Liverpool FC - "You'll never walk alone...!!!

LFC4ever · 5. April 2005

möglicherweise wird der Vertrag mit Igor Biscan verlängert

Ich bin dafür, er hat sich sehr gesteigert & ist mittlerweile auch konstanter geworden als unter GH! :super:

Wir könnten noch viel Freude an ihm haben! :clap:

goleador2000 · 5. April 2005

Ich bin dafür, er hat sich sehr gesteigert & ist mittlerweile auch konstanter geworden als unter GH!
Wir könnten noch viel Freude an ihm haben!

Erstmal herzlich willkommen in diesem Forum, LFC4ever :winke:

Also ich habe meine Meinung über Igor Biscan schon des öfteren hier kundgetan. Ich halte ihn für einen der Aufsteiger der Saison und bin fast schon begeistert wie sich der Kroate in der Rückrunde präsentiert und wie er unter Benitez aufblüht. Igor genießt auch bei den Fans großen Kredit und könnte sowas wie ein Kultstar an der Anfield Road werden. Ich hoffe inständig sein Vertrag wird im Sommer verlängert und er bleibt noch länger bei den Reds !!! :yes:

bearbeitet 5. April 2005 von goleador2000

goleador2000 · 6. April 2005

CL: FC Liverpool besiegt Juventus nach tollem Spiel knapp mit 2:1

Hier mein individueller Matchbericht & mein Fazit:

:support: Wir sahen ein tolles, hochklassiges Spiel an der Anfield Road, wo beide Teams ihre Klasse eindrucksvoll demonstrierten. Liverpool begann überfallsartig, sehr ambitioniert wie aus der Pistole geschossen und überrante Juventus Turin förmlich. Die ersten 25 Minuten waren die Turiner chancenlos, zu weit weg vom Mann, zweikampfschwach, unsicher und man hatte den Eindruck mental gar nicht auf dem Platz. Rechtsverteidiger Steve Finnan hatte die erste Möglichkeit des Spiels, sein Schuß ging ins Außennetz. Weitere folgten innerhalb weniger Minuten. Nach dem 1:0 verfehlte Milan Baros eine Luis Garcia-Hereingabe nur um Zentimeter...Liverpool agierte mit viel Engagement, großer Leidenschaft und war sehr konsequent und spielfreudig. Eine Freude, die Mannschaft gegen eine sehr gute Mannschaft so ambitioniert und willensstark aufspielen zu sehen. Liverpool hätte in dieser Phase auch mit 3:0 führen können. Besonders Luis Garcia und Steven Gerrard gebührt ein Sonderlob – der Spanier war an beiden Toren beteiligt – er verlängerte Gerrards Cornerball per Kopf zum freistehenden "Finnish Rock", Sami Hyppiä, der Liverpool verdient in Führung brachte und markierte in weiterer Folge des Spiels ein Traumtor zum 2:0, er hatte auch bei allen anderen gefährlichen Offensivaktionen der Reds seine Beine im Spiel und machte für mich das beste Spiel seit er im Reds-Trikot aufläuft !!! Beim Tor wurde der Ball vom jungen 20jährigen französichen Supertalent Anthony Le Tallec, der überraschend auflaufen durfte und mir ebenfalls sehr gut gefiel, weil er sehr viel lief, sich immer wieder anbot und auch keinen Zweikampf scheute, ideal in den Lauf des quirligen Spaniers gespielt und dieser überwand den chancenlosen Buffon mit seinem prächtigen Tor – Bravo, Luis !!! Steven Gerrard agierte sehr gut und war mit Igor Biscan, der ihm toll assistierte und den ein oder anderen tollen Paß auf die Mitspieler spielte, der Chef im Mittelfeld – Emerson und der überforderte Blasi waren dem Mittelfeld des FC Livepool klar unterlegen und Capello reagierte zur Pause zu Recht... Aber auch das restliche Team, angefangen vom erst 19jährigen Scott Carson, der Routinier Dudek ebenfalls überraschend ersetzte bis zu allen anderen Mannschaftsteilen – Liverpool agierte schneller, zielstrebiger als Juve ließ Ball und Gegner laufen und hielt den Ball geschickt in den eigenen Reihen bzw. man fand immer Abnehmer und freie Mitspieler für Pässe. Milan Baros spulte wieder unzählige Kilometer ab und beschäftige die Juventus-Abwehr ein ums andere mal und hatte im Abschluß 2x Pech... Juventus konnte die ersten 25 Minuten nie agieren, sondern nur reagieren und Liverpool führte zu Recht hochverdient mit 2:0...

...doch ab diesem Zeitpunkt wußte Juventus was die Stunde geschlagen hatte und man legte den Schalter um. Pavel Nedved, der die erste halbe Stunde gut kontrolliert wurde und wie auch Camoranesi, Del Piero oder Ibrahimovic nie zur Geltung kam, nahm das Heft in die Hand und setzte 2 Minuten nach dem Führungstor Ibrahimovic toll ins Szene. Der Schwede zeigte seine individuelle Klasse, zog sofort ab und traf nur den Pfosten. Das Spiel wogte nun hin und her und war an Klasse und Dramatik reich gesegnet – Liverpool vergab eine tolle Chance aufs 3:0 – ein Baros-Schuß wurde von Cannavaro aufs Tordach abgefälscht, als im Gegenzug abermals Nedved, der von Minute über Minute mehr aufblühte, Del Piero mit einem genialen Lochpaß in Szene setzte und dieser in Carson, der toll parierte, seinen Meister fand. Eine weitere Reds-Chance und ein Gerrard drop-kick waren vor der Pause noch bemerkenswert, doch Juventus hätte vor der Pause ein 2:1 erzielen können, wenn der Schiri ein reguläres Kopfball-Tor von Del-Piero gegeben hätte. Der Italiener bugsierte nach einer Camoranesi-Flanke den Ball über Carson ins Tor, doch das belgische Schiedsrichtertrio gab den Treffer wegen Abseits nicht....viel Glück für Liverpool. Man ging zwar mit 2:0 für Liverpool in die Pause, doch das Spiel hätte ohne weiteres 4:2 stehen können !!!

