[lfc-news] TEAM: Liverpool

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Results and fixtures

Date Comp Opposition Result Attend
----------------------------------------------------------------------
14/08/04 PREM Tottenham Hotspur Away D 1-1 35,105

21/08/04 PREM Manchester City Home W 2-1 42,831

29/08/04 PREM Bolton Wanderers Away L 0-1 27,880

11/09/04 PREM West Bromwich Albion Home W 3-0 42,947

20/09/04 PREM Manchester United Away L 1-2 67,857

25/09/04 PREM Norwich City Home W 3-0 43,152

03/10/04 PREM Chelsea Away L 0-1 42,028

16/10/04 PREM Fulham Away W 4-2 21,884

23/10/04 PREM Charlton Athletic Home W 2-0 41,625

26/10/04 LC-3 Millwall Away W 3-0 17,655

30/10/04 PREM Blackburn Rovers Away D 2-2 26,314

06/11/04 PREM Birmingham City Home L 0-1 42,669

10/11/04 LC-4 Middlesbrough Home W 2-0 28,176

13/11/04 PREM Crystal Palace Home W 3-2 42,862

20/11/04 PREM Middlesbrough Away L 0-2 34,751

28/11/04 PREM Arsenal Home W 2-1 43,730

01/12/04 LC-QF Tottenham Hotspur Away W 1-1 36,100
(AET, FT: 0-0, PEN: Won 4-3)

04/12/04 PREM Aston Villa Away D 1-1 42,593

11/12/04 PREM Everton Away L 0-1 40,552

14/12/04 PREM Portsmouth Home D 1-1 35,064

19/12/04 PREM Newcastle United Home W 3-1 43,856

26/12/04 PREM West Bromwich Albion Away W 5-0 27,533

28/12/04 PREM Southampton Home W 1-0 42,382

01/01/05 PREM Chelsea Home L 0-1 43,886

03/01/05 PREM Norwich City Away W 2-1 24,503

11/01/05 LC-SF Watford Home W 1-0 35,739

15/01/05 PREM Manchester United Home L 0-1 44,183

18/01/05 FAC-3 Burnley Away L 0-1 19,033

22/01/05 PREM Southampton Away L 0-2 32,017

25/01/05 LC-SF Watford Away W 1-0 19,797

01/02/05 PREM Charlton Athletic Away W 2-1 27,102

05/02/05 PREM Fulham Home W 3-1 43,534

12/02/05 PREM Birmingham City Away L 0-2 29,318

27/02/05 LC-F Chelsea Home L 2-3 78,000
(AET, FT: 1-1)

05/03/05 PREM Newcastle United Away L 0-1 52,323

16/03/05 PREM Blackburn Rovers Home D 0-0 37,763

20/03/05 PREM Everton Home W 2-1 44,224

02/04/05 PREM Bolton Wanderers Home W 1-0 43,755

09/04/05 PREM Manchester City Away L 0-1 47,203

16/04/05 PREM Tottenham Hotspur Home D 2-2 44,029

20/04/05 PREM Portsmouth Away W 2-1 20,205

23/04/05 PREM Crystal Palace Away L 0-1 26,034

30/04/05 PREM Middlesbrough Home D 1-1 43,250

NEXT PREM Arsenal Away

Results summary as at Saturday 30th April 2005

__________________ __________________ __________________
| Home | Away | Total |
_____________|__________________|__________________|__________________|
| | | | |
| Played | 21 | 22 | 43 |
|_____________|__________________|__________________|__________________|
| | | | |
| Won | 13 (62%) | 8 (36%) | 21 (49%) |
|_____________|__________________|__________________|__________________|
| | | | |
| Drawn | 4 (19%) | 3 (14%) | 7 (16%) |
|_____________|__________________|__________________|__________________|
| | | | |
| Lost | 4 (19%) | 11 (50%) | 15 (35%) |
|_____________|__________________|__________________|__________________|
| | | | |
| For | 34 (1.6/game) | 25 (1.1/game) | 59 (1.4/game) |
|_____________|__________________|__________________|__________________|
| | | | |
| Against | 17 (0.8/game) | 25 (1.1/game) | 42 (1.0/game) |
|_____________|__________________|__________________|__________________|

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[lfc-news] Middlesbrough report - PA

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PA Sport, 30 April 2005
Liverpool 1 Middlesbrough 1

Liverpool again failed to take advantage of an Everton slip-up in the
increasingly bitter race for the fourth Premiership place, which will
ensure a crack at next season's Champions League.

Not even a wonderful goal from Steven Gerrard could inspire a
much-changed Liverpool to victory as they now prepare for the momentous
Champions League semi-final decider with Chelsea, where even victory in
the final now seems unlikely to allow the Reds back into the competition.

They were half asleep in the first half and found themselves behind to
an early Szilard Nemeth strike, cancelled out by Gerrard's second-half
classic from 25 yards.

But no matter how much pressure the home side mounted, the second
critical goal was beyond them as Boro claimed a point in their own drive
to clinch a UEFA Cup place.

Liverpool have now won just once in their last five league games, the
demands of the Champions League taking their toll on mind and body.

Benitez made five changes from the side which drew at Chelsea in midweek
- only Igor Biscan was absent through injury, with Milan Baros and Djimi
Traore not even on the bench.

Sami Hyypia and Luis Garcia were amongst the substitutes with Harry
Kewell, Mauricio Pellegrino, Fernando Morientes, Antonio Nunez and
Stephen Warnock coming into the team as the Spanish coach attempted
another selection balancing act with Tuesday's clash against Jose
Mourinho's men obviously on his mind.

But it is pretty much accepted now that Benitez does not have the
strength in depth to rotate his squad with any degree of confidence -
and the Kop's fears at such wholesale if understandable changes were
underlined after just four minutes when Boro took the lead.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's lay off sent Nemeth driving through from
midfield, brushing aside Pellegrino to emerge into the box and coolly
drill a low shot past Jerzy Dudek.

Liverpool responded with slow, patient build-up which may work in Europe
but has allowed Premiership sides to throw up a deep, defiant defence.

John Arne Riise almost embarrassed Brad Jones with a vicious, swerving
drive from 25 yards which the goalkeeper could not hold and allowed to
bounce out off his chest - although no Liverpool man was following up.

But Liverpool were shaky at the back whenever Pellegrino was involved,
indecision or a slowness to react causing defensive team-mate Jamie
Carragher plenty of anxious moments.

Only a Nunez shot into the side-netting and a Riise header over
threatened to trouble Boro in a frustrating first half for the Anfield
faithful.

It was no surprise to see Pellegrino taken off at the break, although he
had been complaining of a leg injury in the closing minutes of the first
half. Luis Garcia came on and Riise moved to centre back.

And the Spanish forward almost equalised when he met a Steve Finnan
cross with a powerful header which Jones managed to scoop over the bar.

A minute later Liverpool were level with an absolute stunner from Gerrard.

Riise's angled ball from deep on the right was met by Gerrard 25 yards
out and his dipping volley crashed past Jones into the top corner to
send the Kop wild.

Liverpool now looked a changed team. Kewell saw a close-range header
deflected wide from Xabi Alonso's chip and Morientes nodded just wide
from Riise's cross.

Jones spilled another long range effort, this time from Kewell, who then
forced his way past Davies to test Jones at the near post.

The pressure mounted with a Luis Garcia header from Gerrard's pass going
just over, before Luis Garcia saw another effort turned away by Jones
before being booked for a foul on Boateng.

Liverpool then replaced Nunez with Djibril Cisse as the all-out assault
continued, with only a tremendous saving tackle in the box from Gareth
Southgate stopping Morientes finishing off a Luis Garcia pass.

Doriva got away with a nasty foul on Luis Garcia before Boudewijn Zenden
was booked for a late tackle on Gerrard.

