The only place to be

Said to a mate before the first goal that we could be 3-0 up and nobody would say it wasn't a fair result. Liverpool had a few chances but we really did look in control for most of it. The most disappointing aspect will be the lack of a cutting edge in the final 20 yards, although Liverpool deserve some credit for defending so well. Ultimately it was Lewis Baker having a dig from 25 yards out that led to the breakthrough, and Kiwonya took his goal superbly. He's gone from being someone who was purely a speed merchant to a player who can really contribute goals to the team. His second goal was even better and Walcott-esque. Loftus-Cheek was back to his best absolutely bossing the midfield with a combination of Mikel-esque physicality (he shields the ball a lot like John Obi) and composure. Christensen was imperious in his normal centre-back position, bringing the ball out of defence well and hitting some nice long passes to the wings. His clearance off the line was fantastic as well. Aina got forward well and managed to hit both posts with a shot from an acute angle. Baker again proved his worth to the team with a hard-working performance that started in the double pivot but became a more advanced role with the introduction of Swift. Bizarrely Boga spent the game on the left-wing which seemed a bit of a waste to be honest. Every time he got on the ball he looked to cut inside but he doesn't yet have that burst of acceleration that someone like Hazard uses to get away from defences. He seems to be better in tight situations running directly at players, and he showed that with his set-up for Kiwonya's second goal where he beat 4 players before taking out a fifth with the pass to Kiwomya. Feruz worked hard but really didn't have many openings. When he did, he gets the ball out of his feet and shoots like few other players I've seen come through the ranks. It's so instinctive to him, and he always seems to know where the bottom corner of the goal is. His workrate is exceptional too, so even when he's not getting many chances he's making the defence work and not giving them a moment's rest on the ball. So overall a fantastic performance that should've been wrapped up sooner but would seem to put this tie to bed. More importantly players like RLC and Christensen bounced back well from that disappointing final against Villa. In the second leg I'd like to see more of the same, with Boga getting more of the ball hopefully from a more central 'number 10' position and Feruz getting on the scoresheet. For Liverpool, Ibe looks a good prospect on the wings. Direct runner, comfortable on the ball and not afraid to have a go and could cause problems at the Bridge, but beyond him the difference in quality between the two sides was rather stark at times. Yes they had their chances, but I'd say the majority came on the break in the second-half when players like Ibe could exploit our over-commitment going forward. We also had a couple of 3v2 breaks which we failed to take full advantage of, but it was a performance that was extremely encouraging.

It wasn't his man to pick up. Mikel saw him and should have marked him but didn't, yet Ake still managed to get closer to him when the ball was put in despite being 5 yards furthers away from him. Ake had a good game, although the statistics probably make it sound more impressive than it was. We lost all shape the moment Rami went off and Ake looked to tire a little bit. Still a massively impressive turn from the lad though.

For the first time in a long time, that's actually a real dilemma. Personally I'd go for Ba because I think he's still the more dangerous of the two and he showed exactly what he can do against United, but Torres actually offers something of a threat off the bench. He changed the game against Sunderland simply by having the confidence to run at players and that could be invaluable in the final 20 minutes on Sunday. Beyond that though, the team pretty much picks itself which is good and bad. The back five is pretty much inked in and the front four is almost certainly going to be Hazard, Mata, Ba and Oscar (although Moses could have played himself into a spot too). But just like the league game this match will come down to the midfield two and we don't really have any other option but to play Mikel and Ramires. Rami was awful at the Etihad and Mikel was a disgrace against Rubin but we really don't have any other options there and I can't see Rafa shaking things up by putting Luiz in there. The hope is that Rami can't have two games that bad against City and that hopefully his good touches (of which he is more than capable in fairness) outnumber his bad touches. With Mikel we simply have to hope that he couldn't be bothered to play properly on Thursday night as indicated by his comments pre-match. That's a massive problem for the club, but a problem for another day. Hopefully someone at the club sits him down with the tape of that performance and gets a positive reaction from him. Still, I'm less confident about this game than the United one. I simply think that City are the best team in the country at the moment despite what the league says and they match up against us better than any other team. They've got pacy forwards who can cause problems between the lines, they've got strong midfielders who are comfortable on the ball and they've got Kompany who is a rock at the back. They're beatable, especially without Silva who is still a talismanic figure despite his comparatively poor form this season, but we need to be at our absolute best.

That Luiz and Lamps had to be separated.

That actually looks like Yossi is telling Luiz to calm down rather than having a go at him and fits with what the reports at half-time were saying.

Five consecutive seasons of 20+ goals with double digit assists is one of the most phenomenal records of recent years, even moreso considering he's a midfielder. Plus his legend was cemented when he put that penalty away at home to Liverpool following his mother's passing. One of the most amazing things I've seen at the Bridge.

I've criticised him in the past and he had some poor touches tonight, but he put in another solid shift and drove the team for much of the game. We really missed him when he went off but we need his work rate on Sunday.