Nach Seitenwechsel zeigte sich welch großartiger Taktiker Fabio Capello ist. Er brachte für den völlig indisponierten defensiven Mittelfeldspieler Blasi, den zweikampfstarken Gianluca Pessotto, dieser hielt Nedved den Rücken frei, schirmte ihn ab und der Tscheche konnte sich gemeinsam mit dem Italo-Argentinier Mauro Camoranesi, der mir nicht nur in diesem Spiel sehr gut gefällt auf die Offensive konzentrieren. Juventus kontrollierte in der 2. Halbzeit das Spiel und war sowohl im Mittelfeld als auch in der Abwehr wenig gefordert. Liverpool mußte dem hohen Anfangstempo Tribut zollen und mit zunehmender Spieldauer wurden die Akteure müder bzw. agierten nicht mehr so konsequent, paßsicher und zielstrebig als noch in der 1. Hälfte. Juventus versuchte immer wieder Weitschüsse anzusetzten und prüfte den jungen Scott Carson, der bis zur 63. Minute fehlerlos blieb...Juve hatte das Spiel nun in der Hand – der Schachzug Capellos mit Pessotto als "defensive Absicherung" hinter Nedved ging voll auf – eine erneute Hereingabe Camoranesi landete über der Liverpooler Abwehr hinweg bei Zambrotta. Mit seiner besten Szene im Spiel setzte er eine tolle Maßflanke auf den Kopf des aufgerückten Fabio Cannavaro. Einen Kopfballaufsetzer des sprungstarken Kraftpaketes konnte Carson nicht bändigen und schlug sich das Leder ins eigene Tor....Hmmm. Ob Dudek, Kirkland oder der junge Carson – der dennoch viel Ruhe ausstrahlte, bis zum Tor fehlerlos agierte und eine große Zukunft hat !!! – Liverpool kann nicht leugnen, daß man ein Tormannproblem hat...Juventus bekam das Spiel immer besser in Griff und ein Camoranesi-Schuß verfehlte um einen halben Meter das Gehäuse. In dieser Phase hätte das Spiel kippen zu Gunsten Juves kippen können, doch die Italiener zeigten sich mit dem Auswärtstor zufrieden...

Der weitere Spielverlauf beschränkte sich seitens Juves auf Spielkontrolle und Liverpool versuchte zwar noch sehr viel, aber der angeschlagene Baros, der für mich ein gutes Spiel machte und die Abwehr immer wieder beschäftigte und vor große Aufgaben stellte, mußte nach 66 Minuten vom Platz. Hat der Tscheche auch noch das Auge für die Mitspieler und wird im Abschluß besser und konzentrierter, dann ist er absolute Weltklasse. Dabei bleibe ich !!! Ab diesem Zeitpunkt hatte Liverpool keine gelernte Sturmspitze mehr auf dem Platz – es kamen noch Nunez und Smicer ins Spiel und Liverpool versuchte jetzt mehr Ballkontrolle zu gewinnen, Benitez verstärkte das Mittelfeld und es gelang den Reds die Juve-Offensive einzudämmen, doch ein harmloser Riise-Schuß blieb die einzige Ausbeute der Reds in der zweiten Halbzeit. Keine der beiden Mannschaften wollte nun viel riskieren und so blieb es bis knapp vor Spielende bei der Pattstellung.

Schließlich blieb es beim 2:1 Sieg des FC Livepool, der zwar summa summarum sehr glücklich ausfiel, aber auf Grund des immensen Aufwandes und der großartigen Spielweise der Reds, vor allem in Halbzeit eins, verdient war. In den ersten 30 Minuten hat der FC Liverpool eine Weltklassemannschaft wie Juventus dominiert und an die Wand gespielt und uns Fans, wie vor dem Spiel angekündigt eine "night to remember" beschert. Das sollte uns in Hinblick auf die nahe Zukunft erfreuen und positiv stimmen. Juventus wiederum hat das gewünschte Auswärtstor auf dem Konto, scheint mit dem Resultat ebenfalls zufrieden und so kommt es im Rückspiel im Stadio delle Alpi zum spannenend erwarteten Show-Down zweier Topklubs. Hoffentlich wird es ein ähnlich dramatisches Klassespiel und die Fans beider Lager verhalten sich ähnlich freundschaftlich und diszipliniert wie in diesem Spiel.

Zum Schluß muß gesagt werden, das beide Vereine die Heysel-Tragödie gut verarbeitet haben – Vereins-Ikonen wie Ian Rush und Michel Platini enthüllten vor dem Spiel eine Gedenktafel und der Liverpooler-Anhang reagierte mit der Freundschafts-Choreo einfach großartig. Die besten Fans der Welt haben sich verdient, daß ihre Mannschaft immer so auftritt und Spiel für Spiel so einen großartigen Fight abliefert. Nach so einem Abend ist man jedenfalls stolz FC Liverpool-Anhänger zu sein – Fan eines Klubs, der wie kein anderer der Welt Tradition und Romantik miteinander verbindet !!! Danke Mr. Benitez, danke FC Liverpool für einen unvergesslichen, großartigen Fußballabend !!!

FC LIVERPOOL – YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE :love: :love: :love: – oft kopiert aber nie erreicht, so wie es gestern durch die Anfield Road hallte und die Fans geschlossen die unnachahmliche Hymne der Reds und des Fußballs zelebrierten, ist einzigartig und lässt selbst einem eingefleischten Fan wie mir Gänsehaut über den Rücken laufen – Wahnsinn !!! Phänomenal !!! Unübertroffen !!!

Champions League – Viertelfinale – Hinspiel:

FC Liverpool – Juventus Turin 2:1 (2:0)

FC Liverpool: Carson – Finnan, Hyppiä, Carragher, Traore – Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Biscan, Riise – Le Tallec (Smicer 73.) – Baros (Nunez 66.)

Juventus Turin: Buffon – Zebina (Montero 81.), Cannavaro, Thuram, Zambrotta – Camoranesi, Emerson, Blasi (Pessotto 45.), Nedved – Del Piero (Trezeguet 61.), Ibrahimovic

1:0 Sami Hyppiä (10.), 2:0 Luis Garcia (25.), 2:1 Fabio Cannavaro (63.)

Anfield Road – 41 216 – SR: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgien)

Goleador2000 – 6.5.2005 :winke:

ianrush · 6. April 2005

Ein kleiner Bericht vom letzten Spiel der Reserve, bei dem Alonso nach 45 Minuten sein Comeback gab, von einem User von redandwhitekop.com. Scheint ja vielversprechend verlaufen zu sein :

Xabi's back!
It's not the first time this season that I have gone from the high

drama of a Champions League game on The Kop to a reserves game in

Wrexham this season, this time the main player to accompany me was

Xabi Alonso. As I arrived at the ground he was warming up with the

other lads. The side was quite a strong one, a lot of familiar faces

and a chance for Dudey Henshaw at right back.