Dietmar Hamann replaced Warnock, the German slotting in at centre-back
to allow Riise onto the flanks as Liverpool threw everything forward -
but they were unable to force the win they so desperately needed.

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Finnan, Pellegrino (Luis Garcia 45),
Alonso, Gerrard, Kewell, Nunez (Cisse 73), Riise, Warnock (Hamann 84),
Morientes
Subs not used: Carson, Hyypia
Booked: Nunez, Luis Garcia
Goals: Gerrard 52

Middlesbrough: Jones, Davies, Ehiogu, Queudrue, Southgate, Boateng,
Doriva, Parlour (Parnaby 78), Zenden, Hasselbaink, Nemeth (Downing 62)
Subs not used: Knight, Reiziger, Morrison
Booked: Doriva, Parlour, Zenden
Goals: Nemeth 4

Att: 43,250
Referee: P Dowd

BENITEZ SPELLS OUT HARSH FACTS

Rafael Benitez was left fuming yet again by another disappointing
Liverpool display against Middlesbrough that has further damaged their
hopes of claiming fourth spot in the Premiership.

Even word from Craven Cottage that Everton were losing to Fulham could
not inspire the sort of Liverpool display against Boro that would have
cut the points gap.

And the 1-1 draw was of more use to Boro, who, claimed manager Steve
McClaren, are "in pole position for Europe now".

But Benitez's face mirrored the angry one seen last weekend when his
side lost at Crystal Palace.

He said: "I am very unhappy, very frustrated because the result is not
good. The positives are that we have one more point but one less game
and we saw a fantastic goal from Steven Gerrard.

"But we only played to our potential for 20 minutes in the second half.
The rest of the game was stop-start with bookings, free-kicks and delays.

"That is why I am unhappy. I honestly don't know why we cannot play well
after a European game. There will have to be lots of changes for next
season."

Liverpool now face Chelsea on Tuesday in the second leg of their
Champions League semi-final, the tie poised at 0-0 with a final in
Istanbul next month the prize.

Benitez added: "I promise it will be a different game on Tuesday, a
different kind of game and I hope to see far more than we showed this time.

"I made changes but we had 11 good players out there, and thankfully we
have no more injury concerns.

"But games like this are always very difficult for us. It always seems
to happen after a Champions League game and we need to change for the
future.

"This is the third time recently we have failed to take advantage of an
Everton slip-up. We knew they were losing at half-time."

McClaren's side are seventh and in the final UEFA Cup qualification
spot, and face a showdown of their own next weekend against Tottenham,
who are their closest rivals.

The Boro chief said: "For the first half our performance was
outstanding, probably the best ever at Anfield for me. We defended well,
scored a good goal and deserved to be ahead at the break.

"We expected an onslaught and that is what we got, but it took a wonder
goal to stop us and once we got a grip after that we were in control. We
had five across the middle and could have caught them on the break again.

"We are now in pole position for Europe. Everybody in our dressing room
really wants it and they are showing a great attitude and determination.
It was a fantastic display by them all."

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[lfc-news] Academy: Owens pleased at players' progress - Post

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Liverpool Daily Post, 29 April 2005
Owens pleased at players' progress
Academy Football with Chris Wright, Daily Post

LIVERPOOL under-18s completed their FA Premier Academy League regular
season, but they have until May 19 for their campaign to finish.

Although they finished bottom of the Group C table, coach John Owens has
been happy with the individual progress of many of his squad. The
reserves also completed their fixtures on Tuesday when the majority of
the team was made up of U18s players.

Owens is glad, that after a physically demanding season, that there is a
chance to ease down and take stock.

He said: "It has been a tough season in the sense that the Academy lads
have struggled in their own Saturday league games plus they have had to
play in midweek in the reserves. So it has been quite a season of
fatigue for them."

While there will be no more competitive matches John Owens is looking to
either play full-scale practice matches between all the Academy players
or arranging a couple of friendly fixtures with outside opposition.

This will keep the squad fit and also give several of next year's intake
the chance of vital preparation for when the school-boys go full-time.

One game definitely to be played is at Anfield on May 19, when the
Academy players get the chance of a practice match at the club's home
stadium, before the pitch is dug up for summer renovation.

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[lfc-news] Benitez faces Boro dilemma - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 29 April 2005
Benitez faces Boro dilemma
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ could be forgiven for ordering a large consignment of
cotton wool to wrap around his team on their return to Melwood.

In Steven Gerrard's case, a year's supply of toothpaste would avoid any
further unwanted drama on the eve of vital games.

Benitez admits he feared his captain would miss the clash at Stamford
Bridge at one point on Wednesday, as his toothache became unbearable and
dental surgery required.

"Stevie is better now, but it was a shock for us on the morning of the
game when the doctor told us about the situation," said Benitez.

"My friends in Spain told me they saw Stevie on television and joked to
me they thought he'd gone fat because his face had swelled up.

"It can be dangerous when you have a problem with your teeth because it
can have an impact on your muscles. I was worried about the situation
when I heard about the problem.

"Fortunately, Stevie told me he was still going to play. There was no
way he wanted to miss the match."

If Gerrard, Milan Baros, Igor Biscan, John Arne Riise and Jamie
Carragher were told to put their feet up in preparation for the return
leg, few supporters would argue.

The only fly in that particular ointment is the prospect of suffering a
Premiership defeat which would extinguish the last flickering flame of
ambition of coming fourth.

Benitez' dilemma is while Liverpool's clash with Middlesbrough rates as
yet another 'must-win' game, it's a forlorn hope keeping minds off the
clash three days later.

While the supporters preserve their lung power, Benitez may rest some
weary limbs as he can't afford any more key absentees in the aftermath
of Xabi Alonso's heartbreak.

"We don't have a lot of time to prepare for the game. We'll analyse the
situation of each player before we make any decisions. Then we can think
about our approach against Middlesbrough," said Benitez.

"It may be difficult for us to send out the strongest team this weekend,
but that's been the situation a lot this season. We also have to
recognise this is also an important game which we must win.

"The main focus always has to be the next game, not Tuesday. I know it
will be easy for the players to motivate themselves next week, but we
must concentrate on Middlesbrough.

"The most difficult thing for us all season has been getting the same
mentality for every match."

Steve McClaren's side represent an unwanted interval between the two
main acts. It's not so much a case of 'after the Lord Mayors show' as
the tea-break in the middle of it.

The rational of holding star men back must be balanced with the
consequences of failure.

Benitez can at least call upon Fernando Morientes and Mauricio
Pellegrino again, while Alonso's enforced midweek exile should see him
continue in midfield.

The path is also clear for Djibril Cisse's first start for eight months,
with Benitez admitting the striker is closer than ever to leading from
the front.

"Cisse played well for the 15 minutes he was used, but that's not always
the best way of analysing his condition to start a game," said Benitez.

"I know he's not ready to play a full 90 minutes, but perhaps we can
decide if he starts to play for an hour. That's a possibility for us."

Another option for Benitez is holding Cisse back until the Chelsea visit
rather than expend his energy tomorrow. The Frenchman is still somewhat
of an unknown quantity and could prove a surprise package in the later
stages of the semi-final.

Benitez added: "You never want to give out any information which may
help your rival, but we know we have options and Cisse is now one of them.

"It may be more useful to give him 30 minutes against Middlesbrough and
then start him against Chelsea.

"That's possible, but we haven't made any decision yet."

The next game is always be the most important, but for the first time
this season, Liverpool may recognise a sacrifice in the Premier-ship as
a price worth paying to give themselves the best chance in the Champions
League.

Clearly Benitez's team selection will be influenced by Chelsea's
imminent visit, a series of late fitness tests and, perhaps, one or two
dental check-ups.

