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LFC-europes-FINEST <LFC-europes-FINEST>

	Champions League Semi Final 2nd Leg	574 days ago
	Wednesday 30th April 2008 @ 7.45pm Stamford Bridge, London Chelsea win 4-3 on aggregate after extra time The prospect of a sensational third European Cup final in four seasons ended on a miserable night down at Stamford Bridge. For the fourth occasion this season Liverpool walked away from a Chelsea fixture ruining wasteful finishing, and missed opportunities. After the first leg, when the reds wasted a hatful of chances to put this tie beyond Chelsea culminating in John Arne Riise’s own goal the feeling was that the gods had turned. In football, revenge is one of the key necessities of the sport’s enjoyment. Tonight, Chelsea got theirs for two European Cup semi-final defeats. Chelsea started brightly. Didier Drogba clearly doesn’t like getting dirty, because in this muddy wet game he maintained his balance reasonably well and caused Liverpool’s back-line problems. When Skrtel limped off with an injury to his knee in the 22nd minute Liverpool’s game plans were immediately affected. Hyypia arrived on, not knowing that he would have another 100 minutes of action ahead. In the 33rd minute Chelsea made the break-through, a Kalou shot was saved by Reina, but Drogba slid home the first goal of the night. Drogba wondered how to celebrate for a moment, before opting to slide in front of Rafa Benitez. The second half was a different story. All Liverpool. But our only rewards for 45 minutes of domination was our first goal in 841 minutes at the Bridge. Fernando Torres (you may have heard of him..) received a lovely pass crafted by Benayoun and fired past Cech. The reds had got the goal that they desperately needed. The minutes ticked away to the inevitable extra time. Extra time commenced and Essien fired home from 22 yards. Celebrations were cut short as four Chelsea players were offside and the goal was correctly ruled out. Seconds later and Chelsea were ahead again. Sami Hyypia clipped Michael Ballack just inside the box and it was Frank Lampard who converted the penalty. At this point Torres was replaced by Babel after tweaking a hamstring. It got worse. Still in the first period of extra time and Drogba added another to sink Liverpool’s hearts. The second period of extra time and Liverpool went on the front foot. Hyypia towards the end of the half became another reds striker. Substitute Ryan Babel, scoring yet again as our new ’supersub’, smashed a shot home from 30 yards out with 3 minutes left on the clock. Too little. Too late. Liverpool should have come to Stamford Bridge with at least a two goal cushion but our wasted opportunities at Anfield cost us more than the wasted ones here at the Bridge. Roman Abramovich’s side get to their first final in his home country. Who’d have believed it? It’s been another impressive campaign in Europe for Liverpool. But there will be no trip to Moscow. Liverpool fans will save over £50 million. Maybe we can all chip in and clone Torres? Good luck to Chelsea in the final. Teams: Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel (Hyypia 22), Riise, Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Benayoun (Pennant 7 , Gerrard, Torres (Babel 99). Subs Not Used: Itandje, Finnan, Crouch, Lucas. Booked: Alonso, Arbeloa. Chelsea: Cech, Essien, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole (Anelka 91), Ballack, Makelele, Lampard (Shevchenko 119), Kalou (Malouda 70), Drogba. Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Obi, Alex, Belletti. Goals: Drogba 33, Lampard 98 pen, Drogba 105. Att: 38,900 Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).
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	Liverpool(1-1)Chelsea CL semi-final 1st leg	591 days ago
	The reds suffered 94th minute heartbreak in the 1st Leg at Anfield after a game that should have seen the reds over the horizon, and packing their bags for Moscow. Liverpool went ahead just before the half-time break through a Dirk Kuyt goal, but should have put a number of other chances away in a game in which Torres, was unusually, off-target. In the 94th minute Chelsea got lucky, and snatched a draw against the run of play for the second time this season at Anfield, when John Arne Riise headed an own goal past Pepe Reina. The game started cagey with Chelsea winning the toss and making the reds kick towards the Kop in the first half. Chelsea started off with some decent possession, but the best chances were falling to the reds. Torres and Kuyt were both guilty of squandering great goalscoring opportunities, but Kuyt eventually fired home from close range after some excellent dogged build up play by the Dutchman. It was deserved by the reds. The second half began and Liverpool were in total control. Gerrard fired a volley that Petr Cech tipped over the bar, before Torres once again had another chance to grab his first goal of the tie. A groin injury to Fabio Aurelio meant Riise was sent on to replace the Brazilian. The game opened up more towards the end of the second half, but Chelsea were still failing to create any realistic openings even though Anelka had been sent on to partner ‘Emile’ Drogba. In the 94th minute Kalou managed to reach the bye-line and fire in a cross right in to the six yard box. Riise, unsure about clearing with his unfavoured right foot opted to try and head the ball, but his connection sent the ball past Reina. The tie turns round in an instant. It was a sucker punch and the reds will have to pick themselves up. If Liverpool are to make it to Moscow, yet again they will have to do it the hard way. The reds must score at Chelsea or our involvement in the competition is over. But as Steven Gerrard said: ‘We haven’t played at Chelsea with Fernando Torres yet.’ Liverpool fans are in for another European nail-biter. ur sympathies. But this is Europe. And we are Liverpool. And this is what we do. Teams: Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio (Riise 61), Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Babel (Benayoun 75), Gerrard, Torres. Subs Not Used: Itandje, Hyypia, Crouch, Pennant, Lucas. Goals: Kuyt 43. Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Lampard, Makelele, Ballack (Anelka 86), Joe Cole (Kalou 63), Drogba, Malouda. Subs Not Used: Hilario, Shevchenko, Obi, Alex, Belletti. Booked: Terry. Goals: Riise 90 og. Att: 42,180 Ref: Konrad Plautz (Austria).