Leeds lined up with a smaller team than many, which might have meant

two teams trying to play football, but the squally weather conditions

and the wearing pitch made that difficult. So it was credit to both

sides that they produced a quite entertaining and skillful game which

Leeds quite fortunately took 1-0.

The first half was fairly even. Despite Liverpool having the lions

share of possession and with Wilkie and Partridge offering plenty of

width they failed to create too many clear chances. In the past we

have moaned about forwards getting lack of service - I think the

injury situation at Anfield this season has meant the reserves

midfield have often lacked someone to service.

Partidge had the best of the chances in the first quarter of the game

as he broke through onto a Potter back heel after 3 minutes, he shot

early but to close to the keeper who collected the ball with ease

diving to his right.

On twenty minutes the heavens opened and it was comical to watch all

the people running for the sheltered parts of the stand. Strangely

this was the time that Xabi chose to start warming up. I was temptyed

to shout "Get out of the rain Xabi, you might catch a cold!", but I

didn't want to dampen his enthusiasm.

On 26 minutes Wilkie beat hiss man (yes I have now seen it & in

fairness he did it on a few occassions today) and whipped in a ball

which went straight through the six yard box without anyone making

contact.

Two minutes later and Liverpool were made to pay. Chris Jones of Leeds

controlled a pass well as Leeds broke, when it looked as though he had

lost momentum he cut in from the left and fired a curling twenty five

yarder into the top right corner.

Wilkie got another dangerous cross in for Liverpool just after the

half an hour mark. Partidge nudged it back across to Potter who

slightly rushed his shot and it bobbled to the Leeds keeper.

Liverpool's other two best chances of the half came to mannix in the

last ten minutes. He had two almost identical volleys from twenty plus

yards, but failed to connect with either very well and both went wide.

At half time Xabi came out to warm up and was pinging inch perfect

passes all around, it was great to see - not sure about the blue boots

though!

Henshaw who had been quietly effective made way for Xabi and as the

second half began Mannix moved into right back. Xabi's first

contribution was to give a free kick away twenty yards out. His second

contribution was to give the ball away and his third was to give a

foul away thirty yards out. Fear not - it only got better from there!

Leeds were first on the offensive and for the first ten minutes the

centre back pairing of O'Donnell and Whitbread did well to stand firm.

They both look very good prospects to me.

Xabi had his first positive influence on 55 minutes. He combined

xcellently with Welsh to free Partidge on the right. His cross would

have been perfect but nobody had got into the box and Leeds cleared

the danger..

Five minutes later and Zabi hit a shot so hard from thirty five yards

that the lad who slid in to block it required treatment. He was really

starting to get into the game, one touch short, one touch long,

winning headers, he even had a few sliding tackles - he looked like he

was very glad to be playing football again.

While Liverpool were now all over Leeds and had corner followed by

corner they still hadn't really created a guilt edged chance until

Xabi flicked in a cross from the left with the outside of his right

foot. Welsh leapt to head it and just did too well really, he headed

it straight down and the pitch took all the pace off the ball.

I had the feeling it was not Liverpool s day today, and despite

Partidge hitting the side netting after being expertly picked out, we

just weren't going to score. But there was a lot to be happy about.

The centre backs paired together did very well. Raven played well and

got forward well from left back. Welsh and especially Potter grow in

stature and confidence all thge time and the two wide men both had the

best game I'd seen them play. We just lack strikers at the moment.

As a reminder of what we've missed in the dying moments as Liverpool

defended Alonso signalled for Wilkie to get forward and wide. Seconds

later Xabi won the ball and dispatched a sixty yard left foot ball

pefectly into his path. Unfortunately the right back for Leeds ahd

just come on and had the legs on Wilkie - but Xabi is back ladies and

gentleman, please be upstanding!

MOM. Potter. Worked hard, tackled hard, tried different things and

linked up well all over the pitch. He was run closely by everyone

though!

Könnte vielleicht ein ganz wichtiger Spiel im Rückspiel in Turin werden, da er durchaus auch einmal das Spiel beruhigen kann. Hoffen wir er spielt gegen City und kann dann gegen Juventus 90 Minuten durchspielen.

Ein Mittelfeld mit :

Garcia - Alonso - Biscan - Riise

Gerrard

würde mir schon sehr gut gefallen . Ausserdem könnte Baros vielleicht das eine oder ander mal von einem millimetergenauen Pass von Alonso profietieren und die Juve Abwehr stehen lassen .

Noch besser würd mir aber :

Garcia - Alonso - Hamann - Riise

Gerrard

gefallen. Aber das wirds leider nicht spielen, da Hamann nicht fit werden wird. Schade, da er defensiv doch um einiges stärker als Igor ist.

bearbeitet 6. April 2005 von ianrush

goleador2000 · 10. April 2005

FC Liverpool verliert bei ManCity mit 0:1… :aaarrrggghhh: :nein:

Hier der Matchbericht: :madmax:

CITY STRIKE LATE TO DENT HOPES OF 4TH
Lee Brown 09 April 2005

Liverpool have missed the chance to overtake Everton in 4th place after a last minute goal from Musampa sent them crashing to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City today.

The Reds had looked set to take 4th place on goal difference, but they were sunk by Musampa's late strike and they now face the prospect of seeing Everton again extend their lead to four points when they play Crystal Palace tomorrow.

Rafa's men will be devastated to have conceded so late on, but it was only the agility of Scott Carson that had kept them in the game before that.

Carson took the blame for his mistake that gave Juventus their goal at Anfield on Tuesday, but he more than made amends with a series of stops that will restore any confidence lost.

His first save came after just 10 minutes when he reacted brilliantly to hold Distin's effort and he was alert again to save at the feet of Sibierski as half time approached.

At the other end, the game unfortunately mirrored a number of other disappointing away performances for Rafa's men as they failed to carve out any meaningful chances and ex-Red David James will have enjoyed a comfortable afternoon.

And they required the sharp relexes of Carson again in the 65th minute when he tipped Musampa's fierce drive against the post.

The Reds could have snatched the points late on when Steven Gerrard could only find the side netting when well placed, but that might have been harsh on a City side beginning to play well for caretaker boss Stuart Pearce.

City secured their first win under Pearce with Musampa's late strike, but it was a goal that will have more significance on Liverpool's season.

