So, now the dust has settled..... 4592

I don't agree with you totally, but you do have a point or two.

Last night was "Liverpool's" lucky night if you think that Gudjohnson's last minute shot was worthy of a goal. If Drogba had a beer belly like mine (think Homer Simpson) it would have deflected in :-))))

Of all the Frank Lampard goals I've seen this season (Chelsea and England) I seem to recall several were the keeper was going the right way or may have made a good attempt at it, but lady luck smiled (?) and a slight deflection puts it way beyond the keepers reach. Maybe Chelsea's luck ran out on Tuesday night?

I agree with what you say about the press headlines if the result had been different. What do the press care? Many just sensationalise situations to sell papers. On several occasions they've even been know to lie! But let's not bother talking about that rag.

I don't agree that we played negatively. We don't have that many strikers to call upon, so you won't see Liverpool playing 4-3-3. Liverpool's substitutions replaced like for like, except that Didi was replaced by a more attacking midfielder in Kewell (well he used to attack for Leeds!) Chelsea are a such a good team now, you cannot be surprised at the pressure they exert in attack. However, check the Opta stats and you'll see that Cisse spent 58 minutes less on the pitch and had as many shots at goal as Gudjohnson (3). Liverpool actually had twice as many shots on target as Chelsea (2 to 1)

I used to go crazy in the GH days. As soon as we'd score a goal he'd have the team defending for the rest of the game and allowed teams to come at us when we should have been more like Arsenal and Man U and going for 3 and 4 goals. I don't see the same mentality with RB.

Truth is, Liverpool's defence got the better of Chelsea and the fact that you saw most of our midfield buttisting with the defending doesn't make it a negative game, but a 'team' game.

As for the managers. You cannot dispute that they do have ability. One is more outspoken than the other (to put it politely). The press love that and use it in the sensationalising.

Maybe Liverpool have been underestimated by a few teams (and their managers) in this competition. They seemed (too) patient, as if expecting us to run out of steam, get sloppy or run out of luck? ;-) Liverpool played these games against Chelsea with a belief and they stuck to the task. Surely Rafa built some of that into the team and he deserves credit too.

I am trying to think of what you mean by 'overprotection of key players' as a few of our key players seem to have had a serious injury this season and spent many months out - leaving us with few options. But we have played abysmally at times when it seemed like we were coming into form. Away form has been terrible this season and I only hope it gets better next year.

If the game had finished 1-1 on Tuesday, I'd have been less disappointed than after the defeat at Leverkusen in 2002. I didn't think that we had the strength in the team to overcome Juventus and Chelsea, but I've been pleasantly surprised (to say the least). Every game after the group rounds has been a bonus to me (and a nerve racker).

Now it's down to one big night. Here's hoping it's a good final and Liverpool bring the silver home! But I would say that wouldn't I.