CL-Viertelfinale: Juventus-Liverpool

[redone]

Ivanov sehr großzügig . Man könnte fast meinen, Schiedsrichter Ivanov habe die Pfeiferei irgendwo auf der Insel erlernt.

Sport1-Ticker

Ist das der Verrückte, der damals das Auswärtsspiel vom GAK in Amsterdam gepfiffen hat.

[redone]

Halbzeitstand 0:0

Juve anscheinend bisher spielbestimmend, hoffentlich machen sie das entscheidende Tor und fangen sich keinen Konter ein.

[Gorer]

aus und vorbei

eine britische mannschaft steht im finale

[themanwho]

Verdient ausgeschieden, wer sich gegen diese Liverpooler Defensive in 90 Minuten kaum bis gar keine Chancen erarbeitet, der hat im Halbfinale sowieso nix verloren.

[Austria_Salzburg 1933]

selten so über ein 0:0 gefreut!

[Djet]

Chelsea-Milan im Finale, dacht ichs mir doch...

[Patzi]

da muss ich tmnh leider recht geben.

sehr schwache leistung von juve, verdienter aufstieg von l'pool.

juventus hätte auch in den nächsten 90 minuten kein tor geschossen.

gratulation an die anfield road, hoffentlich schaltet ihr wenigstens chelsea auch aus.

[Starostyak]

Verdient ausgeschieden, wer sich gegen diese Liverpooler Defensive in 90 Minuten kaum bis gar keine Chancen erarbeitet, der hat im Halbfinale sowieso nix verloren.

Genau so ist es! Wenn Chelsea Minimalistenfussball spielt (lt. Aussagen einiger User...), was spielt dann bitte Juventus?!

Mit so einer Leistung darf man einfach nicht aufsteigen.

Gebe Djet Recht, Finale wird CFC vs. AC Milan lauten...

[vr271175]

hab nach 45 minuten abgedreht - wie bitte kann juve mit milan in italien punktegleich vorne sein, nochdazu so eindeutig vor dem dritten inter?

aber liverpool is ma eh lieber als aufsteiger, wenn sie chelsea jetzt auch noch ausschalten (hoff) wär das schon eine überraschung

[austroitalo87]

So ein schwaches Spiel von Juve.

Liverpool ist verdient weiter.

90 min. hinten reingestellt und sie hatten es geschafft....

wirklich eine freichheit waren bei diesem spiel die linienrichter, zahlreiche male wurde zu unrecht auf beiden seiten auf abseits entschieden

auch ivanov wirkte nicht für ein cl-viertelfinale geeignet der ließ einfach zu viel laufen

bearbeitet 13. April 2005 von austroitalo87

[pheips]

Eins versteh ich absolut nicht:

Wieso hat der Emerson nicht vom Platz gehen müssen? Wenn der Schiedsrichter das Revanchefoul sieht (und das hat er, sonst hätte er nicht Gelb gezeigt), dann mur er auch Rot geben. Aber fast wurscht, war ja net spielentscheidend.

[ianrush]

Djet, so wie du redeten auch schon die Juve Fans. Ich kann mich da sehr gut an Pinturrichio erinnern, der sich schon Sorgen wegen der Sperren fürs Halbfinale machten Immerhin haben wir Chelsea im Heimspiel am 1. Jänner 70 Minuten an die Wand gespielt. Sooooo chancenlos wie du da tust sind wir nicht...

Ansonsten bleibt mir nur zu sagen :

Wir ham heut wohl Juve so richtig italienisch "anipudert". Die waren aber sowas von erschreckend schwach und einfallslos, unpackbar. Und das gegen eine Liverpooler B-Mannschaft...

How do I write a match report with trembling fingers, having had those very digits either over my eyes, in my mouth (in order to bite the nails), or firmly crossed for the duration of the match? Or, at one brief stage, using those fingers to cover a mouth desperate, through nerves, to eruct the entire birthday cake I had earlier consumed, plus ten shards of fingernail. Many happy returns indeed.

  Watching a game like this is akin (I'm guessing) to Chinese water torture. You don't enjoy such matches, you endure them. Fans can only watch four or five of these types of matches a seasons –– any more would be as beneficial for your health as smoking 200 cigarettes a day (while stood on a petrol station forecourt with trousers doused in gasoline).

  Over the two legs, the best team won. I could tell that much through the lattice of fingers, even if I initially typed ocer thh twi ligs tha nest ream eon. (So in the circumstances I can rest assured that you will excuse any solecisms tonight). And we made Juventus look ordinary in both matches –– we didn't allow them to play, apart from when we tired in the first leg and their fresh legs, having just had a weekend off, made us pay. Even then, they could only score with the softest of goals. Thank God Scott Carson is smiling his goofy smile tonight.

  The Brazilian Emerson (who I was lucky enough to play as part of the Roma side defeated 2-0 by the Reds, in Rome in 2001) said that not only were Juve unlucky to lose the first leg, but that "Liverpool do not have a fantastic squad." He also said there's no way Liverpool could keep a clean sheet in Turin.

  To quote Homer Simpson: "D'oh!"

