[lfc-news] Stevie G's Cup Final preview - Official Site

Official LFC WEbsite, 26 Feb 2005
STEVIE G'S CUP FINAL PREVIEW
By Paul Eaton

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard talks to the club's official website
ahead of this weekend's eagerly awaited Carling Cup final with Chelsea
in Cardiff.

~ Liverpoolfc.tv: With a great victory against Leverkusen in midweek,
you must go into the final full of confidence...

Steven Gerrard: Yes, confidence is high and the lads are buzzing after
putting in a great performance in midweek. Hopefully we can produce more
of the same on Sunday.

~ You have great memories of playing in League Cup finals. How keen are
you to enjoy another victory?

I've played in two and won them both so hopefully I can get the
hat-trick on Sunday. We're all confident we can win the game even though
we are underdogs. The boys are looking forward to it and looking to
cause an upset.

~ How much confidence can you take from the fact that you've played well
against Chelsea this season?

In the league we've been inconsistent overall but against Chelsea the
games have been close and there has been a fine line between winning and
losing. We may be 25 points behind them in the table but we know there's
not that big a difference between the sides and on Sunday we know we
will give them a good game. It will be a close game because they're a
very good side. May the best team win it.

~ Do the odds favour Liverpool a bit more now considering Chelsea have
just lost two games in a row?

No. We are the underdogs and that's fine with us because it puts more
pressure on Chelsea. They're top of the league and they've shown over a
period of time that they're more consistent than us, but come Sunday the
league form goes out of the window and it's a one off game. Whoever
plays the best and controls the game will win it.

~ They've got injury problems while you have Morientes and Kewell back,
so this isn't a bad time to be playing them is it?

It can work both ways. They've had two defeats and their confidence
might be a bit low so you could say it's a good time to play them. But a
good side bounces back after one defeat, and certainly after two, so
Chelsea could be a bit like a wounded animal on Sunday. Hopefully they
can save their return to form till the following week.

~ Where do you see Chelsea's main strengths?

Midfield is a big area for them because they play three in the middle
and try to win games by controlling that area of the field. They get the
ball and then try to find their dangermen in Duff, Robben and Drogba.
That's how they've worked all season and so it's important on Sunday
that we try and dominate the midfield because I'm sure that will have a
big say on the outcome of the game.

~ Could a victory this weekend spur you on for the rest of the season?

Yes, definitely. If you win the cup it's a great feeling and great for
the club to have a trophy in the cabinet so early in the season. If we
win the final then it should give us a big lift in our league form over
the remaining games.

~ On a personal level how much would it mean for you to lift the trophy?

It's something I've dreamed about since I was a young boy. I've been
here since I was eight years of age and I've played in cup finals, but
being the captain will make it that extra bit special. The main thing is
we put in a good team performance and then hopefully I can lift the
trophy come quarter to five on Sunday.

~ How important can the fans be for you in Cardiff?

I think over the years Liverpool supporters have proved that they are
the best in the business and I'm sure it will be nodifferent this
weekend. They love going to Cardiff and I hope they can help us score a
few goals on Sunday.

~ Chelsea don't concede many goals so it must be great to have someone
like Morientes available for a game like this...

Yes, definitely, because he's a world class player and it helps us
having him in the side. Hopefully he will make a difference on Sunday.
Chelsea are a fantastic side, they're great defensively and they've got
dangermen going forward but we also regard ourselves as a good side with
our own dangermen who can win football matches for us. It's all set up
to be a great game.

~ Your record in Cardiff is a good one - does that mean anything ahead
of this game?

Not really. We know we don't have an automatic right to win this match
just because we've won finals in the past. We've got to approach it
right, we've got a game plan which we've been working on in training and
hopefully it will come good on the day.

~ You've only made two appearances in this competition this season, but
scored in both games. Is that an omen?

I hope so. I'd love to score again on Sunday to help us win the trophy.
It's going to be a great occasion and we'll do everything we can to get
the right result for the club and the supporters.

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AnfieldRoad.com - Joe Cole warns Liverpool.

AnfieldRoad.com - Joe Cole warns Liverpool.

Steven Gerrard will lead Liverpool out at Cardiff tomorrow, hoping to bring his total of League Cup medals to three. He's also fully aware how important his own role will be at the Millennium Stadium: "Chelsea play three in midfield, it is their big strength with Lampard at the centre of things and they control games from there and feed their excellent front players. That is how they have worked all season so it is important that come Sunday we dominate midfield because that will have a big, big say in the outcome."

Gerrard feels that there may be a kick in the tail of a Chelsea team hurt by two successive cup defeats. He said, "Chelsea are a good side and they could be like a wounded animal after what has happened to them. I just hope it is not against us but they save the backlash for the week after. But their confidence may well be a bit down after two defeats in a week and people will say it is a good time to play them. But a good side usually bounces back after being beaten once, and certainly after two defeats. It doesn't matter what has happened to Chelsea in the past week, we are still the underdogs. That puts a lot more pressure on Chelsea which is what we like.

"If you look at the table it shows they are more consistent than us, but come the final all that goes out of the window. It's a one-off game and whoever plays the best will control the game."

Gerrard has been made captain since his last winner's medal, and is hoping to get the chance to lift the trophy. "I have been at Liverpool since I was eight and I have always dreamed of playing in cup finals, and to be the captain makes it that extra special. Now I am looking for a good team performance and then I will be lifting the trophy come Sunday afternoon. Cardiff has been a great place for us, we have won all our important finals there and the fans love the place. Those fans have proved to be the best in the business and they love going to Cardiff and I hope they will see the victory they want."