* Middlesbrough captain Gareth Southgate and midfielder George Boateng
face fitness tests.

Southgate, who needed seven stitches in a head wound after the midweek
derby at Newcastle, hopes to make the 400th Premier League appearance of
his three-club career.

Boateng has a foot injury, while goalkeeper Brad Jones will again
deputise for the injured Mark Schwarzer after conceding only one goal in
three games.

Stewart Downing is expected to retake his place on the left wing after
only being used as a late substitute against the Magpies.

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[lfc-news] Benitez's blast for UEFA - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 29 April 2005
Benitez's blast for UEFA
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ has called on UEFA to change their disciplinary policy
following the injustice which has ruled Xabi Alonso out of next week's
clash with Chelsea.

The Kop boss (left) is livid there is no means of appeal against the
decision, despite replays showing a clear error by referee Alain Sars.

In Premiership fixtures, a match official can rescind a booking after
the benefit of a replay.

Benitez believes UEFA should adopt a similar rule where a clear
miscarriage of justice has taken place.

But UEFA won't allow Frenchman Sars to review the incident which led to
Alonso's one-game suspension.

"In the Premiership or Spanish League a referee can change his mind
later," said Benitez.

"When you see things as clear as this, the right decision should be taken.

We are talking about a game which will decide a finalist and we also
want to create the best spectacle possible, which means having the best
players on the pitch. This has been a clear mistake, so the rules must
change.

"I spoke to the referee and asked him if he'd seen the video. You could
see it wasn't a yellow card.

"We were talking in a friendly way about the situation, but he just
asked me which yellow card I was talking about."

Benitez now expects Alonso's team mates to do everything possible to
ensure he features in the final

"We've played three months without Xabi and won a lot of games so we
must have belief with the squad we have available," said Benitez.

"I have a lot of confidence in our players and we may have Didi Hamann
back for the second leg. We still have options.

"The positive way of looking at it is the players will want to get to
the final for Xabi.

"At least he knows if we can win, he'll be available to play the biggest
game in the competition."

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[lfc-news]£625 The internet price of Reds Euro ticket - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 29 April 2005
£625 The internet price of Reds Euro ticket
By Mary Murtagh, Liverpool Echo

TICKETS for Liverpool's big Euro clash with Chelsea are being sold at 20
times their face value.

Frantic buying and selling has broken out for the crucial Champions
League semi-final second leg match at Anfield on Tuesday.

The game is a sellout and the going price for £30 tickets have now
reached £625 on the internet.

The prospect of watching some of the best footballers in the English
game battle it out has proved too much of a temptation for fans with
cash to splash.

Internet auction sites such as eBay have become the perfect place to
pick up a ticket - at a price.

But most loyal Reds' fans won't have to spend their life savings to
secure a ticket for the match where they hope they will watch their team
play their way into the final of the Champions League

Several hours queuing and being a regular at the season's matches meant
most fans were able to get their hands on a sought-after ticket.

Dave Murphy, of the Merseyside branch of the official supporters' club,
said: "Those kind of prices are very unusual. But real fans won't have
to pay that kind of money.

"I had to queue up for three hours to get my ticket. I think people are
willing to pay hundreds of pounds for a ticket so they can say they were
there.

"A game like that is going to be something a bit different."

Buying and selling of tickets is set to reach fever pitch over the bank
holiday weekend in the run up to the game on Tuesday.

Liverpool FC were not available to comment.

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[lfc-news] Reds must show Carragher character all the time - Guardian

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The Guardian, 29 April 2005
Reds must show Carragher character all the time
A centre-half with England class
By Richard Williams

They got there, they are still there, and they could yet win the thing.
But unless they manage to upset massive odds and carry off the European
Cup in Istanbul on May 25, it will be hard to take this Liverpool team
seriously until they stop losing league matches against lesser
opposition with the kind of passive performance they gave against
Crystal Palace last Saturday, drawing criticism even from inside their
own ranks. What they need to do is adopt the approach of Jamie Carragher
as the baseline of their performance in every match, not merely in
semi-finals of the Champions League.

Carragher was widely acclaimed as the star of the draw they took away
from Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, his two decisive interventions
in the final phase of the match keeping Liverpool's hopes alive. With 12
minutes of normal time remaining, he cleverly dispossessed Mateja Kezman
at the end of a dribble that looked as though it might produce
something. Five minutes later Kezman was waiting to hit a dropping ball
from point-blank range in the penalty area when Carragher produced a
brilliant intervention that left the Serbian substitute swinging at thin
air.

Given the notably wan form of Steven Gerrard in recent months, Carragher
has become the flavour of the month among those seeking to identify a
local hero among Liverpool's ranks. He has grown in stature and presence
on the pitch, to the point where he provides the emotional reference
point for players coming into the squad, particularly from abroad.

When Rafael Benítez made it clear very quickly last summer that Stéphane
Henchoz would have no place in his plans, Carragher stepped up to
establish a new partnership with Sami Hyypia in central defence. He was
reverting to the position he had played through the ranks of Liverpool's
youth teams until Gérard Houllier reinvented him as a utility player, a
decision copied by Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Now Carragher is being acclaimed as a credible addition to England's
ranks of international-class centre-backs, ready to join Sol Campbell,
Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Ledley King among the specialists. And if
Campbell is nearing the end of his international career, as seems
likely, then Carragher might find himself challenging Terry for the
Arsenal man's No6 shirt in Eriksson's line-up.

But Carragher's display was not the only one worthy of note from among
the ranks of the club's less starry players on Wednesday. Djimi Traoré,
when he was not complaining about real and imagined injuries, put his
long legs in the way of Joe Cole's dribbling effectively enough to
ensure that the Chelsea man, in confident form, was unable to come up
with the end product. Igor Biscan, deputising for the injured Didi
Hamann, did little wrong and much that was right, in an unobtrusive sort
of way.

Between them Traoré and Biscan provided a reminder that Houllier knew
how to pick players but was not necessarily the best man to coach and
motivate them. Of Liverpool's 11 starting players and seven substitutes
on Wednesday, only three - the Spanish trio of Xabi Alonso, Luis García
and Antonio Núñez - were not brought into the Anfield first-team squad
by the much criticised Frenchman. And now they are a step away from a
European Cup final, the object of Houllier's vanished dreams.

We must hope, however, that Tuesday night's return leg turns out to be a
match of greater distinction, with fewer misplaced passes from both
sides. On Wednesday, even the most reliable distributors -Alonso for
Liverpool and Claude Makelele for Chelsea - were regularly making a
present of the ball to their opponents. It was a contest characterised
by incessant pressing and closing down, and by the phenomenal physical
fitness that allows modern players to maintain maximum effort throughout
the full 90 minutes.

Under the suffocating pressure, moments of high skill revealed
themselves. Makelele, Cole and Frank Lampard occasionally nicked the
ball away from an opponent with astonishing deftness before initiating
one-touch triangular movements at high speed. But the overall impression
was of sheer effort cancelling out invention.

It is hard to imagine either of these teams getting away with such
tactics against Milan in the final, should Carlo Ancelotti's team
exploit their 2-0 lead from the home leg and, as expected, dispose of
PSV Eindhoven in Holland on Wednesday night. Space, possession and
patience are Milan's tools, as Sir Alex Ferguson would attest.
Premiership-style intensity alone is unlikely to prevent them collecting
the trophy for a seventh time.

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[lfc-news] Gerrard in hospital drama - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 28 April 2005
Gerrard in hospital drama
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL skipper Steven Gerrard was at the centre of a hospital drama
hours before the Champions League semi-final at Chelsea.

The Huyton-born midfielder had surgery to remove a painful mouth abscess
after he suffered a sleepless night.

Dental surgeons treated him in time for him to play a key role in last
night's match.

