KUYT: WE NEED TO KEEP WINNING

Steve Hunter 24 December 2007

Dirk Kuyt claims Liverpool have to keep on winning during the festive period to stay in the title race.
Rafael Benitez's side face Derby County, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic over Christmas and Kuyt believes the team are capable of taking maximum points from these games.

The Dutch striker said the Reds are capable of challenging the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United in the quest for glory, but acknowledged that the team has to go on a winning run in order to achieve their aims.

"We have to win our next three now at Derby, Manchester City and at home to Wigan and if we can get nine points from those games I think we will get closer to the other teams," said Kuyt.

"We want to go on a run and win a lot of games. Every defeat in the league is big one for us because you just want to win and compete with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea so we can't afford to lose many more.

"We just have to look at the next games and look forward."

The Dutch striker is confident that Liverpool can go on a good run, especially with a certain number nine in Fernando Torres leading the attack.

"Fernando is unbelievably quick and it's what the team needs," added Kuyt. "Quick players and clever players.

"We have got everything in our squad now and we can do something really good so we'll see how far we can go this season."

Champions League 07-08 | Marseille 0-4 Liverpool

OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE 0 - 4 LIVERPOOL

The local paper
The greatest Spanish striker of his generation? A cool £20m. A thrilling young Dutchman? £11.5m. A proven international class centre-forward? That will set you back another £10m. But the joy experienced by 2,800 Liverpool fans in the old French port of Marseille last night, and hundreds of thousands of Liverpool fans worldwide? Priceless. Utterly priceless.
The Echo

The broadsheet
Benitez's men had known how daunting this place could be, how they would have to stick together to survive one of European football's most intimidating arenas. "England Is Our Kingdom" read one banner in the heaving mass of humanity that constitutes the north end of Stade Velodrome. Gerrard was having none of that. Marseille soon became an Englishman's kingdom.
The Daily Telegraph

The tabloid
Not only did they reach the lucrative knock-out stages of the Champions League, not only did they produce their best performance of the season, not only did they take poor Marseille apart, but they also offered a serious statement of intent for the rest of the season. Let's not under-estimate this win. With the incredible pressure Liverpool faced coming into this winner takes-all showdown, this was a display that ranks alongside the great European nights Benitez has enjoyed with the Reds.
The Mirror

The local paper
A magnificent individual performance from the club record signing helped Liverpool secure their passage to the knockout stages of the Champions League at the expense of Marseille and ease the pressure on Benitez. The undoubted highlight was Torres's sensational 11th-minute strike, the striker slaloming through three home challenges before slipping the ball home. A goal that will withstand constant replaying, it epitomised an outstanding team display from Liverpool when Benitez needed it most.
The Daily Post

The boss
I am really proud. It was a fantastic team performance, and that was the key. It was a bad pitch, a windy day but we were compact, worked hard together, were good on the counter-attack and didn't concede. Everything was almost perfect. I say 'almost' because we could have scored more goals. You can never be completely perfect, but the team played really well tonight and I can't have any complaints from them. Rafa Benitez

The opposition boss
It is an extreme shame to have lost this last game. But we have to salute our adversary, who played like they had to here. I have to reckon that our tactics were useless because Liverpool were far too good. I did not say anything to the players - I could have regretted it. Eric Gerets

The player
I always believed we could do it. Even at the time, I said that if there's one team that can win three games in a row, it's Liverpool. This is a club that's proved over the last few years that it can deal with big games. We knew every game would be a final and we won three finals. Yossi Benayoun

The former player
To go over there in a must-win situation, well for Rafa it couldn't have gone any better. We played so well in the first half that we didn't want it to end, but then we made the perfect start again in the second half with the early goal from Kuyt. We were so comfortable then that we could sit back and relax and keep our energy for the Man Utd game. David Johnson

The fan
A challenge marker was put down in front of us: do something no English side had done and win at the Stade Velodrome - or face dropping out of the CL at the first hurdle. What followed was a display straight from the book "Reds in Europe: How to win must-win games".

Liverpool's 8-0 win over Besiktas in the Champions League last month is reportedly under investigation by UEFA on suspicion of match fixing.

RAFA: FANS WERE MAGNIFICENT

Paul Hassall at Anfield 28 November 2007

Rafael Benitez expressed an emotional message of thanks to the club's supporters after Liverpool stormed to an emphatic 4-1 win over Porto in the Champions League.
The Reds boss was delighted with the performance of his players as they ensured that progress to the latter stages of the competition will be assured if they beat Marseille in two weeks' time.

But it was the impact made by the club's fans that struck the most significant chord with the Reds boss as Anfield once again rose to the occasion in Europe.

"I want to say thank you to our supporters because I think that they were as always magnificent," said Benitez.

"The most important thing is the team so I say thank you for the support. To the players it was important as I said before the game and it was also for me, so I say a thank you, a big thank you."

Fernando Torres hit a double and Steven Gerrard (penalty) and substitute Peter Crouch added other late goals to give the scoreline a more flattering look.

And Benitez was pleased to see the club's record signing back among the goals after his impressive display got the Reds back on track following Lisandro's equaliser.

"For me it doesn't matter the price," said Benitez.

"Sometimes people say you spent this money, but Voronin was a Bosman transfer and he has been really good so it is not important the money.

"Torres is a player who can score goals. He missed three or four chances the other day against Newcastle but today he scored and sometimes this is how it happens."

19:45 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Voronin and Torres kick off
1 min : Rafa's name is ringing around Anfield
2 mins : Great corner by Stevie is cleared and Porto break �oh, that's a fabulous tackle by Javier
5 mins : Brilliant move by the Reds ends with a penalty shout when a Benayoun cross appeared to be handled. The ref was having none of it
10 mins : Torres bursts through after another fine tackle from Javier...his shot is saved
11 mins : Quaresma is allowed to shoot but it's further away than the sun
13 mins : That's a poor touch from the skipper but he wins it back
14 mins : Chelsea are one up in Rosenborg...Celtic are losing at home to Shaktar
15 mins : Quaresma is rolling around shock horror
16 mins : We're knocking it round quite well at times
19 mins : Great cut through by Yossi to Gerrard into the box...Stevie should have found someone...
19 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: The Spaniard bags his ninth of the season, heading home well from a Gerrard corner
22 mins : Man Utd's assistant is here...I can't spell his name. How he wishes he had a striker as good our number nine
23 mins : The Yosmiester and Babel have swapped flanks, the Dutchman going over to the right
27 mins : Another great interception by Sami
28 mins : Alvaro is megged but Javier comes to the rescue by taking the guy's legs
29 mins : Great bit of skill by Fernando and the Reds have a corner
32 mins : Top move involving Babel, Stevie, Yossi, Fernando and the ponytail...another corner
33 mins : GOAL! Lisandro Lopez: Totally against the run of play...Lopez heads beyond Reina after a good cross from Kazmierczak
37 mins : It should have been 2-1 Porto then but thankfully Lopez hits narrowly wide
38 mins : First Booking: Sami Hyypia:
38 mins : All of a sudden Liverpool are on the ropes
40 mins : Gerrard hits a 35-yard free-kick...so close
42 mins : Besiktas are beating Marseille 1-0 - that's good
44 mins : Our play is starting to get sloppy
20:30 GMT : Half Time Reached
20:45 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Saw Roy Keane and Sam Allardyce in the directors' box at half-time - chatting about Harry Redknapp no doubt
48 mins : First Booking: Paulo Assuncao:
49 mins : Ryan wins a corner
49 mins : Cleared
50 mins : Cracking Javier, cracking
51 mins : Babel is not shy about taking on his man down the right...and he frequently beats him. So far though his crosses haven't cut it
52 mins : Quaresma has a go at Carra - Carra totally blanks him
54 mins : Reina finds Torres with a superb kick...Torres lays it to Yossi who's running into the box...oh that's terrible
58 mins : Three Liverpool players have long sleeves on...can you guess which?
59 mins : Carra, Torres and the ponytail
59 mins : Okay, and Reina
60 mins : Rafa is talking to Harry
61 mins : Harry is stripping...Carra has just shouted RYAN, RYAN louder than an earthquake
61 mins : Corner...
62 mins : And again...
62 mins : Both wasted
63 mins : Babel cuts through �he refuses to shoot on his left foot. The crowd let out a shriek of frustration
63 mins : Substitution: Harry Kewell for Andriy Voronin:
65 mins : This is all a bit dead
65 mins : Substitution: Raul Meireles for Przemysław Kazmierczak:
66 mins : Good play by Ryan and Haryy...to Gerrard...shoots but it's just over. That's more like it
67 mins : Great tackle from Javier
67 mins : As it stands we would go through if Porto beat or draw with Besiktas and we beat Marseille in the last games
68 mins : Attendance: 41,095
69 mins : Big Pete is coming on
69 mins : Javier is brilliant. Fact
70 mins : Marseille have equalised, which means if we beat them at their place we are through regardless of other results
71 mins : Substitution: Peter Crouch for Yossi Benayoun:
74 mins : Blatent handball on the edge of their box but the muppet doesn't see it
74 mins : Just seen the replay...it wasn't handball. Ha
76 mins : Another penalty shout as Crouch goes down but that would have been harsh
76 mins : Kewell on the volley...corner
77 mins : Substitution: Tarik Sektioui for Mariano Gonzalez:
77 mins : The corner reaches Hyypia...his flick is saved
79 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: Da da da da da der der deeeer
79 mins : Great play by Kewell to tee up Torres for the goal
81 mins : Substitution: Helder Postiga for Paulo Assuncao:
83 mins : GOAL! Steven Gerrard: Stevie seals it from the penalty spot
85 mins : Substitution: Dirk Kuyt for Ryan Babel:
88 mins : GOAL! Peter Crouch: Close range header from Gerrard corner
21:33 GMT : Match Over