And Liverpool fans are hoping that it's the start of what's needed to bring success in other competitions.

AnfieldRoad.com - Gerrard looking forward to Cardiff

AnfieldRoad.com - Gerrard looking forward to Cardiff

Steven Gerrard will lead Liverpool out at Cardiff tomorrow, hoping to bring his total of League Cup medals to three. He's also fully aware how important his own role will be at the Millennium Stadium: "Chelsea play three in midfield, it is their big strength with Lampard at the centre of things and they control games from there and feed their excellent front players. That is how they have worked all season so it is important that come Sunday we dominate midfield because that will have a big, big say in the outcome."

Gerrard feels that there may be a kick in the tail of a Chelsea team hurt by two successive cup defeats. He said, "Chelsea are a good side and they could be like a wounded animal after what has happened to them. I just hope it is not against us but they save the backlash for the week after. But their confidence may well be a bit down after two defeats in a week and people will say it is a good time to play them. But a good side usually bounces back after being beaten once, and certainly after two defeats. It doesn't matter what has happened to Chelsea in the past week, we are still the underdogs. That puts a lot more pressure on Chelsea which is what we like.

"If you look at the table it shows they are more consistent than us, but come the final all that goes out of the window. It's a one-off game and whoever plays the best will control the game."

Gerrard has been made captain since his last winner's medal, and is hoping to get the chance to lift the trophy. "I have been at Liverpool since I was eight and I have always dreamed of playing in cup finals, and to be the captain makes it that extra special. Now I am looking for a good team performance and then I will be lifting the trophy come Sunday afternoon. Cardiff has been a great place for us, we have won all our important finals there and the fans love the place. Those fans have proved to be the best in the business and they love going to Cardiff and I hope they will see the victory they want."

And Liverpool fans are hoping that it's the start of what's needed to bring success in other competitions.

[lfc-news] Academy: Owens wants a derby booster - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 25 Feb 2005
Owens wants a derby booster
Academy Football with Chris Wright, Daily Post

LIVERPOOL under-18s go into tomorrow's derby match with Everton at
Netherton still looking for their first FA Premier Academy League win of
2005.

John Owens's side put up one of their poorest performances last week and
the Liverpool coach is keen for improvement against Everton.

Liverpool have won just one match in all competitions since the turn of
the year, and that came last week in the Liverpool Senior Cup against St
Helens. They are four points adrift at the bottom of the Group C table,
having played a game more than Bolton.

And with just nine Academy League matches left, they need to improve
their form if the campaign is not allowed to just fizzle out.

Owens said: "We are obviously looking forward to the derby match. It is
a good game to get back on track if we can get a result.

"We are looking at each game. We are trying to tighten up defensively
and that is working. We are not letting lots of goals in.

"It is getting the balance right as a team and seeing what we can do. We
need to defend better and not let so many goals in. Not just the back
four but the whole team which we are doing but there is still incidents
like last week, on a free-kick, where we have been caught out.

"We are working on that and will continue to do so, but there is also
the matter of trying to score goals ourselves, which has been a problem
all season."

Apart from the three long-term injury casualties Lee Peltier, Mark
Roberts and Calum Woods, Liverpool expect to have Republic of Ireland
youth international striker Conal Platt and defender Adam Hitchen back
after their injury problems.

Liverpool have released Australian trialist keeper Caleb Patterson after
his short stay at the club. Owens and his coaches felt that at
18-years-old he was only as good as not better than the goalkeepers they
already have.

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[lfc-news] Benitez wants winger to Riise to challenge - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 25 Feb 2005
Benitez wants winger to Riise to challenge
By Paul Walker, Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ has challenged reborn John Arne Riise to score even more
goals as Liverpool prepare for Sunday's Carling Cup final against Chelsea.

The Norwegian has been a revelation under the Spanish coach in a season
of continued change at Anfield.

He scored his seventh goal of the campaign to help beat Bayer Leverkusen
in the midweek Champions League tie, easily his best-ever haul for a season.

Benitez has fielded Riise more than any other player at Anfield this
term, but is looking for him to provide even more for the team.

"Riise is playing well, but we still want to see more goals from him. He
has more confidence and is going forward very effectively and now he has
become an important player for us," he added..

"We not only have a good winger, but a good defender who is excellent in
the air and he can also shoot. He has given the squad something extra
and he has given me more possibilities."

Benitez wants his side to take advantage of their role as underdogs on
Sunday.

Despite a confidenceboosting win against Champions League win over Bayer
Leverkusen this week, Jose Mourinho's side remain favourites to take the
first domestic silverware of the season.

But Benitez said: "People are saying that Chelsea are favourites but it
is just one game and we have played well against them already. "If they
are favourites then most people will believe they will win.

"But we can use that to our advantage because we will know the are
favourites. They are the best team in England but we are in the final
having played well and we can certainly win because we have confidence
in ourselves."

He added: "It is my first final in England and to play in a cup final
you have to be proud. I am because it is not easy to get to any final."