How much worse could his performance have been? Ake worked his bollocks off in what was his third appearance for the club and you're criticising him? That's poor form. This isn't about 20 minutes though. This is about 6 years of Mikel. No-one is making him look like an 'immoral enemy of the club'. He showed weak character leading up to this game and he's shown it numerous other times, and not just on Thursdays. I haven't constantly complained and criticised though. I've praised the performance of other players in other threads, as well as Benitez's performance. Sorry, but are you new to this whole football supporting malarky because bitching and moaning is part of it sometimes. Name one game in which either one of them gave such obviously disinterested performances? Doesn't even have to be one game each, just one game for either one where they've been too fucking lazy to do their jobs? Earlier I asked if you were new to football. I'll rephrase that. Are you new to sports? :tophat:

Can he get motivated for games on a Sunday? He may well perform better in a 433 but we're playing in a 4231. Now that may be different, but the shirt he puts on is the same one. The fans who pay to see him are the same ones and the people paying his wages are the same people. I've said it before, but he's a fucking passenger in this side. The 433 worked better for him largely because he had better players around him who could carry him. Now he's a senior player in a position of responsibility and too often he's shown a lack of effort and commitment to the cause. He's a great player on whoscored.com but watching him week in and week out is hard work.

How? He wasn't at fault for the second goal, Mikel was (and yes I realise I'm playing the same note but it's pertinent here).

I should probably post this in the unpopular opinions thread but it pertains to this so I'll leave it here. I couldn't give a fuck about this record. It won't change my opinion on how good Lamps has been for this club, it has very little to do with how good a goalscorer either player is (Lamps is a remarkable goal hound for a midfielder, but he had about 200 more appearances than Tambling and in terms of goalscorers you have to include Greaves in any discussion) and there are far more important things this season. He's a legend no matter what and the idea that one goal more makes a difference either way is really rather silly in a sport where silly statistics have such meaning.

This isn't a bandwagon though. This is fans' long-held beliefs about a player who has been at the club for over half a decade now. I've long said he has character issues - the same issues that he showed when he first joined the club. Now he's a senior member of the playing staff and he says shit like that to the press, and then shows utter contempt for the club with the most disgraceful performance I can remember for a while? For the last fucking time, we know what his role in the team is supposed to be. We understand it from a tactical point of view. Our problem is with him and I guarantee for every good performance you can bring up I can bring up a bad one. In fact the Sunderland game was against lacklustre opposition and he looked strong going forward, yet he looked lazy in defence AGAIN. For Rubin's second goal, an 18 year old put more effort into getting back and defending than Mikel did. That sums him up.

Actually you said 'No Excuses. Having said that....' I'm not looking for an argument. I honestly don't know how anyone who supports this club can defend Mikel, so an argument would be a massive surprise. The reality is though you've defended a guy who came out and said something indefensible leading up to the game, and then backed it up with the most pathetic performance I can remember for a fair while. Answer me this - is this the type of attitude you want any player at this club to have? Is that the type of person that you want representing the badge you care so much about? Because I fucking don't. That's a simple yes or no question.

Is that your way of calling people fools without having to do it yourself? Do you have the ability to offer an opinion on Mikel or is it just the link to brainyquotes?

I did in the match thread. I said What the fuck was JT doing in the lead up to that corner? Shocking defending.

Lamps is almost certainly leaving in the summer and Ake is an 18 year old (who still showed more tactical awareness and effort to get back and try to stop the second goal). Deflecting from Mikel's performances by pointing to those two is almost as bad as shifting the focus to fans with an agenda (where have we heard that before?). It was a disgraceful performance from a player with a disgraceful attitude coming into this match. But I'm sure his pass completion percentage was in the high 80s so well done John Obi.

No more disgusting than his attitude on the pitch.

Don't we want players here who get up for a game just by wearing that badge? A disgraceful attitude from a player who is (terrifyingly) one of our senior players.

Rafa deserves credit tonight. Got the team spot on and it should've been a comfortable win. JT was surprisingly poor against Rondon in the lead-up to their first goal, but that second goal was all about Mikel either being too tactically inept to notice the guy unmarked (even though he looked at him) or too fucking lazy to pick him up. Considering his number of games for the club and his comments in the lead-up, I'm guessing the latter. Just wandered around the pitch, completely disinterested. If only he showed the effort and imagination of those people who constantly defend him, he'd be an absolute worldie. Moses worked hard all night and took his goal well. Rami put in another amazing shift punctuated with moments of supreme class followed by moments of complete ineptitude. JT looked a few games off the pace and Torres continued his good run. But this was a comfortable game made difficult by one uncharacteristic mistake by our captain, and one clusterfuck of a performance by the usual suspect. An absolutely disgraceful showing by John Obi Mikel and if he's got a shred of decency and self-awareness, he'll be embarrassed by what he showed on that pitch tonight.

An absolute disgrace tonight. Clearly didn't want to play and just didn't bother to pick up his man for the second goal. The fact that an 18 year old showed more effort to get back and DO HIS FUCKING JOB FOR HIM should see him out on his ear in the summer. Just another reminder for the people who actually watch our games of his level of commitment to the cause. Thoroughly disgusted by him.

Rafa got that spot on but he was let down by a couple of players. Mikel is a disgrace - admitting he can't get motivated for Thursday games is one thing, demonstrating it so clearly on the pitch is another.

Mikel is so fucking useless that he can't even hold the A Button down long enough. #jokeofafootballer

He tracked his man and thought that Mikel would drop in and mark the guy who scored. We were set up fine man-to-man but Mikel was TOO FUCKING LAZY to track a guy 5 inches shorter then him.

I actually disagree. He goes out to track his man and we're left with man for man numbers in the box. Mikel actually tracks back with the player, then leaves him. Ake makes more of an attempt to run back and cover him and has a go at Mikel after the goal. That is all Mikel's fault. It's laziness, pure and simple.

Sorry, but does JOHN OBI MIKEL point at that player and then fail to pick him up?? Who the fuck was supposed to pick him up?