LIVERPOOL HERO Alisson Becker said the team’s FA Cup final victory against Chelsea on penalties would give them a huge confidence boost as they chase a historic quadruple.
The two teams were locked at 0-0 after extra-time at Wembley on Saturday, with clear-cut chances at a premium.
Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy prevented Sadio Mane striking the winner after Cesar Azpilicueta had hit the post, only for Brazil goalkeeper Alisson to deny Mason Mount before Kostas Tsimikas struck to seal a 6-5 win.
“It was a shame we didn’t score during normal time, but it was a proper fight after in extra time, anything could happen,” he told the BBC.
“We kept a clean sheet, it went to penalties and after the boys were unbelievable with scoring the goals and then I just needed to save the last one. I am so happy.”
He added: “That is part of the ‘mentality monsters’ as well, going to extra-time and keeping the high level, performing well.
“It gives us even more confidence to keep on going for the Premier League and also the Champions League final.
“This is a fantastic moment and now we just need to enjoy it.”
Liverpool are three points behind leaders Manchester City with two Premier League matches remaining and will meet Real Madrid in the Champions League final later this month.
They won the League Cup earlier in the season, beating Chelsea on penalties on that occasion as well.
SEAN CRONIN IS BETTER THAN RORY BEST
@Succulent Goujons: Just because you have it in caps doesn’t make it true
I wonder if all,is as,we are being told.
Is he really injured, or saving face.
@Mark Smith: if I said that there’d be heads exploding up in Dublin
@Mark Smith: schmidtler is the king of spouting $hite, I wouldn’t be one bit surprised. Bit harsh though if dropped, the game plan seems to have had him defending the back field on his own last weekend against one of the best kicking 10’s in the game….
@Mark Smith: Saving face for who? Henshaw is a big boy. If he’s dropped on form then he’ll live with it and get better.
@grandslamkbo:
Really, you believe that.
Look around you at your family and friends and I bet there are some that need a stick and some that need a carrot.
You don’t hang people out to dry in public if you don’t need to.
This is all supposition but I bet he didn’t want to show that he was dropping Henshaw, for what was basically his decision to play him at fullback, which proved to be a disaster.
He may play there again, who knows but certainly last week it didn’t work.
Joe might just be taking the heat off himself as much as Henshaw
@Jim Demps:
I have made that target on your back a little smaller.
However that might not last too long, I fear.
Farrell is a good selection, as he plays there and I don’t see the need to open up Henshaw for more criticism if he played poorly in another position that he has not Ben used to playing for a while.
@Mark Smith: I’m disappointed that there is a target on my back.
@Mark Smith: do you remember the last time joe dropped a player pretending he was injured. They keep the charade up so well the player who pretended to be injured hasn’t played again.
@Mark Smith: Yeah, if Schmidt says he’s injured, I believe that. I’m not mates with Henshaw, I can’t send him a message and ask him. I’m not a doctor and I haven’t seen any of the medical reports. There was a presser and they said he’s out. What more do you want? There’s nothing there for me to possibly question. Does Schmidt have a history of making up injuries to suit his own agenda?
@Jim Demps: saving face isn’t the way of this team. I’m sure Farrell will do a fine job, but a choice between him and a fit henshaw is no choice at all.
@Mark Smith: Your scenario is much more likely, I`d say,especially since he trained yesterday
@Shane McGettrick: era its easy to be definite when you’re talking in hypotheticals. People were saying last week that henshaw was definitely the second best fullback in the squad. Btw I don’t subscribe to marks trail of thought, I was just saying that if i had said it there’d be the usual lads hopping all over me.
@Jim Demps: I believe now that henshaw wasn’t match fit…for any position and that led to him struggling.
@grandslamkbo: Men against boys. Ireland rugby hang your head in shame as sweet chariots is sung and all the corporates head for the doors
@Artur Gurta: Jesus will you fu(k off. 1st time it was sort of funny, but now you just seem like a gobshi+e
@samstheman: Surprised Earls kept his place. He solely cost us the game against England. Gave up a terribly soft try after 2 minutes that set the tone for the whole game. Not one person has called this all week long. If Erlsy hadn’t jumped up for a no chance intercept… it would’ve been a different result. And Smidth is backing him again this week! Beggers belief. Enough already …. time to put Carbery at full back, Larmour at right wing, Ruddock starting and Leavy in the team as soon as he’s fit. I have no doubt Ireland will win on Saturday. I’m delighted to see SOB back and have no doubt he’ll make the difference. I say he’ll win the motm award. Enjoy fellow rugby fans.