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[lfc-news] Morientes aims to give Chelsea the blues again - Guardian

The Guardian, 26 Feb 2005
Morientes aims to give Chelsea the blues again
Liverpool's Spanish striker says his match-winning goals against the
Londoners last season will add to their doubts after difficult week
By Dominic Fifield

A week ago it would have rung as desperately misplaced optimism verging
on the ludicrous, but when Fernando Morientes conjured a statement of
fact at Anfield yesterday hope flared in Liverpool. "Chelsea are not
invincible," said the striker, his words first trilled in Spanish then
echoed in translation. "They're a good side, sure, but unbeatable? No.
We have to believe that."

The Merseysiders will share that conviction in Cardiff tomorrow with the
striker in their ranks. Such is the impenetrable confidence generated by
Jose Mourinho within his Chelsea squad that, even after their hellish
week that was, the Premiership leaders will still roar their way to the
Millennium Stadium confident of steamrolling anyone who dares stand in
the way of a first trophy under the Portuguese. Anyone, perhaps, but
Morientes.

It is some 10 months now since the Spaniard plundered home and away
against the Londoners, his second goal of the tie completing an unlikely
comeback at Stamford Bridge to block Claudio Ranieri's route to the
Champions League final. The continent's most fancied sides - from Milan
to Real Madrid, Juventus to Arsenal - had all succumbed apparently
leaving Chelsea's passage to Gelsenkirchen enticingly open. Monaco,
unfancied yet supremely resilient, blocked that path with Morientes,
loaned from Real, their inspiration.

The goal he ripped beyond Marco Ambrosio at Stade Louis II established a
3-1 advantage from the first leg. Briefly Chelsea edged in front in the
return - if only on away goals - before the Monegasques rallied and
Morientes, on the hour mark, hauled them level. John Terry featured in
both those matches, William Gallas in one. Neither will have forgotten
how that 5-3 aggregate defeat tainted their season.

Now, after defeats this week at Newcastle and Barcelona hinted at repeat
disappointment, Chelsea's players will stare across the turf in the
Welsh capital at the man who jettisoned their hopes last term. Some,
perhaps even Terry, will do well to suppress a shiver. "I have happy
memories of Chelsea and those two games are still so fresh in my mind,"
said Morientes, who has been a Liverpool player for barely six weeks.
"What I did over those two games can have a significance in this match
because players do not forget what others do to them.

"It is an encouragement when you do well against someone in the past,
then come up against them again, but you must temper that with the fact
that Chelsea are a tremendous side. Their defensive record this season
is magnificent - they are not used to letting in goals - but I found a
way through them last season. That can have an influence on things.

"What has happened this week has shown that Chelsea can be beaten but I
know they will be right on their game. If anything I would have
preferred them to have got a better result in Barcelona because, maybe,
they would have approached the game in a slightly more relaxed manner.
Instead you will see a Chelsea side really firing and wanting to make
amends. But this is a one-off occasion, not a normal Premiership game.
If we concentrate as best we can I think we have a very good chance of
winning the match."

Morientes is not accustomed to choking on the biggest stage. This will
be the 28-year-old's 17th final of his career, those appearances having
already yielded three European Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, two
InterContinental Cups, three Spanish Cups and a European Super Cup. The
four losers' medals are forgotten amid the silverware, that roll of
honour also ignoring the two Spanish titles plundered whilst at Real.

If his English was adequate enough to allow him to impart his thoughts
to his non-Spanish team-mates, he could offer those making their first
final appearance tomorrow an invaluable insight into their day ahead.
"When I played my first finals as a young player I was far more nervous
than in a league game," he said. "You can get to the 65th or the 70th
minute and there is nothing left in your legs. The stress of the
occasion and the build-up has taken it out of you. But it's not
necessarily a bad thing for nerves to play a part. I'll be nervous this
time too.

"The right amount of nerves can help you feel sharp for the game,
focusing the mind on the task in hand. It is the second final I have
played outside Real Madrid. That itself makes it a special moment for
me. I am trying to establish myself amongst new team-mates, but I'd tell
them to enjoy it. If you win it is fantastic. If you lose you have to
realise there are other challenges ahead and it is not the end of the
world. It's about relaxing.

"We can't worry too much about Chelsea. Besides, I am more concerned as
to which Liverpool team turns up on the day. We want the Liverpool that
played so well against Bayer Leverkusen and not the Liverpool that lost
at Birmingham. I cannot put my finger on why we are so inconsistent. We
often follow two wins with a defeat, then three more with another loss.
That is not the ideal situation. Really you want a gradual progression,
a steady improvement towards consistency. But we are hoping that it is
Liverpool's good face which turns up on Sunday."

Morientes might have been lining up against Rafael Benítez had tentative
enquires from Chelsea representatives as to his availability at Real
firmed up into a bid to take him from the Bernabéu to Stamford Bridge.
Instead his frustration at the lack of opportunities in the Spanish
capital prompted a £6.3m move to Anfield last month, with two goals in
six appearances to date.

Liverpool may need more tomorrow if they are to claim their eighth
League Cup with Mourinho, whose Porto side denied Morientes a fourth
European Cup at the last in Germany, standing in their way. "I am a big
admirer of him and the players I have spoken to about him all speak
highly about how he works," said the Spaniard. "Looking in from the
outside he has achieved a lot for such a young manager. He has done
already what many managers can only dream about achieving in their whole
careers. The standing he has is incredible.

"But this is about Liverpool. When I came here I knew I would get the
opportunity to appear in major finals and I am proud and privileged to
have this chance so soon. Great sides show their worth in really
important matches. That is what I'm hoping for. A final is a chance for
good sides to show their quality and true values on the biggest stage.
That is what we must do.