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	Fulham(0-2)Liverpool	595 days ago
	A second string Liverpool side eased past Fulham, with goals from two players who have spent much of the season on the fringe of the first team - Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch. The real star, was Mascherano, who completely dominated the midfield Benitez sent out a second string side last season at Craven Cottage but the reds lost that day. It is perhaps testimony to the improvements in the squad that this team never really needed to break a sweat. Voronin even had a good game. Lucas Leiva put together a number of nice moves and he set up Pennant in the 17th minute, whose quick shot took Kasey Keller by surprise as it smashed in to the net. Yossi Benayoun and Voronin had great chances to get on the scoresheet but it wasn’t until 20 minutes before time that the reds made the game secure. Peter Crouch picked up the ball from Jermaine Pennant and fired a low shot which on reflection Kasey Keller should have done a little better with. Last year, the reds weakened side caused a stir as it effectively helped Fulham stay in the Premiership. This year Liverpool have probably done the opposite. Liverpool are now 8 points ahead of Everton with 9 points left to play for. Champions League qualification is, pretty much, secured. Post Match Reaction: Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez: “I picked a team I believed could win the match. We now need just one more point to ensure fourth place in the league, even if Everton win all their remaining games. “We can completely focus on the game against Chelsea now. We’ve talked a lot about boardroom matters for a long time but for now I just want to speak about football, if that’s possible. “Javier Mascherano took three knocks but I think he will be okay.” Fulham manager Roy Hodgson: “We matched them quite well but once they got their first goal we were chasing the game and when they got the second goal it put us out of contention. We can retain hope of staying up. The task gets harder because we have not recovered any points on the teams above us and we have lost another game and another opportunity. “We have given a good account of ourselves but we do not have anything to show for it.” Teams Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Skrtel, Hyypia (Carragher 46), Riise, Pennant, Lucas, Mascherano (Alonso 72), Benayoun, Voronin (Aurelio 82), Crouch. Subs Not Used: Itandje, Torres. Goals: Pennant 17, Crouch 70. Fulham: Keller, Stalteri, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies, Bullard, Murphy (Andreasen 7 , Dempsey, Healy (Nevland 76), McBride (Kamara 81). Subs Not Used: Warner, Bocanegra. Booked: Healy. Att: 25,311. Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
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	Hillsborough Memorial	601 days ago
	R.I.P to the 96 LIverpool fans who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster on April 15th 1989 Jack Anderson (62) Colin Mark Ashcroft (19) James Gary Aspinall (1 Kester Roger Marcus Ball (16) Gerard Baron Snr. (67) Simon Bell (17) Barry Bennett (26) David John Benson (22) David William Birtle (22) Tony Bland (22) Paul David Brady (21) Andrew Mark Brookes (26) Carl Brown (1 Steven Brown (25) Henry Thomas Burke (47) Paul Andrew Burkett (24) Paul William Carlisle (19) Raymond Thomas Chapman (50) Gary Christopher Church (19) Joseph Clark (29) Paul Clark (1 Gary Collins (22) Stephen Paul Copoc (20) Tracey Elizabeth Cox (23) James Philip Delaney (19) Christopher Barry Devonside (1 Chris Edwards (29) Vincent Michael Fitzsimmons (34) Steve Fox (21) Jon-Paul Gilhooley (10) Barry Glover (27) Ian Thomas Glover (20) Derrick George Godwin (24) Roy Hamilton (34) Philip Hammond (14) Eric Hankin (33) Peter Andrew Harrison (15) Gary Harrison (27) Stephen Francis Harrison (31) Dave Hawley (39) James Robert Hennessy (29) Paul Anthony Hewitson (26) Carl Hewitt (17) Nick Hewitt (16) Sarah Louise Hicks (19) Victoria Jane Hicks (15) Gordon Horn (20) Arthur Horrocks (41) Gary Philip Jones (1 Thomas Howard (39) Tommy Anthony Howard (14) Eric George Hughes (42) Alan Johnston (29) Christine Anne Jones (27) Richard Jones B.Sc. (25) Nicholas Peter Joynes (27) Anthony P. Kelly (29) Michael Kelly (3 Carl David Lewis (1 David William Mather (19) Brian Christopher Matthews (3 Francis Joseph McAllister (27) John McBrien (1 Marian Hazel McCabe (21) Joe McCarthy (21) Peter McDonnell (21) Alan McGlone (2 Keith McGrath (17) Paul Brian Murray (14) Lee Nicol (14) Stephen Francis O'Neill (17) Jonathon Owens (1 William Roy Pemberton (23) Carl Rimmer (21) Dave Rimmer (3 Graham John Roberts (24) Steven Robinson (17) Henry Charles Rogers (17) Andrew Sefton (23) Inger Shah (3 Paula Ann Smith (26) Adam Edward Spearritt (14) Philip John Steele (15) David Leonard Thomas (23) Pat Thompson (35) Peter Reuben Thompson (30) Stuart Thompson (17) Peter F. Toole (21) Christopher James Traynor (26) Martin Kevin Traynor (16) Kevin Tyrrell (15) Colin Wafer (19) Ian Whelan (19) Martin Kenneth Wild (29) Kevin Daniel Williams (15) Graham John Wright (17) You'll Never Walk Alone