Liverpool 4 - Porto 1 ( 28/11/07 )

PEPE: LET'S SEE THE REAL LIVERPOOL

Jimmy Rice 26 November 2007

Pepe Reina is sure he and his teammates have the quality to progress to the second round of the Champions League.
The Reds have to record wins at home to Porto on Wednesday and away in Marseille in two weeks' time.

Reina, though, is confident.

"We are third in the group now and need to register two more wins," said the 25-year-old, who hasn't conceded in four games. "That will not be easy but if we play our real game then we know that will be enough.
"We must win in Marseille, but we must deal with Porto first. There is no point in looking further ahead than that.

"When the team won the trophy back in 2005, in the group stages they managed to get to 10 points, and that was enough. We must aim for that total again, and that will also be enough.

"That run to the final should be a mirror for us. We can look at it as an example of how the situation can be resolved."

Reina was still at Villarreal when Liverpool prevailed in Istanbul, but he was around to share in the disappointment of last season against the same opposition in Athens.

It is an experience he does not want again.

"I have not really looked at that DVD, it is in the past, we lost it and we must forget it and keep going.

"People say we were unlucky in Athens, but in the end Milan won. If we get to the final again we must make sure we do not finish with that same feeling.

"But before we can even think about things like that we must make sure we win these last two group games, we must reach the knock-out rounds before thinking ahead to any more finals."

LIVERPOOL IN DANGER OF MAKING AN EARLY EXIT

The Telegraph 25 October 2007

In the city that once stirred such hope in their hearts, Liverpool walked into a storm last night.
In the city where they lifted the European Cup in 2005, Liverpool were pushed close to European oblivion by a Turkish side who were better organised in defence, midfield and attack.

"The Kop is History" read one of the many banners held aloft by the all-standing, all-shouting Besiktas fans. Such a statement may be slightly premature, as three wins should guarantee Liverpool safe passage through to the knockout stages, but Rafa Benitez's side were touching the void last night.

In the immediate inquest deep in the basement of the Inonu, far from the crowing Turks above, the quixotic Benitez switched between defying the odds and defying belief. "We knew before the game that it was clear we had to win," the Spaniard said. "Now it's even more clear that we have to win all the games. I'm really pleased with the performance; we had 28 attempts on goal. If we create 28 chances in the next game, we'll score more than one goal."

As in the 2005 final, Steven Gerrard scored with a header, allowing Liverpool fans to dream briefly of another famous comeback, but it was too little, too late. Besiktas were already over the horizon through Sami Hyypia's early own goal and a neat finish by the tireless Brazilian, Bobo.

It was still bizarre that Benitez did not bring Peter Crouch on until after Bobo's 82nd-minute strike. Liverpool were crying out for some variety in attack, for a centre-forward who would disturb Gokhan Zan and Ibrahim Toraman, centre-halves who embodied the intelligence, athleticism and determination contained in Besiktas' defence.

"The strikers Dirk Kuyt and Andrei Voronin] were doing well," countered Benitez. Yossi Benayoun and Lucas Leiva, who arrived before Crouch, hardly resembled the cavalry.

On a night littered with negatives, there were a few positives for Liverpool to cling to. Marseille's draw with Porto means the French have not pulled away in Group A. Ryan Babel's constant raids down the left showed why Benitez paid £11.5 million for the Dutch international.

And there was a wonderful sporting exchange between the rival supporters at the end, with Besiktas chanting Liverpool's name and the small contingent of Kopites repaying the compliment.

Otherwise, Liverpool took only empty hearts and ringing ears back home with them. Benitez's side dropped more than three points here. They lost the chance to inject some belief back in to red veins. And how they need Fernando Torres, their best finisher, fit for the visit of a vibrant Arsenal on Sunday.

How they need Daniel Agger back from his broken metatarsal when they limp back into Europe with home ties next month against Besiktas and Porto. If they win those, Liverpool will have seven points, but are still likely to require victory at Marseille in their final Group A outing. Stade Velodrome may even generate as much noise as the Inonu last night.

Just before kick-off here, a lone bugler arrived to play the Last Post as Besiktas fans paid homage to the Turkish soldiers killed by Kurdish rebels last week. This pre-match moment of solemnity proved the only quiet passage of an astonishing, deafening evening.

The Inonu is proud of its record of football's loudest ever decibel level - 132. After 13 minutes, Besiktas supporters must have been within a strained larynx of setting a new mark.

The fanatical disciples of the Black Eagles religion were racing through the vocal gears as Bobo sped through Liverpool's defence. The danger seemed to have passed when Jamie Carragher put in a marvellous sliding tackle, ending Bobo's 40-yard surge deep into Liverpool's box. Unfortunately for the visitors, misfortune arrived on the scene.

Stranded on the ground, Carragher needed to clear quickly, but his attempt struck Steve Finnan. Mishaps abounded. As the Liverpool fans behind Pepe Reina's goal looked on aghast, the ball fell to the unmarked Serdar Ozkan. With Liverpool's defence in disarray, Ozkan met the ball strongly. It clipped Hyypia and flew into the net, giving the wrong-footed Reina no chance.

The Inonu dissolved into raucous celebration. Not only was this Besiktas' first goal in 192 Group A minutes but Liverpool were patently confused by the Turks' 4-3-2-1 formation, and particularly the swift breaks by Ozkan and the Argentine, Matias Delgado, towards and beyond Bobo.

Besiktas were able to exploit vast acres of space in midfield because Liverpool needed to attack. After only one point against Porto and Marseille, they had to take risks. Sometimes they fanned out in a 2-4-4 configuration with the full-backs, Finnan and John Arne Riise, pushed up, leaving Carragher and Hyypia exposed.

Staring into European oblivion after Besiktas' goal, Liverpool sought to rally. Hakan Arikan, Besiktas' excellent keeper, tipped over a typically meaty Riise drive. Then Gerrard sparked into life, working a good move with Andrei Voronin and Dirk Kuyt, making promising ground into Besiktas' box. This was more like the Gerrard of 2005, charging across Turkish soil. He connected well enough with the ball but Arikan advanced rapidly to block the shot.

Jermaine Pennant, Gerrard twice and Babel all went close, but Besiktas were happy to soak up the pressure and then hit on the break, devastatingly through Bobo late on when he calmly slid the ball between Reina's legs.

Gerrard's header gave brief hope but Liverpool discovered to their cost that lightning does not strike twice in Istanbul.

GERRARD: TRUST US, WE'LL GET THINGS RIGHT

Paul Eaton 08 October 2007

Steven Gerrard has urged Liverpool fans not to panic after two more Barclays Premier League points slipped away at Anfield yesterday.

The Reds' skipper is aware of the mood of disappointment among supporters after the Reds dropped points at home for the third time this season, but he insists there's no reason to feel despondent with the team still unbeaten in the league and sitting in the top four of the table.

"We haven't been ourselves of late, that's true," Gerrard told Liverpoolfc.tv at the opening of Jamie Carragher's Cafe Sports England in the city centre last night. "The results haven't been good and the performances could have been better.

"We're going through a dip in form which all top teams do at some stage and we just have to make sure we play our way through it. We're not performing to the standards we can do but that will change.

"I'm asking the fans to trust me when I say there's no crisis here. We have fantastic players and a world class manager and we will get things right again, there's no doubt about that.

"We've got an international break now which will give Rafa the chance to look at things and work with the players who are staying behind. For those of us going away, we have to get the jobs done with our countries and then come back ready for a massive match at Everton.

"If we can turn in a performance in the derby and win the game then things will be looking better again. That's what we'll be aiming for."

RAFA: TIME TO SHOW OUR QUALITY

Paul Hassall 04 October 2007
Rafael Benitez has called upon his players to stand up and be counted following last night's Champions League defeat to Marseille.