  Fabio Capello, his manager back in 2001 and 2002, when the Reds dumped his side out of Europe in consecutive seasons, was more respectful, but must equally hate the site of Liverpool, as his side is once again eliminated by men from Merseyside. His pocket genius, Pavel Nedved, felt the winner of this game would win the tournament. How we all hope he was right.

  I may be wrong –– and Post-Match Hysteria is now a recognised medical condition –– but I could have sworn Xabi Alonso (a Liverpool legend in the making, make no doubt) not only played his first match in nearly four months, but excelled, and that Djibril Cissé, who would not be seen again until August, came on as a sub (the best sight of the season), as the Reds ran out deserved 2-1 aggregate winners. In the second half Liverpool were the better side, and people, for all the patchy league form, must starting taking Rafa Benitez seriously. Imagine what he can do with a fully fit squad –– he has still not had the luxury of picking his strongest team –– and when the players are moulded yet further by his guiding hand, as well as adding in a few new signings here and there?

  But the best thing about the whole situation is this: unlike the previous meetings with Chelsea, Rafa's boys can approach the semi-finals as the rank outsiders. After all, Liverpool didn't spend £278m to get there. Chelsea spent that money in the desperate desire to match some of Liverpool's illustrious history, and are under enormous pressure to win it.

  Liverpool have been favourites to go out at every stage of the competition, it has seemed, having been outsiders at one stage to even qualify last season. At this stage Liverpool want to win it, of course, but it's a bonus to have even made it this far. Chelsea, given their league success, and the money spent, simply have to win it.

  This is precisely the situation that allowed Chelsea –– who always, but always, failed to beat Arsenal (and had done so already three times last season) –– to upset the apple cart, and dump the Gunners out over two legs in last year's quarter-finals. Chelsea may think they have the Indian sign over us, but whereas the pressure was on us to win at Cardiff (as everyone said it was our only hope of silverware), the pressure will be 100% on Chelsea this time. Every last ounce of it. And maybe the luck will finally be with us: the two penalties we were denied at Anfield, and the one at Cardiff; the freakish own goal nine minutes from the end of the Carling Cup; and beaten by yet another Chelsea deflected goal on News Year's Day. And how much does Alonso owe Frank "another deflected goal" Lampard a few tears of his own?

  The Reds will have no players suspended, and –– touch wood –– will have Steven Gerrard back (assuming he gets selected!), not to mention the imperious Xabi Alonso a few weeks fitter, and Cissé, who was asked to play from pure memory, perhaps approaching match fitness. For the first time this season we should be facing Chelsea with our best side, but also with added confidence from having overcome the mighty Juventus, as well as Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco: three recent finalists. Plus Deportivo La Coruna, recent semi-finalists on more than one occasion.

  It's hard to pick heroes on a night like this. Alonso just about edged it as the star man, with his superb passing and 'unflusterable' composure (as well as shadowing Nedved), but no one let the team down –– not even Milan Baros, who didn't have one of his better nights, but ran and ran, then ran some more. Traore made the fans more nervous than he has all season, but he still won innumerable headers, and played his part. Even Le Tallec, who wasn't even supposed to be back at the club until the summer (how happy is he now?) and Smicer made their marks. Igor continues to look perfectly in place at the highest level, and at the back, the reborn Steve Finnan confirmed his status as the best right back in the country, bar none.

  The other two who deserve to be singled out are of course Sami Hyypia –– playing as well as ever –– and Jamie Carragher: limiting Juventus to just one chance each half.

  It was a great performance from a defensive point of view, with the Reds keeping things tight, and Benitez clearly winning the tactical battle with his mentor. (Pupil becomes teacher). Riise played deeper to allow Traore to tuck inside, as a quasi-centre-back. The major surprise was that as the game opened up in the second half, the Reds had the best chance, and a series of half (and quarter) chances, while Juve's best moment was yet another Canniarvaro header.

  It ranks as one of the truly great nights in Liverpool's history, because this time –– unlike in the past –– the Reds were never expected to get anywhere close to the semis. It has also come in the face of some terrible injuries, disrupting Rafa's plans at every turn, so that he has used the whole squad –– every last bit of it –– to take the team this far.

  Every single player must have got Champions League minutes under his belt. No wonder the reserves are having an average season –– most of the players have been busy getting the team to the final of the Carling Cup, and playing their part in the amazing run to face Chelsea again, this time in Europe. The big players have stood up and been counted, but the list of heroes includes Welsh, Potter, Warnock, Le Tallec, Sinama-Pongolle, Mellor and Carson. 'One man team' my arse.

  The confidence the team takes from this result will immeasurable, but there will be some weary legs against Spurs, who have had the week off. Alonso will surely struggle to rouse his body once the muscles inevitably turn to concrete tomorrow. But our home form remains excellent, in all competitions. Either the Champions League will distract and disrupt our chase for fourth, or it will galvanise the club.

  Everything is starting to come together –– in Europe at least –– so perfectly. The returning players will only add to the sense of belief. From a personal point of view, it occurred to me earlier that precisely half my lifetime ago, on this very day in 1988, Liverpool produced what was believed to be the club's finest ever performance, in destroying title-challengers Nottingham Forest 5-0 at Anfield.