It is perhaps apt that on Grand National day Liverpool have fallen when they had to chance to take 4th place, but we will hope that they still have the stamina to stay the course of the marathon Premiership season.

www.liverpoolfc.tv

:support: Mein Fazit:

Der FC Liverpool zeigte nach einigen tollen Spielen auswärts wie schon so oft in dieser Saison wieder sein „ 2. Gesicht“ und ließ sich von den Hausherren in die Defensive zurückdrängen und von den Blues das Spiel der beherzt für Ihren neuen Coach Stuart Pearce kämpfenden Citizens aufdrücken. Liverpool reagierte nur und die Mannschaft wirkte gehemmt, mit dem Kopf schon beim CL-Rückspiel bei Juventus u. präsentierte sich auch dementsprechend. Man hatte nicht das Gefühl Liverpool will zielstrebig auf einen Sieg hinarbeiten um den Verfolgern, besonders Everton etwas vorzulegen. Eine Enttäuschung wie die Mannschaft, die große Chance am Erzrivalen vorbeizuziehen weggeben hat. Rafa Benitez muß sich langsam fragen, warum seine Mannschaft auswärts so erbärmlich, ja phasenweise ängstlich agiert und keinen Mumm zeigt. Einzig und allein Scott Carson’s tollen Paraden :super: war es zu verdanken, dass Liverpool nicht früh in Rückstand geriet. Ein großes Lob wieder an den 19jährigen, der drauf und dran ist Dudek zur Nr.2 zu degradieren. :clap: Manchester City gewann schließlich trotz des späten Tores verdient ein Spiel das die Reds nie und nimmer verlieren, zumindest unentschieden gestalten hätten müssen. Es bleiben nach dieser ernüchternden Niederlage wieder fraglose Gesichter und hängende Köpfe zurück und ein Trainer, der sich wieder mal einiger Fragen stellen wird – hoffentlich findet er die richtigen Antworten… :confused:

Angesichts der CL-Partie ist diese Niederlage natürlich wieder zu einem ganz schlechten Zeitpunkt gekommen, aber eine Spitzenmannschaft zeichnet Konstanz aus und die fehlt uns einfach. Das CL-Ausscheiden muß man nach dem Hinspiel mit dem Gegentor in Kauf nehmen, obwohl die Hoffnung bekanntlich zuletzt stirbt, aber wenn am nächsten Wochenende die Tottenham Hotspurs nicht geschlagen werden, dann sieht es wirklich sehr düster aus im Kampf um den 4. Platz – es verbleiben noch 5 Spiele, darunter das Auswärtsmatch bei den Gunners, vor dem einem nach der dürftigenLeistung in Manchester schon jetzt Angst und Bange sein muß... :nervoes:

Fakt ist jedenfalls die Breite des Kaders gehört einfach verbessert. Rafa Benitez muß im Sommer aussortieren und Spieler, die nicht das Zeug haben für die Reds zu spielen, abgeben. Die derzeitige Mannschaft kann Leistungsträger und Schlüsselspieler nicht ersetzen und wirkt nicht gefestigt genug Rückschläge zu kontern. Für Benitez ist seine erste durchwachsene Saison an der Anfield Road in dieser Hinsicht sehr lehrreich und der Coach wird die richtigen Schlüsse aus der 12. Saisonniederlage ziehen um „seinen FC Liverpool“ der Zukunft aufzubauen und zu gestalten. Auch wenn es für einen Liverpool-Fan bitter ist - wir müssen nach vorne schauen und diese Niederlage so schnell wie möglich abhaken, noch ist der 4. Platz nicht verloren, doch die nächsten Spiele sind MUSS-Siege... :raunz:

Premier League – 32. Spieltag

Manchester City – FC Liverpool 1:0 (0:0)

Manchester City: James - Onuoha (Mills 67.), Dunne, Distin, Jordan - Reyna, Barton, Bosvelt (Croft 73.), Musampa – Fowler, Sibierski (Bradley Wright-Phillips 83.)

FC Liverpool: Carson – Finnan, Carragher, Pellegrino, Warnock – Luis Garcia (Smicer 68.), Gerrard, Biscan, Riise (Traore 82.) - Le Tallec - Morientes (Welsh 78.)

1:0 Kiki Musampa (90.)

City of Manchester-Stadium – 47 203 – SR: Mike Riley

bearbeitet 10. April 2005 von goleador2000

ianrush · 10. April 2005

Gerrard fällt wahrscheinlich mit einer Leistenverletzung gegen Juventus aus. :clap: Gerüchteweise soll er, wenn er spielt, für den Rest der Saison ausfallen. Wirds wohl IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRR richten müssen...

Das Mittelfeld dürft dann wahrscheinlich so aussehen :

Nunez - Biscan - Welsh - Riise :laugh: und Juve scheisst sich wegen der Verletzung von Zebina an...

bearbeitet 10. April 2005 von ianrush

Pinturicchio · 11. April 2005

Das Mittelfeld dürft dann wahrscheinlich so aussehen :
Nunez - Biscan - Welsh - Riise und Juve scheisst sich wegen der Verletzung von Zebina an...

Ich tippe das Liverpool mit einem 4-5-1 agieren wird:

Baros

Riise - Xabi - Biscan - Nunez - Luis Garcia

Traore - Carragher - Hyppiä - Finnan

Carson

ianrush · 13. April 2005

redandwhitekop.com

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

bearbeitet 13. April 2005 von ianrush

basilese · 13. April 2005

Baros

Riise - Xabi - Biscan - Nunez - Luis Garcia

Traore - Carragher - Hyppiä - Finnan

Carson

ist mir übrigens erst heute aufgefallen dass die ja nur mit einem engländer spielen :eek: :nein: .

wieviel engländer sind eigentlich in der chelsea stammelf? bei arsenal siehts ja auch nicht besser aus.

ianrush · 13. April 2005

Baros

Riise - Xabi - Biscan - Nunez - Luis Garcia

Traore - Carragher - Hyppiä - Finnan

Carson

ist mir übrigens erst heute aufgefallen dass die ja nur mit einem engländer spielen .

wieviel engländer sind eigentlich in der chelsea stammelf? bei arsenal siehts ja auch nicht besser aus.

Naja am meisten Engländer hat United in der Stammaufstellung. Aber ganz so extrem ist es bei uns normalerweise auch nicht.

Im Tor liefern sich 2 Engländer ein Duell mit einem Polen. Gerrard ist verletzt, links in der Viererkette wechseln sich auch immer Traore und Warnock ab. Finnan ist Ire, also mehr oder weniger auch von der Insel. Aber stimmt, sonst gibts nicht viele. Liegt leider daran, dass gewisse Mannschaften (United, Russen) den Preis für englische Spieler extrem in die Höhe getrieben haben und man um das selbe Geld 2-3 gleichwertige Ausländer bekommt. Trotzdem traurig.