The Reds boss was disappointed with his side's performance throughout the Group A contest and now wants to see his team give a positive response in the forthcoming fixtures against Tottenham, Everton and Besiktas.

"We must improve, we must show our character now," said Benitez.

"We know we have to do better. We showed character to get a draw against Porto when we did not play well, and we showed character to win at Wigan last weekend in a hard match.

"Now we must show character against Tottenham. That is our first priority after the Marseille result."

The Spaniard was questioned over his team selection following the Reds' first defeat of the season but refused to blame individual players for a disappointing display.

"It is not the changes, it is big players not playing well," insisted Rafa.

"I chose Leto because he had been training well and he had played well in the Carling Cup on the left with Fabio Aurelio.

"I wanted to give him his chance because he had shown he was a player who could beat opponents with pace.

"But for me it is not right to talk about only one player, the whole team played badly.

"It is difficult to explain how a team of talented players like ours could give the ball away so much.

"Marseille played well, they pressed us hard and worked well. But we should have been able to create chances behind teams who attack and press like that.

"But we did not create any clear chances. We did have the options, but just failed to take advantage and you do not win if you do not create openings."

With just one point from their opening two Group A fixtures the Reds boss admits his side face an uphill task to qualify for the Knockout stages of the Champions League and believes a win on their travels is now a necessity if they are to maintain any hope of reaching a third European final in just four seasons.

"We are now going to have to win an away game, certainly the next away game with Besiktas," continued Benitez.

"We need points quickly. There has been talk of us needing 10 or 12 points to qualify. Forget all this, we must concentrate first on winning the next group match.

"That is the situation, not what may happen later in the group."

FINNAN: WE OWE THE FANS A PERFORMANCE

Steve Finnan today insisted the Liverpool players are determined to put a smile back on the faces of their fans this weekend following Wednesday's Champions League defeat to Marseille.

RAFA: IT WAS BAD, EVERYTHING WAS WRONG

RAFA BENITEZ accepted that last night's dire 1-0 Champions League defeat to Marseille was the worst home European performance of his managerial reign.

MATCH PREVIEW: REDS V MARSEILLE

Paul Hassall 03 October 2007

When Liverpool face French opposition in Europe it inevitably conjures up images of the epic triumph that was St Etienne.
It was a pivotal 90 minutes of football that set us on the road to becoming European champions for the very first time and is the game that immortalised David Fairclough in Reds folklore.

Since then we have endured mixed fortunes against our Gallic counterparts with wins over Monaco and Auxerre countered by defeats against Strasbourg and Paris St Germain.

This season we have already come up against a side from across The Channel, in Toulouse, but Benitez will be expecting much more of a test when his team take on Olympique Marseille in Match Day Two of Group A.

The French side recently replaced coach Albert Emon with Belgian Eric Gerets after they endured a miserable start to Ligue 1.

A run of one win in nine league matches led the Stade Velodrome outfit to move for the former Galatasaray coach, who arrives with a proven track record having led the Istanbul side to the Turkish championship last season.

It may have been a frustrating start on the domestic scene but in the Champions League it has been a different story and they got their Group A campaign underway in superb style as they secured a 2-0 win at home to Besiktas.

Former Reds striker Djibril Cisse got on the scoresheet and will no doubt be relishing the opportunity to play at Anfield once again, as will veteran Dutch star Bolo Zenden.

In fact the link does not end there as the visitors also boast midfielder Benoit Cheyrou, brother of one-time Reds player Bruno.

The last and only time the two sides met was in the 2003/04 campaign when a Didier Drogba inspired Marseille knocked Gerard Houllier's side out of the UEFA Cup.

A 1-1 draw at Anfield was followed by a 2-1 defeat in France, when the Reds let a 1-0 lead slip after Igor Biscan was sent-off for a professional foul.

RAFA DELIGHTED WITH TORRES TREBLE

Steve Hunter 25 September 2007

Rafa Benitez hailed the display of Fernando Torres after his three-goal blast saw off Reading in the Carling Cup.
The Reds boss was full of praise for his side after seeing goals from Yossi Benayoun and Torres book Liverpool's place in the fourth round of the competition.

"It was a great night for Fernando," said Benitez.

"He had a lot of space and he killed their defenders with his pace and movement.

"The understanding between him and Crouch was very good and I thought it was a fantastic team performance.

"It was a difficult game because Reading tried to play football and they play with a great passion."

Reading 2-4 Liverpool

LIVERPOOL LOSE THEIR CUTTING EDGE

The Times 23 September 2007

The most lethal attack in the Premier League, responsible for 11 goals in the opening four games, was frustrated for the second successive game and suddenly some familiar anxieties are beginning to afflict Liverpool.

Vastly superior to their brave opponents for almost the entire game, Rafa Benitez's team failed to secure the win their control merited through their failure to manufacture more clear-cut opportunities and flagrant profligacy when they did.

Johan Djourou, the 19-year-old on loan from Arsenal, was the epitome of Birmingham's splendid defiance but Benitez could have expected a more emphatic response to the questions raised during a chastening week.

His decision to leave Fernando Torres on the bench yesterday will add to the questions over Liverpool's ability to end their 18-year wait for another league title.

With Peter Crouch also a substitute, the partnership of Andriy Voronin and Dirk Kuyt lacked the necessary cutting edge, for the truth is that Birmingham should have been put to the sword. But Benitez, apparently, is encouraged by his side's start to the season.

Liverpool made an assertive start. John Arne Riise, on the overlap, played a smart one-two with Ryan Babel on the edge of the Birmingham penalty area, which opened a gap almost immediately and the Norwegian might have done better with a low, powerfully-struck shot that went across the face of goal.

Steven Gerrard was ruthless in breaking up potential Birmingham counterattacks, putting in two particularly hard challenges on Mehdi Nafti and Sebastian Larsson early on and Liverpool’s passing was crisp.

But the promise of some high-tempo fireworks quickly evaporated, giving way to a tepid, disappointing first half.

Having made 38 changes to his team in eight matches previously this season, Benitez, the Liverpool manager, made several more.

His hand was forced over defender Daniel Agger and midfielder Xabi Alonso, who were both ruled out with broken metatarsals.

Whether the constant tinkering is a factor or not, the fluidity of their dominating display against Derby three weeks ago was conspicuously lacking as the team remained in second gear.

Birmingham's cause was not helped by an injury sustained by Borja Oubina in the 12th minute. His role was to sit just in front of the back four, but he had to be stretchered off and Blues reverted to four in midfield when Gary McSheffrey was introduced.

Starved of possession in attacking areas and closed down fast any moment they threatened, neither McSheffrey on the left nor Sebastian Larsson on the right could make any inroads and Birmingham's only shot on target in the opening half was an optimistic effort from 40 yards by Wilson Palacios, which Jose Reina gathered comfortably.

Maik Taylor in goal was on a higher state of alert. Liverpool struggled to produce sufficient incisive movement among their attacking players but, from a corner rolled along the deck by Babel, Riise made a sweet connection from 30 yards with the inside of his left boot and his shot narrowly cleared the Birmingham crossbar.

Franck Queudrue made a strong challenge on Kuyt to block the striker's shot at the expense of another corner but from set pieces Liverpool remained largely impotent. Kuyt headed wide from a dangerous cross by Gerrard, then shot wide from outside the area as frustration grew.

The closest the home side came to a breakthrough was just before half-time when Gerrard played a short free kick to Jermaine Pennant, whose 25-yard shot had to be tipped over by Taylor.

Liverpool's play lacked the invention, pace and penetration to break down Birmingham’s dogged defending. The Anfield crowd could barely await the introduction of Torres, who was finally unleashed by Benitez just beyond the hour.

Liverpool at last started to ask serious questions of the Birmingham defence but still they held firm. Gerrard and Pennant were combining on the right side of their penalty area with greater effect, stretching Queudrue and Liam Ridgewell. Jamie Carragher's shot from the edge of the area was blocked by Djourou and yielded a corner, which Pennant steered towards the near post and Gerrard met with a low shot that Nafti, reacting sharply on the line, managed to block and clear. Voronin, who struggled to bring authority to his striking role, almost capitalised on a stray pass by Djourou, holding off the defender and his teammate Ridgewell, to force a fine save from Taylor from the edge of the area.

Birmingham often had 10 men behind the ball, with only Cameron Jerome up front, but the constant pressure was taking its toll. Pennant managed to move in behind the defence from a superb ball by Gerrard and the winger's low cross had to be booted away by Ridgewell just ahead of Kuyt at the near post. Crouch was added to the attack and increased the stress for Birmingham as his aerial threat was put to use.