  Sometimes the best presents are wrapped in Red.

© Paul Tomkins

redandwhitekop.com

Liverpool set up Chelsea clash

Kevin McCarra at the Stadio delle Alpi

Thursday April 14, 2005

The Guardian

Liverpool, with a demonstration of poise and character, did more than take their place in a Champions League semi-final with Chelsea. This was a night of the greatest relish for a club with so glorious a store of achievement.

It would have been a travesty had Juventus advanced on the away-goals rule when, with 12 minutes left, an Alessandro Del Piero free-kick came off Djimi Traoré and then Fabio Cannavaro before hitting a post. The Merseyside club illustrated how polished they can be under their new leadership with sustained superiority over Serie A's joint leaders to set up a first ever semi-final between English clubs.

Article continues

The advance to this stage of the tournament bolsters the argument that the better sides bring out the best in Liverpool. The impression of quality in Rafael Benítez's ranks was enhanced by the return to the team sheet of Xabi Alonso, although it then remained for him to answer the question of his current worth on the field.

Liverpool, aiming to guard their 2-1 lead from the first leg, were bent on finding out how long he could last on 45 minutes of action against Leeds United reserves a week ago. With that exception, the Spaniard had not appeared since having his ankle broken against Chelsea on January 2. The rare switch by Benítez to a 3-5-2 system was an expression of concern for Alonso as well as a tactical statement.

Alonso would surely not have been selected had Steven Gerrard overcome a thigh strain but arguably Alonso is the kind of player more suited to an occasion of this nature.

While he was husky enough to leave Del Piero in need of treatment after an early exchange, Liverpool's convalescent was mostly supposed to help retain the ball and take the sting out of Juventus.

Pacifying Juventus was, in any case, a generally simple mission when they, too, were obsessed with patience. They appeared to wait for a goal instead of chasing it. Considering the slow victory in the last round over Real Madrid, with its recourse to extra-time, haste may have been banned by Fabio Capello.

There was only one occasion before the interval when the measured attitude looked sure to be vindicated. Gianluca Zambrotta, despite being far out on the left, pierced the defence with a low ball from the left, only for the famously erratic Zlatan Ibrahimovic to shoot high.

Liverpool, despite the occasional spurt of pace from Milan Baros, declined to concern themselves much with attacks. Benítez's reflections on the home win over Juventus had not been in earest. "Our high tempo brought us two goals in the first half," the manager recalled. "We don't need to be in front of our own fans to play in that way."

He is possibly correct but it had always been inconceivable that Liverpool would muster such verve again when all they needed to do was maintain the advantage they carried to Turin. There ought to have been faith that they could do so, even if they are a patchy side in the Premiership.

Only six goals had been conceded in nine Champions League fixtures under Benítez and the total had not grown by half-time here. The centre-backs were notably effective, with Jamie Carragher once more showing how valuable he has become since Benítez released him from the makeshift existence of a mere utility player. He has his purpose now and the whole side was diligent until a corner kick shortly before the interval. Del Piero was allowed to play it short to an unmarked Mauro Camoranesi, who pulled the ball back to Pavel Nedved. His drive, though, was blocked.

Benítez is full of regard for Capello's gifts as a strategist but the alteration that Juventus made for the second half was its own compliment to the effectiveness of Liverpool's scheming. Another forward had to be added, with Marcelo Zalayeta coming on for the midfielder Ruben Olivera while Del Piero acted more as a prompter.

The immediate development after the interval, though, was a fine chance for Liverpool to extend the aggregate lead. Baros, after 48 minutes, took a pass from Alonso to go clear of Paolo Montero but the Czech's finishing is not as reliable as his pace and the shot ran wide.

Nonetheless Juventus were concerned and their reaction was flustered rather than deadly. It was Liverpool at that stage who had the assurance to sustain a spell of attacking, which earned them free-kicks and corners while unsettling Capello's men, to say nothing of a home crowd in an increasing state of agitation.

The annoyance was evident, too, in the senseless foul on Sami Hyypia that brought Ibrahimovic a yellow card. A save by Jerzy Dudek from an Emerson header after Camora nesi's free-kick in the 63rd minute was the goalkeeper's first of note in the match.

Capello is a connoisseur of 1-0 wins but the hunger of his team for that result grew crude as Liverpool prolonged a coolly steadfast display.

Guardian

ROUD RAFA DEDICATES RESULT TO FANS AND STAFF

Mark Platt, in Turin 13 April 2005

A jubilant Rafael Benitez has dedicated Liverpool's heroic Champions League triumph over Juventus to the supporters, his staff and everyone who works at the club.

Speaking after the Reds' impressively-earned goalless draw at the Stadio Delle Alpi secured a 2-1 aggregate success and a passage into the last four, Benitez talked of his pride at seeing his side add another famous chapter to Liverpool's rich European history.

"First of all I want to dedicate victory to the fans, to my staff and to the workers of Liverpool Football Club. We have done a good job for them," he declared.