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

goleador2000 · 14. April 2005

CL: FC Liverpool holt Remis und schafft den Aufstieg ins Semi-Finale !!! :clap:

@by goleador2000 :busserl:

Der FC Liverpool ging mit einem 2:1 Vorsprung in dieses wichtige Match und die Marschroute der Mannschaft war auf Sicherung der Defensive ausgelegt. Benitez schickte die Mannschaft mit einem defensiven 4-5-1 System in das Rückspiel. Der Spanier mußte Captain Stevie Gerrard ersetzen, der wegen einer Adduktorenzerrung die Reise nach Turin gar nicht antreten konnte. Für ihn spielte nach seiner langen Verletzung erstmalig wieder Xabi Alonso an der Seite von Igor Biscan im zentralen Mittelfeld und er war für die Reds Goldes wert. Er ist zwar nach seiner schweren Verletzung noch nicht wieder der Alte, aber puncto Spielgestaltung und –beruhigung und seines unnachahmlichen sicheren Paßspiels ein absoluter Gewinn für das Team. Im Tor erhielt der routiniertere Dudek den Vorzug gegenüber Scott Carson. Riise und Nunez agierten auf den Außenpositionen und Luis Garcia als offensivster Mittelfeldspieler hinter der alleinigen Spitze Milan Baros. Die 4er-Kette lief in der gewohnten Formation auf. Juventus Turin Coach Fabio Capello schickte sein Team sehr offensiv eingestellt in das Spiel. Er agierte mit einem 3-4-1-2-System. Mit Montero in der zentralen Verteidigung und Thuram und Cannavaro an seiner Seite, mit Zambrotta und Camoranesi auf den Außenpositionen, Emerson und dem jungen Uru Olivera im zentral defensiven Mittelfeld und Nedved hinter den Spitzen, die Ibrahimovic und Del Piero hießen.

Juventus Turin begann dementsprechend offensiv, war klar feldüberlegen und schnürte den FC Liverpool in der eigenen Hälfte ein. Das 5er-Mittelfeld konnte die Reds in Schach halten und der FC Liverpool gewann in der Anfangsphase wenige Zweikämpfe und war in der Defensive gebunden. Obwohl Juventus Turin sehr viel Ballbesitz und die klare Feldüberlegenheit hatte, waren Chancen aber Mangelware. Die Vecchia Signora versuchte über die starken Flügelpositionen, die Camoranesi und Zambrotta bekleideten, zum Erfolg zu kommen, doch das gelang zu selten – Djimi Traore und Steve Finnan spielten sehr solide und verstrickten die Juve-Atkeure immer wieder in Zweikämpfe. John-Arne Riise und Antonio Nunez ließen sich immer wieder zurückfallen und halfen den beiden Pool-Verteidigern immer wieder die Außen Juves zu doppeln, das gelang vorzüglich. Juventus hatte in Halbzeit eins so gut wie keine klare Torchance. Eine Zambrotta-Flanke hätte Ibrahimovic verwerten und Juventus früh in Führung bringen können, doch er traf den Ball nicht richtig und donnerte das Leder über die Latte (11.). Einige unglückliche Abseitsentscheidungen des russischen Schiedsrichters halfen ebenfalls mit Juventus aus dem Tritt zu bringen. Liverpool konnte sich in der ersten Hälfte so gut wie nicht gegen durchsetzen und keine einzige Chance erarbeiten, stand aber im Defensivverbund sehr gut, abgeklärt und sehr sicher. Jerzy Dudek wurde kaum geprüft ,da Juventus die Angriffe sehr behäbig und zögernd vortrug und Liverpool eigentlich nicht richtig gefordert wurde. Die Teams gingen torlos in die Pause.

In der Pause reagierten beide Trainer auf das Spiel. Capello brachte den Urugayo Marcelo Zalayeta als 3. Spitze, er nahm seinen Landsmann Olivera vom Feld und setzte nun voll auf Offensive – sein Team agierte in einem 3-4-3-System, Rafa Benitez beließ sein Team unverändert doch die Mannschaft agierte sofot zielstrebiger und offensiver, ließ sich nicht soweit zurückdrängen wie noch in Halbzeit eins und suchte selbst das Heil in der Offensive. Ein Traumpaß von Xabi Alonso landete genau im Lauf von Milan Baros, doch dieser konte, bedrängt von Thuram und Montero, den Ball nicht an Buffon vorbeibringen (50.). Dieses Tor hätte wohl den Todesstoß für Juventus bedeutet. So blieb es weiterhin spannend. Ein Camoranesi-Freistoß fand ihn Emerson eine Kopfballabnahme, doch Dudek hatte keine Mühe den Ball zu halten. (65.) Liverpool war in der Phase des Spiels präsenter und stand den Juventus-Akteuren zunehmendest auf den Füssen bzw. dämmte die Angriffe auf ein Minimum ein. Juventus wurde nur noch durch Standardsituationen gefährlich und versuchte durch Härteattacken die Liverpooler aus dem Rhythmus zu bringen und in ihrer Sicherheit zu stören bzw. zu verunsichern. Ibrahimovic und Zambrotta sahen nach schweren Fouls zu Recht gelb und Emerson, der gegen Biscan nachtrat, hatte viel Glück, daß er nicht vom Platz flog. Schiri Ivanov, der ein guter Leiter des Spiels war, gab ihm lediglich gelb – er hätte für dieses Foul ohne Ball rot verdient !!! Juventus wirkte in dem Spiel nicht zielstrebig und bissig genug, man wußte auf die gut gestaffelte Abwehr und die konsequente und abgeklärte Defensivleistung der Reds kein geignetes Mittel. Die Angriffe wurden stereotyp vorgetragen, man verstrickte sich in Einzelaktionen oder versuchte mit hohen Bällen, die Liverpooler Defensive zu überwinden. Dieses Vorhaben mißlang, da sich Sami Hyypiä als Herr der Lüfte erwies und alles Gefährliche wegköpfte was in den Strafraum flog. Was der Finne nicht wegräumte, daß erledigten Jamie Carragher, Djimi Traore und Steve Finnan in bravouröser Manier. Eine ausgezeichnete kämpferische Leistung und eine fehlerlose Darbietung der gesamten Liverpooler Abwehr während des gesamten Spiels, war ausschlaggebend für den großartigen Triumph. Bei Liverpool gab es zur großen Freude aller noch ein weiteres vielumjubeltes Comeback von Djibril Cissé. Der Franzose, der nach seinem Schien- und Wadenbeinbruch zur rechten Zeit zurückkehrt, ersetzte nach 75 Minuten den wieder mal toll rackernden Milan Baros als alleinige Spitze. Zuvor kam schon Smicer für Nunez aufs Feld und später auch noch Le Tallec zu seinem Einsatz. Am Charakter des Spiels änderte sich nur wenig. Nur noch einmal geriet die Reds-Abwehr noch ins Schwanken - ein Geniestreich von Del Piero war in der 78. Spielminute der Ausgangspunkt: er setzte Zalayeta in Szene, Stephen Finnan, der starke solide irische Rechtsverteidiger der Reds, konnte den Uru noch vor der Strafraumgrenze am Trikot zurückhalten und sah gelb. Freistoß für Juve. Del Piero überwindet mit einem gezirkelten Ball die Abwehr und findet den Kopf von Fabio Cannavaro. Dieser trifft nur den Pfosten und Traore und Dudek in einer Gemeinschaftsproduktion bewahren den FC Liverpool vor dem so wichtigen Verlusttor und stürzten Juventus und das Stadio Delle Alpi in ein "Tal der Tränen". Bei all dem Verletzungspech was den Reds in dieser Saison widerfahren ist – Fortuna war endlich mal auf der Seite des FC Liverpool. Glück hat bekanntlich nur der Tüchtige und Liverpool hatte es einfach mal verdient. Capello brachte mit Appiah und Pessotto noch frische Kräfte und setzte auf totale Offensive. Doch ein heroisch kämpfender, in allen Mannschaftsteilen ohne Schwachpunkt spielender FC Liverpool war nicht mehr zu überwinden und stieg verdient ins Semi-Finale der CL auf !!!