But it was the class of Torres that almost made the difference. Pennant was increasingly finding space on the right in behind Birmingham's beleaguered defence and a cross into Torres in the centre yielded an opportunity. The Spanish striker produced a stunning overhead kick that just cleared the crossbar, much to the relief of Taylor.

As Liverpool maintained their momentum, Torres intervened again with a clever backheel which Crouch and Gerrard ran onto, and only a perfectly-timed tackle by Stephen Kelly saved Birmingham on the edge of the box. Crouch squandered a final opportunity with a wayward header and Birmingham’s bravery and resilience proved enough to deny Liverpool victory.

Two points lost, which Benitez and his team may come to rue.

AURELIO BACK BUT RIISE RULED OUT

Fabio Aurelio will make a return to the Liverpool squad for tomorrow night's clash against Porto, but John Arne Riise has been ruled out with a groin injury.

Portsmouth vs. Liverpool - Penalty Incident

UEFA Champions League Draw

A LETTER FROM LUIS GARCIA

Dear Reds,

First of all I'd like to apologise for not having been back in touch sooner, but I needed to take some time to take on board all the recent changes and then to put down these words for you.

I'm sure you will understand.

I would rather this be a letter of thanks and gratitude, not simply a goodbye.

Yes, that's right, gratitude, because that is the word that best sums up my feelings for you all.

Taking the decision to change clubs hasn't been easy. Not easy at all.

I've experienced three fantastic years at the club and in the city. Three years in which together, the fans and the team, we have accomplished some fantastic achievements, and I'm sure that these successes will continue to be repeated in the near future.

You know that I like a challenge and that I don't just settle for second best.

Back then Liverpool Football Club gave me the opportunity to be part of an ambitious plan to put the Reds back at the summit of the game.

I think that together we managed to achieve that.

As I said, I do like challenges and in spite of the fact that at that time I was playing for my home town club, one of the biggest in the world, I wanted to be a part of that project that was being presented to me by Liverpool, and so I accepted the challenge.

Now, after three seasons in the Premier League and having won some major trophies, the chance came up for me to return to La Liga and be part of a new project at a club I already knew.

The idea of enjoying things in a Spanish club like we experienced together at Liverpool over these last three years appealed to me, and that's why I accepted the offer.

I want to thank everyone working at Liverpool Football Club for how well they have treated both my family and I, making us feel at home from the very first day to the last.

I also want to thank the management, coaching staff and directors for the opportunity they gave me back then to be part of such an important and well-loved club as Liverpool. A club which has helped me to grow as a footballer and where to date I have enjoyed the biggest success of my career.

Without a doubt, this success has been possible thanks to the outstanding group of players with whom I've been able to share a dressing room over the last three seasons.

I'm not going to mention anyone specifically, because I think that the secret of this team's success has been exactly that: nobody wanted to stand out above the rest and there has always been a great togetherness in the squad, which made it into something more than a group of players, it was a group of friends.

Thanks to all of you for your help and your friendship.

I've left until last the thank you which for me is the most important: Thank you to the supporters.

Your support allowed me to settle quickly at both the club and in the city, and you made me feel really at ease with you all right from the word go; that's the kind of help that you notice most of all during the difficult times, of which there have been a few during my time here.

I'd like to especially thank you for making up a song for me and you should know that every time I heard you singing it, it was like an extra injection of strength and motivation, even helping me to overcome pain occasionally during a game.

Your unconditional support is the thing that ensures that this team manages to pull through in the most difficult circumstances; and I can assure you that the whole squad is aware of this and thanks you for it.

A football club isn't just made up of players, coaches and directors. More than anything else it's the supporters who make a club, and that perhaps is the ingredient which best distinguishes Liverpool Football Club from every other team. The supporters.

Because if one thing has remained obvious to me after these few years, it's that with supporters like you, Liverpool Football Club will never walk alone.

I really hope that the club wins lots of major trophies in the future; I'll be following it all from a distance, with the pride that you can only get from having been a Red and played for the home team at Anfield – a ground that every football fan must visit at least once in their life.

Thank you for everything. Yours most sincerely,

Your friend, Luís García

STYLES APOLOGISES BUT IS SENT ON LEAVE

The Independent 21 August २००७

Referee Rob Styles has apologised for denying Liverpool a valuable victory over Chelsea and been placed on temporary gardening leave for his mishandling of Sunday's fractious affair at Anfield।

The Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body responsible for the country's leading referees, reacted to a weekend of controversy yesterday when it announced that Styles and Ian Gosling had been punished for their performances at Anfield and Craven Cottage respectively.

Styles fell victim to the PGMOL's strict self-regulation policy for the penalty award that enabled Frank Lampard to equalise Fernando Torres' opener for Liverpool on Sunday. The referee penalised Steve Finnan for a foul on Florent Malouda when the French international had clearly leapt into the Republic of Ireland defender but, refreshingly, he last night admitted his mistake and offered a public apology to the Anfield club. It is believed he also offered a personal apology to Rafael Benitez, who had described Styles' initial decision as "absolutely unbelievable".

The Hampshire official, who was accused of cracking under pressure from Chelsea players by the Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, stated: "All referees enter into matches hoping not to make any mistakes but understanding that they may happen, what none of us want is for any mistake to potentially affect the result of the match. Yesterday, in mistakenly awarding a penalty, I accept that I may have affected the result of the match and for that I apologise."

Styles' contrition followed an announcement by PGMOL general manager Keith Hackett that the referee would not have been involved in any matches this weekend, with the organisation keen to demonstrate to Premier League clubs that officials will be held accountable for mistakes.

Hackett explained: "Accountability exists and we, the PGMOL, do expect referees to get big decisions correct. On this occasion it was wrong and therefore Rob will not be officiating next weekend.

"I spoke to Rob this morning and obviously he is extremely disappointed with the decision and admitted he got it wrong. I have left a message with Rafael Benitez to apologise."

There was further confusion at Anfield on Sunday when Styles appeared to book Michael Essien for a second time but did not show the Chelsea midfielder a red card. At the time Styles confirmed to fourth official Phil Dowd that the booking was for Chelsea captain John Terry, but Hackett admitted it was another aspect of Styles' performance at Anfield that needed to be improved.

Assistant referee Gosling has also been removed from the match list for this weekend for failing to award a goal to Fulham on Saturday when a shot from striker David Healy clearly crossed the Middlesbrough goal-line.

BRITISH CLUBS GET TOUGH EURO DRAW

BBC 03 August 2007
Liverpool face a tough tie in the third qualifying round of the Champions League as they have to overcome Toulouse to book a group stage spot.

Arsenal have been drawn against Sparta Prague over the two legs. Scottish champions Celtic have a tricky match against Spartak Moscow.

Rangers hold a 2-0 first-leg lead over FK Zeta in their second qualifying round tie and, if they win, will play Crvena Zvezda or Levadia Tallinn.

The winners will go through to the group stages, when English duo Manchester United and Chelsea will enter the tournament.

Crvena Zvezda, formerly known as Red Star Belgrade, hold a 1-0 lead over Estonian side Levadia Tallinn after the first leg in Serbia.

If Rangers come through their second leg game against Zeta next Tuesday they will travel away from home for the first leg.

Celtic's opponents Spartak Moscow play on an artificial pitch and are midway through their domestic season.

Arsenal were one of the last teams out of the draw and will face a team with plenty of Champions League experience in Sparta Prague.

Club spokesman David Miles said: "We have played them four times in six years and so we're very much looking to visiting Prague again.

"It could have been worse and we have a good working relationship with them.

"But we won't take anything for granted. It is very important for the club both financially and for our supporters to play in the group stages."

Liverpool, who lost out in the final of the competition last season, face a trip into the unknown when they take on French club Toulouse.

Club secretary Bryce Morrison said: "It will not be easy. This qualifying round of the competition seems to be getting harder each year.

"The French league is strong. They are a rugby town and it is a new ground for us. They will be really up for it.

"Rafael Benitez has brought in some new players and everyone in the club feels we are stronger and there is no reason why we can't go all the way again."

The lucrative group stages of the competition run from 18 September to 12 December and the final will be played in Moscow on 21 May 2008.