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	Match Review: Liverpool Vs Blackburn Rovers (3-1)	602 days ago
	Fernando Torres fired home his 30th goal of the season as Liverpool cruised past Blackburn Rovers at Anfield to put 5 points behind ourselves and 5th placed Everton, and to suggest a start on trying to overtake Arsenal in 3rd place. There was a minute’s silence ahead of the 19th Hillsborough Anniversary Despite the ridiculous antics off the field this week, Liverpool played with ruthless efficiency and were never really threatened in this comprehensive victory. The referee had a nightmare. Jason Roberts should have put Blackburn in front when his goal was ruled offside, although replays suggest he was level with Skrtel. Later, Steven Gerrard was clearly brought down by Brad Friedel but was not awarded the penalty. Shortly after, Gerrard was pushed in the area but the ref once again waved play on. His annoyance was all too evident as he smashed the ground with his fist. In the second half the Liverpool pressure was building and it was Gerrard who broke the deadlock. After playing a nice one two with Lucas, Gerrard fired home to make it 1-0. It was Gerrard’s 20th goal in all competitions this season. Then another of the infamous Gerrard - Torres moments of the season. A Gerrard cross finding the head of Fernando Torres, who netted for his 30th goal of the season. A fantastic achievement in his first season at Anfield. Then Andriy Voronin, the much maligned reds striker, scrambled one home after a cross from Riise. Blackburn went up the other end and when Skrtel’s clearance landed to Santa Cruz, he fired home for a terrific, although ultimately meaningless goal for Rovers. Liverpool march on, on the field at least. Pleasure in the result was put on ice almost immediately when Benitez insisted after the game he will be looking for talks with the Anfield board about the Klinsmann affair. Post Match Reaction: Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez: “We knew that it would be tough so we needed to keep going, keep working. “At half-time we told them to keep playing football because we knew we could score but also we knew it could be difficult. “The understanding between Gerrard and Torres was, at the end, the key.” Blackburn manager Mark Hughes: “We are disappointed with the goals we conceded. We were victims of over-playing. “Our downfall was misplaced passes in dangerous areas. Liverpool have some quality players and they were able to pick us off. “The first goal was key. We should not have conceded two more but Liverpool probably deserved the win.” Teams Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Lucas, Alonso (Riise 8 , Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel (Benayoun 59), Torres (Voronin 85). Subs Not Used: Itandje, Hyypia. Booked: Skrtel. Goals: Gerrard 60, Torres 82, Voronin 90. Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Vogel (Dunn 73), Reid, Pedersen (McCarthy 73), Santa Cruz, Roberts. Subs Not Used: Brown, Ooijer, Mokoena. Goals: Santa Cruz 90. Att: 43,283 Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
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	Match Review: Liverpool Vs Arsenal (4-2)	603 days ago
	Liverpool suffered an early setback in this crucial game, but the mighty reds did it yet again as Benitez’s Liverpool marched in to their 3rd semi-final in 4 seasons, to face Chelsea once again, and Liverpool are only 180 minutes away from a remarkable 8th final as they attempt to gun down a 6th European crown. The game was a pulsating and lively affair from the very beginning - just as at the Emirates last Wednesday - the sense that Arsenal would grab the first goal through Diaby as reward for their inventive passing came true. But everything changed when Steven Gerrard’s corner met Sami Hyypia’s head. The Finn, who earlier this week we celebrated his contract extension, powered one of Anfield’s finest headers past Almunia. The second half beckoned and the reds knew all too well that an Arsenal goal would leave the reds