:support: Wahnsinn !!! Super !!! Phänomenal !!! Wer hätte vor diesem Duell gedacht, daß wir die starke Juventus-Mannschaft aus der CL boxen ??? Wohl niemand – ein großes Lob an Rafa Benitez und seine Mannen – man darf als Reds-Anhänger sehr stolz auf diese Mannschaft und seinen spanischen Toptrainer sein. Jetzt wartet mit Chelsea ein weiteres großes Kaliber. Wir treffen nach 2 unglücklichen Meisterschaftsniederlagen (jeweils 0:1) und einem mehr als unglücklich verlaufenden Carling-Cup-Finale (2:3) erneut auf die Blues, gegen die wir in keinem der bisherigen Saisonspiele die schlechtere Mannschaft waren. Das sollte die Reds noch mehr anspornen und zuversichtlich stimmen. Wer Juventus aus den Weg räumt, der braucht sich vor keiner Mannschaft in Europa verstecken. Wir können, wenn uns das nötige Glück, das eine Mannschaft braucht, weiterhind hold bleibt, auch die Hürde Chelsea überspringen und ein Ticket zum CL-Finale nach Istanbul lösen !!!

CL-Viertelfinale – Rückspiel

Juventus Turin – FC Liverpool 0:0

Hinspiel: 1:2 – Gesamtscore: 1:2 – Liverpool steigt ins Semi-Finale auf :happy:

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

FC Liverpool: Dudek – Finnan, Carragher, Hyypiä, Traore – Nunez (Smicer 58.), Biscan, Xabi Alonso, Riise, Luis Garcia (Le Tallec 85.) – Baros (Cissé 76.)

Stadio Dell Alpi – 55 464 – SR: Valentin Ivanov (Russland)

goleador2000 – 14.4.2005 :winke:

:teufel:

bearbeitet 14. April 2005 von goleador2000

ianrush · 14. April 2005

Liverpool begin to believe
By Alan Hansen

BBC Sport football expert

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/default.stm

Liverpool's brilliant defensive display against Juventus in Turin set up an all-Premiership Champions League semi-final against Chelsea - and the once unlikely possibility that my old club could claim the trophy for a fifth time.

You gauge the health of your domestic league not by how many teams you get to European semi-finals but by how many you get to finals.

And the simple fact that the Premiership is guaranteed one representative in European football's elite club competition is a sign that all is well at the top end of the table in England.

If there is a downside in Liverpool's season, it is the maddening inconsistency that means they can lose miserably at Manchester City on a Saturday and play like heroes against Juventus on a Wednesday.

Rafael Benitez will know this must be cured and outstanding European displays must be integrated into Premiership performances next season.

But, in the expertise he has shown tactically in Europe and the brilliant displays of his team, Benitez has not only given Liverpool fans hope, but massive optimism.

Juventus were incredibly inept in Turin but take nothing away from Liverpool - and my growing feeling that they could actually win the Champions League comes from the way they coped with the two distinct faces of European football in this quarter-final.

They rolled over the top of Juventus at Anfield, then defended with great organisation and resilience away from home.

I recall a backs-to-the-wall performance against Bayern Munich in Germany in the European Cup semi-final in 1981, when we were without key defenders and lost Kenny Dalglish after seven minutes.

Liverpool's performance, without Steven Gerrard and a host of others, reminded me of that in Turin.

Chelsea will be favourites for the semi-final, while AC Milan will be favourites to claim the trophy, particularly when looking such a magnificent side in beating a Manchester United team that was flying when they met in the last 16.

But Liverpool have shown that, on a given day, they can beat anyone - and that's why I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that they could win the whole thing.

No-one, myself including, would have given Liverpool a prayer of doing that, not least when they turned in abject displays against the likes of Birmingham and Southampton earlier this season.

But in Europe they are a team transformed and have shown that they can threaten anyone.

Chelsea may be 30 points ahead of Liverpool in the Premiership and have three wins under their belt against them this season but, in a strange way, Benitez can take heart from those games.

I recall when I played for a dominant Liverpool, Chelsea had an Indian sign over us in the cup competitions and I remember coming a cropper on a couple of occasions.

And over two legs of a European semi-final there can be many twists and turns. Liverpool will be underdogs but they will have faith in themselves after the way they dispatched Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus.

Liverpool played badly at Stamford Bridge and lost but in the narrow 1-0 defeat at Anfield and in the loss in the Carling Cup final, they more than matched Chelsea for long periods.

And this will not be like some cagey European affair.

The semi-final will be a typical Premiership collision, with tackles flying in and no room for the faint-hearted.

Chelsea's confidence will be high and they have some real thoroughbreds in their team, but Liverpool will know they are three games away from the big prize.

Liverpool's fans have had some terrible lows in recent times and just to reach the Champions League semi-final will give them a massive high.