It is understood Gerrard, 24, had been suffering increasing pain for the
past few days.

He was awake in agony at 2am yesterday, and after discussions it was
decided to take him first thing in the morning to a nearby dental
hospital in London.

The procedure to lance the abscess is understood to have been carried
out successfully after Gerrard was given a local anaesthetic.

He returned to join up with his team mates before leading them out and
playing in the Reds impressive 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Geoff Brown, dental adviser for Merseyside primary care trusts, said:
"It would have been very painful.

"The purpose of the surgery will be to ease the pain but he would have
felt very groggy after the anaesthetic.

"The antibiotics would also have taken their toll."

Richard Pedder of the Liverpool Supporters Club, said it was typical of
Gerrard to play through the pain barrier. He said: "It shows what a team
player he is."

Sean Sweeney from Bootle was also watching the game at Stamford Bridge.
He said: "Gerrard is a hero through and through.

"He is not the sort of player that would let a toothache get in the way
of a big game."

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[lfc-news] Ref ignored Alonso plea - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 28 April 2005
Ref ignored Alonso plea
By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo

A DISTRAUGHT Xabi Alonso begged French referee Alain Sars to reconsider
the booking which rules him out of Liverpool's match of the season
against Chelsea.

But the heartbroken midfielder is resigned to sitting out next week's
second leg at Anfield.

Alonso's 88th minute caution followed a challenge on Eidur Gudjohnsen,
which TV replays showed involved no contact from the Spaniard.

Liverpool officials are furious today amid claims Gud-johnsen taunted
Alonso after he toppled without being touched - and told the Spaniard he
knew was on a yellow card already and would now miss the return.

Liverpool have no avenue of appeal, although a change of heart by the
official could have offered hope to the Reds playmaker.

The club have been informed the decision will stand and Alonso can't
play in the return leg, which stands tantalisingly at 0-0 following
another heroic European display by Benitez's side.

For Alonso, however, the evening was bittersweet.

"You can see on the replay I didn't touch the player," said Alonso today.

"When I saw the yellow card I couldn't believe it because I knew what it
meant. I feel so sad to be missing the second leg.

"I hoped after seeing the tackle again, maybe the referee could change
his mind, but we've been told it's not possible to appeal.

"It's a big disappointment for me to miss the game at Anfield, because
it will be a special night. Now I just hope we can get through to the
final so I have another chance to play in the competition."

Chelsea striker Gudjohnsen said he sympathised with Alonso, but refused
to criticise the unjust booking.

"It's disappointing for him to get the yellow card, but it's not my
decision it's the referee's decision," said Gudjohnsen.

"I would never try to get a fellow professional booked. The referee just
gave the foul and got the book out. I understand his disappointment and
it's a shame for him to miss the next game.

"But I'm a Chelsea player so there's nothing I can do to stop it. It's
one of those things. I didn't agree with Joe Cole's booking either."

A UEFA spokesman confirmed there is no process of appeal available.

"The only way a decision can be changed is if there is a case of
mistaken identity and the referee has taken down the wrong number of a
player," he said..

"A referee cannot change his decision once he has booked an individual
player."

Alonso's booking may mean an earlier than expected recall for Didi
Hamann, who has been out for over a month with knee ligament damage.

Last week Benitez ruled the German out of both legs. But he is back in
training, improving quicker than expected and is now close to fitness.

Even if he is less than 100 per cent the Reds boss may well decide he
has no option but to risk him for the return.

Benitez said: "Didi is training normally and I think he will be fit for
the second leg."

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[lfc-news] Liverpool traditionalists bridge gap - Telegraph

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Daily Telegraph, 28 April 2005
Liverpool traditionalists bridge gap
By Paul Hayward

Moments before this private English Euro-tussle commenced a contorted
face appeared round the corner of the press enclosure. "Eighteen
championships and four European Cups!" the Liverpool supporter howled at
no one in particular. It was a statement of fact, a taunt and a plea for
deliverance from a club who need victory in Europe far more than the
Premiership champions elect.

If this semi-final pits money against tradition, as many Liverpool fans
allege, it was tradition that had desperation in its face, a raucous
yearning in its voice and a certain frisson down on the pitch, where the
gap seemed much narrower than the 31 points that separate Chelsea and
their guests in domestic competition.

By rights that chasm ought to have rendered this North-South contest a
mismatch, but Liverpool have European experience in their genes, Rafael
Benitez to mastermind their continental campaign and some fine
individuals who need five or six more top-class squad-mates to start
threatening the Premiership's big three once more. Symbolic proof was
provided in the first half when Jamie Carragher, Anfield's king of
self-improvement, upended and dispossessed John Terry, recently voted
the PFA's Player of the Year.

Chelsea's season could already be defined as successful. Liverpool's
hung over a cliff. Sure, the red flag was fluttering after their
improbable triumph over Juventus, but there was still the possibility
that these once mighty reds would finish Benitez's first campaign as
beaten Carling Cup finalists, beaten Champions League semi-finalists and
the fifth or even sixth best team in the Premiership. How would the 0-0
draw in Turin register then in the Kop's affections? Pretty low, is the
guess.

For that reason, last night's first leg was freighted with greater
significance for Liverpool's followers, who serenaded Benitez as he
walked along the crimson rows, signing autographs, before the battle
began. Chelsea wanted to win this tie. Liverpool needed to. Their fans
banged, crashed, roared and yelped their way through a fierce and
frenetic encounter. A proportion of them, it has to be said, were
obnoxious throughout.

Liverpool's excellent Euro-form has been a blessing and a kind of
embarrassment. The victories over Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus stirred
memories of European domination. But they also forced the club to
confront the anomaly of their poor domestic form, which has featured 13
Premiership defeats - 10 of them away from home. For now, the fans can
console themselves with the thought that Benitez and his Spanish imports
have yet to adjust to the crash-bang-wallop of the English leagues, and
that next season they will be better equipped to achieve at home what
they have abroad.

On the evidence of the opening period, Liverpool were at least on a par
with Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, who lacked the pace and width of Damien
Duff and Arjen Robben to complement the usual industry of Frank Lampard
and Claude Makelele. How the Liverpool dressing room must have convulsed
when the team-sheets came through, showing Robben among the subs and
Duff not even on the bench. The game was 58 minutes old before Mourinho
dared let loose his nimble Dutch winger.

If you could have bought one team at half-time, it might even have been
Liverpool, even though Xabi Alonso's normally precise passing was
off-target, Steven Gerrard was being throttled by Makelele and Milan
Baros seemed insufficiently muscular to be able to operate as a lone
striker against Terry and the superb Ricardo Carvalho. Without Djibril
Cisse, who is working his way back from a horrific leg break, and
Fernando Morientes, who is cup-tied, Liverpool's good approach play
tended to bounce off a blue defensive wall.

Giving up on Baros, who had seen a neat header pushed round a post by
Petr Cech, Benitez replaced his bustling Czech with Cisse shortly after
the hour. The French striker's first contribution was a scorching drive
over Cech's crossbar, which seemed to give Liverpool renewed encouragement.

For much of this game Liverpool were, in Europe, everything they have
failed to be at home: resilient, dynamic, hard to beat. The real heroes
were their defenders. The obvious objective was not to concede an
avalanche of goals in Roman Abramovich's lair, and then unleash the
Anfield roar on Tuesday night. Ram-raiding the opposition worked against
Leverkusen and Juventus, but will it work a third time against opponents
who have already beaten them twice in the Premiership and again in the
final of the Carling Cup? It depends which Liverpool XI turn up: the one
who lost at Crystal Palace at the weekend, or the tougher, smarter side
who made that 31-point deficit vanish on a steamy night in west London.
A late, serious blow was the booking for Alonso which rules him out of
the return leg.