Toulouse test

Liverpool club secretary Bryce Morrison admits the Reds are pleased after drawing Toulouse in the Champions League third qualifying round.

werder 2-3 Liverpool

18:17 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Werder get the game under way
2 mins : Pennant wins free kick after run down right
2 mins : Gerrard free kick nodded back by Crouch to Hobbs who skies from close range
3 mins : GOAL! Andriy Voronin: Voronin uses pace to punish slapdash defending before rounding keeper and tucking the ball away
5 mins : El Zhar loses possession on edge of Werder box after good work from Crouch and Voronin
6 mins : GOAL! Kevin Schindler: Schindler tucks home after Paletta loses his man
7 mins : Crouch fires wide from 20 yards
9 mins : Pennant gives away free-kick midway in Reds half
9 mins : Gerrard charges down free kick
11 mins : Hobbs scuffs shot from 20 yards after El Zhar knock down
12 mins : Lively Pennant wins free kick in promising position
13 mins : GOAL! John Arne Riise: Riise rockets ball into roof of the net from 30 yards after Pennant lay off from free kick
20 mins : Voronin, Gerrard, El Zhar and Pennant combine well but move breaks down on edge of the box
21 mins : Carlos Albertos spoons shot from 25 yards
25 mins : Voronin shoots wide from distance after terrific link up play with El Zhar and Crouch
26 mins : Andreasen shot is well held by Carson
30 mins : Pennant and Gerrard combine but no one is there to meet the skipper's backheel in the box
31 mins : Reds knocking the ball around nicely
32 mins : El Zhar and Pennant switch flanks
35 mins : Gerrard storms through the middle before threading a fine ball to Voronin - but the Ukrainian is offside
36 mins : Tidy play by El Zhar in Werder half but pass lets him down
39 mins : Brilliant approach play by Carlos Alberto to sidestep both Gerrard and Carson - but he spoons it from eight yards
41 mins : Inviting cross by Riise down the left but Crouch just can't reach it
43 mins : Riise pings whopper of a ball 70 yards to turn defence into attack but Voronin runs out of ideas
44 mins : Pennant gets round of applause for keeping ball in play before pulling out a few tricks
19:04 GMT : Half Time Reached
46 mins : Substitution: Jamie Carragher for Sami Hyypia:
46 mins : Substitution: Daniel Agger for Gabriel Paletta:
46 mins : Substitution: Dirk Kuyt for Peter Crouch:
46 mins : Substitution: Momo Sissoko for Steven Gerrard MBE:
46 mins : Substitution: Xabi Alonso for Jack Hobbs:
19:18 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Substitution: Yossi Benayoun for Jermaine Pennant:
46 mins : Reds get second half under way
47 mins : Voronin shoots over after good footwork inside the box
46 mins : Substitution: Alvaro Arbeloa for John Arne Riise:
46 mins : Substitution: Stephen Darby for Steve Finnan:
48 mins : Brilliant vision by Benayoun to find Kuyt in the box. The Dutchman nets but not before the linesman raises his flag
46 mins : Substitution: Pierre Wome for Clemens Fritz:
53 mins : First Booking: Jamie Carragher: Carragher booked for late challenge in Reds half
46 mins : Substitution: Jurica Vranjes for Markus Rosenberg:
46 mins : Substitution: Hugo Almelda for Torsten Frings:
46 mins : Substitution: Daniel Jensen for Tim Borowski:
56 mins : Voronin beats two men but can't find a ball through
57 mins : Torres and Babel start to warm up
58 mins : Substitution: Amaury Bischoff for Carlos Alberto:
60 mins : Ace pass from Alonso puts Benayoun clean through but the Israeli unselfishly lays it off for Kuyt who forces fine save from Wiese from 10 yards
60 mins : GOAL! Andriy Voronin: Ukrainian bags his second with fine lob over keeper after Alonso throughball
63 mins : Substitution: Fernando Torres for Andriy Voronin: Torres makes Reds debut
65 mins : Torres wins free kick on edge of Werder box - but Alonso hits a tame effort straight at the keeper
73 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Nabil El Zhar: Babel makes his Reds debut
73 mins : Werder think they've scored after Carra mistake but ref disallows it minutes later after lengthy talks with fourth official
76 mins : Carson nearly caught off guard as long Werder punt takes wicked deflection. He manages to put it out for corner, which comes to nothing
77 mins : Torres shows great skill to get through Werder defence before squaring for Babel - unfortunately a German is back to intercept
80 mins : Substitution: Frank Loning for Kevin Schindler:
82 mins : Alonso seemingly has the ball on a piece of string
84 mins : Own Goal! Stephen Darby: Darby knocks ball into own net after dangerous cross
87 mins : Brilliant turn by Kuyt before finding Torres who links up well with Benayoun. Unfortunatley the move then chokes
88 mins : Torres misses two glorious chances to mark his debut with a goal
90 mins : Remarkable skill from Babel to beat three men but his shot is too easy for the keeper
20:05 GMT : Match Over

TORRES IN LINE FOR DEBUT

Fernando Torres is expected to make his Liverpool debut tonight when Rafael Benítez's side face the German club Werder Bremen in Switzerland.

The club-record £26m signing has been receiving treatment for a slight ankle problem but Benítez is set to include him in the first of two friendly matches during Liverpool's week-long training camp.

"He had a problem with his ankle in the last two weeks he was playing with Atlético Madrid," said the manager. "But he's been training with the physio over the last two weeks and I think will be available to play in Switzerland."

Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun, who cost a combined fee of £16.5m from Ajax and West Ham United respectively, are also likely to make their first appearances during the trip, which concludes on Friday with a game against Auxerre.

Liverpool have announced a shake-up of their backroom staff, with Xavi Valero succeeding José Ochotorena as goalkeeping coach. Ochotorena has returned to Spain to work at Valencia. Valero began his professional career as a goalkeeper with Castellón in 1992 and played for a number of Spanish clubs before spending a short time at the end of his playing career with Wrexham, where he put into practice the English he had studied at university.

BABEL PASSES MEDICAL AND SIGNS TODAY

RYAN BABEL will today become the third most expensive player in Liverpool’s history by completing an £11.5million move from Ajax.

And Rafael Benitez’s summer rebuilding plans took another step forward last night when Yossi Benayoun signed from West Ham United on a four-year deal.

Babel has passed a medical and will put pen to paper on a five-year deal after the two sides finally reached an agree-ment over a fee for the 20-year-old.

A Liverpool spokesperson said: “Liverpool have agreed terms with Ajax and Ryan Babel himself and the player will sign a five-year-deal on Friday.”

Highly-rated Babel, who can play on the wing and up front, has scored four goals in 14 appearances for the full Holland national team and starred for his country in their recent European Under-21 Championship success on home soil.

Babel said of joining Liverpool: “I listened to what they had to say and I got a great feeling about the club. I have made a choice with my heart. The coach has big plans for me.”

Babel, speaking in Amsterdam last night, added: “I am at Ajax to say goodbye to everyone, and I must say that’s quite difficult. I think I will miss the fans, the ones that have always supported me, the guys (Ajax team-mates) of course and the coach.

“I certainly leave Ajax with pain in my heart.”

Liverpool have fought off interest from a number of leading clubs including Arsenal for the player, with Benitez having trained his sights on Babel after losing out to Chelsea for the signature of Lyon’s Florent Malouda.

Babel will be unveiled at Melwood today along with Benayoun, who has joined in a deal understood to be worth around £5m.

The 27-year-old midfielder has signed a contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2011, and becomes the third Israeli on Liverpool’s books following Avi Cohen and Ronnie Rosenthal.

Meanwhile, Southampton have taken Liverpool winger Adam Hammill on a season-long loan.

The England U19 player, who had a spell at Dunfermline last season, had also been a target for Scottish Premier League giants Celtic.

Southampton manager George Burley said: “He is a young player who did very well on loan at Dunfermline last season.

“He can play right or left and is a quick player who takes people on, he has bags of potential and I am very pleased to have got him because there was a lot of interest from other clubs.

“Adam is coming to a club with good facilities and good, young players and this is another step for him in his career.”

LIVERPOOL CLOSE ON HEINZE

Gabriel Heinze could become the first player to move between Manchester United and Liverpool in over 40 years.

Heinze is available for around £5million, although United are keen to offload the Argentine to Real Madrid rather than a domestic rival.

But Heinze is keen to remain in the Premier League and is keen on a switch to Anfield, according to the Daily Mail.

And the left-back could even scupper any resistance from United by buying out the last two years of his United contract for £4.5million, a fee he would recoup in a signing-on fee from Liverpool.

If Heinze does make the move, he'll become the first player since Phil Chisnall in 1964 to swap Old Trafford for Anfield.

Torres Expected In Liverpool Today

Fernando Torres has already cut short his vacation and returned to Madrid, and is expected in Liverpool today...


After a €32m plus Luis Garcia deal was sealed between the to clubs, the Spanish international needs only to complete a medical at Anfield before penning what will be a rather lucrative €135,000 a week deal.

While it is possible that the medical actually takes place tomorrow morning before the official presentation, the deal will be confirmed today itself.

That will bring to an end a saga that has run for around ten days, ever since Goal.com had exclusively confirmed that Liverpool officials had travelled to Madrid to discuss a move for Fernando Torres.

It has taken a while for the financial details to be sorted out, but all parties seem to be happy now.

Torres will take the number of strikers at Rafa Benitez's disposal up to five, with Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy and Andriy Voronin already on the Reds' books. That, assuming they offload Djibril Cisse, who is also a Liverpool player as of now.