"Will I score? Sometimes, as soon as you set foot on the pitch for the
warm-up, you kind of know. You have a feeling in the warm-up that things
are going to go well and click into place. Watch me in the warm-up. If I
am smiling . . ." Chelsea will know exactly what to expect.

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[lfc-news] Gerrard: We're happy being the underdogs - Post

Liverpool Daily Postt, 25 Feb 2005
Gerrard: We're happy being the underdogs
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post

STEVEN GERRARD believes all the pressure will be on Chelsea in this Sunday's Carling Cup Final as he aims to fulfil a boyhood dream in Cardiff.

Gerrard captains Liverpool for the first time in a major final this weekend against the club that hopes to lure him to Stamford Bridge thissummer.

Despite an impressive win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, Liverpool will head for the Millennium Stadium as underdogs to JoseMourinho's runaway Premiership leaders.

But the midfield star insists that suits Rafael Benitez's side, especially after a week in which Mourinho suffered the first consecutive defeats of his managerial reign against Newcastle in the FA Cup andBarcelona in Europe.

Gerrard said: "It'll be strange going into the final as underdogs. If you previewed a match between Liverpool and Chelsea a few years ago you'd have said Chelsea were the underdogs but what Roman Abramovich has done at Stamford Bridge meansthey are now the favourites.

"Sometimes that can work against you, though.

"We've got a good record at Cardiff and I think the pressure is on Chelsea. Everyone is expecting them to win it so we're going there with the intention of upsetting the odds. I think we've given it a good go against all the top sides at Anfield this season, including Chelsea, and
proved that the gap between them and ourselves is not too big.

"We are still a little bit off the top three, which is disappointing, but I'm sure that, given time, the manager can get us back up there."

Gerrard's future has been the subject of intense speculation since Chelsea's approach last summer.

But the midfielder is only interested in lifting his first piece of silverware this Sunday.

"It would a massive thing for me to lift that cup in Cardiff, especially with this being my first full season as captain," he added.

"I've always said it would be a dream come true to lift a trophy for Liverpool.

"I know the Carling Cup is not renowned as the most illustrious of competitions but it's still a major trophy and I'm sure if we win ityou'll see exactly what it means to me by the look on my face.

"During the course of your career you don't get the chance to play in many finals so when they do come along you have to grasp the opportunitywith both hands and try your best to win it.

"Chelsea will be well up for it because they are chasing three trophies but this is our best chance of lifting a trophy this season and we'll begiving it our best shot."

Milan Baros, meanwhile, is determined to make amends on Sunday for his last League Cup final appearance at the Millennium Stadium.

The Czech striker came on as a substitute in Liverpool's victory over Manchester United in 2003 but was replaced by Igor Biscan as GerardHoullier sought to protect his side's lead.

"That was difficult for me in 2003 because I came on and then five minutes before the end I came off again!" he said. "It wasn't easy forme and I didn't enjoy it.

"This will be a big test for us on Sunday but I am confident we can win it."

[lfc-news] Carra: Let's savour the moment! - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 25 Feb 2005
Let's savour the moment!
EXCLUSIVE by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL hope they'll be heralding their latest new dawn by the time dusk settles in Cardiff on Sunday.

But for at least one Anfield star, securing and savouring the moment of victory is far wiser than looking too far into the horizon.

Carragher can remember the hype surrounding Gerard Houllier's first trophy win in 2001, a success which many thought would kickstart a freshera of glory but ultimately ended in under-achievement.

The stunning win over Manchester United in 2003 also failed to inspire a revival as the Reds slumped to fifth in the Premiership, missing out on Champions League qualification.

If Rafa Benitez holds the League Cup aloft on Sunday, there are sure to be predictions of another imminent Anfield resurgence.

For Carragher, while doing his best to make such a prophecy come true, each win must be celebrated on its own merits rather than presented asmerely a refreshing starter.

"Obviously, I hope this will be the first of many trophies and finals under the new manager, but as a player you never want to get cocky andassume that's going to happen," said Carragher.

"You never know what can happen in football. You've got to enjoy every final you get to because you don't know if or when the next one is goingto come along.

"I feel lucky to have played in quite a few for Liverpool now and I've enjoyed every one. These are the games you look forward to more than anyother as a player.

"Personally, I'm glad we're playing a top side in the final again. With all due respect to Birmingham, who we played in 2001, I think everyoneprefers it when you're playing a side like Chelsea in Cardiff.

"It makes it a bigger occasion and it's also a lot sweeter if you win. I know it felt a lot better beating Manchester United in 2003 because itwas a such massive game."

History can distort the ecstasy felt by players and fans on that last glorious visit to Wales.

Carragher is one of those who finds it distasteful when the successes of the previous regime are devalued because it never delivered the ultimateprize.

As far as he's concerned, the memories of victories in 2001 and 2003 were inspirational moments which can give the players and fansconfidence this weekend.

He insists the win in 2001 did inspire an new period of success, but one which only fell short because of the club's extraordinarily high standards. "When we won the League Cup in 2001 we hoped it would be the start of an improvement which would take us to the championship, but it wasn't tobe," said Carragher.

"But we still did very well in a lot competititons afterwards. Under Gerard Houllier we won virtually every competition except the title. The problem was, at a club like Liverpool the Premiership ' s always goingto be the main objective.