Still, a 0-0 draw had a paralysing effect on the home crowd, who have
seen Barcelona and Bayern Munich blown away this season on the same
London turf. The result tips the balance Liverpool's way, even if
Chelsea's superiority, technically, is 31 points, and Benitez's men may
yet finish one place lower in the Premiership than they did last year.

That mystery defies comprehension. One game between Liverpool and the
final. Ninety minutes. An epic night up ahead.

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[lfc-news] Rafa: We can win place in final - Official Site

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Official LFC Website, 27 April 2005
RAFA: WE CAN WIN PLACE IN FINAL
By Paul Eaton

Rafael Benitez believes Liverpool are now firmly in the driving seat of
their Champions League semi-final following a battling 0-0 draw at Chelsea.

The two teams will meet again at Anfield next week with a place in the
final at stake for the winners, and Benitez is confident his players can
produce another European performance to savour.

He said: "If you'd said to me at the start of the competition that we'd
have to win a game at Anfield to reach the final then I'd have taken it.

"I think we performed well at Chelsea and deserved the draw. We
controlled the game for long periods and forced them to play long balls,
which we were able to deal with.

"At half time we spoke about their midfielders running free and as soon
as we sorted that out we did much better.

"I think it was another good performance from us in Europe. Now we go
back to Anfield to play in front of our crowd and I know they will be
right behind us on the night."

The Reds will be without Xabi Alonso for the tie after the Spaniard
picked up a late booking, but Benitez says they will cope in his absence.

"Firstly, I don't think he touched Gudjohnsen," said the boss. "But we
will be without him and we'll have to look for other options. We have
played a lot of games without Xabi this season and we will do it again."

Steven Gerrard has insisted Liverpool will be able to cope without Alonso.

Gerrard admits Alonso's absence will be a blow, but he is backing the
Reds to build on their 0-0 result from the first leg and progress to the
final.

He said: "Of course it's a massive blow for us because Xabi is a great
passer of the ball and he can get things going in midfield for us.

"But there's going to be an opening for someone else now. Didi Hamann is
knocking on the door again after injury and maybe he can get back in time.

"We defended well. We know the tie's not over - it's only half-time.
Ideally we would have liked to nick a goal but hopefully our fans will
lift the roof off in the second leg.

"0-0 is a good result because they've got world class players.

"It's going to be a massive night with a brilliant atmosphere. May the
best team win."

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[lfc-news] Chelsea report - PA

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PA Sport, 27 April 2005
Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0

The ego has landed - for now. Jose Mourinho may claim to be "special"
but, at least until next week's return Champions League encounter,
Rafael Benitez has proved his equal on the European stage.

Mourinho, last year's Champions League winner with Porto, had joked that
his ego has expanded this season amid further domestic success with Chelsea.

However, Benitez, who claimed last season's UEFA Cup trophy with
Valencia, also has a rich European pedigree.

And even amid an all-English Champions League semi-final first leg at
Stamford Bridge, there was enough Spanish nous and bravado to match the
Portuguese extravagance and showmanship.

For even though Liverpool had lost all three previous meetings with
Chelsea this season - twice in the league and once in the Carling Cup
final - they still bridged the 31-point Premiership gulf.

Of course, it could all change at Anfield. After all, Chelsea were held
to a goalless draw in their Carling Cup semi-final first leg by
Manchester United, and they still prevailed.

However, while Frank Lampard spurned one clear chance, Chelsea were
indebted to goalkeeper Petr Cech for saving them from defeat with two
superb reaction saves.

It was still by no means a classic. Far from it, in fact. But as
Liverpool fans taunted "you've got no history", their team at least
proved they could still have a future.

Although the Reds have been frustratingly inconsistent this season,
losing at Crystal Palace just four days earlier, when Europe calls -
even in London - they have so far risen to the occasion.

As for Chelsea, they may have already won the Carling Cup and be poised
for success in the Barclays Premiership, but the Champions League is
proving a rather tougher nut to crack.

There was certainly an element of Continental caution in the air at
Stamford Bridge, with Didier Drogba and Milan Baros respectively playing
up front on their own.

With Arjen Robben initially kept on the bench and Damien Duff injured,
Chelsea lacked natural width and while Drogba still managed to muscle
his way through the centre, he dragged his shot wide.

Liverpool, meanwhile, looked to exploit Glen Johnson's defensive
weaknesses and John-Arne Riise was pushed well forward as a result.

Indeed, when the Norway international skipped past Ricardo Carvalho and
John Terry, he was only foiled by Cech's first vital reaction save.

Cech was even more inspired just before half-time when he produced an
exceptional one-handed save at full stretch to tip Baros' header around
the post from Steven Gerrard's cross.

In between, Chelsea threatened themselves, albeit rather more
ponderously than normal and they lacked their usual sharpness on the
counter-attack.

When William Gallas provided some much-needed width, his deep cross was
headed down by Joe Cole and Lampard swivelled six yards out but promptly
blazed his half-volley over the bar.

Drogba headed over the top, with Terry mishitting an effort wide, but a
Liverpool defence marshalled by the excellent Jamie Carragher were
holding firm.

Indeed, while Cole jinked round two defenders after the restart, Sami
Hyypia recovered just in time to stop him in his tracks.

It was therefore no surprise to see Robben emerge from the bench with 58
minutes gone to replace Tiago.

The Dutch winger was quickly in the thick of the action, although
Benitez responded by throwing on Djibril Cisse for Baros and the
Frenchman immediately rifled a shot over the crossbar.

Liverpool were comfortably holding their own and Mourinho turned to
Mateja Kezman, replacing Cole.

It made little difference. Indeed, his main impact came in being booked
within a minute of his arrival for a needless foul on Djimi Traore, as
the frustration levels grew in the Chelsea ranks.

Xabi Alonso still paid a heavy price for a tackle from behind on
Gudjohnsen in the closing stages, ruling him out of the second leg at
Anfield.

Chelsea, however, now face a real test of their progress under Mourinho.
The treble is still potentially on but Liverpool in the Champions League
are clearly a different prospect than in the Premiership.

Chelsea: Cech, Gallas, Johnson, Carvalho, Terry, Cole (Kezman 79),
Gudjohnsen, Lampard, Makelele, Tiago (Robben 59), Drogba
Subs not used: Cudicini, Forssell, Geremi, Huth, Smertin
Booked: Cole, Kezman

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Finnan, Hyypia, Traore, Alonso, Biscan
(Kewell 86), Gerrard, Luis Garcia (Smicer 90), Riise, Baros (Cisse 66)
Subs not used: Carson, Le Tallec, Nunez, Warnock
Booked: Biscan, Alonso

Att: 40,497
Referee: Alain Sars (France)

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[lfc-news] Pako: This season has not been a success - Official Site

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Official LFC Website, 27 April 2005
PAKO: THIS SEASON HAS NOT BEEN A SUCCESS
By Steve Hunter

Despite reaching the Champions League semi-final Liverpool assistant
manager Pako Ayesteran does not believe the season has been a success
and says there is still much improvement to be done at Anfield.

Ayesteran says Rafael Benitez has not been happy with his first season
and the pair know there is a lot to do to get Liverpool back challenging
for the Premiership title again.

Ayesteran said: "Someone who works at the club told me how fantastic it
is that we've reached the semi-final for the first time in 20 years and
are fifth in the league.

"I told him I don't think it's fantastic at all, not for Liverpool. You
can't say that, even if you analyse the injuries. I'm not happy, Rafa is
not happy. We think the season has been poor.

"This club is not yet ready to take up the challenge on all fronts - the
Premiership, Europe, FA Cup and Carling Cup. The squad doesn't have
enough. In general we know we're not ready.

"How long it will take depends on important decisions which will affect
the future. We may be ready in one year or perhaps six months. We are
sure we will be stronger next year. Our work will be better."

