May 30 2005

By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL are to be awarded a special badge of honour by UEFA as a permanent reminder of their fifth European Cup triumph.

The crest is presented to every club which has kept the European Cup, putting the Reds into an elite group including Real Madrid and AC Milan.

The logo will be worn on the shirt sleeves of the players at the start of next season and will never be removed for as long as Liverpool FC exist.

Chief executive Rick Parry said the accolade will ensure the high esteem with which the club is held across Europe will now increase every time the Anfield stars put on their famous jersey.

"By keeping the European Cup, we've joined an elite group which we'll remain part of forever," said Parry.

"We'll have a permanent record of our status with the special UEFA badge on our shirt. Only those clubs who have kept the European Cup get this. From now on, every Liverpool jersey will have this logo. The only problem we've got with it is it's blue, but that's a small price to play for such a prestigious honour.

"The fifth is the most special because it puts us on a different level to before.

"I think Alan Hansen summed it up perfectly. He said you can live off a European Cup win for five years, by 10 it's fading away, but by 20 years it seems like the last win was a lifetime away.

"To many of our fans, this feels even more special than the first because to win five and keep it is the pinnacle for any club."

Reds can probably be cheered (or more cheered) by news that UEFA is set to make an early decision regarding the Club's special inclusion in next year's Champions competition. UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson says a decision over whether or not Liverpool will be allowed to defend their Champions League title next season could be made before a scheduled meeting in Manchester on June 17.

sign up for the petition to let us defend our trophy

The link is: www.fairplaytoliverpool.co.uk

Twenty years ago today, 39 football fans died at the Heysel stadium in Brussels before our European Cup Final against Juventus.

CL Final 5 live.mp3

Links (cut & paste into your address bar):

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Century FM Audio - Link: http://ims-go.com/go.asp?URL=4514&MID=55057&UID=11900056

May 26 2005
By Andy Kelly In Istanbul, Daily Post

ANOTHER glorious chapter in the history of Liverpool Football Club was written here in Istanbul last night as the club won their fifth European Cup after an astonishing fightback against AC Milan.

Roared on by at least 40,000 fans, who made the Ataturk Stadium their own, Rafa Benitez's team mounted an extraordinary second half comeback to turn around a three-goal deficit and win the game on penalties.

Two Jerzy Dudek saves and a Milan miss during the shoot-out sent the holy grail of European football back to Anfield again - and this time it is taking up permanent residence.

Liverpool have now won as many European Cups as every other English side put together. Rafa is the Bos-phor-us said the banner and the Spaniard has now equalled Jose Mourinho's achievement in winning the senior trophy the season after a EUFA Cup triumph.

And Istanbul can now take its place proudly alongside the historic nights in Rome, London and Paris; 2005 can be spoken of in the same wondrous terms as 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984.

This was undoubtedly the most dramatic and remarkable of Liverpool's five European cups. Nobody here last night will ever forget it.

This was, after all, not the all conquering championship winning teams of vintage past, but a group of players who had contrived to lose to relegated Southampton and Crystal Palace this season.

Amid scenes of great emotion and jubilation, Huyton's Steven Gerrard could barely wait to get his hands on the trophy, giving it a cheeky kiss before it was officially presented.

He becomes the third Scouser to lift the cup, following in the footsteps of Phil Thompson, and Aston Villa's Denis Mortimer.

It had all seemed so improbable little over an hour before as Milan cruised effortlessly to a 3-0 lead and systematically silencing the astonishing mass of red shirts gathered all around this impressive but virtually unreachable stadium. However, two goals within a minute by first Gerrard and then Vladimir Smicer instilled new belief in the players, and new voice in the supporters, before Zabi Alonso's equaliser sent them into ecstasy.

Extra time was excruciating and almost unbearable for some, notable for another remarkable Dudek save from Jon Dahn Tomasson. But Liverpool were destined to repeat their penalties victory of Rome in '84 to complete what must surely be the greatest comeback in the history of this stirring competition.

Dietmar Hamann, Djibril Cisse and Vladimir Smicer held their nerve to prompt a month of hangovers on the red half of Merseyside.

Jay Kelly, from Edge Hill, said:" This is one of the best nights of my life, we were down and out, but we never gave up. To see Steven Gerrard lift the trophy after everything has been written about him, is just really special."

Mike Hill, from Formby, added: "Unbelievable. It must be down as one of the club's greatest nights, I'm not sure anyone will want to go home."

Liverpool's army of fans had crossed the continent by plane, train and automobile, by hook and by crook, to cheer on Rafa Benitez's men.

They made for an extraordinary sight. As one banner read, echoing Shankly: Even Chairman Mao has never seen a greater show of Red strength.

Liverpol had dominated the streets, bars and squares of Istanbul for the last few days, and the terraces again last night - Milan sold just 18,000 of their 20,000 allocation of tickets.

The party was to go on long into the night after fans slowly made their way back to Taksim Square, to celebrate with their Turkish hosts who had lined the streets to wave their good wishes after fans made their way to the stadium.

Liverpool not only won a trophy here this week, but many hearts and minds as well.

Turkey seems a world away from its "welcome to hell" days.

The journey to the match had been an experience in itself, a fleet of coaches and taxis carrying the red army taking more than two hours to make their way along the single winding and mountainous road which led to the stadium.

The only highlight of the journey for many was the passing of the local Efes Brewery which allowed much-needed liquid refreshment for many.

The company can rarely have enjoyed such a lucrative week.

Earlier the atmosphere in the city centre - which had been building up since the start of the week - reached fever pitch as thousands of fans gathered in Taksim and its adjacent park to soak up the sunshine and freely imbibe.

Club colours from down the decades were worn with pride, famous anthems old and new were given rousing renditions and banners were displayed from every vantage point, however precarious.

It was if this huge Merseyside crusade was, by its collective will, trying to ensure that long-awaited fifth European Cup would be travelling back across the width of the continent with them.

Both at Anfield against Chelsea and here again last night, this football match was won as much on the terraces as on the pitch.

"We want our trophy back," they had sung, in the heat of the afternoon and just a few hours later, as the night descended, their wish was wonderfully, brilliantly, and unforgettably granted.

Liverpool last won the European Cup in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Rome. BBC Radio Merseyside has put together a special documentary looking back on that legendary night.

Presented by Ian Kennedy the programme 'I don't Know What It Is But I Love It (The Story of Rome '84) is named after the Chris Rea song sung by Liverpool players in the tunnel prior to the game. With contributions from all 11 members of the Liverpool team, the programme looks back at the magical night when Liverpool became Champions of Europe for the fourth time.

Listen to the programme in full: http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/realmedia/sport/84roma.ram

May 23 2005
Ronnie Moran Talks To Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

WHO was the last English-born manager to win the European Cup? On Merseyside, such a question would be dismissed as an insult to football intelligence.

