AndyDowsleftflank

Hope to see: Caballero James - Zouma - Guehi - Alonso Gilmour - Christensen Pulisic - Barkley - CHO Bats Should be enough for Grimsby, and I'd be intrigued to see how Christensen does in midfield Only problem is that Giroud and Pedro needs a start as well...

Is he perhaps better in defensive midfield? I think it would be interesting to try him there vs Grimsby at least, if he's not injured. We need to give Kovacic and Jorginho a rest while protecting Kante, anyways.

This is a work in progress, and I have no doubt we'll be better than Liverpool in two years time. We need some time to get the defense right, and we need to be far more clinical in both ends but what I saw in the second half was hugely encouraging. Concerns: Zouma and Christensen is just not good enough for a top four side IMHO. We also need to get our defensive set pieces in order, just pick up the opposing players in the box! Positives: Lamps and the youngsters are learning. We lack Rudiger, CHO, RLC and James still. Kante, perhaps the best midfielder in the world, has been missing until today. The potential of Pulisic/Mount/Tammy/Tomori/CHO/RLC/James is just frightening. With us soon able to sign players, further development of our youngsters and Frank/Jody learning on the job I'm still extremely positive about how this project is going - lets just not expect too much this season

Its a problem that nobody will cheer for a goal any more, in case VAR wants to have a look at something.

Seriously, new injuries in every other situation. How unlucky can we be?!

I've seen countless games like this in the last few years, only for Hazard to make the telling positive contribution. Thats the difference IMHO, and it will probably take us a few more games yet to learn how to deal with tight games without a talisman to lean on.

That midfield really made my heart sink. Bad memories I reckon

I thought I wouldn't care, but now that we're here I really want it. How often do we have a chance of winning this trophy? Besides, what could be sweeter than beating Liverpool to a trophy in their sacred city?!

No need to hate, I actually don't think this is a disaster. He can be fantastic on his day, but we all know the amount of errors he has in him. As he's also getting on a bit, I think this is perfectly fine and I'd rather we give the game time to Christensen/Zouma/Tomori - but of course we'll need them to rise to the challenge. He's been fun to watch, I'll always love him for Munich but if he's unhappy about not being first choice, I think we're doing the right thing in letting him go.

It's hard to explain, but it feels like somehow this is "my" club again. So, so happy!

I think there's no doubt it's way too soon for Lampard, but after the division last season I think this is just what we need to reignite and unite the club and fans. I've never been this excited about a potential manager coming in, I just really, really hope it goes well

It seems more likely we are delaying because we want to announce the new manager at roughly the same time.

I really dont think the fans would turn on Lampard given poor results - but they will turn on someone. The players? The board? Each other? Roman? I think this is a real problem for the decision makers in the club, and is why they might be hesitant to make the romantic choice.

Ugh. Well, if we're taking the ban it makes sense I guess. If we want to sell him next summer at least we'll get something for him and we'll need all of our four wingers for the season

Fantastic game from him

Tight game against Arsenal in a european final, still all we can do is complain ?

The fans were chanting "we want Sarri out". If the board are mad for sacking Sarri now, what does that make the fans doing those chants?

I have my grievances with Sarri, but all things considered I think he deserves to stay. * Top four * League Cup final * EL final * RLC looks like developing into a top, top player * CHO broke into the team (albeit possibly due to some outside pressure) I hope the fans can get behind him a little bit as well, the booing when he took off Ruben was silly. I thought it was rather easy to see he was tired or injured, his influence vaned dramatically in the latter stages of the second half. I'd imagine Barkley doesn't feel great in that situation either, even if the booing isn't aimed specifically at him. The players have a year of understanding Sarris methods now, I wouldn't be surprised if we got even better next season

Come on Maurizio, win this one and all is forgiven!

Standard Sarri-ball. Carved open at ease, luckily we played the worst side in the league and Kepa was on form. Worrying performance

I think today we'll find out whether Sarri has found a better balance and the players are truly behind him, or if the players just lifted themselves for a cup final and Tottenham. I really hope he founds a way to start CHO vs the worst defense in the league, but I wouldn't hold my breath

I admire those of you who still believe Ruben and CHO will ever start Premier League games under Sarri. I've stopped hoping and believing a while back, makes life easier

Always fantastic beating Tottenham, well done Sarri, the players and the fans. I do wonder what we've really accomplished this season, though. * We're back to being defensively solid, as the players asked to defend lower. * Youth are not being integrated * Attackingly we're as poor as ever I hope everything turns out well with Sarri, but I can't really see that we have taken any positive steps thus far.

Bayern, Palace and Juventus - in six months time

Optimism gone