"I'm sure if we win the League Cup this time the new manager will be thinking in the same way as we were back then and looking for this to bethe start.

"His ambition is to make sure we compete regularly for the title in the future. He knows the main thing at Liverpool is to win the league. "This season is just the start for him, which is why it's fantastic we're in afinal."

Symbolically, victory over Chelsea would be appropriate. While Jose Mourinho can depend on Russian roubles to inspire his quest for silverware, Benitez must rely on less materialistic values.

Convincing the players they can become consistent winners has become a recurring theme of his reign to date, and it's clear the manager hasfound an able student in Carragher.

"It's clear to everyone how determined the manager is to bring the good times back here and one of the things he's always talking about to usall the time is believing we can be winners," he says.

"We know we haven't got the money to compete financially with some other clubs in the Premiership, but what we can become is a great team.

"We've seen what the manager achieved in Valencia where it wasn't all about big signings and well known players, but everything was about the team. Anyone who played against them couldn't find a weakness. They were one of the most complete teams you could get and he's trying to make itthe same here.

"We're slight underdogs going into this fixture, but it's a similar situation to the one we went into last time when we faced Manchester United.

"United were going for the title and we ended up finishing fifth, but our performance showed if you play to your potential on the day, itdoesn't matter who you're playing.

"I expect it to be a very tight game. At Stamford Bridge they were worth more than a 1-0 win, but at Anfield I'm confident we could have gone on to win the game if it wasn't for the fact Xabi Alonso was injured.

"We were the better side at that stage and were very unlucky not to get something from the match. We'll take a lot of confidence from thatperformance."

[lfc-news] Rafa's blueprint can revive art of winning - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 24 Feb 2005
Rafa's blueprint can revive art of winning
Exclusive by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

CHELSEA may head to Cardiff as favourites this weekend, but Liverpool
manager Rafa Benitez has devised a plan to ensure his players feel like
winners before a ball is kicked.

Benitez's final preparations will include a timely reminder to his squad
about the joy of success.

The Spanish manager ordered the production of a video highlighting the
best moments of the season so far, as well as scenes of jubilation
enjoyed by some of the greatest sides.

The video is being played to the Liverpool squad to give them a taste of
what could be this Sunday.

"We have prepared videos showing a number of scenes of teams with
trophies, celebrating with their fans. These things can motivate
players," said Benitez.

"I first used this with the Real Madrid youth teams. We reached some cup
finals and it made the players motivated because they could see how good
it feels when you win trophies.

"I use images of many teams, including some which have won the World
Cup. Since I've been here we've prepared videos of the celebrations
after the Arsenal and Olympia-kos victories. The team was celebrating
together, and we want all the players to think of themselves as a team
in this way.

Steven Gerrard celebrates his stunning late strike against Olympiakos,
which guaranteed Liverpool a place in the Champions League knockout stage

"I want them to remember how they felt when they won those games so
they'll do everything they can to feel that way again.

"I'm sure other managers do the same.

"We also use images of Liverpool fans celebrating these moments so the
play-ers can see how important it is to the supporters for their side to
play their best football."

For Benitez, the 'winning mentality' can be as important as talent on a
cup final day. He is a manager who won't tolerate defeatism, so it comes
as no surprise he's admitted to having a quiet word with his skipper
after the Reds' Champions League hopes were played down.

An interview Gerrard conducted with BBC radio a week ago was
mischievously held back until the eve of the Leverkusen match for
maximum impact.

Benitez said: "I spoke with Steven Gerrard and he told me his words
weren't presented in the right way. But I said to him, in future it's
better to think we can win the Champions League. Why not? We need
winners here and everyone thinking only of winning.

"I always want to win. If I lose, all I think about is why we lost. When
we lose, I only think about solutions. If you only think about winning
the next game, you don't know what the draw will be.

"If we can win the next game, maybe we will get a side which isn't so
strong, or a side which has injuries or suspensions. This is football,
not mathematics. We have a new manager and new players and we are still
learning about each other.

"Eventually we must all have the same ideas.

"At Valencia, after three years we all said the same thing, but I
remember the first January I was at the club. We were eight points
behind Real Madrid but I insisted we could win the league. People said I
was crazy. In the end, we won the league.

"By the third year when I said we could win the league, everyone agreed.
That was because by then everyone had confidence in our work."

Benitez, of course, is no stranger to cup finals or silverware. He led
Valencia to the UEFA Cup last May and his two La Liga titles earned him
recognition as one of Europe's finest coaches.

He says a similar success on Sunday will be as satisfying as those more
prestigious honours.

"If we win now it will feel the same to me as winning the UEFA Cup and
Spanish League because it would be my first trophy in another country.
That's more difficult," he says.

"To work in a new country is hard. It needs adaptation and more
responsibility. In Spain, it's easier for me. I know all the players and
language. Here, I need my staff even more.

"My challenge is to win even more trophies, and more important trophies
than the League Cup, but I see this as a first step.

"Our idea is to make this competition the first stone of a new building.
We want to be in more finals in future.

"As a manager it's always a challenge to win trophies. I'm delighted I
have the chance to do so in my first year. If we ever win the
Premiership or Champions League, obviously it will be better. But it's a
long process trying to have that kind of success.

"You can't do everything in your first year, so to have a chance to win
any competition shows we're heading in the right direction."

So what will be the final message to the players before they face Chelsea?

For all the pep talks, tactical demonstrations and videos, Benitez is
sure his side won't let the club down in the Millennium stadium.