Venture beyond our boundaries and the blank looks following a seemingly obvious enquiry provoke varying degrees of astonishment and annoyance.

Joe Fagan remains the Liverpool manager time treated carelessly.

An Anfield legend whose unprecedented achievements are still overshadowed by those who went before and, to some extent, by the tragic manner he bowed out.

Twenty years on from his retirement, it's left to those who knew him best to deliver necessary eulogies.

Former assistant boss Ronnie Moran can't disguise his sense of regret at how Fagan remains a forgotten hero when the lists of great managers are compiled.

"People talk about Jose Mourinho this year, but Joe did exactly the same in his first season and went one better. The title, the League Cup and the European Cup. He did the treble," says Moran.

"Then he took us to the European Cup final in his second season. Joe never got the credit he deserved for his achievement. Even now, you'll never hear anyone talking about him. He's too easily over-looked. People still don't realise how good he was. His knowledge of the game was as great as anyone I've ever known.

"Joe was the man I'd say I learned from most when I was starting as a coach.

"To some extent, I even think Bob Paisley's success is underplayed. Who wins the European Cup three times?

"I've a lot of respect for Sir Alex Ferguson, but when he retires you can bet everyone will be talking about him as the greatest manager of all time. All I can say to that is look at Bob's record. There are three European Cups there. You won't find anyone else in English football with an achievement like that.

"The thing about Bob and Joe is, even if they were alive today, you'd never hear them blowing their own trumpet. They were modest men who'd never seek credit for themselves and always behaved in the right way. You'd never hear them making an excuse if we lost either. You hear a lot of managers talking about injuries or referees all the time now.

"Whenever we got a bad decision, Joe used to say the same thing: 'We got a bad one today, but we'll get a good one later in the season.'"

Moran was a pivotal member of the backroom team during all five European Cup finals, although it comes as no surprise which meant most to him and the club.

"The first one always feels the best," says Moran.

"We beat a great side in 1977 and that gave us the platform to repeat it three more times. The next three were all tight games, but I always say the match in 1984 should never have gone to penalties. Technically, we won the match on away goals!

"We had great characters in our side the last time we won it. There was a spirit in the team which helped us through a difficult match."

Although Moran retired seven years ago, his presence is still felt at Liverpool's training ground.

He's cast his eye over Rafa Benitez's coaching sessions and has seen enough to believe the greats of the past are voicing their approval from above.

"I still go down to Melwood twice a week and I really like what I see with Rafa Benitez," says Moran.

"I like the fact he's a coach who gets on the training pitch and organises everything for himself. He's like Joe in that way. I also think the style of football he wants is the same as we demanded.

"When we've played well this year, it's been very much in the traditional Liverpool style. Our philosophy was always the same. You attack in numbers and defend in numbers. You always wanted everyone to join in, which is why you always used to see our fullbacks get forward so much. I remember telling Phil Neal once we never wanted to see anyone standing still on the pitch. Everyone had to be moving all the time.

"Obviously Benitez needs time to get the players into the club to play exactly how he wants, but you can see the shape of the team he's trying to create. He's trying to organise the side in the same way it used to be.

"Against Juventus at home and away you could understand why people were reminded of our European games of the past. We attacked and defended well. There was no 'secret' behind our success. We always knew what we wanted, the hard part was getting the right players into the club to do it. That's what the manager will be doing before pre-season, I'm sure."

For Moran, a European Cup Final is as much about courage as skill. He's convinced Liverpool can beat AC Milan, but recognises, much like their last triumph, they'll need every player at the top of their game to do so.

"I'm not a gambling man, but I do think all the pressure is on AC Milan," says Moran.

"I want to see our lads settling down quickly, getting a few good passes going early in the game, and being brave enough to pass the ball well in their half. If we get off to a good start, I'm confident we can do it."

As the last Liverpool manager to land at Speke airport clutching the finest piece of silver of all, Fagan secured his place as an Anfield icon, even if the rest of the world has remained ignorant of his contributions.

Should Rafa Benitez repeat the feat on Thursday afternoon, there's no prospect of his triumph being downplayed in the same way as his illustrious predecessor.

AC Milan are without midfielder Massimo Abrosini, who has a thigh injury but are otherwise at full strength for Wednesday's Champions League final.
Strikers Hernan Crespo and Filippo Inzaghi are vying for a starting place in the Milan front line.

Long-term absentee Chris Kirkland is the only player missing for Liverpool.

Milan Baros is set to start at the expense of Djibril Cisse, while Dietmar Hamann is likely to win a place in midfield at the expense of Igor Biscan.

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Head-to-head


AC Milan and Liverpool have never previously met in European competition.
AC Milan have played 22 matches against English clubs, winning eight, drawing seven and losing seven.
One of these was an European final - Milan beating Leeds United 1-0 in the 1973 Cup Winners' Cup final.
Liverpool have played 14 matches against Italian clubs, winning five, drawing three and losing six.
Two of these matches were Champions Cup finals. The first was in 1984 when Liverpool drew 1-1 against AS Roma in Roma's own stadium and won the trophy 4-2 on penalties.
The second was a year later against Juventus with the Turin based team winning 1-0 through a Michel Platini penalty.
European history- AC Milan


AC Milan have won six Champions Cup/Champions League trophies (1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003).
Milan have also won two Cup Winners' Cups (1968, 1973), four Uefa Super Cups (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003) and three Intercontinental Cups (1969, 1989, 1990).
AC Milan are going for their third Champions League title which would equal Real Madrid's record of three.
AC Milan won the trophy in 1994 and 2003. Other than Real and Milan, no other team has won it more than once.
AC Milan have also lost two Champions League finals, both by 1-0 margins, to Olympique Marseille in 1993 and Ajax in 1995.

AC Milan have been eliminated from European competition by an English club on three occasions with the last happening in the 1978/1979 season.
In 1965/1966, Chelsea knocked AC Milan out of the Fairs Cup at the last 16 stage.
Tottenham Hotspur beat Milan on aggregate in the 1971/1972 Uefa Cup semi-final.
Manchester City were the victors against AC Milan in the quarter-final of the 1978/1979 Uefa Cup.
European history- Liverpool


Liverpool have won four Champions Cups (in 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984). The Reds also won three Uefa Cups (1973, 1976, 2001) and two European Super Cups (1977, 2001)
However, reaching this season's Champions League final is Liverpool's best ever performance in the Champions League.
This season marks Liverpool's third CL participation. They previously reached the 2001/2002 quarter-finals and were knocked out at the first group stage a season later.
Liverpool's last appearance in the final of a European competition was in the 2000/2001 Uefa Cup season when they beat Alaves 5-4 in sudden death extra time after the match had ended in a 4-4 draw after 90 minutes.
The last time Liverpool reached a Champions Cup/Champions League final was 20 years ago when they lost 1-0 to Juventus in a final marred by crowd violence in which 39 people were killed.