It is unclear whether one more striker will be allowed to leave. Surely Rafa cannot keep five front men happy!

ENGLAND

Liverpool, Man Utd urged to bid for Trezeguet
Chelsea, Barcelona sound out Del Piero
Chelsea's Obi Mikel courts more Nigeria controversy
Bosingwa unsure of Spurs interest
Portsmouth turn to Bolton striker Anelka
Agent insists Benayoun wants West Ham stay
Four Premiership clubs battle for Diarra
Liverpool, AC Milan move for Mudingayi
Portsmouth, Newcastle eyeing Bordeaux's Faubert
Derby keeper Grant on way to Sheffield Wednesday
Juventus target Lampard rejects £140,000-a-week Chelsea deal
Juventus move for Man Utd striker Rossi
Chelsea to bid for Brazilian whizkid Pato
Chelsea, Spurs keep tabs on Newcastle's Dyer
West Ham boss Curbishley determined to land Bent
Benitez wants new Liverpool deal for Valencia target Macia
Sheffield Wednesday waiting for Fulham, Wigan offers for Brunt
Middlesbrough eyeing CSKA striker Vagner Love
Portsmouth to offer £3M for Wigan's Camara
Portsmouth rival Fulham for Villa's Davis
Middlesbrough must beat Spurs, Sevilla for Bosingwa
Shepherd can stay as chairman at Ashley's Newcastle
Birmingham in Arsenal talks for Djourou
Arsenal to send Merida to Atletico Madrid
Spurs to bid £8M for Atletico Madrid's Petrov
Middlesbrough step up bid for Villa's Moore
West Ham eyeing Reading's Hunt
Wigan signing Sibierski: Allardyce wanted me to stay
Sunderland boss wants Man Utd's Simpson
Routledge ready for Spurs move
No Derby deal for Currie
Portsmouth chasing Kenya star Mariga
Derby boss Davies determined to be competitive

RAFA AND RICK DELIGHTED BY DOUBLE DEAL

Rafael Benitez and Rick Parry today spoke of their delight after seeing Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher commit their long-term futures to Liverpool Football Club.
The club captain and vice-captain returned from England duty on Monday afternoon to sign new contracts that will keep them at Anfield until 2011.

For Benitez, working tirelessly to bring new players into the club, it sends out a clear message about where Liverpool Football Club are heading.

"These are two very important deals," Benitez told liverpoolfc.tv, "because they are about safeguarding the future of this football club. Stevie and Jamie both wanted to stay at the club. They have a passion for this club and you can see that in the way they play. They are 100% committed to Liverpool and now they can be 100% focussed on their futures at Anfield.

"I think these deals send out a key message as we enter a crucial period. Other players will look at Stevie and Carra committing their future to Liverpool and understand that this means we are determined to progress on the pitch.

"When we talk to players we'd like to sign for this club, we can point to the fact that they will be playing alongside the likes of Stevie and Carra. Now these two deals are complete, we need to continue working on bringing in new players and keeping the ones we already have."

One man key to helping Benitez bring in those players is Rick Parry, who was equally pleased to see the club's two longest-serving players extend their stay at Anfield.

"It was a priority for us to get two of our most important players - and two local players - signed up to new contracts. It's a very positive statement we feel and sends out an important message.

"There's a lot of work - an awful lot of work - going on in the background. It's important we get the right players and there will be a lot of activity at the club to come but we're delighted to see Steven and Jamie sign these contracts today."

GERRARD DEFENDS REDS FANS

Steven Gerrard has sprung to the defence of Liverpool supporters after Uefa spokesman William Gaillard labelled them the worst in Europe after problems marred the Champions League final.
The Reds captain, speaking while on duty with England, claimed he couldn't understand how the Liverpool fans – his friends and family included - could be blamed for the chaos in Athens.

"What Uefa have said really upsets me," revealed the midfielder. "We've travelled everywhere together for the six or seven years I've been in the first team and from what I've seen, their behaviour has been fantastic.

"I had friends and family at the final. Their opinion was that the organisation wasn't good enough. I'm sure when it all gets broken down, they will conclude the organisation wasn't good enough and maybe a minority of Liverpool fans let themselves down but as far as I'm concerned the European Cup Final has to be in a bigger stadium with better organisation."

Probable teams

Milan: Dida; Massimo Oddo, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Marek Jankulovski; Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini; Kaká, Clarence Seedorf; Filippo Inzaghi.

Liverpool: Pepe Reina; Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger, John Arne Riise; Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso, Boudewijn Zenden/Harry Kewell; Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt.

PRESS conference - LIVERPOOL

Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez wants his side calm and confident for tomorrow. Jermaine Pennant sees Athens as a great honour and John Riise is optimistic


Rafael Benitez had this to say from the pre-match press conference in Athens: ‘We are here because we have been doing the right things and we deserve to be here. Zenden has some problems, while Kewell is ready to play the entire 90 minutes. Our players are focused and motivated. It’s not easy to play two finals in three years and we should be proud. The secret of my great success in European competitions? My staff are the key. We have good people, good workers. When you have a good staff then you can be successful. Of course we have good players as well. Everything is good. Our motivations are the same as Milan. I don’t know if Bellamy will play or if Crouch will play. I still have to think about it. We have two or three different options, I will decide later on after training. It’s going to be a tough match. The final two years ago was incredible, the best final of all-time. But I don't want to go through that kind of match again because I think I'd need a doctor this time! I don’t know if I will give a watch to my wife at the end of the match, that depends on what the players do. My players are more or less on a similar level as that of two years ago. We are preparing all the details like two years ago. Ancelotti? He is an excellent coach. As for me, I have excellent assistants and I am trying to analyse every aspect. Gerrard and Carragher are very important players, but for me the key is the team spirit, not just one player. I am sorry that there aren’t tickets for all of our fans. I think the team who scores first might have a slightly better chance.’

Liverpool midfielder Jermaine Pennant also spoke at the pre-match press conference: ‘It's a great honour to be involved. Many players would love to play in a game of this level and just being here is already a great success. This is my first year at Liverpool, I have gotten used to the coach’s tactics and have come to understand my team-mates. I will try to do better next year. Hopefully I can repay Liverpool’s faith in me if I’m picked tomorrow. I will give 110%. Milan are in excellent physical form, they showed that against Manchester United.’

Liverpool defender John Riise was there beside coach Benitez and team-mate Pennant to speak in the pre-match press conference: ‘We have a lot of confidence in ourselves and we have confidence in our winning the final. Our qualification over Barcelona during this Champions League journey reinforced our conviction. We are stronger and more experienced than we were two years ago. We have better players and we will demonstrate that. Milan want revenge and we will respect them just like we know that they respect us, but tomorrow night we will be thinking only about ourselves. What happened two years ago in Istanbul doesn’t give us any psychological advantages. Kakà is the top goalscorer in the Champions League, but Milan are more than just Kakà. As for me, I play for the team not for the goals. We trained in the heat in Spain, but it’s a bit colder here.’

PRESS conference - MILAN

Speaking at the pre-game press conference, Carlo Ancelotti has put Istanbul behind him. Paolo Maldini is proud to be captain for such a side and Ricky Kakà hope to write another page in the history books

ATHENS - CARLO ANCELOTTI - It will not be easy, but I have no doubts we will give everything. All my decisions have been made. On a purely technical level perhaps Milan were stronger two years ago and for that side it was almost ‘normal’ to reach the Final. For today’s team it is extraordinary and we want to end this year on a high. We deserved this final more than any other side because we suffered like nobody else. We had points penalties and had to rush our pre-season training to prepare for the preliminary round. If we have the fortune to lift the trophy, then it will be absolutely and totally deserved. This has been the most difficult season in my time at Milan. We ran into problems we had never encountered before, but the great unity between myself, the team and club proved decisive. Steven Gerrard is charismatic, but you cannot base your match on one player. Liverpool, like Milan, have many other qualities. Our opponents are Liverpool, not Gerrard. I don’t see myself as the leader of the group, but rather a part of the group. We all come together to answer questions and solve problems. We have worked well and I hope it will be considered even better tomorrow. We never sought alibis or scapegoats, we just tried to resolve our problems together, so what we have been through makes us stronger for this final. We feel very strong in these days leading up to the match. It was here in Athens against AEK that we suffered three injuries, it was the most delicate moment. Being compared to Sacchi and Capello by Doctor Galliani is pleasing. We have all done well. Milan’s presence in this final shows the strength of Italian football and we do feel ourselves a very Italian side.