Ayesteran says Liverpool have prepared hard for the Champions League
semi-final and feels they can beat Chelsea over two legs.

Aysteran said: "Rafa is very methodical and has a great knowledge of the
game. He's a very hard worker and likes to plan ahead. I don't think any
of us expected to get this far in the Champions League. When we played
AK Graz in the qualifying round, no-one thought we'd be where we are now.

"But we believe we can win it. We have played three games against them
and we've shown Chelsea we can beat them."

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[lfc-news] Reserves v Man CIty report - Official Site

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Official LFC Website, 27 April 2005
RESERVES SUFFER HEAVY DEFEAT AT CITY
By Steve Hunter

Spanish defender Josemi made his comeback as a second half substitute as
Liverpool Reserves ended their season in defeat with a 5-0 thumping
defeat at Manchester City.

It was a very disappointing end to the season for Hughie McAuley's team
and the Reds coach had no complaints with the result and said his team
had been well beaten. Indeed but for goalkeeper Paul Harrison it could
have been a lot worse.

Josemi hadn't played a first team game since appearing as a late
substitute against Portsmouth at Anfield on 14th December 2004, and
returned from a knee injury after 58 minutes of this match.

Liverpool Reserve manager Hughie McAuley fielded a young side with Jon
Otsemobor back after a trial at Hearts. Otsemobor started at left back
with David Raven at right back. John Welsh captained the team and
partnered David Mannix in central midfield while Conal Platt played as
the lone striker supported by Darren Potter.

Manchester City welcomed back striker Jon Macken after injury to partner
the exciting Bradley Wright-Phillips in attack, brother of Shaun. Kasper
Schmeichel, son of Peter, was in goal. Lee Croft, who set up the winning
goal for City in the Premiership win over Liverpool recently also
started and was the man of the match. City also had experience at the
back in the form of French defender David Sommeil.

The match was played at Sport City, the athletics stadium which is
situated on the City of Manchester Stadium complex.

City took the lead after 25 minutes with a superb individual goal from
Jon Macken, who curled home a 25-yard shot beyond the reach of Paul
Harrison and into the net.

A minute later it was nearly 2-0 but Harrison made a superb save to keep
out an effort from Willo Flood who had capitalised on some very hesitant
Liverpool defending.

Then a minute later it was 2-0 and a brilliant goal from Bradley
Wright-Phillips whose fierce drive gave Harrison no chance.

Five minutes before half-time it was 3-0 to City with Macken getting his
second goal, again waltzing through the Liverpool defence and finishing
well.

It became worse for Liverpool after 52 minutes when Bradley
Wright-Phillips had his second goal of the night to make it 4-0. Croft
turned Whitbread inside out down the right wing and produced a great
cross that was headed home by the unmarked Wright-Phillips.

Five minutes later it was almost 5-0 and again the danger came down the
right wing from Croft. From his cross the hat-trick hunting Macken was
denied by a good save from Harrison.

Josemi made his return after 58 minutes when he came on for Ryan Wilkie.
Josemi went to right back with Otsemobor down the right wing and Raven
left back to try and stop the threat of Croft.

It was 5-0 after 63 minutes and Croft again created it down the right
wing with a superb cross and substitute Marc Laird fired home.

Wright-Phillips was so close to a hat-trick after 75 minutes when he
turned Josemi inside out only to shoot just over the bar.

Substitute Phil Townley was close to a consolation goal for the Reds in
the late stages of the game but saw his header well held by Kasper
Schmeichel.

Harrison then pulled off another tremendous save to deny Wright-Phillips
a hat-trick at point blank range.

For the final game of the season to lose 5-0 was a disappointing end to
a long season for Liverpool Reserves.

Manchester City Reserves: Schmeichel, Warrender, Collins (Lee-Matthews
72), D'Laryea (Miller 72, Richards, Sommeil, Croft, Flood, Macken,
Wright-Phillips, Ireland (Laird 45).

Liverpool Reserves: Harrison, Raven, Otsemobor, O'Donnell, Whitbread,
Mannix, Partridge, Welsh, Platt (Townley 45), Potter, Wilkie (Josemi
58). Unused subs: Luzi, Hitchin, Barratt.

Referee: D Whitestone.

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[lfc-news] Spanish surprise ready to help Liverpool bridge gap - Post

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Liverpool Daily Post, 27 April 2005
Spanish surprise ready to help Liverpool bridge gap
EXCLUSIVE by Andy Hunter, Daily Post

IT takes a real stretch of the imagination to accept Liverpool's
incredible injury problems as a blessing in disguise, as one former
manager might have put it.

And yet the absence of so many leading lights against Chelsea this
season could rank alongside Rafael Benitez's tactical prowess as
Liverpool's greatest weapon when they renew acquaintances tonight.

It is Liverpool, not Chelsea, who bring the element of surprise to
Stamford Bridge.

Like so many in the Anfield ranks Xabi Alonso has added incentive to
make Jose Mourinho's men suffer in their Champions League semi-final.

The Spanish playmaker can measure the pain of a defeat by the
champions-elect in exactly three months, the amount of time it took to
recover from the late challenge by Frank Lamp-ard that left him nursing
a broken ankle on January 1.

It was a setback that meant he had to watch February's Carling Cup final
instead of gracing it, and from the Millennium Stadium stands he saw the
misfortunate that befell Steven Gerrard and needs no repeating here.

Together they have faced Chelsea for only 28 minutes of a possible 300
this season. Not only does that signal Anfield's most commanding spell
of the Chelsea trilogy so far, it means Mourinho is still unfamiliar
with what both Alonso and Benitez have taken to calling the 'real
Liverpool'.

The Portuguese schemer has little first-hand experience of Gerrard and
Alonso at work, likewise Djibril Cisse and any settled formation Benitez
could only wish for. By contrast, Liverpool know all about Chelsea, and
while that hasn't prevented three defeats out of three this season, they
are getting closer and closer and closer...

This season we have lost a lot of key players through injury but now we
have almost a complete squad, or as strong as it has been this season,
and the manager has many options now," admits Alonso..

"We know we will be facing Chelsea with a strong team now. This season I
haven't played many games with Stevie apart from before Christmas when
we won three games and then I got injured on New Year's Day.

"This season hasn't been great for either of us in terms of injury but
now we are both ready and it gives the manager more options.

"The team is getting stronger now but we haven't played together too
many times this season. So while we know Chelsea maybe they don't know
the real Liverpool yet.

"We will have more options against them at Stamford Bridge then we have
had at any other time this season and if we use them properly we can
make things very difficult for them."

In keeping with this perverse season at Liverpool better options have
not always translated into better results.

But Alonso has several reasons to be confident ahead of tonight's first leg.

"There is a lot more pressure on Chelsea than there is on us," he
insists. "They are expected to win almost every competition they play in.

"They've won the Carling Cup, they are going to win the Premier League
and they think they have a great chance of winning the Champions League.

"They are favourites but that's good for us. So were Juventus. The most
important thing is that we have a lot of confidence in ourselves."

He adds: "I am confident because we have played them three times this
season and every time we have been close to beating them. We know a lot
about them and we are very motivated for this game.

I'm sure it will be close again, but hopefully this time it will go our
way. Chelsea have few weaknesses and if you make a mistake in the
semi-final of this competition then it can be very dangerous.

"We might not have many chances like this in the future so we have to
concentrate on our game and work extremely hard.

"Chelsea are a good team, very strong, and we know they will try to
press us at home because they want to score."

Then there is the fact every Liverpool player has his own bitter memory
of Chelsea to draw upon when they commence the biggest game of their
lives tonight.