Liverpool's very first European campaign was ended by an Italian club with Internazionale beating them in the semi-final of the 1964/1965 Champions Cup.
Since then, Italian clubs have ended Liverpool's participation on just two more occasions.
Juventus beat Liverpool in the 1984/1985 Champions Cup final and Genoa knocked Liverpool out in their next European participation - the 1991/1992 Uefa Cup - at the quarter-final stage.
Current European form - AC Milan


AC Milan have won six of their last eight Champions League matches, drawing one and losing one.
AC Milan have lost twice in this season's Champions League - 2-1 in Barcelona and 3-1 at PSV in the semi-final second leg.
The semi-final against PSV is the only time that AC Milan have looked in trouble in this season's competition.
With the match almost over, the second leg score was 2-0 in PSV's favour which would have meant extra-time. However, Massimo Ambrosini headed an injury time goal and Phillip Cocu's immediate response for PSV was not enough to stop AC Milan progressing on away goals.

AC Milan's only failure to score in this season's Champions League came in their final group phase match when they drew 0-0 away to Celtic.
AC Milan have not drawn a Champions League match since - a total of six CL games without a draw.
Current European form - Liverpool


Liverpool have won four and drawn three of their last seven matches in the Champions League.
Liverpool have lost three matches in Europe this season, all by a score of 1-0.
In the third qualifying round in August, Liverpool lost at home to Grazer AK but their 2-0 away win was enough to put them through.
Liverpool lost two of their six Group A matches, away to Olympiacos in September and away to AS Monaco in November.
Liverpool were almost knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage. In their final match against Olympiacos, they needed to win 1-0 or by a margin of two goals. Liverpool conceded the first goal which meant that they needed to win 3-1 given that AS Monaco were winning comfortably in La Coruna. The equaliser came after 47 minutes but with 10 minutes to go, the score was still 1-1. Neil Mellor then made it 2-1 and captain Steven Gerrard scored the third goal with just four minutes remaining.
Liverpool have not conceded more than a single goal in any European match this season.
Liverpool have only scored one goal in their last three Champions League matches and it is very questionable whether Luis Garcia's winner against Chelsea should have been given.
They have also kept three clean sheets in those matches.
Player and disciplinary info - AC Milan


No players are suspended for the final.
Milan striker Andrei Shevchenko has scored 34 Champions League goals in his career whilst teammate Filippo Inzaghi has 30 to his name.
16 of Shevchenko's 34 CL goals were opening goals.
With his opening goal against PSV in the first leg of the semi-final, Shevchenko equalled the record for most opening goals which is held by Raul.
Andrei Shevchenko has netted six times in the 2004/2005 CL season. Van Nistelrooy (eight), Adriano (seven), Makaay (seven) and Wiltord (six) are the only players to have netted at least as many goals.

Goalkeeper Dida kept the second longest streak without conceding a goal ever in the Champions League earlier this season.
His total of 622 minutes without conceding a goal was 36 minutes short of Edwin van der Sar's competition record when it was ended by PSV's Park.
Captain Paolo Maldini is the second oldest captain ever in a Champions Cup/Champions League final.
Maldini will be 36 years 10 months and 29 days on final day. Only Barcelona captain Antonio Ramallets was older when he played in the 1961 final.
If Milan win the final, Maldini will be the oldest captain to lift the trophy beating Peter Schmeichel who was 35 years, six months and eight days old when Manchester United won in 1999.

Maldini will play in his seventh Champions Cup/Champions League final having already appeared in 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 2003.
This equals the total of Alfredo di Stefano and is one short of the record of eight held by Real Madrid's Francisco Gento.
Maldini's teammate Alessandro Costacurta can become only the fourth man in history to play in six Champions Cup/Champions League finals if he takes the field. He previously played in 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995 and 2003.
If Costacurta plays, he will be the oldest outfield player ever in a Champions Cup/Champions League final. He will beat Lothar Matthaus' record by nearly a year and rise from his current fifth position.
Goalkeeper Dino Zoff is the only player to have played a Champions Cup/Champions League final at a more advanced age than Costacurta. Zoff was 41 years, two months and 27 days when he played for Juventus in 1983.

Clarence Seedorf is the only player to have won the Champions League with three different clubs. He won with Ajax in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and AC Milan in 2003.
Seedorf is one of only seven players to have won European trophies with three different clubs.
Paolo Maldini is Milan's most experienced Champions League player with 86 appearances, all for AC Milan.
Five other Milan players - Clarence Seedorf (70), Andrei Shevchenko (66), Alessandro Costacurta (61), Alessandro Nesta (52) and Filippo Inzaghi (50) have broken the half century barrier.
Dida, Maldini, Seedorf and Kaka have played in all 12 of Milan's Champions League matches this season.
None of Milan's players have been on the pitch for every minute of their Champions League campaign.
Player and disciplinary info - Liverpool


No players are suspended for the final.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will be the third youngest captain to play in a Champions Cup/Champions League final.
On final day, Gerrard will be 24 years, 11 months and 25 days old. Only Benfica's Antonio Pancheco (1990) and Olympique Marseille's Didier Deschamps (1993) were younger.
If Liverpool win the trophy, Gerrard will be the second youngest captain ever to lift the trophy. He is three and a half months older than Deschamps was in 1993.
Gerrard is the fifth player to captain Liverpool in a Champions Cup/Champions League final and the youngest by more than two years. Phil Thompson was the previous youngest in 1981.

Luis Garcia is Liverpool's top scorer in this season's Champions League with five goals. He is joint sixth in the top scorers list for the competition.
With Morientes (70 CL career matches, 26 goals) and Mauricio Pellegrino (45 CL career matches) not eligible, Jerzy Dudek is the most experienced player in the Liverpool squad with 43 CL appearances and Luis Garcia is the most dangerous striker with five CL career goals.
Four of Liverpool's players have played all 12 Champions League fixtures - Steve Finnan, John Arne Riise, Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia are the quartet.
Hyypia is the only player on either side to have played every minute of his club's CL fixtures this season.
Liverpool's Vladimir Smicer will celebrate his 32nd birthday on the day before the Champions League final.
Other miscellaneous facts


AC Milan trainer Carlo Ancelotti is one of only four people to have won the Champions Cup/Champions League as both player and trainer. He won the 1989 and 1990 competitions as a player and won as a trainer in 2003.
The other people to have achieved this are Miguel Munoz, Giovanni Trapattoni and Johan Cruijff. Only Munoz won more than once as both a player and trainer.
Ancelotti can become the 15th trainer to win the Champions Cup/Champions League more than once.
The last person to achieve this was Ottmar Hitzfeld who won in 1997 with Borussia Dortmund and 2001 with Bayern Munich. He and Austrian Ernst Happel are the only trainers to win two Champions Cup/Champions League trophies with different clubs.
Currently, Liverpool do not have a place in next season's Champions League if they win the trophy. The FA have decided to give the fourth place to Everton.