@Gerry Maher:
@Gerry Maher: do you even lift bro?
Is it me or, when Johnny Sexton went to france, Joe Schmidt had no bother picking him, now that Simon Zebo is in France, Schmidt won’t pick him. Double Standards.
@Ossi Fritsche: Different times, different rules. He also picked Robin Copeland who was playing in Wales at the time but no ever mentions that.
@Eddie Hekenui: you’re normally right but not in this case. Copeland has one cap and he was with munster at the time. He got called up to the training squad for the 6 nations earlier in the year but he’d already committed to coming to munster and didn’t get capped until playing in Ireland.
@Jim Demps: He was still called up to the squad which didn’t happen to Beirne, Farrell or any of the other lads who returned home. And my main point still stands. It was a different time and different rules. People trying to backdate the current policy to make it seem like double standards are wrong.
@Eddie Hekenui: I agree with you, I just don’t think Copeland is the same as sexton, especially when he wasn’t capped while abroad. Mike McCarthy and james Downey would be better examples, especially Downey who Schmidt capped in 2013 while he was playing abroad.
Jaysus lads, policies change and evolve over time. I mean, not so long ago women couldn’t work for the state after getting married. We don’t accuse married women working for the state today of benefitting from ‘double standards’ do we? Zebo is not good enough or pivotal enough to warrant a bending of the policy, like Sexton did. People need to stop martyring Zebo once and for all. It’s painful stuff.
@Jim Demps: Why McCarthy and Downey? They were both capped when they were in Ireland.
@Eddie Hekenui: both abroad as far as I know. Wasn’t Downey with the saints on his first cap?
@Eddie Hekenui: in fact you’re right. I had his first cap down as before munster. Apologies.
@Jim Demps: McCarthy was definitely in Ireland too. He’d been playing for Connacht since 2007
@Jim Demps: get over yourself … Munster did not invent the game. Leinster are on the beginning of a dynasty! 4 hcups to 2. Enough said pal. It will be 5 at the end of this year and probably will take that to finally shut you Munster fans up!!!! So on to Ireland. The sooner Smidth realises that Carbery is a fullback … the better for our chances in RWC 2019. Leo and Stu figured that out years ago.
@Gerry Maher: I can’t figure out if you’re a parody account or if you’re a real person. I hope you’re real.
@Gerry Maher: You are embarrassing yourself.
@Ossi Fritsche: the main difference was there was 2 options at out half in Ireland at the time. Jackson and keatley (I think, I’m probably wrong). There are about 300 back 3 options available to Schmidt. Very different time VERY different circumstances.
Farrell to win the battle of the gain line. The new key point of contact in the game of the battering ram. We’d need 4 Farrells because each one will be carried off injured. This game is pale imitation of the old game and it’s getting worse. When will the authorities start to address the crazy slug fest and try to return to a game of skilful and elusive running. When it’s too late to save it, the amateurs and youngsters will have abandoned ship and the club game will be all but dead.
@Mick Barnier: good comment.
Looking forward it’s a big day for Conan and Farrell. Two specialist looking to force their way into the WC squad as backups. I’d have though Murphy/Ruddock and Addison might be favoured due to their versatility but their non selections the last two weeks would suggest otherwise.
@Eddie Hekenui: time for Conan to step up, injures aside, he hasn’t been in the same excellent form as of last year. Slightly worried about farrells defence but looking forward to seeing him and bundee breaking the Scottish defence. I think henshaw is a better player than Farrell but he plays at 12 more so Farrell’s inclusion give more balance.
Not convinced Farrell and Bundi are the two to stop the fleet foot of the Scottish back line.