"It's easier preparing a team for a cup final," he said.

"There's no need to motivate the players. All of them want to play.
Those who didn't play against Bayer Leverkusen are passionate about
playing. I can see in their faces in training how well they want to play."

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Win a Stevie G Signed Shirt

Steven Gerrard has donated the shirt he wore in last week's Tsunami benefit game in Spain to be auctioned off to raise more money for the good cause. ITV are running the auction, and also have a signed Thierri Henry photo to auction.

I've not always been a fan of charity auctions, as it would seem that most normal people wouldn't be able to get enough money for a decent bid.

A thought came to me tonight though - if you spoke to your mates down the pub or colleagues at work, how much would each of them be willing to chip in for a chance to win it? Get everyone to say how much they'd put in, then once you've got everyone's amounts in, you know the total you can bid on the behalf of everyone. Put this in as your bid (at the right time). If you win, then it's time to decide who gets the shirt. The way to do this wold be to buy a book of raffle tickets, then give a raffle ticket per pound (or five pound etc) put in per person. So if you put 20 quid in, you'd get 20 tickets. Then get somebody impartial (not a referee then obviously) to do the draw. Winner takes the shirt.

If you don't win the bid with the money you've collected you'll have to decide what to do, maybe try and win a bid on Ebay for another shirt, and give any leftover money to the charity.

Anyway - here's the details from the www.itv.com/football website.

Football for Hope Charity Auction
Features, Tuesday February 22 2005
Fancy a Thierry Henry signed photo or Steven Gerrard's signed shirt that he wore during the Football for Hope match?

They could be yours if you bid the highest amount in our auction to benefit the people affected by the tsunami.

All you have to do is email your bid to us and the highest bidders will get the shirt or the photo! All the proceeds raised will go to the FIFA/AFC Tsunami Solidarity Fund. The auction is open from Thursday 24th February at 5pm for a week.

Before you send us you bid, you must read the terms and conditions

When you email us you should include:

- the item you wish to bid for
- your full name
- your daytime phone number
- your bid in pounds sterling

You can bid any amount, but you must be prepared to pay the amount you have bid in the event of you being the highest bidder for an item.

To bid for Steve Gerrard’s signed shirt, please click here

To bid for the signed photo of Thierry Henry, please click here

Terms & Conditions

[lfc-news] Benitez happy despite last-gasp Dudek error - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 23 Feb 2005
Benitez happy despite last-gasp Dudek error
By Andy Hunter, Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ admitted Jerzy Dudek handed Bayer Leverkusen a Champions
League lifeline last night - but refused to allow the Pole's last-gasp
error to overshadow Liverpool's latest European conquest.

Liverpool looked to have booked a quarter-final place when Dietmar
Hamann's 90th-minute free-kick gave them a commanding three-goal Anfield
lead.

But a stoppage-time fumble by Dudek enabled Sena De Souza Franca to
claim an away goal for Leverkusen and change the complex of the result
entirely.

The Germans would have needed to win by four clear goals to advance at
Liverpool's expense at the BayArena in a fortnight. Now they require a
clear two-goal triumph.

And Benitez admitted: "If someone had said we could have had a 3-1 win
before the game I would have taken that straight away.

"At the end of the game though I was thinking 2-0 is a good result and
3-0 was much better. Three-one is not bad, but it is not the best. You
know you have to concentrate until the very end in football and we were
punished for not doing that."

The Liverpool manager, however, refused to condemn Dudek for his latest
Anfield error after the Polish international had earlier produced fine
saves to deny Dimitar Berbatov, Bernd Schneider and Paul Freier.

He said: "Jerzy had a good game. The shot bounced in front of him before
he made the mistake but still I thought he played very well.

"They had a few one-on-ones and he made some other important saves. When
any goalkeeper loses the ball it is a big problem but in my opinion he
played very well tonight."

Liverpool had raced into a comfortable first-half lead through Luis
Garcia and John Arne Riise. And though the away goal took the shine off
Hamann's third Benitez insisted his side showed enough quality to
qualify in the second leg.

"I am always positive and if you see your team working hard and creating
good opportunities as we did tonight, although they had good
opportunities too, then you should feel confident.

"We know we can score over there but we also know it is going to be a
difficult game.

"To score three goals in an important game like this is good for our
confidence though and it comes at a good time with the Carling Cup Final
this weekend.

"We will have Gerrard, Morientes and Pellegrino back for that game too."

Liverpool coped superbly without suspended captain Steven Gerrard as
makeshift central mid-field duo Hamann and Igor Biscan produced
outstanding displays.

Benitez added: "Gerrard is a key player and if he is on

the pitch it is better for everyone because the opposition have to watch
him.

"Gerrard is one of the best players for us, he is one of the

best players in the world, but it is important for me that we have a
team not one player and we played as a team tonight."

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Dudek's spill mars Liverpool triumph - The Guardian

Dominic Fifield at Anfield
Wednesday February 23, 2005
The Guardian

There will be no hint of complacency and not even a whispered mention of a job virtually done, but Liverpool's players will be pinching themselves today at just how close they are to a place in the last eight of Europe's elite. Success last night has left them eyeing the quarter-finals - disbelief as much as delirium abounds in these parts.