Liverpool finished the Premiership season three points behind Everton in fifth position.
Liverpool trainer Rafael Benitez is aiming to become the 14th trainer to win a European trophy in successive seasons. Former Liverpool trainer Bob Paisley is the record holder winning the Uefa Cup in 1976 and the Champions Cup in 1977 and 1978.
As last season's triumph for Benitez was with Valencia, he will be the first to achieve this with different clubs.
Two trainers have won the Uefa Cup and followed it up with the Champions Cup/Champions League the following season.
Bob Paisley in 1976 and 1977 was the first and last season, then FC Porto trainer José Mourinho became the second person to do it.

Liverpool will probably start the final with just two domestic players, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard. This will be the lowest ever total of domestic players starting an Champions Cup/Champions League final.
Liverpool will play the final in red against a team in white. On each of the four occasions that they won the Champions Cup, they played in red against a team playing in white.
AC Milan will play in white. They have won two of their three Champions League finals playing in white. They won in 1994 and 2003 but they also played in white in 1995 when they lost 1-0 to Ajax.

AC Milan will finish second in this season's Serie A. Their 3-3 draw at home to Palermo on Friday, 20 May handed the championship to Juventus.
Liverpool finished fifth in this season's Premiership. They also reached the Carling Cup final, losing 3-2 to Chelsea.


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European Cup/Champions League Final General stats


The 2005 Champions League final will produce the 50th winner of the Champions Cup/Champions League.
There have been 49 previous finals with 50 matches played because of a replay in 1973/1974.
38 of the 50 matches have been settled in normal time.
Four have been won in extra-time whilst the remaining eight have had no decision after extra-time.
Of those eight, seven were settled on a penalty shoot-out and one was settled in a replay.

15 finals have been decided by a score of 1-0, the most common scoreline.
The biggest wins have been by four goals - Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in 1960, Bayern Munich beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the 1974 replay, AC Milan beat Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in 1989 and FC Barcelona by the same score in 1994.
In total, 129 goals have been scored at an average of 2.58 per match.
Of these, 51 came in the first half, 70 in the second half and eight in extra-time.
The 15 minute interval in the match with most goals comes between the 61st and 75th minutes where 33 goals have been scored.

The team scoring the first goal have won the final 31 times without the need for a penalty shoot-out. The team conceding the first goal has won 11 times without the need for a penalty shoot-out.
Real Madrid have scored most goals in finals with a total of 30. This year's finalists AC Milan have scored the second highest total of 17. Liverpool's total is just six goals in five finals.
18 different Spanish players and the same number of (West) German players have scored in the 49 previous finals.
There have been four hat-tricks in the finals, the last one coming in 1969 when AC Milan's Pierino Prati scored three goals in the 4-1 win against Ajax.
The quickest goal in a Champions Cup/Champions League final was in the first minute of the 1959 final when Enrique Mateos scored the opener for Real Madrid in their 2-0 win over Stade de Reims.

AC Milan goalkeeper Dida kept a clean sheet in the 2003 final. One more hour without a goal conceded will give him 180 minutes in Champions League finals without a goal against.
Only five goalkeepers have achieved three hours in the final without a goal against, the record being 276 minutes by Bayern Munich's Sepp Maier across three finals in the 1970s.
The last to achieve this was AC Milan goalkeeper Giovanni Galli who kept clean sheets in the 1989 and 1990 finals.
Most successful clubs and countries in the 49 previous finals


Real Madrid hold the record of finals won with nine.
21 different clubs in total have won the 49 previous Champions Cup/Champions League finals.
36 different clubs have played in a Champions Cup/Champions League final.
Last year's finalists AS Monaco were the last team to make their first ever final appearance.

Spanish and Italian clubs have won 10 Champions Cup/Champions League finals each. English clubs are the next most successful with nine victories.
In total, clubs from 10 different countries have won the competition.
France were the last to add themselves to the list with Olympique Marseille's win in 1993.
Clubs from 13 countries have contested the final. Belgium, Greece and Sweden are the only countries whose finalists have failed to take the trophy home.

LFC vs. chelsea.avi

May 20 2005
Liverpool Echo

FOUR-TIME European Cup winner Phil Neal feels Liverpool will reach the end of their learning curve and emerge victorious from their Champions League final with AC Milan.

Neal scored a penalty to seal the Reds' 1977 win as well as a vital spot-kick against Roma in 1984.

And he sees particular similarities between Rafael Benitez's side's march to Istanbul and Joe Fagan's vintage of 1984.

And the former skipper is backing his old club to repeat that triumph.

"Liverpool have earned their spurs," Neal said. "I don't think they believed they could do it at the start of the season but they have gained experience certainly over the last three or four games. It's been magnificent to see them being put under pressure when it came to the cut-throat games over two legs.

"They had to score three goals against Olympiakos, that was magnificent.

"Leverkusen were without some players but they really controlled the away leg, something that reminded me of 1984.

"We had to go to Atletico Bilbao, Dinamo Bucharest and Benfica to win the away leg well. Our home results weren't good that year and we learnt through that experience.

"Liverpool will have gained strength from the mental attitude they needed in both games against Juventus because of the historic reasons.

"They were magnificent at home and had to be strong mentally away from home and full credit to them for coming through that.

"Then Chelsea were really on top of everybody with their form and Liverpool have to be given credit for halting that surge.

"The teams I played in learnt that way and those games in the latter stages, they've learned a great deal from all of them.

"All those games are including all the experience they'll need for a final against AC Milan."

Neal wants Liverpool to adopt a similar approach to PSV, who ran Milan so close in the semi-finals with an attacking second-leg performance that saw the Dutch side go out on away goals.

The ex-England international added: "Milan aren't as good as you think they are and PSV proved that.

"You get at them and you're not afraid of them and you can be positive.

"It's a one-off situation and I think Liverpool should enjoy," added Neal, who expects Steven Gerrard to be a key figure in the Ataturk Stadium.

"I think Steven Gerrard will drive them forward and hopefully he'll do enough himself, even score the winner, to actually lift that beautiful cup."

May 20 2005
EXCLUSIVE by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL have announced plans to tour Japan as part of this summer's pre-season preparations.

The Reds are heading to the Far East for a five-day tour on July 25 before playing two fixtures against J- League opponents.

It's the club's first visit to Japan since their two World Club Championship fixtures in Tokyo in 1983 and 1984.

Rafa Benitez's side will face Shimizu S-Pulse on July 27 in the Nihondaira Stadium, Hamamatzu.

One the strongest teams in the J-League, Shimizu used to be managed by Ossie Ardiles.