"I am incredibly proud. It is important to be in the semi-final after the year we have had. We know that we are inconsistent but I am delighted to be here.

"I am not surprised at the result because we have been working hard in training. If you'd have seen the sessions you'll know what I mean. We are where we are because we have worked hard for it.

"We tried to keep the ball and play on the counter-attack. Juve are a fantastic team and we knew they would be strong through the middle. It was difficult at times but it worked. It was also nice to see Xabi back and Cisse playing again.

"All the team worked hard though and I don't like to single out individual players. It was a real team effort."

Liverpool now meet Chelsea in an intriguing all-Premiership semi-final clash and although Benitez admitted he thinks the Londoners will be favourites to progress he's confident that the Reds can get through to the final in Istanbul.

"We have confidence in the Champions League," he added. "It will be difficult, we know. And for me they are the favourites but we have nothing to lose. In our last two games against Chelsea we have come close to beating them. Hopefully this time we will."

EURO JOY FOR HEROIC REDS IN TURIN

Mark Platt, in Turin 13 April 2005

Liverpool have deservedly clinched a place in the last four of the Champions League after heroically holding Juventus to a goalless draw on a memorable night in Turin.

In a game of nail-biting tension the Reds produced an impressively disciplined performance to shut out their hosts and preserve their 2-1 first leg advantage.

At times it was backs to the wall stuff but Rafa's men passed the ball with precision and defended resolutely to set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash with Chelsea.

In a first half of few goalscoring opportunities the best chance fell to Zlatan Ibrahimovic after just eight minutes but thankfully he fired over from a central position six-yards from goal.

When in possession Liverpool looked comfortable all night and after going in at the interval with their heads held high they came out after the break and almost snatched the lead through Baros.

Latching on to a perfectly threaded through ball from Alonso the Czech striker got goal side of the Juve defence but with only the keeper to beat agonisingly rolled his shot wide of the post.

At the opposite end Dudek saved superbly from an Emerson header, with was the home sides first effort on target.

As the minutes ticked by the nerves became more and more frayed and Liverpool survived a major scare when Traore headed against his own post following a Juventus free-kick.

It was not all one way traffic though and with Cisse completing his amazing recovery from a broken leg by replacing Baros late in the second half the Reds continued to pose a threat on the counter-attack.

Biscan headed over with seven minutes remaining but in the end it didn't matter. At the opposite end Juve couldn't find the key to unlock the Liverpool defence and the long-awaited final whistle was the signal for ecstatic scenes among the players and travelling fans.

This was an occasion to rank alongside any in this club's illustrious European history and every player in a red shirt deserves credit for the part they played in it.

Well done lads!

liverpoolfc.tv

Juventus 0-0 Liverpool

Liverpool win 2-1 on aggregate

Luis Garcia and John Arne Riise celebrate Liverpool's victory

Liverpool match reaction

Liverpool player ratings

Champions League photos

Liverpool sealed an all-Premiership Champions League semi-final with Chelsea after a superb display.

Rafael Benitez's injury-ravaged side delivered a performance of discipline and resilience to protect their 2-1 lead from the first leg at Anfield.

Juventus created few opportunities apart from an early close-range effort from striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Fabio Cannavaro struck the post late on, while Milan Baros was off target with Liverpool's best chance.

It was a performance that guaranteed that there will be a Premiership team in the Champions League final in Istanbul in May.

Liverpool, as expected, restored Jerzy Dudek in goal ahead of youngster Scott Carson, with Xabi Alonso back in midfield for the first time since January in place of injured captain Steven Gerrard.

And Liverpool's depleted side more than held their own in a first 45 minutes played in low-key fashion, with Juventus showing little urgency as they went in search of the goal that would take them through.

Liverpool's only worrying moment came after 10 minutes when Zambrotta's cross found Ibrahimovic unmarked only eight yards out, but he could not keep his effort down and Dudek was grateful to see it fly over the top.

Benitez's side showed great organisation, catching Juventus offside on numerous occasions, but the forward pairing of Baros and Luis Garcia got little joy from the Juventus rearguard.

Alonso and Carragher were superb and Cisse looks as though he has lost none of his pace. A great night all round!

From Rizla

Have your say on 606

Garcia escaped once, but Gianluigi Buffon was quickly out of his goal to beat the Spaniard in a race for the ball.

Juventus needed to put more pressure on Liverpool, and they made a change at half-time, replacing Ruben Olivera with Marcello Zalayeta.

Liverpool's first clear chance came after 49 minutes, when a brilliant ball from Alonso released Baros, but the Czech striker was wasteful when clean through and failed to even hit the target.

Benitez brought on Vladimir Smicer after 57 minutes to replace the ineffective Antonio Nunez.

Dudek had been superbly protected, and it was 63 minutes before he made his first save, a fine diving stop from Emerson's header after Mauro Camoranesi's free-kick.

Baros had been disappointing, and he was replaced with 15 minutes left by Djibril Cisse, who completed a remarkable recovery from the broken leg he sustained at Blachburn in October.

Juventus came close to breaking the deadlock when Cannavaro's header struck the post and rebounded to safety.