@Darius Guppy: they’ll need to stick to the Irish game plan of the last few years and deny the Scots possession. Should be easier against their pack compared to England. Think Farrell is a more effective carrier a d off loader than Henshaw so that might be a blessing in disguise. I do still worry about the defensive performance against Wales last year though when he played 13
@Martin Quinn: to be honest I think Farrell is a better distributor then Henshaw. And I think hes a better 13 but hasn’t had a lot of time to show it due to injuries
Any truth in the rumours that SOB is going to London irish next season. Wouldn’t be to happy to see him go
@William Finnegan: I heard that as well. I’d say he’s definitely losing his central contract and it’s unlikely that Leinster will match his current wages plus with penny coming up it makes sense to cut him loose. I’d have expected France though but Irish are dropping big money. They’re signing Steve Mafi and rumoured on Naholo too.
@William Finnegan: Makes sense from an Irish/Leinster point of view. Has he done enough in the last year or two to earn a new central contract? Probably not. And would Leinster be willing to spend the massive wage it’d likely cost to keep him in Ireland when they’ve Leavy/VDF already on the books and some talented kids coming through.
I’d be brilliant to keep him in Ireland as he’s a quality player but the IRFU need to look at the bigger picture and paying an injury prone 32 year old when you’ve got ready made replacements doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
@Jim Demps: plus paddy jackson is also rumoured to go there. That’s some serious money if they get all 4. Are they allowed to overspend because they are just coming up. Leinster should have no problem finding someone to help them out. I hope they do, because I don’t wanna see SOB playing for another team
@William Finnegan: there’s a big cash windfall for the premiership clubs coming in and a lot of the clubs are spending it already. Retallick rumoured to be going to sale as well.
Era I’m sure Denis o Brien could be persuaded to put his hands in his pockets again, sure what’s another player on the payroll.
@Jim Demps: exactly Jimbo
@Eddie Hekenui: I’d still keep him is we can. There was talk of Deegan being pressured to move. Plus the backrow is such an attritional area, that we are bound to get injuries
@William Finnegan: Does it make sense for Leinster though? He’s average minutes over the last 6 seasons are less than 5 games a year.
@Eddie Hekenui: he’s had some freak injuries tho. Plus if he is not getting a central contract he won’t be playing for Ireland anymore, so no worries about getting injured on international duty. I hate to see him leave. Those numbers are grim reading tho
@William Finnegan: I really can’t see how he would stay. It’d be mad by Leinster to pay the coin for him, especially when there’s talent coming through.
@William Finnegan: I’d love to keep him in Ireland too. On his day he’s up there with the best players in the World. Just doesn’t make much sense to me based on the last few years and what Leinster have coming through. With the amount of talent they’re producing the wage bill will keep going up and up. Rob Kearney and SOB will be interesting choke points as they’re both big earners who’ll likely be coming off the IRFU pay roll.
@Jim Demps: on form he is still the best backrower in Ireland. He showed that on the lions tour(I know how long ago that was, but he has been on and off injured since then). We are not talking about some average player here. We are talking about one of the greats, and without the added pressure of international rugby I hope he can stay injury free
@William Finnegan: Past tense. On form he was the best backrower in Ireland 2 years ago. He showed that when he was on the Lions tours two years ago.
@William Finnegan: would possibly free up budget to get another centre in, big loss though
@William Finnegan: he has been one of the best and is definitely a huge part of Leinster but it’s hard to see how they can afford to keep him when he comes off an Irfu contract
@Jim Demps: Rumours is, for what it’s worth, that he’ll earn £450K a year which is a serious chunk of change.
@Eddie Hekenui: that’s a lot of money. Or 90k a game if he keeps his averages up.
@Martin Quinn: you don’t think so?
@tse: in his little cameo on Saturday he was the best of the backrowers as well. SOB will find his form soon and show once again why he is up there with the BOD and Sextons as irish greats
@Martin Quinn: in fairness to Jim Penny is a serious talent
@Conor Sexton: I’d rather COB and ROL got the minutes that will be spare when Ringrose and Henshaw are away.
@Martin Quinn: Since you like counting peoples posts here’s a count for you: 5 posts and added nothing to the conversation.
@William Finnegan: SOB is definitely up there with the Irish greats but even on form I would pick leavy ahead of him these days. Leavy is a phenomenal 7
Mind set has to be right this time round, no bullshit .
@Martin: 6 of this team started that awful 27-22 loss there 2 years ago. We were 21-5 down after 30 mins and came back. So they’re fully aware of what to expect from Finn and friends