From Gerrard's Cardiff own goal, Lampard's tackle, Mike Riley's
aversion to handballs and Mourinho himself, Benitez's men have all the
motivation they will ever need to upset the European odds yet again at
Stamford Bridge.

"What happened in the Carling Cup final and in the league against
Chelsea this season has given us great motivation for this semi-final,"
Alonso admits.

"It is a very important Champions League game and so that makes it the
ideal time to beat them for the first time.

"I know the fans are very excited about it.

I've know for sure there is no chance of getting any spare tickets for
this game! Everyone wants them.

"We realise how excited the supporters are. They are very happy to be in
the semi-finals but at the same time they really want to get to the
final. "I'm very excited about this game too, I am really looking
forward to it. It is a game every player wants to play in and everybody
is ready for it. We are confident."

On the outside such confidence appears misplaced after
relegation-threatened Crystal Palace inflicted a 10th away defeat of the
season on Liverpool on Saturday.

But as Juventus discovered after Manchester City had inflicted the
ninth, such spectacular inconsistency only strengthens Liverpool's
desire on the biggest stage of all.

Alonso explained: "We have to separate the Premier League from the
Champions League. We have done well away from home in the Champions
League, especially against Juventus where we played exactly the way we
wanted and got the result we wanted.

"If we can do the same at Stamford Bridge we have a great chance of
reaching the final.

"We have to forget about what happened at Crystal Palace now but we have
analysed what went wrong. It was a shame we didn't get a good result and
get closer to the top four, it's going to be very difficult to get there
now.

"But Champions League games are very different and we know if we can get
a good result at Stamford Bridge we have a great chance at Anfield of
reaching the final."

Benitez has done all he can to exaggerate the divide between Premiership
and Champions League football ahead of tonight's dual.

"We decided to do all the things we would do for a normal European away
game in London," he revealed.. "It is a Champions League game, not a
Premier League game, so we trained at Stamford Bridge the night before
and we are preparing for a European game.

"That means we want to score. We want to win and we want to score, but a
2-1 defeat in the Champions League is a much better result than it is in
the Premier League."

And the player he brought from Real Sociedad for £10.6m last August
admits Benitez is another reason why Liverpool can finally put Mourinho
in his place this season.

"Rafa is as good a manager as Mourinho," insisted Alonso.. "I don't know
Mourinho very well because I have never worked with him but Rafa is a
very good manager and will do a great job at Liverpool.

"Maybe he hasn't got all the players and the complete squad that
Mourinho has but he is doing great things here. He has a great
responsibility here and against Juventus he made a few changes that
worked very well. Hopefully it will be the same against Chelsea.

"We know we have a great chance of reaching the final."

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[lfc-news] Gerrard determined to lay his recurring bad dream to rest - Guardian

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The Guardian, 27 April 2005
Gerrard determined to lay his recurring bad dream to rest
The captain can put his Cardiff own-goal out of mind
By Dominic Fifield

Steven Gerrard has a recurring nightmare. In it he leaps amid a gaggle
of blue-shirted opponents, intent upon planting a defensive header clear
of the six-yard box, only to flounder, agonisingly, in midair. His world
lurches into slow motion, the loose ball glancing from the top of his
crew cut to fly into his own net. With it, a glistening trophy is
cruelly snatched away.

Gasping back into reality usually brings no relief, with Chelsea still
pursuing him through his waking hours. But an opportunity to make amends
beckons. At Stamford Bridge tonight he can begin to exorcise the painful
memories of February's Carling Cup final.

"If you look into Stevie's eyes you can see a determination to put
things right," said Rafael Benítez, who had watched his captain's late
own-goal restore parity in Cardiff before the game slipped away in
extra-time. "Talking to him, watching him in training, he so clearly
wants to do well."

Resolve smoulders in this Liverpool side, but Gerrard has more reason
than most to excel in the first all-English Champions League semi-final.
Even outrageous optimists on Merseyside could hardly have envisaged a
place in the last four of Europe's elite this season. As a club who have
not featured on this stage for 20 years contemplate unlikely glory the
captain's future is effectively being determined in the gaze of the
watching world.

To mention Gerrard without alluding to Chelsea's interest in him is
impossible. Last summer the 24-year-old was paraded at an Anfield press
conference to reiterate that his future lay with the club he has
supported since his youth, despite Jose Mourinho's ambition to lure him
south. Since then, he has had to endure his suitors sweeping all before
them while Liverpool falter.

The midfielder's mood has fluctuated as much as his team's form. He has
rarely appeared happier than he did on the Tarmac at Cologne airport
after the knockout win over Leverkusen as he thrilled at the possibility
of being drawn against Milan or Internazionale in the quarter-finals so
as to play at San Siro. Yet back in December, when a two-goal win was
needed against Olympiakos to propel Benítez's side out of the group
stage, his frustrated ambition had surfaced in a pre-match admission
that he wanted to be in a team challenging consistently for the highest
honours. That was a warning.

Politics weigh heavy on the Huyton-born midfielder's thought process.
Gerrard, like Robbie Fowler before him, has established iconic status in
his home city to the extent that some would consider his upping sticks
to the capital a heinous act. So peeved have a minority of supporters
become with the constant link to Chelsea that the ludicrous conspiracy
theory was aired on radio phone-ins that the captain deliberately
converted the own-goal in Cardiff. That allegation cut the player deeply
and prompted his fierce celebration - shirt in mouth and pointing to the
badge - after scoring in the derby last month.

Other fans would accept the realities of modern-day football. Should
Chelsea jettison Liverpool from Europe, he would have proof that his
thirst for trophies could be quenched only at Stamford Bridge. His body
language has betrayed his doubts at times this term, notably in his
black mood after Saturday's meek defeat at Crystal Palace. Shoulders
hunched, anger etched across his face, sometimes staying at Liverpool
must have been difficult to justify.

Yet it would still be unthinkable for the England international to leave
this summer should Liverpool win the Champions League. "As a local lad,
to lift the European Cup was the proudest moment of my life," said Phil
Thompson, who experienced as much as Liverpool's captain in 1981. "If
Steven could do that I don't think there'd be any issue in his mind. If
he was to lift the European Cup you could hand him the pen and paper
then and there and he'd sign."

For all that Chelsea remain confident of eventually signing the player,
no deal has as yet been struck, even privately. Gerrard has not started
looking for accommodation in the capital, though headlines suggesting
otherwise have taken their toll psychologically.

"I don't think he's thinking about his future," said Benítez. "His mind
is on winning this game. It's difficult for a player at his level if
everybody's talking about his future, but he knows how important this
tie is for our club, the fans, the players.

"He has a determination to win this match. With Xabi [Alonso] and Stevie
both fit we know we can play good football, and that makes it easier to
win. We controlled the game against Chelsea at Anfield with them playing
together until Alonso was injured, so they have seen only about 20
minutes of the Liverpool we want. I hope they'll see 180 minutes in this
tie."

In that midfield axis lies Liverpool's hope. Alonso and Gerrard
complement each other superbly, the Spaniard rarely surrendering
possession as he calmly dictates play from deep, the Englishman all
leggy energy marauding forward with menace. They unsettled Chelsea at
Anfield on new year's day until Frank Lampard cracked Alonso's ankle.

Those 28 minutes when the hosts thrilled and the visitors creaked
represent the only period in five hours of football between the sides
this season when Gerrard and Alonso have worked in tandem. "Chelsea do
not know us," said Alonso. "The three previous matches have been very
close but we've never had our key players in the side. Maybe things will
be different now."

Liverpool must hope as much. Gerrard departed the Millennium Stadium
with tears stinging his eyes, his chance to lift silverware as
Liverpool's captain apparently denied and the crowing of Chelsea
supporters, convinced he would one day be theirs, ringing in his ears.
Over the next week, starting at Stamford Bridge tonight, it will become
easier to distinguish rumour from reality.