Juventus: Buffon, Thuram, Montero (Pessotto 83), Cannavaro, Camoranesi (Appiah 84), Emerson, Olivera (Zalayeta 46), Zambrotta, Nedved, Ibrahimovic, Del Piero.

Subs Not Used: Chimenti, Birindelli, Blasi, Masiello.

Booked: Montero, Ibrahimovic, Zambrotta, Emerson.

Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore, Nunez (Smicer 58), Biscan, Alonso, Riise, Luis Garcia (Le Tallec 85), Baros (Cisse 75).

Subs Not Used: Carson, Warnock, Welsh, Potter.

Booked: Alonso, Finnan.

Agg (1-2)

Att: 50,000

Ref: Valentin Ivanov (Russia).

BBC

Liverpool pulled off one of the greatest European triumphs in their long and proud history last night by holding Juventus to a goalless draw at the Stadio delle Alpi and progressing to a Champions' League semi-final against Chelsea.

Rafael Benitez's side, without their inspirational but injured captain Steven Gerrard, ensured that an English side will contest the final of Europe's premier competition for the first time since 1999 with an outstanding performance, built on the defensive excellence of Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher.

Leading 2-1 from the first leg at Anfield, Liverpool frustrated Juventus, who appeared weighed down by the emotional atmosphere in the Turin stadium. Many Italian supporters held banners reflecting their anger over the Heysel tragedy almost 20 years ago, when 39 Juventus fans died before the sides contested the 1985 European Cup final.

Liverpool, who missed a clear-cut chance early in the second half through Milan Baros, appeared to ride their luck when Fabio Cannavaro's late header hit a post, and then hit Jerzy Dudek. Television replays suggested the ball had crossed the line, and a single goal would have been enough to see Juventus through on away goals.

Independant

Inspired by the outstanding Jamie Carragher, Liverpool made the Old Lady of Juventus look her age last night. With Carragher an unbreakable presence in Liverpool's defence, Rafael Benitez's men set up an epic Champions League semi-final against Chelsea, who have defeated them three times this season. Steven Gerrard, so coveted by Chelsea, will certainly be up for it.

 

The only way is up: John Arne Riise celebrates

With Gerrard injured, Juventus should have seized the moment but Fabio Capello's side bordered on the embarrassing, although they came close when Fabio Cannavaro's header hit the post.

Faced with the ignominy of going out of Europe, Juventus failed to respond with the determination associated with such a distinguished club. No English team would have surrendered so meekly, Juventus' paucity of expression and energy being embodied in their lacklustre captain, Alessandro Del Piero.

The Italians' obsession with angling long balls into Liverpool's box was inexplicable, playing completely into the hands - or rather on to the heads - of Carragher and Sami Hyypia. The only sadness for Liverpool was the reality that the Italians clearly had not forgotten, or forgiven, the horrors of Heysel.

And so a hugely prestigious European tie unfolded to a dispiriting backdrop of bottle-throwing, cries of "We hate Liverpool" and banners declaring "Easy To Speak. Difficult To Pardon. Murderers!" With commendable professionalism, Benitez's men concentrated on the task in hand.

Defending doggedly and limiting their forward ventures to occasional counters, Liverpool had reached the sanctuary of half-time with their slender aggregate advantage intact. Del Piero was poor in the opening half, failing to give the sort of inspiration that was once his hallmark. No wonder Capello unleashed a third striker, Marcelo Zalayeta, at the break. Until then, most of Juventus' threat flowed from elsewhere, from deeper and wider.

With Lilian Thuram patrolling the right-back area, Juventus found their main wide outlet in the busy figure of Gianluca Zambrotta, essentially a left-back but here a relentless worker of the left flank. One cross after 11 minutes fell perfectly for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but the tall Swedish attacker lifted it wastefully over.

Another Swede present, the England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, must have been impressed with the leadership of Carragher in the heart of Liverpool's defence. Such was the Merseysider's commitment to the red-liveried cause that he threw himself into a fearsome drive from Emerson. Carragher may have been born a Blue but he has developed into one of Liverpool's most loyal servants.

The England centre-half was giving everything, blocking Juventus' sporadic attempts on goal, ensuring the offside trap worked smoothly and always exhorting his team-mates. Carragher even gave Milan Baros an almighty lecture after the Czech striker had failed to mark properly at a Juventus corner. Fittingly, the half concluded with Carragher repelling an Italian attack, this time clearing another cross from the lively Zambrotta.

Alongside Carragher, Hyypia was also impressing, nicking the ball sweetly from Pavel Nedved, who responded nastily by catching Liverpool's Finnish captain. Hyypia climbed up, rearranged his limbs in the correct order and got on with guiding his side to half-time in one piece.

Sadly, the off-field trouble continued at the interval, with stewards slow in stopping the bottle-throwers. Tension reigned in the tribunes and also on the pitch, although Baros wasted a wonderful chance to ease the pressure on Liverpool's players shortly after the break. Bursting through on to Xabi Alonso's pass, Baros eluded Thuram but frustratingly slid his shot wide.

