Champions League Final - Liverpool
Gerrard and Benitez Aim for Repeat Victory over AC Milan in Athens
Liverpool and AC Milan meet in Athens in a repeat of the 2005 Champions League Final. England's team will hope for another win as Spanish seek revenge for penalty defeat.
The Champions League Final between Liverpool and AC Milan in Athens on Wednesday evening is a repeat of the 2005 Final when Liverpool staged an amazing comeback to win on penalties.
Champions League Final 2005
Liverpool were three down at half-time and the trophy looked to be going to Milan but inspired by Steven Gerrard they turned the game around and won on penalties after extra time. Paolo Maldini had scored in the first minute, the fastest ever goal in the Final of the competition and then two goals from Hernan Crespo in the five minutes before half-time seemed to have decided the game. However, Liverpool felt they got their opportunity because the AC Milan players were already celebrating their victory at half-time, a claim vehemently denied by the Italian team, and in the second half scored three goals in six minutes through Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso. Liverpool’s goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek then became the hero of the penalty shoot-out saving Andrily Shevchenko’s penalty as Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties.
Amazing Record in CL Finals
This is a contest between two teams with an amazing record in the competition. AC Milan have reached the Final on ten previous occasions, winning six times, while Liverpool can boast five wins from their six previous Finals. Only Real Madrid have a better record than either of these clubs with nine wins from twelve finals.
Liverpool have made serene progress to this season’s Final. Having guaranteed their place in the top four in the Premiership and following early exits from the domestic Cup competitions, Liverpool have been able to focus totally on the Champions League.
Liverpool have based this season’s success in the Champions League on sound away performances and this has taken them past Bordeaux, holders Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven where away wins in the first leg game had almost decided the tie. Although they lost at Anfield to Barcelona, they qualified on the away goal rule. In the semi-finals they defeated Chelsea on penalties, both games ending with a single goal victory for the home tie. To support Liverpool’s belief that this is again going to be their year for the Champions League title, they defeated Chelsea at the same stage two years ago before defeating this year’s opponents in the final.
Liverpool’s manager, Rafa Benitez has a very focused approach and he has taken the opportunity to rest star players from Premiership games over recent weeks to avoid injury and to prepare them for the Final.
Steven Gerrard - the Inspiration
Liverpool are a team with passion who rely greatly on organisation combined with Gerrard’s leadership and drive. They have a formidable defence built around their England defender, Jamie Carragher, and goalkeeper Pepe Reina has taken over the penalty shoot-out heroics of his predecessor, Dudek. Gerrard is the inspiration in midfield who has been at the centre of so many of Liverpool’s famous victories in the past. Their strike force has been strengthened by the signing of Dirk Kuyt from Feyenoord last summer and Peter Crouch is the competition’s joint second highest scorer on six goals behind Milan’s Kaka with ten.
Liverpool's Penalty Shoot-out Record:
Liverpool would be quite happy for the game to go to extra time and a repeat of the penalty kick climax of two years ago. Such is their success in penalty shoot-outs that they have only lost once in a penalty shoot-out with nine wins from ten attempts. They have already won two European Cup Finals, a Champions League semi-final, the FA Cup Final and a semi-final on penalties.
In what is sure to be a close game, Liverpool will endeavour to keep a tight defensive hold on Kaka while turning to Gerrard once again to provide the inspiration that has stood the club in good stead over the years and if it goes to penalties they’ll be prepared, as always.