What is sure to be a new look squad will then face Kashima Antlers at the Kashima Stadium on July 30, before returning to England a day later.

Kashima is 100km north of Tokyo. Other pre-season dates are still to be confirmed, although the Reds won't be involved in the Amsterdam tournament this season.

Benitez is planning a two week stay at a training camp in Switzerland shortly after his players return on June 27.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's reported interest in Southampton's Peter Crouch hinges on how successful they are in luring their number one target, Dirk Kuyt to Anfield.

The 24-year-old who's scored 46 goals in 67 appearances for Feyenoord, including two against Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven last weekend.

Benitez wants the classy Dutchman to join the Reds, although the fee is currently the sticking point in his plans.

If Liverpool are priced out of the move, they may turn their attention to Crouch, who's shown impressive form despite Southampton's relegation.

Mar 31 2005

Part two of the ECHO Sport series examining the financial state of Liverpool Football Club season 2004/05

By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

IT has been a long, often turbulent year for Liverpool Football Club with as much drama happening off the pitch as there has been on it.

But today the ECHO reveals that it could yet end in smiles for everyone at Anfield, with the hopes of securing major new investment far from dead.

Despite the first anniversary of the hunt for new backers arriving last week, the club has by no means given up hope of doing a deal which could see millions of pounds in new money pumped into Anfield.

There are at least two major parties talking to the club about a potential investment deal. While agreement is some way off and by no means certain to happen, there could yet be a positive announcement to silence the doubters and ease concerns of supporters.

The parties are said to be 'serious players of both wealth and repute' and direct dialogue is known to be ongoing.

If investment comes from either it will almost certainly herald a new era at Anfield, with chairman David Moores likely to take on a lesser role or possibly moving out completely after 15 years in ultimate control.

If no deal ensues, senior figures at Anfield are happy the club will not lurch into a sudden financial crisis but will continue on under Moores and chief executive Rick Parry and consider other strategies for the immediate future.

The club's position would be reviewed some time during the close season to find ways of adding to the the money already given to Benitez to build the team he wants.

The club and Benitez remain adamant it wants to build that side around skipper Steven Gerrard despite persisitent rumours about his future - many clearly designed to try and lure him away from Anfield.

His revelation in the ECHO last week that he has not given promises to other clubs gave massive reassurance to fans who worship their world-class skipper.

Former Redrow tycoon Steve Morgan is not one of the two parties currently in discussions with Liverpool.

Morgan came close to doing a deal to take over at Anfield last year but withdrew his final offer after being rebuffed in December.

He had altered the terms of his bid following the due diligence process - a series of detailed financial checks carried out prior to any investment - claiming more money than he expected would be needed from him to pay for the rising costs of the stadium.

His pull-out followed a second lively annual meeting in December at which Morgan again publicly called upon the Anfield board and Moores to allow him in.

Parry said at December's AGM - the second within a year at which Liverpool's off field ownership issues were laid bare - that the investment issue needed to be brought to a conclusion soon.

So far though, there has been no announcement about new backers and the club is still working behind the scenes and declining to comment until it feels the time is right.

The pressing priority for Liverpool, though, is to see an end to the delay over grant funding for its planned new stadium in Stanley Park.

The Anfield board are baffled and increasingly concerned at delays in the North West Development Agency, the body which distributes government funding for redevelopment, awarding it an £11m grant to regenerate the park plus surrounding areas in Anfield.

NWDA chairman Bryan Gray is insisting the grant won't be given unless a groundshare plan is resurrected.

Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle has led a chorus of complaints over the NWDA man's demands, which fly in the face of wishes of fans from both Goodison and Anfield.

Sports Minister Richard Caborn has already declared ground-sharing a dead issue and Kilfoyle has insisted Liverpool are being held to ransom after years of careful planning and consultation.

The club is currently facing a bill of £750k a month for the delays, with construction costs rising at one per cent a month - thanks in part to the new found confidence in Liverpool and the Capital of Culture award making it a more attractive propositon to developers.

Liverpool are understandably anxious for the grant to be given and feel they are being unfairly treated - given neighbours Everton were offered major public funding several years ago with their plans to build a new home at Kings Dock, plans which ultimately came to nothing.

But they will only comment publicly and in detail once discussions with the two parties have reached a conclusion.

And there may be nothing of substance said publicly until the season has ended - despite all the speculation, the bids, the claims and the rumours which have surrounded Liverpool for the past 12 months.

Mar 30 2005

Part one of a special two part series examining the financial state of Liverpool Football Club

By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

ON the football pitch, Liverpool Football Club took a significant step towards claiming a £20m Champions League cash prize last week, with a famous derby triumph.

Off it, despite tireless efforts, the Reds are seemingly no closer to announcing an equally important investment.

Exactly a year prior to the date of the Anfield derby triumph, Liverpool hired a firm of financial advisors to flush out potential investors in the club.

So far the flushing process has proved more effective than the depositing.

Last spring directors spent hours in meaningful, but ultimately fruitless, talks with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Advances from Hollywood based film producer Mike Jefferies and his L4 group were politely but firmly rebuffed, while building contractor and lifelong Reds fan Steve Morgan has presented investment packages on four separate occasions - and been told each time his offers were not good enough.

And during that timescale the club has seen a £3.6m profit nosedive into a £21.9m loss.

Much of that dramatic turn-around came on the back of a year without Champions League football, and the cost of parting company with the previous managerial team.

A march to the quarter-finals of the Champions League this season - and possibly beyond - is certain to turn that figure around.

But by how much is unclear, and Liverpool still have four points to make up on Everton. Liverpool Football Club still needs significant investment - and urgently..

The proposed new stadium has already soared from a projected cost of £80m, when it was first presented to a Liverpool AGM in 2003, to £115m in December 2004. Now that figure has swelled again, to more than £120m.

The longer the delays, the greater the financial burden on the club.

And that is just off the pitch. On it, since they claimed the first league title of the 1990s, the Reds have gathered an impressive collection of knockout trophies - the FA Cup twice, the UEFA Cup and the League Cup three times - but the prize which the club most covets, once claimed as its raison d'etre, has consistently eluded them.

They ended the previous season 30 points behind champions Arsenal.

Since then they have secured the services of one of the brightest, most respected managers in European football - but still look likely to end this current campaign a similar distance behind the latest champions elect, Chelsea.

Clearly even more funds are still required to enable Benitez to fashion his own squad - and Liverpool do not want to even countenance the sale of Steven Gerrard to finance that rebuilding.

Sponsorship opportunities pose few problems.

Carslberg, the club's official sponsors, are currently in the final year of their contract - but negotiations are ongoing about the association continuing.

Carlsberg have been club sponsors now since 1992, enjoying one of the longest and most high profile part-nerships in the game.