The clock was ticking ever louder for Juventus. They had to force the breakthrough. Again Carragher stood in their way, blocking a meaty drive from Ibrahimovic. The Juventus No 9's frustration began to show and he was deservedly booked for catching Hyypia.

Liverpool's keeper, Jerzy Dudek, was tested properly for the first time just after the hour when Emerson met Mauro Camoranesi's free-kick with a firm header. Dudek, dropping smartly to his left, clutched the ball.

Liverpool were indebted to more inept attacking by Juventus, on this occasion Emerson endangering a linesman with a spectacularly wayward strike. Benitez decided to set Juventus another challenge, sending on Djibril Cisse for his first action since that horrific leg break last October.

Even in the midst of all their mediocrity, Juventus occasionally still managed to fashion an opening. Del Piero, at last revealing signs of life, flighted a free-kick to the far post where Cannavaro headed against the post and the ball looked over the line. Otherwise, Juventus were so disappointing. "Easy, easy," chanted the Liverpool fans as a few late flares came their way. Chelsea will not be so easy.

Telegraph

Liverpool dig deep to set up Chelsea showdown

From Matt Dickinson, Chief Football Correspondent in Turin

THE last time they met, the Carling Cup was at stake. There is no trophy for the winners of the next two encounters between Chelsea and Liverpool, but a place in the European Cup final in Istanbul on May 25 could hardly be described as a meagre reward.

Liverpool set up that all-English semi-final last night when, against all expectations — perhaps even their own — they held Juventus to a 0-0 draw on the back of their 2-1 first-leg victory at Anfield. The English game will boast a team in the European Cup final for only the second time in 20 years.

Manchester United secured their place in the Continent’s most prestigious game with their famous victory at the Stadio Delle Alpi in 1999 and, although last night’s draw did not match that 3-2 win for drama, Rafael Benítez and his players deserve immense credit. Juventus were poor, dreadfully so, but the absence of Steven Gerrard, among others, meant that Liverpool had to overcome huge odds to reach their first semi- final since the Heysel disaster in 1985.

Benítez said: “I hope the matches against Chelsea will be more like European games than Premiership matches, that will be better for us. I think we have more confidence in the Champions League.”

They are certainly not the opponents that Chelsea will have been expecting and, although José Mourinho and his players will recognise the obduracy that saw Liverpool through to the last four, they will be quietly confident that they will overcome a side that is 31 points behind in the Barclays Premiership table.

Although it was not until extra time that they managed to take the lead in the Carling Cup final, eventually winning 3-2, that triumph in Cardiff was their third victory over the Merseyside club this season. The first leg is at Stamford Bridge on April 27, with the return at Anfield on May 3. It will be some night, with much of the focus, inevitably, on Gerrard.

The Liverpool captain turned down a move to Stamford Bridge last summer and remains top of Roman Abramovich’s shopping list. Would a place in the European Cup final, at Chelsea’s expense, persuade him to stay on Merseyside? That and much more will be discussed in the build-up to the first leg but, last night, Liverpool were entitled to savour their hugely unexpected success. Progress under Benítez has not always been easy to trace, particularly with some poor domestic performances, but they were committed and organised on a night when the only bad news was tension in the stands.

From their respective cages in this ugly stadium — even the Juventus fans want it demolished — both sets of supporters had thrown missiles at each other before kick-off and at half-time. They did so even as a banner with the names of the 39 victims of Heysel was carried on to the pitch. “In memory and friendship” it read, but no one can pretend that the peace initiatives have made the slightest impact on the minority intent on trouble.

What bother there was within the stadium appeared to have been initiated by the home supporters. It was very minor by football’s standards of mayhem, but Uefa delegates must still have been thoroughly unimpressed by the half-hearted attempts of the stewards to stop the missiles. Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, had talked of “drastic measures” to deal with hooliganism in the wake of the previous night’s abandonment of the Milanese derby, but, in the Stadio Delle Alpi, preventative methods seemed to amount to gentle restraint and a few announcements over the public-address system.

It had been correct to mark the 20th anniversary of Heysel with ceremonies to honour the victims, but it may have to be accepted that there will always be some fans, notably Italians, who want to sustain the tensions. No one who travels regularly with English clubs or the national team would dare to claim that hooligans have been purged from the game, but what used to be known as “the English disease” might justifiably be described now as more of an Italian problem.

The Italians were embarrassed on and off the field, with bold words from the Juventus camp shown to be hollow boasts. “There is a great deal of fuss about Chelsea because they are the team of the moment but, just to refresh people’s memories, Juve are still in the competition,” Emerson had said. But the Brazil captain disappointed more than anyone in both games.

Liverpool had plenty of heroes, notably the superb Xabi Alonso, and will hope to have players back from injury for the semi-finals. They will need them.

THE SEMI-FINALS

Chelsea v Liverpool

AC Milan or Inter Milan v PSV Eindhoven

First legs to be played on April 26 and 27, second legs on May 3 and 4

Times

Reds secure semi-final spot

21:42pm 13th April 2005 Liverpool forced a goalless draw against Italian giants Juventus to ensure Premier League representation in the Champions League final in Istanbul on May 25.