But there may just be a growing feeling inside Anfield, both from players and supporters, that this unlikely adventure could go all the way to the final destination in Istanbul on 25 May.

Wenns sogar schon Hansen sagt .

In defence of Benítez
By guiding Liverpool's rag-tag mob into the last four of the Champions League, Rafa Benítez has done the unimaginable, argues Sean Ingle

Thursday April 14, 2005

Rafael Benitez

The Rafalution is gathering pace (Getty)

It was only in the dry, fussy heat of mid-summer that Rafa Benítez realised quite what he was getting into at Liverpool. Throughout the early days of pre-season training he had watched, with increasing befuddlement, as his squad [admittedly without its siesta-ing Euro 2004 stars] utterly failed to master some of the most basic drills he'd used at Valencia.

Benítez, one of the game's realists, knew that rebuilding Liverpool would take time. But he wasn't quite expecting the football equivalent of Scrapheap Challenge.

Article continues

Nine months on, and that same Liverpool squad - with a few minor adjustments - have boisterously barged into the semi-finals of the Champions League. So it's high time Benítez was lauded for one of the finest achievements by a Premiership manager in recent times. And no, that isn't an exaggeration. (Or, before you ask, a classic case of journalistic bandwagon-jumping).

Just look at some of the players in Liverpool's starting XI in Turin. Jerzy Dudek, whose fumbling fingers have gifted goals by the gazillion in recent seasons. Djimi Traore, who gives the impression that the ball could run under his studs every time he tries to trap it. The fitful Igor Biscan. And Milan Baros, a head-down forward with all the spatial awareness of the late Ray Charles.

And yet, Benítez - who cleverly switched tactics to 3-5-2 against Juventus to squeeze the midfield as well as to allow Xabi Alonso the freedom to ping his PlayStation passes - found a way to lead this rag-tag mob into the last four of Europe's premier club competition.

Equally impressive is how Benítez takes the rough with the smooth - never, for example, has he moaned about his long injury list (and long is probably an understatement seeing as Liverpool are currently without - deep breath - Fernando Morientes, Mauricio Pellegrino, Dietmar Hamann, Harry Kewell, Josemi, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Chris Kirkland, Steven Gerrard and Neil Mellor - and relax).

Contrast that with Gerard Houllier's reaction every time Liverpool lost: blaming injuries, players, referees, everyone, in short, but himself. And can you imagine Sir Alex Ferguson's reaction to having such gigantic gaps in his squad before a big European tie? Icy excuses would rain down with the fury of the Lancashire skies in January.

Domestically, of course, Liverpool haven't always been pretty. In fact they've often been dire. They've lost twice to Birmingham, of all clubs, while pithy defeats against Bolton, Manchester City, Southampton and Burnley have frequently threatened to derail their season.

No wonder, then, that Benítez has suffered by comparison with the brilliant Jose Mourinho. But when Mourinho arrived at Chelsea he inherited a squad on the verge of Very Big Things, while Benítez was left with a few diamonds - one of whom, Michael Owen soon departed, while the other, Gerrard, has spent the season making frequent I-want-to-leave protestations - and a squad that was a living testament to the folly of letting Houllier loose with a chequebook.

Benítez has less of a defence domestically when compared with David Moyes, who has done an exceptional job at Everton. But he can at least point to progress: the signings of Alonso, sharp of mind and fleet of foot, and Morientes, who only needs an injury-free run to show his myriad talents. Meanwhile Jamie Carragher continues to develop into Liverpool's answer to John Terry.

Not all Benítez's signings have been as successful, admittedly. But even those who appear to be out-and-out duffers, like Pellegrino, have more than meets the eye: the Argentinian (admittedly now a shadow of the defensive brickhouse he once was) is a great organiser who - like Laurent Blanc with Mikael Silvestre at Old Trafford - has readily passed on his experience. The Liverpool coach reckons he'll develop into a great coach, too.

Such attention to detail sums up Benítez, a man who is so meticulous that he banned paella, olives and ice-cream from Valencia's pre-match meal - much to the players' disgust - in order to squeeze an extra 1% out of their performances.

It will take time to makeover this scrappy Liverpool collective into the silky Valencia side that won La Liga title twice in three years, of course, but Benítez can only work with the tools he's got.

In that respect, he deserves all the credit in the world. Mourinho will rightly win manager of the year this season, but the Liverpool coach surely deserves a place alongside Moyes on the podium too.

bearbeitet 14. April 2005 von ianrush

ianrush · 15. April 2005

Liverpool find their European legs
A game of two halves suits the patient strategy of Benítez

Kevin McCarra

Friday April 15, 2005

The Guardian

It was well past midnight when regular traffic had to scatter on Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The high-speed convoy of police motorcycles and cars, with shrill sirens and throbbing lights, held in its midst a few drab buses packed with Merseyside fans. This was a security operation but the whole disconsolate city of Turin was in a hurry to get Liverpool out of town, out of mind. Now they are Chelsea's problem.

Article continues

Rafael Benítez's side had shamed Juventus in the goalless return leg of the Champions League quarter-final, making the Serie A footballers wither by starving them of possession. That sort of ploy is the key to success in European football and it could yet be Liverpool who unlock the door to the final itself.

The three defeats by Chelsea this season might be mistaken for confirmation of irredeemable inferiority but the situation is not so clear-cut. A rampant Liverpool might have gone ahead at Anfield if Tiago's hand-ball in the area had not gone disgracefully unnoticed.

Benítez's team would not have deserved to win the League Cup but they came close to doing so until Steven Gerrard's own-goal in the 79th minute. The faith that Chelsea can be overcome this time does not rest, all the same, on any entitlement to a change of fortune.

It is the manner in which Liverpool's manager can alter his side's characteristics over the course of a tie that will be important. A blistering half-hour of Premiership vehemence set up the 2-1 win over an astonished Juventus at Anfield. Fabio Capello was then even more baffled to find composed opponents setting a cerebral tone at the Stadio delle Alpi. Of England's clubs, perhaps only Chelsea themselves could be as versatile.

Benítez is a strategist and the immediacy of England's domestic competitions is still alien to him. With the side engaged in no more than a blundersome bid for fourth place, the Premiership has been a short, sharp shock. He prefers the long game and will have a minimum of three hours to pit his wits against Jose Mourinho.

The moderation of Benítez is such that even the club's obsession with Gerrard can be tamed. The captain was missing with a thigh strain on Wednesday and he was also absent from the first part of the tie with Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round. Redoubtable as he is, it was simpler for Liverpool to strike the note they wanted without him in Turin.