Outside investment seems the only likely source of significant further income, but the Reds seem adamant that they will not act until they are convinced they have secured the right package.

"The board of Liverpool FC confirms it is continuing discussions with a number of parties regarding a potential investment of new funds into the club," said chief executive Rick Parry three weeks ago when the club was forced by a technicality to make a formal statement to the Stock Exchange that it was not following up L4's advances.

"We are looking for the right investment. A lot of effort is going into that - and when the process has been completed we will announce something."

Liverpool clearly still remain a sought after investment opportunity.

Chakrapot Penkai, spokesman for the Thai Prime Minister said last spring: "Why does the Prime Minister want to invest in Liverpool? Because it is the era of the brand name. With a brand name you can do many things.

"Liverpool's name is a world class name - people attach their fantasies, their liking for sports, their enhancement in life, their self-development, along with this kind of team."

But while a legion of Liverpudlians waits expectantly, the clock is ticking.

* In his column of Friday, March 18, David Prentice criticised Liverpool FC for making no comment on reports that Ashley Cole had unequivocally told a Premier League inquiry that Chelsea manager Jose Mourhino had assured him he had "secured" Steven Gerrard for next season.

Liverpool FC have asked us to make clear that they were informed immediately that Cole had not made the alleged comment and that was why they did not respond publicly.

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/images/misc/kop204eurosemi.wmv

You'll Never Walk Alone.mp3

Pete Wylie - Heart As Big As Liverpool.mp3

Liverpool FC 71-72 Squad - Bill Shankly Is The Name.wma

Liverpool FC 89 - Kenny D - The Pride Of Liverpool.wma

Liverpool FC & Supporters - Liverpool (We're never gonna stop).wma

Liverpool FC - Anfield rap.wma

Liverpool FC - Scouser Tommy.wma

Liverpool FC & Supporters - We Are Liverpool.wma

Liverpool FC - Fields of Anfield Rd.mp3

The Kop Choir - Let's All Go To Wembley.mp3

Anfield
Sunday, 15 May
Kick-off: 1500 BST

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Liverpool will rest skipper Steven Gerrard to give him a chance to recover from a slight thigh muscle strain in time for the Champions League final.

Luis Garcia is out, Jamie Carragher - who has played in every Premiership game this season - may be rested but Djibril Cisse will start.

Aston Villa Nolberto Solano is set to start in place of Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Eric Djemba-Djemba is eyeing a start and on-loan Carlton Cole may be on the bench ahead of his return to Chelsea.

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Liverpool (from): Dudek, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Pellegrino, Traore, Kewell, Biscan, Hamann, Riise, Smicer, Alonso, Nunez, Cisse, Baros, Carson, Warnock, Welsh, Potter.
Aston Villa (from): Sorensen, De La Cruz, Delaney, Laursen, Ridgewell, Samuel, Barry, Solano, Davis, Hendrie, Berson, Whittingham, Hitzlsperger, Vassell, L Moore, Angel, Cole, Djemba-Djemba, Postma.

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BIG-MATCH FACTS

LIVERPOOL wrap up their Premiership programme against Aston Villa in a match on which little hinges. The Merseysiders have not lost in nine at Anfield (six in the Premiership) since the reverse by Manchester United on 15 January. But more important than the result to Rafael Benitez' Reds will be the need to avoid any unwanted injuries ahead of the Champions League final against AC Milan in Istanbul on Wednesday, 25 May 2005.

The Merseysiders have only finished as low as fifth in one of the last five seasons. They already know whatever the result of this match, that they will end the campaign on their second lowest points tally ever in a Premiership campaign. They currently have 55, just one more than was accrued in 1998/99 when they ended the season in seventh place. The record 18 times "Champions of England" haven't won the crown since 1990.

The Reds are unbeaten in seven League and Cup matches against Aston Villa. Last season they ground out a 1-0 victory when Michael Owen celebrated his return after a long injury lay-off. Mark Delaney's first half own goal settled the issue. Now Liverpool are seeking their 50th home League victory over the Midlanders.

ASTON VILLA go into the match on the bottom rung of the top half, and will be keen to maintain that and bag in excess of five million pounds in merit payment prize money. Having said that, the Villans have only finished outside the top eight once in the nine previous seasons since the Premiership was reduced to 20 teams. This will also be the lowest ranked side David O'Leary has supervised in his six-season managerial career.

Villa have not won in four, and go into the game intent on avoiding a third successive defeat. They won three matches in this Premiership season from a losing position. It's a record beaten only by Liverpool, with four wins from matches in which they were in arrears.

Villa have drawn three of their last four Premiership meetings with Liverpool, including this season's reverse fixture. A 30 yard free-kick from Nol Solano cancelled out Harry Kewell's first goal in 33 matches for Liverpool. The Claret and Blues have not beaten Liverpool since a 1-3 triumph at Anfield on 8 September 2002 - their only maximum in five League trips to Anfield.

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Referee:

Barry Knight (Orpington)

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SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

LIVERPOOL

Club stats
Fixtures
5th 55 points
Highest achievable: 5th (Merit payment: £7,600,000)
Lowest could fall: 7th (£6,650,000)

59th match of the season in all competitions.
Completed seven Premiership draws this season - no club has finished level less often.
Won three and drawn two of the 13 games in which they were behind at half time.
Failed to score in 13 top League clashes. Only Blackburn (16) have fired blanks more frequently.
Dropped more points from Premiership matches in which they had failed to score than any other club (38).
Won more top tier games from a losing position than any other club (four).
One of four clubs to hold an unbeaten record in matches in which they have opening the scoring. Won 12 and drawn four of the 16.

Unbeaten in nine at home in all competitions.
Won six and drawn three at Anfield since losing 0-1 to Manchester United in the Premiership on 15 January.
Not lost in six home Premiership matches, picking up 12 points from the possible 18.
Lost three highest division encounters at home. Only Chelsea (unbeaten) and Arsenal and Manchester United (one each) have lost at home less often.
Collected 19 more points at home than away. Only Norwich have an equal such disparity.
Conceded 14 League goals on home turf. Just Chelsea (six), Manchester United (12) and Manchester City (13) have tighter home defences in the Premiership.

ASTON VILLA

Club stats
Fixtures
10th 47 points
Highest achievable: 10th (Merit payment: £5,225,000)
Lowest could fall: 11th (£4,750,000)

Lost the last two - both Premiership - against Tottenham (5-1 a) and Manchester City (1-2 h).
Not won in four.
Drawn two and lost two since beating Southampton 2-3 away on 16 April.
Won three top tier matches from a losing position. Only Liverpool have claimed maximum points more often in games in which they were trailing (four).
Of the 50 goals conceded, 33 have been shipped in the first half (66%). That is the highest such percentage in the top tier.
Conceded 10 goals in the first 15 minutes of Premiership contests.