needing another 2 to go through. The early stage of the second half was frantic - both sides battling down with plenty of possession. Fernando Torres, the hero of the Kop, scored another amazing goal - similar to his classic in Milan, when he swiveled and smashed the ball home in front of the Kop. Advantage Liverpool. The clock was ticking and the final 7 minutes were approaching. Liverpool were looking for the 3rd goal that would kill the game off. The reds paid for their gung-ho attitude when a pacy Arsenal counter attack led to their goal. Theo Walcott made the break and tore through a limited Liverpool rearguard. The reds players were fearful of putting in the required challenge and he passed at the last moment to allow Adebayor to score the equaliser. No, it was more than an equaliser. It was, with 5 minutes left, the clincher. But this game wasn’t over just yet. Ryan Babel, newly on the field, made a blistering run past the tired Arsenal defence. Toure held him back and the referee awarded a penalty. The incident was similar to that at the Emirates last week - on that occasion Arsenal didn’t get the decision but Liverpool did. Steven Gerrard stepped up and shrugged off the enormous pressure to put Liverpool back in the lead. As injury time approached both sides were in search of one more goal and it deservedly fell to Ryan Babel. Babel tore past the last remaining Arsenal defender before firing home past Almunia. Liverpool 4. Arsenal 2. Game over. Arsenal had their opportunities in both games but just as Liverpool knocked out the tournament favourites in the San Siro last month, this time they would dispatch the side who failed to defeat Liverpool in 4 games this season. For any Arsenal fans out there our sympathies. But this is Europe. And we are Liverpool. And this is what we do! Teams: Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Aurelio, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres, Crouch. Subs: Itandje, Riise, Voronin, Benayoun, Arbeloa, Babel, Lucas. Arsenal: Almunia, Toure, Gallas, Senderos, Clichy, Eboue, Flamini, Fabregas, Diaby, Hleb, Adebayor. Subs: Lehmann, Van Persie, Song Billong, Silva, Bendtner, Justin Hoyte, Walcott. Referee: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden)
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	KOP CLASSICS	606 days ago
	You'll Never Walk Alone When you walk through a storm hold your head up high And don't be afraid of the dark. At the end of a storm is a golden sky And the sweet silver song of a lark. Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain, Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown. Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone, You'll never, ever walk alone. Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone, You'll never, ever walk alone. ***************************************  ***************** Fields of Anfield Road Low lie the fields of Anfield Road, Where once we watched the King Kenny play (and could he play!), Steve Heighway on the wing, We had dreams and songs to sing, Of the glory 'round the fields of Anfield Road ***************************************  ****************** Steven Gerrard Steve Gerrard,Gerrard He can pass a ball forty yards He's big and he's fuckin 'ard Steve Gerard,Gerrard ***************************************  ****************** Liverpool FC And its Liverpool Liverpool FC By far the greatest team The world will ever see ***************************************  ****************** We Won it Five Times We won it five times We won it five tiiiiimes In Istanbul We won it five times (extra verse in 2007) It's only on loan It's only on looooaaan In ancient Greece We'll bring it back home ***************************************  ****************** Rafael Benitez Rafa,Rafael Rafa,Rafael Rafa,Rafael Rafael Benitez ***************************************  ****************** Campione Oh campione The one and only We're Liverpool You say our days are numbered we're not famous any more But scousers rule the country like we've always done before ***************************************  ****************************** When The Reds Go Marching In Oh when the reds (oh when the reds) Go marching in (go marching in) I wanna be in that number Oh when the reds go marching in ***************************************  ****************************** We Love You Liverpool We love you liverpool We do We love you liverpool We do We love you liverpool We do Oh liverpool we love you ***************************************  *******************************
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