So much of this campaign has been about the inconsistencies that regularly undermine Rafael Benítez's side. In that context, and with Steven Gerrard suspended and nervously biting his nails in the stands, few should be confounded by splendour of this display, for all that Franca scored what may yet prove to be a significant consolation goal in the dying seconds following a dreadful spill by Jerzy Dudek.

Liverpool will curse that, coming as it did only seconds after Dietmar Hamann had belted a stoppage-time free-kick beyond the stunned Jörg Butt to establish what appeared an insurmountable advantage. Bayer's goal has added intrigue to the second leg, though Benitez will still travel to the Ruhr next month pepped by a display every bit as impressive as that inspired by Gerrard to dismiss Olympiakos in December.

If Gerrard's absence had gnawed at confidence before the game, there was some optimism to cling to in Liverpool's unbeaten home record against German clubs. Bayer were the last to suffer here, even if the 1-0 win of three years ago was insufficient to put the Reds into the last four of this competition.

Back in 2002 Gérard Houllier had previewed the first leg of that quarter-final by claiming his side were "10 games from greatness". There had been no such hyperbole from his successor, although the fans are already thinking in terms of being five matches from the final.

For all that Leverkusen created a succession of chances, Liverpool refused to shrink in the absence of Gerrard, and ruthlessly exploited the uncertainty which regularly flared in the visitors' defence to establish a lead which suggested this tie would be a stroll. And conducting the swagger, as ridiculous as it might sound, was Igor Biscan.

The Croatian had stepped in for Gerrard in La Coruna earlier in this campaign and excelled, yet so indifferent had his recent form been that few expected a repeat. The 26-year-old was almost sold to Crystal Palace last month and, barring too many more performances like this, will leave Anfield when his contract expires in the summer.

Yet it was to Biscan who the ball dropped to 15 minutes in, the midfielder swerving away majestically from the half-hearted challenges mustered by Paul Freier and Carsten Ramelow, before slipping a pass deliciously through Leverkusen's frayed defence. Luis Garcia skipped in to possession and eased his shot low beyond Butt. Ramelow was still on the turf as the home fans rejoiced in a chorus of "Igor, Igor".

By half-time the advantage had been extended, John Arne Riise battering a free-kick into the bottom corner with Butt slow to react, and the Germans were reduced to squabbling among themselves. That they had created the better chances almost at will, Liverpool struggling to deal with the fluidity of Dimitar Berbatov and Andrej Voronin, merely ate further at their confidence.

Berbatov was the more threatening, though he was also the more profligate. Steve Finnan's weak back-header just before the half-hour had dribbled against Sami Hyypia, with the loose ball dropping well short of the panicked Dudek.

The Bulgarian striker, tearing into space, had time to place his shot but squirted the attempt wide of the far post, following the sloppy tone set earlier by Robson Ponte, who had skied a shot high and wide after Freier's dribble.

The visitors could at least take heart from their knack of prising Liverpool apart. Bayer have usually reserved such bite for their home ties, having spanked all-comers at the BayArena in this competition this season. Those wins included a 3-0 drubbing of Real Madrid, and Liverpool were ever conscious of the grilling that awaits them in the return.

A clean sheet here was paramount, adding greater weight to Djimi Traoré's interception from Voronin as the Ukrainian homed in on goal. Dudek's save from Bernd Schneider's stunning volley was equally timely.

Gerrard will be back in a fortnight, though his team-mates purred in his absence. Riise, his form buoyant in recent weeks while others have laboured, embarrassed Schneider whenever given space.

From the Norwegian's flick Milan Baros out-sprinted Juan and Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker only to see his finish blocked by Butt. And from the resulting corner Hyypia nodded down and Jamie Carragher, unmarked at the far post, had his point-blank attempt stifled by the goalkeeper.

Liverpool could have done with reward there, though they will be content enough with the margin of this success. If nothing else, here was proof that there is life without Gerrard.

Final Score - Liverpool 3 Leverkusen 1

Wonderful performance from Liverpool, unlucky to concede late late on.
Liverpool goals: Luis Garcia 15, Riise 35, Hamman 90+1
Leverkusen goals: Franca 90+2

Match reports to follow.

Latest score - Liverpool 3 Leverkusen 1

Leverkusen pull one back, 2 and a half minutes into injury time.

Latest score - Liverpool 3 Leverkusen 0

Didi Hamman scores from a free kick, 1 minute into injury time. 3-0 Liverpool.

Half-time - Liverpool 2 Leverkusen 0

Goals from Garcia (15) and Riise (35) see Liverpool take a 2-0 lead into half-time.

Match report to follow later.

Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Luis Garcia, Hamann, Biscan, Riise, Kewell, Baros. Subs: Carson, Smicer, Le Tallec, Nunez, Warnock, Welsh, Potter.

Bayer Leverkusen: Butt, Schneider, Callsen-Bracker, Juan, Placente, Ramelow, Freier, Ponte, Krzynowek, Berbatov, Voronin. Subs: Starke, Franca, Bierofka, Fritz, Donovan, Dum, Castro.

Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece)

Latest score - Liverpool 2 Leverkusen 0

John Arne Riise scores Liverpool's second with a brilliantly taken free kick.

Latest score - Liverpool 1 Leverkusen 0

Goal scored by Luis Garcia, after 15 minutes.