Won three of the last five away Premiership matches.
Lost seven of the last 11 away from home in the top table.

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KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

LIVERPOOL

Squad profiles

If on the field from the outset, Igor BISCAN will be making his 50th Premiership start for Liverpool.
If he runs out, Dietmar HAMANN will be making his 250th appearance for the Merseysiders.
Jamie CARRAGHER is the only player to have figured in every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premiership matches this season.
ASTON VILLA

Squad profiles

Nol SOLANO is a hat trick short of scoring 50 goals for English clubs (Newcastle and Aston Villa).
If on the field from the outset, SOLANO will be making his 200th Premiership start.
Should he play, Thomas HITZLSPERGER will be making his 100th Premiership appearance for the Claret and Blues.

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LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa
10 January 2004 - Ref: Graham Barber
Liverpool scorer: Delaney 36 og

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THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE:
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
4 December 2004 - Ref: Mark Halsey
Villa Liverpool scorers: Solano 44
Liverpool scorer: Kewell 16

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HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Liverpool 73 wins, Villa 51, Draws 35
Prem: Liverpool 12 wins, Villa 8, Draws 5

HEAD TO HEAD at Liverpool
League: Liverpool 49 wins, Villa 14, Draws 16
Prem: Liverpool 7 wins, Villa 3, Draws 2

US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer has won control of a certain rival club in a 790m ($1.47bn) takeover bid. The fans are outraged. Oh well.

Newsletter%2061.htm

By Mandeep Sanghera

What the FA put on its website in March 2004

The Football Association has declined to comment on claims it has changed its Champions League qualification policy.

The FA has ruled that the top four Premiership teams will qualify for next season's competition, even if Liverpool win this year's final and finish fifth.

But last season the FA stated on its website that the fourth-placed team would enter the Uefa Cup if Arsenal or Chelsea won the Champions League.

Arsenal and Chelsea were knocked out so the ruling was never enforced.

This time around, however, the FA has decided to take a different course of action if the Reds beat AC Milan in the 25 May final.

Liverpool fan Darren Brooks told BBC Sport: "As a life-long Liverpool fan and English football fan I am disgusted at the way the FA has decided to change its mind in the matter of qualification into the Champions League.

"I only hope that Liverpool fans and the club will put enough pressure on the FA to reverse this decision should Liverpool FC become five times European Cup winners."

Liverpool reached this season's final after beating Chelsea on Tuesday, but they are three points behind Merseyside rivals Everton while Bolton also have a chance of claiming the final Champions League qualification slot.

Everton are favourites to finish fourth as they have three games left to play with the Reds and Bolton having two to go.

The FA met on Thursday to decide what course of action to take should Liverpool beat AC Milan and finish outside of the qualifying position for European football's showpiece tournament.

And it ruled the top four in the top flight would automatically be assured of a Champions League berth, although they would lobby Uefa to also allow the Reds in if they claim the trophy.

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4522235.stm

May 6 2005
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

NOT SURPRISINGLY, Rafa Benitez boasts a smile which makes you think he's won the lottery.

Given the number of agents turning up at Melwood a day after their Champions League success over Chelsea, perhaps he has.

The financial consequences of Champions League success may prove the difference between Benitez sticking to plan A when the transfer window opens, or reverting to contingency measures.

When asked if reaching the final means he can now focus on bringing his prime transfer targets to the club this summer, Benitez just winks and delivers what's become a popular catchphrase: "We'll see. We have two or three possibilities."

Liverpool's unlikely success has changed the landscape of the club utterly.

Much was made of the repercussions of defeating Olympiakos in the group stage, but if ever one game had far-reaching consequences, it was the 1-0 win over Chelsea.

"The most important thing above everything else is we've recuperated the prestige of the club. Maybe people are seeing Liverpool can rule Europe again," said Benitez.

"We can attract players in England, but maybe the biggest impact is in Europe where people will say Liverpool are at the top again. That's important.

"The result is significant for many others reasons, including the sponsor-ship situation and the signing of play-ers. This will make it easier for us. Maybe I will now have more money, certainly more than a week ago.

"This time last week we knew if we finished fifth and lost to Chelsea, we'd have less money.

"When you talk about players, they see we're are on the way up. Players like Steve Gerrard can see the difference and know where we are going in the future. In Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard we have the spine of a team for many years.

"This win is important for him and the club."

No-one emerges with more credit for Liverpool's triumph than Benitez, whose ability to treat the imposters of victory and defeat with the same grace has won him admirers far beyond his adopted city.

While no-one wants to publicly express surprise at the Reds' progress, Benitez's transformation of a side which still clearly needs to be reshaped ahead of next season has been an unpredictable triumph.

Only one Benitez signing started on Tuesday, which underlines his achievement in taking a team which lost in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup to a poor French side 12 months ago to the brink of European history.

"It's been more difficult for me here coming to a new country and a new club with a new language, so it makes me proud to have reached two finals in our first season," said Benitez..

"At Valencia we won the title and the UEFA Cup, but it was different. It will feel better if we win the Champions League here.

"I've been working this year to reach the top four and build a team for the future, but now we have reached two finals.

"My frustration is with the league results.

"We know anything can happen in one game. You can play a match with passion and good tactics, but over a nine month period you need more than this to be successful. That's why the money is important.

"When I spoke to the chairman after the game he was as happy as all of us. If we do the right things during the summer, I know we will fight a lot better for the Premiership. I'm not going to say we will win the title next season, but I will say we'll be a lot closer."

Rather than a focal point for celebration, Melwood has been a player-free zone for two days as the senior squad enjoyed a deserved breather following their heroic efforts.

Benitez, however, was back at his desk at 9am on Wednesday, hosting a series of meetings as much about preparing his side for next season as May 25.

He turned down tickets for the PSV Eindhoven and AC Milan match because there was enough for him to do on Merseyside.

Whatever the outcome against AC Milan, the Benitez Rafalution is already showing its teeth.

"I didn't get much sleep on Tuesday night," said the boss..,

"I went for a drink with some friends and supporters after the match. We were in the Pan American Bar on the Albert Dock. I was there until 2am, but I was drinking coke. It was a great night.

"I told the players they were due in for training on Wednesday morning, but after my Press conference Pako Ayesteran told me the players convinced him we should give them two days off, which we did.

"I've now watched 20 minutes of the match on video and the first thing to say is we should have had a penalty before we scored. If the penalty is given there is a red card to follow.

"Mourinho has said the best team didn't win. In five games against them, we have played well and been at the same level. We lost to a free-kick in the first game, a corner in the second and in the Carling Cup they only scored with set-pieces.

"For me, we are in the final because we played well in every match except away to Monaco and Olympiakos. Against everyone else we've controlled the game."

And what about a final, compelling word on the goal which has had graphic designers frantically trying to compile evidence to prove it shouldn't have stood?