PAOLO MALDINI - I have never been crazy about looking at history, it difficult to find the comparison with Athens now and in 1994, there are great players, Kakà today, Savicevic then. The Golden Ball is not as important as the final in general. If I can say, no one deserves the Golden Ball more than Kakà. It will be an emotional final even if you manage it differently from when you were 18 or 19. The best image is fitting the cup in Manchester with the whole team behind me. The important thing to get there rather than not. Crouch can be difficult in the air but I want to get out there once again and experience the shiver of excitement you only get in games like this. To be doing this again at this level is something fantastic and I am proud to be captain of a team that is always at these levels.

RICARDO KAKA' - No team plays man-marking at this level. I think that it will be like this tomorrow. I had the chance to win the Champions League two years ago, hopefully I have a great game tomorrow and write my name in the history books. If we can repeat what we did in the first half against Manchester United then it will be difficult to face Milan. Thanks to the example of Maldini and Costacurta, there is always the desire to win. I requested not to play in the Copa America in the interests of the Brazilian national team as I have played every summer for the last three years.

SAME STORY DIFFERENT PLACE

Two years on from the drama of Istanbul, AC Milan and Liverpool FC will meet again in the UEFA Champions League final with revenge on Milanese minds. Carlo Ancelotti's side may be considered slight favourites but with Liverpool aiming to prove lightning can strike twice there is no danger of the Rossoneri taking anything for granted given the unforgettable circumstances of their opponents' 2005 triumph in Turkey. As if anyone needed reminding, Milan surrendered a 3-0 half-time lead as Rafael Benítez's team fought back to claim a 3-3 draw before winning on penalties.

• The Athens Olympic Stadium - otherwise known as the OACA Spyro Louis Stadium - is the setting for this showdown between two of the continent's most successful clubs and for a Milan team plotting revenge, the choice of venue may be considered a lucky one. It was here, after all, that the Rossoneri beat FC Barcelona 4-0 in the 1994 UEFA Champions League final.

• Between them, Milan and Liverpool have won eleven of the 51 previous editions of the European Champion Clubs' Cup. For Milan victory would bring their seventh European crown while Liverpool can make it six. Only nine-times winners Real Madrid CF have enjoyed more success in the competition than this pair.

• Milan are contesting their eleventh final and previously lifted the European Cup in 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994 and 2003. The Rossoneri were runners-up in 1958, 1993, 1995 and 2005. Only Madrid have appeared in more finals (12).

• This is Liverpool's seventh European Cup final and their five successes were in 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984 and 2005. Their sole losing final appearance came in 1985.

• Every time Liverpool have lifted the cup they have worn their home colours and beaten opponents wearing white. Although Milan were in white in Istanbul, they still regard the colour as lucky after five previous triumphs wearing their change strip in 1963, 1989, 1990, 1994 and 2003.

• On an individual level, Milan's Paolo Maldini could claim his fifth winners' medal following victories with the Rossoneri in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 2003. He will equal Paco Gento's record of eight final appearances in Athens and Gento is one of only three players in history to have enjoyed more success in the competition: the Real Madrid CF legend has six wins to his name while former colleagues Alfredo di Stéfano and José María Zárraga have five each.

• If Maldini has followed his father Cesare in winning the European Cup with Milan, Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is aiming to go one better than his own father, Miguel, who finished on the losing side with Club Atlético de Madrid in their 1974 final against FC Bayern München.

• Both Ancelotti and Benítez have led their teams to this trophy once before, Ancelotti in 2003 and Benítez in 2005. In the Milan coach's case he is one of only five men to have lifted the European Cup as both a player and manager, following three triumphs with Milan in his playing days.

• Another of Milan's European Cup history-makers is Clarence Seedorf, who is the only player to have won the competition with three different clubs: AFC Ajax (1995), Real Madrid (1998) and Milan (2003).

• This is the two clubs' first meeting since their remarkable first encounter in the Istanbul final on 25 May 2005. Milan took a first-minute lead that night through Maldini, the quickest goal in a final, and they struck twice more before the break through Hernán Crespo (39, 44). Liverpool responded with three goals in a stunning spell from Steven Gerrard (54), Vladimír Šmicer (56) and Xabi Alonso (60) and the English team won the ensuing shoot-out 3-2, with Jerzy Dudek the hero after saving Andriy Shevchenko's spot-kick.

• The full details of the shoot-out were:Serginho, missed; Hamann, 0-1; Pirlo, saved; Cissé, 0-2; Tomasson, 1-2; Riise, saved; Kaká, 2-2; Šmicer, 2-3; Shevchenko, saved.

• The teams in Istanbul were: Milan: Dida; Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini; Gennaro Gattuso (Rui Costa, 112), Andrea Pirlo, Kaká, Clarence Seedorf (Serginho, 86); Andriy Shevchenko, Hernán Crespo (Jon Dahl Tomasson, 85).

• Liverpool: Jerzy Dudek; Steve Finnan (Dietmar Hamann, 46), Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypiä, Djimi Traoré; Luis García, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard, John Arne Riise; Harry Kewell (Vladimír Šmicer, 23), Milan Baroš (Djibril Cissé, 85).

• Milan advanced to Athens thanks to a 5-3 aggregate victory over Manchester United FC in the semi-finals. After succumbing to a 3-2 first-leg loss at Old Trafford, Milan found the perfect response at San Siro as they won through goals from Kaká (11), Clarence Seedorf (30) and Alberto Gilardino (78).

• For Milan the road to the final began in the third qualifying round where they beat FK Crvena Zvezda both at home (1-0) and away (2-1). After finishing top of Group H - recording three wins, one draw and two defeats – the Italian side overcame Celtic FC in the first knockout round, following up a 0-0 away draw with a 1-0 home success. They then got the better of FC Bayern München in the quarter-finals, drawing 2-2 at home before winning 2-0 away.

• Liverpool's semi-final victims were the same Chelsea FC team they overcame two years earlier en route to Istanbul. After losing the first leg in London 1-0, Daniel Agger's 22nd-minute strike gave Benítez's side an identical victory at Anfield before they completed the victory with a 4-1 shoot-out success.

• Boudewijn Zenden, Alonso, Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt all converted their spot-kicks while goalkeeper Reina stopped kicks from Chelsea's Arjen Robben and Geremi. That success means the Merseyside club have lost just one of eleven penalty shoot-outs they have contested in all competitions.

• Liverpool's campaign began in the group stage where they topped Group C with four wins, one draw and one defeat. In the first knockout round they achieved the feat of eliminating holders FC Barcelona, winning on away goals after a 2-1 first-leg victory in Spain and 1-0 loss in the return. The quarter-finals brought a more comfortable passage as they beat PSV Eindhoven 3-0 away and 1-0 at home.

• Greece has proved a happy hunting ground for Milan in the two previous finals they have contested here. It was in Thessaloniki that the Rossoneri defeated another English side, Leeds United AFC, in the 1972/73 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final, Luciano Chiarugi scoing the only goal after four minutes.

• The OACA Spyro Louis Stadium, meanwhile was the setting for their 4-0 UEFA Champions League final triumph on 18 May 1994 against a Barcelona 'Dream Team' stunned by goals from Daniele Massaro (2), Dejan Savićević and Marcel Desailly. However, it was at this same stadium earlier this season that Milan suffered their first defeat on Greek soil, going down 1-0 to AEK Athens FC in the group stage.

• Liverpool, for their part, have positive memories of their previous two visits to the final venue, winning 1-0 at Panathinaikos FC to secure a 5-0 aggregate success in the 1984/85 European Cup semi-final and then drawing 2-2 against Olympiacos CFP en route to a third-round success in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup – a competition they went on to win.

• The Reds' most recent visit to Greece ended in defeat as they went down 1-0 to Olympiacos at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League group stage.

• Milan's record against English teams reads nine wins, seven draws and eight defeats from 24 matches, with the 2005 final counted as a Rossoneri reverse. They have played two previous UEFA finals against opposition from England, defeating Leeds to win the Cup Winners' Cup in 1973 but losing to Liverpool in Istanbul.

• Liverpool have won seven and lost seven of their 16 previous encounters with Italian opposition - with the final shoot-out victories of 1984 and 2005 counted as two of those successes.

• They have contested three previous UEFA finals against Serie A sides and won two of them. Besides beating Milan in Istanbul, they defeated AS Roma 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the 1983/84 European Cup final in Rome. However, they lost 1-0 to Juventus in the final in Brussels the following season.

• Overall there have been five Anglo-Italian UEFA competition finals and the score reads 3-2 in favour of England.

• This is the fifth time that two former final opponents have met again and for Milan the third time they have faced such a rematch.

• Milan got the better of SL Benfica twice in the final, beating the Portuguese side 2-1 in 1963 and 1-0 in 1990. Against Ajax, meanwhile, they recorded a 4-1 victory in 1969 but lost 1-0 when the sides squared off for a second time in the 1995 final.