[lfc-news] Benitez turns on Kewell's advisors - Independent

The Independent, 22 Feb 2005
Benitez turns on Kewell's advisors
By Phil Shaw

Gritting was under way on Merseyside last night, but the process had already begun in terms of the character of Rafael Benitez. After his untypically rugged criticism of his players' surrender at Birmingham City, the normally smooth-talking Liverpool manager again showed his
tougher side by rounding on the friends of Harry Kewell as the Australian prepared to make his comeback at home to Bayer Leverkusen in the first knock-out round of the Champions' League tonight.

Kewell, who has been struggling to overcome injuries to his groin and Achilles, is likely to return as a front-runner in the first leg against the Germans after an absence of two months. The manager of Australia's national side, Frank Farina, and the former Leeds United player's agent,
Bernie Mandic, have both expressed the opinion that Kewell should be resting, but Benitez heaped gritty contempt upon them by instructing them to back off and reminding them that Liverpool pay his wages.

"I'm not happy with the people around Harry talking all the time and not doing the best things for him," Benitez said. "I don't know if the manager and agent are doctors, but he is a key player for us and we wantto see the best of him, not hear them talking all the time."

The Spaniard continued in bullish vein: "Harry has trained properly for the past 10 days. He is working hard and playing well. We have a very good medical department and they say he is fit. He is our player: we pay him and we control him; we want to see the best of him and we know what to do to achieve that. The only thing other people must do is to say tohim: 'Play as well as possible'."

Kewell, who played as a striker for an hour in a reserve fixture last week, is earmarked to start against Leverkusen because of the unavailability of Fernando Morientes (cup-tied) and Steven Gerrard (suspended). He has not enjoyed the best of seasons, in respect of either form or fitness. However, Benitez hopes that a capacity crowd at Anfield - and the prospect of claiming a place in Sunday's Carling Cup final against Chelsea in Cardiff - might coax the player into reprising the finishing flair he demonstrated during Leeds' run to the semi-finalsin 2000-01.

The next season, Liverpool appeared poised to emulate the Yorkshire club when they faced Leverkusen at the quarter-final stage. With the aggregate score at 3-3 with six minutes of the second leg remaining, the side then under Gérard Houllier's stewardship led on away goals. It was then that Lucio made it 4-2 on the night and took Klaus Toppmöller's team through to the last four, where they defeated Manchester United enroute to a gallant failure in the Glasgow final with Real Madrid.

These days Leverkusen are coached by Klaus Augenthaler, who can tap into the wisdom of the former Germany and Roma coach Rudi Völler now that he has returned to the club as sporting director. Not that Augenthaler appears to need advice. Their Champions' League record reveals victories over Real Madrid (3-1), Roma (3-1) and Dynamo Kiev (4-1), while they have also routed Bayern Munich 4-1 in domestic combat and won four oftheir five matches since the Bundesliga resumed in the new year.

"German teams are always difficult opponents," said Benitez, who was happy to avoid Spanish and Italian opposition when the draw was made. "As well as being physically strong, they have great experience at this level. The players who came up against Leverkusen in 2002 know how hardit will be, especially with the second leg away from home."

Augenthaler will be without the Germany defender Jens Nowotny, who damaged knee ligaments in Sunday's 4-2 success at Nuremberg and will be out for the rest of the season. The identity of his understudy will be of particular interest to Kewell and Milan Baros, since Roque Junior endured a torrid time in English football 18 months ago. In his five Premiership appearances for Leeds while on loan from Milan, they shipped 20 goals. "It was a new experience in a new country," Uefa's press office yesterday quoted the Brazilian World Cup-winner as saying. "Iimproved my English."

Liverpool have never lost to German opposition at Anfield, winning 11 of 14 games, whereas their visitors have a solitary draw (which admittedly deprived Manchester United of a final place three years ago) to show for five appearances in England. Benitez will not trust in history so much as in the use he has made of Morientes' first-hand knowledge of Leverkusen (as an ex-Real Madrid player). He looks, too, to the wall of sound that inspired the dramatic elimination of Olympiakos to helpoffset the absence of Gerrard.

Liverpool (4-4-2; probable): Dudek; Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traoré; Luis Garcia, Hamann, Biscan, Riise; Baros, Kewell.

Bayer Leverkusen (4-1-3-2; probable): Butt; Schneider, Callsen-Bracker, Roque Junior, Placente; Ramelow; Freier, Ponte, Krzynowek; Berbatov,Voronin.

Referee: K Vassaras (Greece).

The Lowdown on... Bayer Leverkusen

How do they beat you? Leverkusen play swift, counter-attacking football based on solid defensive foundations. They have produced some of thebest attacking play seen in the Bundesliga this season.

Strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Franca have each scored five times in the Champions' League, while Brazilian Robson Ponte provides the creativespark in midfield.

How do you beat them? Inconsistent on their travels, Leverkusen suffer from the occasional disciplinary lapse, having 21 players booked in the group stages. The normally trustworthy Leverkusen defence looks increasingly shaky in the absence of Jens Nowotny, who tore knee
ligaments against Nuremberg on Saturday. The Argentinian Diego Placente is the only surviving member of the back four that lost to Real Madrid in the 2002 final.

Key man? German international midfielder Bernd Schneider typifies the industrious football that took Leverkusen to the final of the Champions' League in 2002. His foraging runs, excellent crossing and prowess fromset-pieces provide a sting to an impressive attacking line-up.

Any familiar faces? Brazilian defender Roque Junior endured a torrid three-month loan spell at Leeds United last season before being shipped out to Siena as the Yorkshire side sought to cut costs. He joinedLeverkusen in 2004 after being released by Milan.