Sorry Jose, Benitez has heard from a far more reliable witness.

"My secretary, Sheila, was right in line with the shot and she says it was a goal," said Benitez.

"That's good enough for me."

May 5 2005
EXCLUSIVE by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL boss Rafa Benitez has confidently predicted this month's Champions League final will be the first of many in a '20 year' managerial career at Anfield.

Benitez has his sights on creating a legacy the equal of his illustrious predecessors, and with comments which will thrill his adoring followers says he hopes to spend two decades at the helm at Liverpool.

The Reds will face AC Milan in Istanbul on May 25 following the Italians' dramatic 3-3 away goal victory over PSV Eindhoven.

But whatever the outcome later this month, Benitez is sure he'll lead his club into many more European Cup finals.

"As a manager I'm young and if I'm at Liverpool for another 20 years, I hope to reach many more finals and win many more trophies," said Benitez.

"I don't know if I'll be here that long, but I hope so. When you're happy here, you're winning and you see the supporters, why wouldn't you want to stay for so long?

"I was expecting the club to be like this when I joined, but only when I experienced nights like the Arsenal and Olympiakos matches did I realise how good it was.

"On Tuesday people spoke about the St Etienne match in 1977, but for us this is more important because it's about now and the future. I've never seen supporters like those against Chelsea. It was fantastic."

UEFA have confirmed Liverpool will get to keep the current European Cup if they can beat the Italian giants.

Clubs who win the Champions League three times on the run or, as it would be in Liverpool's case, lift the trophy five times, get to keep it.

Whether the club would get to defend it next season, however, remains unclear.

The FA were today expected to confirm they'll be backing the side which finishes fourth in the Premiership for the final qualification spot, regardless of the result in Istanbul.

However the FA are appealing also for Liverpool, should they win in Turkey, to be given an extra 'fifth' place so they could defend the trophy next season. UEFA President Lennart Johansson has already indicated such a plea could be granted.

Although their regulations stipulate that a maximum of four sides from any one country can take part in Europe's elite club competition, Johansson has made it clear UEFA's executive committee do have the power to over-rule and enforce any changes.

However, they will not take any action until after the final itself.

Paul Eaton 04 May 2005

Chelsea may have the money to sign any player in the world, but Jamie Carragher believes last night's brilliant victory owed a lot to Liverpool's extraordinary supporters.

Anfield rocked like never before as Luis Garcia's goal settled the contest in the home side's favour and secured the club's first European Cup final appearance in twenty years.

Carragher said he knew the Anfield atmosphere would be awesome, but even he was left searching for the right words to adequately describe the backing the players received from the stands last night.

"Chelsea have bought great players and have an excellent manager, but you can't buy fans like ours," said Carragher.

"That atmosphere was better than anything I've known and I've been involved in some great nights recently. The games against Roma, Juventus and Olympiakos were unbelievable, but that was something else.

"Even when we were warming-up 40 minutes before the game, the crowd was as noisy as it's been for a long time. Normally you can hear DJ George playing his records, but even he was drowned out by the singing. We knew then it was going to be a special night.

"We all knew what it was going to be like and it gave us a hell of a boost.

"No disrespect to Chelsea, but their supporters aren't like ours. We've got a working class support while the majority of fans at the game last week are probably a bit more well-to-do.

"In my opinion, clubs which have that traditional core of working class fans are always going to be more passionate about football. They get involved in the game a lot more and create a much better atmosphere.

"I'm not trying to be disrespectful to them when I say that, I think it's just a fact which is proven by other grounds across the country, and there's none better than our fans or Anfield on a European night."

Liverpool restricted Chelsea to very few chances on the night, but did have to survive a nervy finish when Eidur Gudjohnsen smashed the ball wide of goal in the final minute.

"The most worrying part was the six minutes of injury-time, but I think the referee is a mate of Mourinho's and hecertainly gave them plenty of extra-time to get an equaliser," added Carragher.

"I don't think it's right to say we didn't deserve to win. Over the two games there weren't many chances for both sides. Last night Chelsea only had a free-kick from Lampard and the shot at the end from Gudjohnson.

"When you consider what a great side they are, how expensive their squad is and the fact they've just won the Premiership, I think all the credit deserves to go to us for limiting them to a few shots.

"We're in the final because over two games, that's where we deserve to be.

"The scenes at the end were superb, but we all realise we haven't won anything yet.

"There's one more game left to win. I don't care who we play. It's going to be tough, but now we want to make sure we use this win as the platform to win the whole competition."

May 3 2005
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ today urged skipper Steven Gerrard to 'fulfil his destiny' by leading Liverpool to an historic win over Chelsea tonight.

The Londoners have publicly courted the Liverpool captain for two years, but their chase will be over if they're defeated during an epic encounter at Anfield.

Chelsea have been furiously backtracking in the last seven days, with reports suggesting they've cooled their interest in Gerrard.

But the months of unsettling speculation won't be easily forgotten on Merseyside when their agitators take to the pitch, and Benitez believes the saga will come to a fitting conclusion should Gerrard prove the match-winner tonight.

"I don't really believe in destiny, but I believe in working at your job as hard as possible and then perhaps fate smiles on you," said Benitez today.

"But maybe in the case of Steven Gerrard, there is a sense of destiny. I want to see Steven score the winning goal against Chelsea in this match. This is my idea and I know this is what he wants.

"It's his dream to be in the Champions League final with Liverpool and this is his chance."

Gerrard has his own motivation to make amends after the own goal in the League Cup Final in Cardiff.

"For me, Steve will be the key player. He is a fantastic player who can change the game," said Benitez.

"He looks forward to important games like this one. When you've played for a team for a lot of years, you have the passion to take your chance.

"A manager may have more opportunities to win the competition than the players, but I'd prefer to start winning the competition now."

Benitez is in confident mood ahead of the clash, predicting a victory which will rank alongside the most glorious in Anfield history.

"We respect Chelsea and we acknowledge their achievement, but tonight we will win," added the boss.

"I don't say we can win, I say we will win. If we play with the intensity I know we can, we will do it.

"We need to score one more than them and that means playing 90 minutes at a high tempo. I want the players to feel excited. I want them to be positive.

"It's not easy to contain Chelsea. Ask Barcelona and Bayern Munich. But with our supporters, I know it's possible.

"When you think about their squad and the money they ' ve spent, maybe they've more to lose than us.

"I congratulate their manager and players for winning the title and apologise for stopping them from winning this competition.

"Before the game last week, everyone called Chelsea favourites. Now we have more credit."

Chelsea may be without both Arjen Robben and Damien Duff tonight, with the Dutchman's ankle injury likely to restrict him to at best a place on the bench.

Duff started yesterday's training session at Anfield but walked off in apparent discomfort and is another serious doubt. That could spell a recall for Joe Cole.