Gerrard is an adventurer, a game-changer, but Liverpool yearned to cram the match with secure passing so that there was no room for goals. His infatuation with the defence-splitting delivery was better shelved for future use. Xabi Alonso, uncannily good on his return from a broken ankle and aided significantly by Igor Biscan, was the embodiment of the Benítez blueprint.

With five alert players in midfield, Liverpool ensured that Pavel Nedved, who had roamed tellingly at Anfield, had nowhere meaningful to go. Even if they are suited to European football, it nonetheless has to be borne in mind that the victors are no superpower. It is not so long ago that former players jostled one another to be first at the microphone in damning this team as the club's worst in decades.

Benítez himself was scorned in the process. It is as well that this manager is patient since there has been a long wait for the change of circumstances. A transformation is a fragile business, too, and it was nearly smashed in Turin.

Late in the match Fabio Cannavaro's header struck a post and was bound for the net after ricocheting off Djimi Traoré until Jerzy Dudek saved on the line. It would have been savage ill fortune if Juventus, thanks to the away-goals rule, had prevailed in that fashion but memories would still have surged back of the defender's part in the FA Cup defeat by Burnley.

At Turf Moor Traoré had attempted to deal with a cross by first working it on to his left foot but, with a cumbersome parody of the Cruyff turn, put through his own goal. His rehabilitation and that of Liverpool are provisional.

Even so, Chelsea are currently more exasperated by injuries, particularly to defenders. The visitors, for their part, will hold the ball more reliably during the first leg of the Champions League tie at Stamford Bridge on April 27 than they did in the League Cup final, when they seemed confused to have a lead to protect after 45 seconds.

Gerrard is probably still correct in his suggestion that Liverpool are not good enough to win the Champions League but the side might just ensure that Chelsea cannot do so either.

The Omens: who will reach the final?

·When Liverpool first lifted the European Cup in 1977, Star Wars IV hit the big screen. This year Star Wars III goes on general release. Rafael Benítez might need Jedi mind tricks to complete a sequel.

·The last time Chelsea faced English opposition in a European semi-final - Manchester City in the 1971 Cup-Winners' Cup - they won the competition.

·Liverpool retained the European Cup against Bruges in 1978, the same year two popes died - Paul VI and John Paul I.

·Chelsea last won in Europe in 1998 when a 7-1 favourite, Earth Summit, won the Grand National. This year, another 7-1 shot, Hedgehunter, did the same. Does this make Jose Mourinho the housewives' choice?

·Liverpool again won the European Cup in 1981, the year both Prince Charles and Ken and Deirdre from Coronation Street first tied the knot. They have all done it again, perhaps the Reds are due another big day.

·Chelsea won the League Cup in 1998 after extra-time on their way to picking up the Cup-Winners' Cup. They have already seen off Liverpool after added time in Cardiff . . .

·In 1981 Britain watched from behind the sofa as a new Doctor Who, Peter Davidson, stepped out of his phone box. Will Christopher Eccleston herald another Liverpool success?

luzifer2712 · 15. April 2005

Finde es schade das El Hadji Diouf nicht mehr bei den Reds spielt.

Habe ihn nicht so schlecht gefunden und war auch ziemlich locker drauf wenn man die Senegaläsen bei der WM 2002 im Zimmer gesehen hat wie sie sich ALLE aufgeführt haben.

goleador2000 · 15. April 2005

Finde es schade das El Hadji Diouf nicht mehr bei den Reds spielt.
Habe ihn nicht so schlecht gefunden und war auch ziemlich locker drauf wenn man die Senegaläsen bei der WM 2002 im Zimmer gesehen hat wie sie sich ALLE aufgeführt haben.

Ja. Nach seiner guten WM 2002 haben wir uns alle sehr viel von der Verpflichtung von El Hadji Diouf versprochen. Nun zuerst hat er so gut wie nie getroffen, dann hat in Gerard Houllier auf der falschen Position (Rechtsaussen) eingesetzt und so konnte er sich bei Liverpool eigentlich nie behaupten. Lt. Rafa Benitez hat er immer noch die Chance zu Liverpool zurückzukehren, aber ich glaube es ist besser wir geben ihn zu einem guten Transferpreis ab.

Anderes Thema:

Eine interessante Stellungnahme des Coachs zum zukünftigen Mittelfeld-Duo Xabi Alonso/Steven Gerrard :love: - Rafa Benitez hält (genau wie ich :yes: ) größte Stücke auf den 23jährigen potentiellen Superstar Liverpools und Spaniens und sieht ihn bereits jetzt als eine Schlüsselfigur und kommende Führungspersönlichkeit für unsere nahe Zukunft - ja er vergleicht ihn mit keinem geringeren als Kop-Legende "King" :king: Kenny Dalglish :v: - mit diesem Mann haben wir sowohl fußballerisch als auch menschlich einen Goldgriff getätigt, das sollten die letzten Zweifler kapiert haben :clap:

RAFA: XABI CAN BE OUR KENNY
Steve Hunter 15 April 2005

Rafael Benitez believes the signing of Xabi Alonso is his most influential one so far at Liverpool and feels he can inspire the team just like Kenny Dalglish used to do at Anfield.

The Liverpool manager says he is excited by the return of the Spanish playmaker and admits his presence has a great effect on the Reds team.

Benitez said: "People told me when I came to this country that you need to have lots of hard, physical players to succeed in English football.

"But when I look at the best players in the history of the Premiership or at the top of the English game, the most influential are those with the most skill.

"You have Dalglish who inspired the great Liverpool side, Cantona at Manchester United, Zola at Chelsea and Bergkamp who was crucial at the start of Arsenal success. These are players who rely on skill more than physical play.

"For me, Xabi is the kind of player who can come into their category. Of course, you always need good players around someone like this which is why it's a shame we've had few opportunities to have Xabi and Steven Gerrard playing with each other. With both of them, we could do a lot better than we are.

"It was a pity we lost Xabi for three months because if he'd been playing for the whole season, I'm sure we'd have more points. He makes our team play well. He is a youngster with the mentality of an experienced player.

"Football has been his life because of his family and he analyses the game as well as he plays it.

"When Xabi plays we pass the ball a lot better. Our vision is to create a Liverpool team which passes the ball well across all sides of the pitch, and this is something which Xabi does very well.

"When we joined Liverpool, Xabi and Luis Garcia were the players we knew we wanted to bring to the club with us."

www.liverpoolfc.tv

bearbeitet 15. April 2005 von goleador2000

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