Somehow Rafael Benitez produced a game plan and a streak of sheer defiance in his erratic team to leave Juventus on their knees and out of Europe in front of their own disbelieving supporters.

The Reds now meet Chelsea in a two-legged semi-final on April 27 and May 3, with the second leg at Anfield

The red heroes were all the unsung defenders; Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Djimi Traore and Steve Finnan, plus the toil of John Arne Riise and the clever, inventive play of Xabi Alonso.

Juventus should have been level on aggregate early on when Zlatan Ibrahimovic met a left-wing cross just six yards out but hoisted his effort over the crossbar.

Luis Garcia and Milan Baros both almost caught the home defence cold with interceptions, but there was little for the front pair to work with, so much were Liverpool on the defensive.

Liverpool should have been ahead early in the second half, a priceless moment that they had been praying for as they defended with their lives.

The ball that created the opening was a peach of a pass from Xabi Alonso to Baros in a couple of yards of space. He held off Paolo Montero as he forced his way into the area but his shot slipped inches wide of the far post.

Juve were now being whistled by their own fans, before Fabio Capello threw on Gianluca Pessotto and Stephen Appiah, searching for inspiration and fresh legs.

But Liverpool fought like tigers and erupted in joy at the final whistle, with an all-English semi-final to look forward to.

Carragher: We're back where we belong

22:42pm 13th April 2005 Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insisted the club were back where they belong as Liverpool reached the last four of the Champions League.

They held Juventus to a goalless draw at the Stadio delle Alpi to set up a semi-final clash with Chelsea and aside from one Fabio Cannavaro header hitting the post, they defended stoutly.

Carragher told Sky Sports: "We've had a history of being one of the top teams in Europe and getting to the semi-finals of the Champions League is where the club needs to be every season. We need to get into these type of situations."

He added: "Juventus are a top team and we were playing against some top players. We knew they would have good chances but I think they had more chances at Anfield, Ibrahimovic missed in the first half and then I don't know how Cannavaro's header stayed out, but besides that we kept them out well.

"You've got to keep it tight. It gives you more belief to get to half-time at 0-0, it's little stages all the time, and in the end we got to final whistle."

Asked about the semi-final against Chelsea, who have had the upper hand on the Reds domestically this season, he added: "We'll be desperate to beat them, all the games we've played against them have been very tight so hopefully it will go our way."

Reds manager Rafael Benitez admitted his players had been forced to work hard for the aggregate victory.

He said: "I am very proud of the staff, the workers, and the players and for us it was important for the supporters.

"We knew that it was going to be difficult to create chances but playing against Juve, with set pieces, long balls, we needed to concentrate for all of the game."

Daily Mail

Dudek guides Liverpool to triumph on a night of bitter defeat for Juve

Juventus 0 - Liverpool 0

Liverpool win 2-1 on agg

By Phil Shaw at the Stadio delle Alpi

14 April 2005

A balmy evening, not unlike the fateful, fatal night at Heysel, did have one thing in common with 1985. This time it was not, mercifully, piles of stricken bodies - the debris in the Stadio Delle Alpi was confined to the full plastic bottles hurled between the rival sets of supporters - but the sight of Liverpool advancing to the last four of Europe's premier tournament for the first time since football's blackest spring.

There, after a display of exemplary discipline and no little courage, they will face Chelsea in the first all-English semi-final of the Champions' League for the right to contest the trophy itself in Istanbul next month. Liverpool will not care that they have lost three times to Jose Mourinho's side this season, for in this competition they are unrecognisable from the humdrum team lying fifth in the Premiership.

Only once, with 14 minutes remaining, did Liverpool come close to conceding the goal that would have put Juventus through. Fabio Cannavaro directed a header against the far post, but Jerzy Dudek plunged on the loose ball as the players of the "Old Lady", who sadly lived down to their nickname on the night, argued with some justification that the ball had crossed the line.

In the highly charged atmosphere before the match, with helicopters whirring above and a heavy carabinieri presence on the ground, each new banner unfurled by the Juventus supporters brought applause. One was poetic and poignant, declaring that "39 angels were looking down from the heavens on the black-and-white people".

As understandable as the bitterness which remains, there was a match to be played by young men who were, in the majority of cases, small boys when the wall in Block Z crumbled in Brussels. Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, decided that Scott Carson, who was still a twinkle in his parents' eyes this time 20 years ago, was too raw for such an occasion after only seven senior outings and recalled Dudek in goal.

Xabi Alonso came in for the injured Steven Gerrard, despite having played only 45 minutes' reserve football since New Year's Day. The Spaniard began the match with some authoritative touches as Liverpool opened confidently against opponents who won their first five group matches by 1-0, the scoreline they needed to reach the last four.

The circumstances surrounding the tie meant that every decision which went against Juventus was greeted with righteous indignation from the stands. The mood transmitted itself to the pitch, with the result that Fabio Capello's players were often distracted by their protestations to the Russian referee. Liverpool, by contrast, had a composed, organised look about them, the less than ferocious early tempo suiting Alonso.