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[lfc-news] Benitez, the calm and controlled master of strategy - Independent

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The Independent 26 April 2005
Benitez, the calm and controlled master of strategy plotting Chelsea's
downfall
Liverpool's manager is seen as the antithesis of Jose Mourinho, writes
Sam Wallace, but should not be underestimated

Rafael Benitez is English football's politest refusenik. For three
months this summer, Liverpool's new manager polished his command of the
English language until every sub-clause was in place and every sentence
ran smooth and, when he was finally satisfied, he mastered the art of
saying nothing. His team are in the Champions' League semi-finals
tonight, the cult of the foreign manager grips the nation, but Benitez,
and the forces that drive him, has remained Anfield's best-kept secret.

Unassuming and unflappable. The patient demeanour of a sixth-form
careers adviser with no great passion for sharp suits and carrying a
little extra around the waist. It is an unlikely profile for a
45-year-old man who has been trusted with restoring the greatness of
Britain's most successful-ever football club. He arrived from Valencia
with two league titles, one Uefa Cup and an impeccable reputation and he
has used an everyman aspect, and inexhaustible good humour, as a shield
around his personality.

Benitez, it is widely accepted, has given away less about himself in the
course of the season than his opposite number, Jose Mourinho, reveals in
the average 15 minutes. For Liverpool's manager there have been no grand
public avowals of love for his family, no cryptic newspaper columns
hinting at courageous personal battles against sinister hidden powers.
When Liverpool-watchers cast their minds back for some shred of detail
about Benitez's personality, all that comes up is an old, military board
game.

Stratego, to be precise - first released by the Milton Bradley
corporation in 1961 and moderately popular among Spanish kids growing up
in the 1970s. Last month, very much unprovoked, Benitez lectured a group
of slightly bemused reporters at some length about his passion for the
game. He talked them through the rules, and the strategy of Stratego,
but most of all he emphasised, with earnest intensity, his own supremacy
at it. No one, came the message, beats me at this game.

For a manager who has given up little of himself since he moved to
England last summer with his wife, Montse, it was a charming moment of
eccentricity and the image of a young Rafa painstakingly setting up his
Stratego army for battle is equally beguiling. Preparation and attention
to detail are not just the preserve of Mourinho. That Liverpool are even
in a position where they might add to their four European Cups this
season is down, in no small measure, to the tactical brilliance of their
Spanish coach.

It is fundamental to the rules of Stratego - you can actually still buy
it - that formation is the key to success. A principle that sustained
Liverpool through their finest hour this season, the 0-0 draw against
Juventus in Turin that qualified them for tonight's Champions' League
semi-final against Chelsea. Facing a five-man midfield - and one that
was without Steven Gerrard - Juventus' coach, Fabio Capello, whose
tactical acumen no one would dispute, found himself comprehensively
outmanoeuvred.

That night in the Stadio delle Alpi it was possible to forget how far
Benitez has taken Liverpool in Europe in such a short time. At home to
Graz AK, where they lost the second leg of their qualifier 1-0, and away
at Olympiakos and Monaco, it would be no exaggeration to say that
Liverpool were poorer than at any time under Benitez's predecessor,
Gérard Houllier. And then away at Deportivo la Coruña and, in the
tumultuous final group game at home to Olympiakos, they were supreme again.

After defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday left Everton four points
clear in fourth place with a game in hand, Benitez could be forgiven for
finding his patience stretched to the limit at the prospect of failing
to qualify for the one competition in which Liverpool have excelled.
However, those inside the club's Melwood headquarters report a much
calmer atmosphere under the new regime. For all his strengths as a
manager, Houllier's moods on any given day could be felt right
throughout the building - Benitez's state of mind remains his concern alone.

Benitez has proved so far to be a manager who requires remarkably low
emotional maintenance from the Liverpool board. In a city that prides
itself on a faith in social equality, it did not go unnoticed that,
after the triumphant draw in Turin, Benitez paid tribute to "the
workers" at Anfield as well as the players and coaching staff. The
Liverpool manager will joke when he feels confident enough - injury
crises are sometimes met with the mock despair that his loyal assistant,
Pako Ayesteran, will have to play - but so far he has shown far less
emotion than he managed in one day at Valencia.

It was Benitez's last day and it finished with a press conference at
which he broke down in tears - the end of an acrimonious power struggle
within the hierarchy of the then Spanish champions. Last May, the club's
new president, Juan Bautista Soler, made a personal visit to Benitez's
home to beg him to stay, but it was too late. In renegotiating their
manager's contract, a series of mistakes made by Valencia ended with his
departure.

The story of how Valencia came to lose Benitez is another lesson in the
resolve that lurks beneath his mild public face. With Valencia closing
in on the title this time last year, Benitez approached the club's chief
executive, Manuel Llorente, with whom he had a strained relationship, to
negotiate new terms on a contract that was due to expire this summer. He
was understood to be earning around £1.2m a year.

The first offer to Benitez from Llorente was a meagre one-year extension
to his contract and a pay rise of five per cent. Benitez was
disbelieving and rejected the offer which was raised to a two-year
extension and a 10 per cent increase in salary when the two parties met
again on 9 May, the day that Valencia beat Seville to win La Liga. Even
then, Llorente was understood to have been banking on pressuring Benitez
into signing a deal over the last year of his contract.

By that time he had decided that such derisory offers in return for
transforming Valencia into only the fourth team outside the duopoly of
Real Madrid and Barcelona to win the league in 20 years meant that he
would have to leave.

Benitez already knew that there was interest in him across Europe -
including the offer of a lucrative two-year deal from Besiktas in
Turkey. When it became clear that Liverpool were prepared to offer him a
five-year deal, his mind was made up.

Realising too late how disastrously their negotiating tactics had played
out, Valencia offered Benitez a radically improved offer to stay. When
Soler visited him, he is reported to have asked the Liverpool coach to
name his price, but Benitez told him that it was too late and two weeks
later he had been appointed by the Anfield board. Since then Valencia,
currently sixth in La Liga, have embarked on a steep decline.

What his departure from Valencia tells us about Benitez is that the
affable, bespectacled man on the touchline at Anfield has a streak of
iron running through him. He was an unspectacular player in Real
Madrid's reserves and at Parla and Linares, sporting in those days the
hairstyle of choice among 1980s Spanish footballers - a nest of black
curls that has diminished with age. His rise as a manager with
Extremadura and Tenerife came despite two false starts with Valladolid
and Osasuna in the mid-1990s.

While his preparation for the biggest matches has been exemplary, his
record of signings at Liverpool has divided opinion. No one doubts the
merits of Xabi Alonso, but then at £10.6m, no one should have had reason
to. At the other end of the scale is Antonio Nuñez, the hapless winger
who arrived from Real Madrid as part of the fee for Michael Owen and
whose performances have caused consternation among some of the senior
players. He has, by all accounts, fared little better in training.

Luis Garcia can justifiably be regarded as a success, his poor away form
in the Premiership balanced by breathtaking contributions such as that
exceptional goal against Juventus. Josemi, signed in a desperate attempt
to get some cover at right-back, was beginning to show his limitations
when he was injured in December. Perhaps the biggest disappointment,
relative to his reputation, has been Fernando Morientes who, cup-tied
for the Champions' League, has scored just three times in 14 games.

The serious injuries suffered by Liverpool, nine to first-team players,
have been borne with dignity by Benitez, who has never complained about
the disruption that they have caused to his season. His criticisms of
referees, when they have occurred, are pitched at the anger level of a
suburban neighbour mildly inquiring about the late return of a loaned
lawnmower. But the quiet life cultivated by Benitez has meant that
throughout his career he has found himself underestimated. That it will
be the case again tonight will suit him perfectly.

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