• The other two final rematches were: Real Madrid CF v Stade de Reims Champagne – 4-3 in 1956; 2-0 in 1959. Ajax v Juventus - 1-0 in 1973; 1-1 (2-4 pens) in 1996.

• The Athens Olympic Stadium has a proud sporting history. Originally constructed for the 1982 European Athletics Championship, the OACA Spyro Louis Stadium was named after the winner of the first Olympic marathon in the Greek capital in 1896 and is located in the north of the city in the municipality of Maroussi. Construction begun in 1980, and it was opened on 8 September 1982, the arena dominated by four leaning pillars at each corner.

• In 2002 the old stadium was closed and, after a major revamp, was re-opened on 30 July 2004 for the Olympic Games. The new Athens Olympic Stadium was noticeable for the twin 304m arches supporting the polycarbonate roof designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and designed to withstand winds of up to 120km/h.

• UEFA President Michel Platini will present the European Champion Clubs' Cup to the winning captain, with UEFA Champions League final ambassador Theodoros Zagorakis assisting in the ceremony. The victorious Greece captain at UEFA EURO 2004™ will first help Mr Platini present medals to the match officials and the losing team, before the winning team step up to claim their medals and the trophy.

Ac Milan - Liverpool FC Road to 2007 Athens Final

SMICER: AWESOME FANS CAN BE THE KEY

Istanbul hero Vladimir Smicer believes Liverpool's 'awesome' supporters can help inspire the Reds to more European glory in Athens.

RIISE: WE'RE MILAN'S NIGHTMARE

John Arne Riise believes Liverpool are AC Milan's worst nightmare because they hate playing against physical sides.

And the Norwegian full-back believes Liverpool will never allow the Italians the freedom to attack they had in the Champions League semi-final against Manchester United.

Riise prepares for his second final showdown with Milan next Wednesday in Athens convinced Liverpool can repeat their success of 2005.

Riise and his colleagues are increasingly aware that Milan believe them to be inferior to Manchester United, who the Italians eliminated in the semi-finals.

Their coach Carlo Ancelotti claims Liverpool are the poorest of the four semi-finalists and even United chief Sir Alex Ferguson believes Liverpool have no hope of success.

But Riise said: "We don't really care what people say, we deserve to be in the final. And we know Milan don't like playing against teams like us."

He added: "I heard some things earlier that they think they are the more tactical and we are the more physical side. But we can play football too.

"And they know we are strong and physical and we will use that to our advantage. They hate playing against those sort of teams.

"They looked like they struggled against the physical aspect when they played Bayern Munich earlier in the competition, even though they got through. But it is not something they enjoy facing.

"And we will play our own style of football that has been successful for us, we know that some teams hate to play against us because we play a physical compact type of game. We don't listen to other people because we know what we can do."

And Riise made it clear that Liverpool believe they can blunt the Milan style that caused Manchester United so much trouble in their calamitous second-leg mauling in Milan.

He said: "When they played against United their full-backs were almost like strikers or wingers. That is because United made room for them and gave them space.

"The way we play is quite compact and it will be hard work for their full-backs and wingers to get through.

"If they still attack us that way we will find space to hurt them. We have got the next few days to find their weaknesses and exploit them."

And Riise has faith in boss Rafael Benitez to produce the game plan to win Liverpool's second Champions League crown in three seasons.

"When he picks his team, and he knows who he wants to play, he will talk to every player to say what he expects from them and what the opposition player is going to do.

"Our manager is a tactical genius and he knows how to get his players ready."

But Riise accepts that this final must not start the way the Istanbul match did, when Liverpool were 3-0 down at the break. He said: "We cannot afford a three goal head start this time.

"It was called a miracle because of the comeback, but it can't happen again. This time we will approach the game perfectly and hopefully get a good start."

And Riise recalls Benitez's calmness in the face of that dreadful deficit in 2005. He said: "When you are losing 3-0 at half-time in a game like that you expect to get shouted at by the manager. All our heads were down.

"But the manager was very quiet and calm and explained what we were going to do. He wanted us to lift our heads, which we did. He said if we got a goal anything can happen. That is what we did and in the end, everything turned out okay.

"Once Steven Gerrard scored with the header, you could see the change in the faces of the players. We all seemed to get extra energy and the fans were lifted as well. We knew we had a chance. We just had to keep going."

REINA FIT FOR ATHENS SHOWPIECE

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed that goalkeeper Jose Reina is fit for next week's Champions League final against AC Milan.

However Benitez has a dilemma over who to play on each flank in Athens.

Reina injured a shoulder at Fulham and was left out of the final home league game against Charlton as a precaution.

But the Spanish star has trained normally all week in La Manga to dispel fears he would struggle to face Milan on Wednesday.

But Benitez, who returns from Spain with his squad on Saturday, accepts his key problems involve the wings.

He said: "We certainly have options on both wings, these are the areas I am having to consider carefully. This involves Bolo (Zenden), Harry (Kewell) and Jermaine (Pennant) and I have not yet made my decision."

Kewell's recent return to fitness after a season out recovering from groin operations, has placed him in Benitez's thoughts for the key left-wing role.

Kewell is believed to have trained well in Spain this week, but Benitez must decide whether he will have enough match fitness to oust Zenden, who played in both semi-final legs against Chelsea.

Zenden is out of contract this summer, and whether he has a longer-term future with the club will depend on Benitez's decision over the European final.

Benitez must also decide whether Pennant plays on the right, but he has no intention of giving any indication on that because it would instantly confirm that Steven Gerrard will play in his favoured central midfield role.

The manager could also use John Arne Riise on the left of midfield with Alvaro Arbeloa at full-back.

Benitez has only Luis Garcia and Fabio Aurelio on the injured list, although Mohamed Sissoko's chances of playing have been handicapped by injury.

Benitez told Liverpoolfctv: "Jerzy Dudek is also fit after a groin problem, so both my goalkeepers will be okay. Sissoko has started training and we will see, but I think all are okay."

Benitez added: "We looked at all the players in the training camp and in every training session people were talking about Harry Kewell.

"He played well for half an hour against Charlton but we needed to see whether he is fit and then decide if he can play from the start or not. There's a lot for me to decide yet.

"What I know at the moment is that we are focused and we will be ready. The players are really thinking about this game and you could see in previous matches that as much as you tried to push them, their minds were already on the final.

"The only thing we can do now is to prepare properly for the game and approach it with confidence because it's easy to become nervous or stressed."
Team Talk 18 May 2007

KUYT: I'LL ACCEPT RAF JUSTICE

Dirk Kuyt knows Rafa Benitez will break a few hearts in Athens next week - and one of them could be his.

But even if he finds himself left out of the starting line-up for the Champions League Final, the Dutchman insists his trust in the Liverpool manager will remain intact.

He believes he won't be alone in accepting without complaint Benitez's selection for the rematch with AC Milan, because the Spaniard has created the collective will for success that is more important than any individual.

Benitez, of course, is famous for his rotation philosophy - having once changed his team 99 times in a row before sticking with the same side.

But Kuyt, who scored the decisive penalty in the semi-final shoot-out with Chelsea, declares that his manager's record is now so impressive that it cannot be questioned.

He said: "So far, I've played in most of the big games and I am very happy about that. But that doesn't mean anything. We are in the Final and the manager will have his ideas.

"Like everybody, I would love to play in the Final, but it's the choice of the boss and you can never tell what is going to happen with him.

"Look at Xabi Alonso. He was not in the starting lineup for the second leg with Chelsea and I am sure he was not very happy, because he might have expected to play.

"But you have to accept these things and I believe everybody does."

That mentality, stresses Kuyt, is why Liverpool were able to overcome not only Chelsea but Barcelona to get to the Final.

He added: "Look at what we did against Chelsea. Maybe they have some better players than us and maybe individually they are better in a technical way.

"But as a team we showed we are the best and that is what must now happen in Athens.

"The most important factor about Rafa is that he is a winner. The technical staff are the same and they have got through to us that we have to be winners too.

"So I do not think there is one player who does not agree with what he does. We have come to understand that sometimes players have to be left out, but that is the strength of the squad now.

"The manager has made us strong, because we know how strong he is and what is important to him.

"He is certainly the best I've ever had, because he is not only technically strong, but is a real team manager.

"He tries to manage the team as one whole thing, not dealing with individuals as others might do. So we know that when he makes a decision it is for the whole team, for all of us, because he wants the team to win. And that means all of us.

"Xabi didn't start against Chelsea at Anfield, but maybe he will play in the Final and I will not.

"But that is the way it is, the way it has to be. And because it is someone like Benitez who has proved he is such a very good manager, then we accept it. It is because everybody believes in him.

"Sometimes the decisions he makes for games are not good for you, because it means you are not playing. But in the end, if you want to win the trophies, we know that is the way it has to be."