider themselves underdogs. Liverpool have a lot more experience and a past that speaks volumes for them. But French sides like to be the underdogs and Lille are undefeated in the Europa League this season, so it won't be easy for Liverpool, and if Lille get a chance to win the tie, expect them to go for it at 150 per cent!
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Alexandre Walraevens, editor of Goal.com France, believes Rudy Garcia's side - who are currently fifth in Ligue 1, just four points off leaders Bordeaux and established as the league's top scorers - have the personnel to make life difficult for Rafael Benitez' men, and highlighted the key players for the French outfit.....
Alexandre, first things first, who are Lille's star players, and who should Liverpool be wary of?
Eden Hazard is the man that Liverpool should already know about. He is, of course, the main threat - technically good, quick and very agile - he is the best prospect in Ligue 1 at the moment.
Elsewhere, Rio Mavuba is the leader of the midfield - which is the best in France. He doesn't score many goals, but when he goes forward he tends to pick his moments, and should be watched.
What is their general philosophy under Rudi Garcia? Are they an attack-minded team?
Lille have totally changed since the arrival of Garcia eighteen months ago. Under Claude Puel, who departed for Lyon in 2008, Lille were known as a boring team, tactically very strong with a lot of discipline at the back.
Garcia is an attacking coach and Lille's play reflects this. They won't sit back and defend, they will take the game to Liverpool. Lille have a lot of speed in front with Ludovic Obraniak, Pierre-Alain Frau and Eden Hazard. They are very strong in this department, and they know that speed is not the main quality of Liverpool's defence.
Big miss | Top scorer Gervinho will miss both legs
Gervinho has been the main man. But he has picked up a knee injury, which is a big blow. Until this he was Lille's top scorer in France, and also the Europa League - where he had scored five goals.
They are also without Tulio De Melo, another striker, and Frau has also been injured of late. They have been forced to use players like Pierre Aubameyang, who is not a bad player, but is very young and inexperienced.
Lille's stadium is on the small side. Is it a place that can generate an intimidating atmosphere for visiting sides?
The stadium is not intimidating at all. Lille are playing there because they cannot play at their old stadium in Lille (Grimonprez-Joris) and they are waiting for the completion of a 50,000-seater venue, which should be open in two years. So Liverpool will not be intimidated, not by 18,000 fans. This is probably Lille's main problem actually.
Most will see Lille as underdogs for this tie, despite Liverpool's problems. How do you think Lille will view the tie, and do you think they can go through?
Sure Lille will consider themselves underdogs. Liverpool have a lot more experience and a past that speaks volumes for them. But French sides like to be the underdogs and Lille are undefeated in the Europa League this season, so it won't be easy for Liverpool, and if Lille get a chance to win the tie, expect them to go for it at 150 per cent!
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2/15/12
And with that, we're going to call it a night, folks.
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
2/15/12
All this focus on the Arsenal and Milan game should not take away from another cracker earlier tonight between Zenit and Benfica. The Russians came from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the closing minutes before Oscar Cardozo levelled things for Benfica, but it wasn't over there as Roman Shirokov won the game for Zenit in the 88th minute.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
2/15/12
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny bemoaned his side's luck tonight but refused to give up. Here's some of his quotes:
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
2/15/12
Another Milan player who was willing to share his thoughts after the match was Mark van Bommel, who has urged caution ahead of the second leg in London.
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
2/15/12
Next up is the Milan maestro Clarence Seedorf. He only managed 12 minutes on the pitch, but watching from the sidelines he was delighted at how his team mates had dominated the game.
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
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