Scoring opportunities were scarce in a surprisingly even first half. Zlatan Ibrahimovic spurned the best, Juventus' Swedish striker hoisting the ball over the bar in the 10th minute when better control would have enabled him to side-foot Gianluca Zambrotta's left-wing cross past Dudek.

Liverpool, who used Milan Baros as a lone front-runner with Luis Garcia in a deep-lying role, gave Juventus a scare in the 20th minute. Steve Finnan's angled pass sent Baros in hot pursuit, only for Gianluigi Buffon to come hurtling out to smother the ball.

The crowd's exasperation with the match officials might just as easily have been turned on their own team. Juventus' passing was slapdash and their movement bereft of rhythm. Pavel Nedved, who roamed ever further in an attempt to spark them into life, should have been cautioned for a late challenge on Sami Hyypia.

When the first yellow card was shown, it went to Alonso for holding on to the ball after being penalised.

Capello was sufficiently perturbed by Juventus' lack of penetration to bring on a third forward, Marcelo Zalayeta, for the second half. Alessandro Del Piero could not have complained had he been the player withdrawn, but the coach took off Ruben Olivera instead.

Benitez knew that if Liverpool scored first, it would create all manner of uncertainty in the Juve ranks. Baros had the chance to do so in the opening minutes of the second half, beating Lilian Thuram to a through ball by Alonso. From the angle of the six-yard box, however, the Czech failed to hit the target, his scuffed shot bobbling tantalisingly wide.

The magnitude of the miss appeared likely to be underlined in Juventus' next attack. The ball dropped nicely for Ibrahimovic to swivel and hit the ball on the volley. Liverpool need not have feared: under the scrutiny of another Swede, the watching Sven Goran Eriksson, England's Jamie Carragher appeared right on cue to make a perfectly timed block.

In the previous round, Juventus and their fans had been united in positive intent, the force of their fervour helping to unhinge Real Madrid. Here, it was as if the weight of their supporters' expectations - the need to settle a score with Liverpool and in doing so, honour or even avenge the dead - was too heavy a burden for some of Capello's players.

More than an hour had passed before either goalkeeper made a save of note. Mauro Camoranesi swung in a free-kick from the right to which Emerson, the captain of Brazil, no less, applied a flashing header. Dudek swooped to his right to make a fine catch, and promptly demonstrated similar safe handling when the towering Ibrahimovic lumbered in to challenge for a high cross by Camoranesi.

With time ebbing away for Juventus, the situation was crying out for Capello to make further adjustments. It was surely not necessary, for instance, for Baros to be policed by as many as four defenders. Yet the malaise went beyond tactical niceties; it was one of temperament.

Juventus (4-4-2): Buffon; Thuram, Montero (Pessotto, 82), Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Camoranesi (Appiah, 83), Emerson, Oliviera (Zalayeta, h-t), Nedved; Ibrahimovic, Del Piero. Substitutes not used: Chimenti (gk), Birindelli, Blasi, Masiello.

Liverpool (4-4-1-1): Dudek; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traoré; Nuñez (Smicer, 57), Xabi Alonso, Biscan, Riise; Luis Garcia (Le Tallec, 85); Baros (Cissé, 75). Substitutes not used: Carson (gk), Warnock, Welsh, Potter.

Referee: N Ivanov (Russia).

bearbeitet 13. April 2005 von ianrush

[ianrush]

Achaj und nochwas für Schet und die United Neidhammeln, vielleicht solltet ihr auch mal wieder mehr als eine Statistenrolle im Europacup spielen. War ja eigentlich schon seit 99 nix mehr zu holen für euch . Selbst damals wars eigentlich nur Glück im Finale :

The reds are coming up the hill, boys

The reds are coming up the hill, boys,

They all laugh at us, they all laugh at us,

They all say our days are numbered,

Born to be a Scouse,

Victorious are we,

If you wanna win the cup, then you'd better hurry up,

Cos we're Liverpool FC…

Glorious, victorious…

We could take the Gwladys Street

With the four of us

Glory be to God there ain't no more of us

Cos we'd have the fucking lot

bearbeitet 14. April 2005 von ianrush

[Seppo Dramac]

9:52, kein Bericht von Pintu. Hat er sich das Leben genommen?

[SpionKop]

Einfach nur unglaublich geil!

@ Flo

Ich hab mich grad für 2 Tickets fürs CL Finale beworben, 7.500 Tickets werden dort ausgelost...........sehr unwahrscheinlich welche zu kriegen aber probieren muss mans ja!

ich kanns nicht glauben! ein Liverpooler B-Team besiegt die große alte Dame die heute wirklich sehr alt ausgschaut hat!

Wir sind vollkommen verdient weiter!

ALL ROUND THE FIELDS OF ANFIELD ROAD

WHERE ONCE WE WATCHED KING KENNY PLAY (AND COULD HE PLAY!!!)

STEVIE HEIGHWAY ON THE WING

WE HAD DREAMS AND SONGS TO SING

OF THE GLORY ROUND OF THE FIELDS OF ANFIELD ROAD!!!!!

.......we war rocking all over the world!!!