Liverpool FC Forum

[LFC2007]

We're not taking the p!ss, but this has come from a translation website. Italian is typed in then English comes out the other end, some of the suff that comes out is bloody funny though!

I have nothing but respect for those who try to speak English, I can't imagine some of the stuff I'd come out with in Italy!  

[FRfanatic]

who is the referee of the match ?

Herbert Fandel will be referee in the game Liverpool / AC Milan. 43-year old referee from Germany had last year's UEFA Cup final between Sevilla and Middlesbrough

[destro]

Just got back from the hospital after finding out i have fractured 2 ribs playing football They said complete rest for 10-14 days !. So im praying that we get the job done in the 90 minutes and without to much tension

What are the chances of that ?

[account deleted by request]

Midfielder facing Athens woe    Mon, May 21 2007 09:32
Xabi Alonso looks set be left out of the Liverpool starting line-up for Wednesday's Champions League final. 
The Spanish ace has suffered a dip in form during the latter part of the season and the midfielder, who scored in the win over Milan in Istanbul, looks set to have to settle for a place on the bench in Athens.
Javier Mascherano's fine form since his arrival from West Ham looks set to win him a place in the middle of the park alongside skipper Steven Gerrard.

Alonso was dropped for the semi-final second-leg against Chelsea and admits it was very disappointing, saying: "All the players want to play in the big games and it was the second leg against Chelsea was a big game not to be picked for.

"It is normal to be disappointed in those situations.

"You never know if you will be picked but once you are on the bench, you have to support your team-mates and be ready to come on."

Harry Kewell looks set to start on the left side of midfield with fitness doubts over Bolo Zenden, while Jermaine Pennant is expected to start on the right if Gerrard moves into the middle of midfield.

latest team speculation Kewell in Alonso out has been confirmed by top football guru Welsh Wizard.


Liverpool team has now departed for Athens.

[The Manhattan Project]

Just got back from the hospital after finding out i have fractured 2 ribs playing football  They said complete rest for 10-14 days

You know what can heal two fractured ribs?


Six golden stars, hopefully.

Get well soon.

[NMR_Fenerbahce]

HI FROM ISTANBUL TO ANFIELD FRIENDS... i believe LIVERPOOL will take the cup again... because you are the supporters of legend team. ISTANBUL never forgets LIVERPOOL!!! we were together at ISTANBUL and in ATHENS our heart will together with you!.. all of us LIVERPOOLIAN at final night!..

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the 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 walk alone

[t-h-o-m]

i have to admit that i'm a bit nervous

[kunilson]

Herbert Fandel is the referee for the final.......Man U fans dislike him because of the way he handled their Roma away game...Arsenal fans are at him cos of how he handled them in the past also.

For us, he refereed the barca at home match....honestly cannot remember much of that match in terms of refereeing.
He shows about 4 cards a game.... 26 yellows and 1 red in 7 games. Link

[stmichael]

Alonso sweats on Champions League place

Written by: AFP
   
LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Xabi Alonso admits he is sweating on his place in Liverpool's side to face AC Milan in Wednesday's Champions League final after a mixed season at Anfield.

It is not that long ago that manager Rafa Benitez would write Alonso's name down first on the team sheet - so influential was the Spanish international alongside Steven Gerrard in the Liverpool midfield.

Yet Alonso's place in the engine room is no longer guaranteed as Benitez demonstrated when he opted for Javier Mascherano to start alongside Gerrard in the crucial Champions League semi-final, second leg victory over Chelsea.

The former Real Sociedad player started the league defeat at Fulham four days after Liverpool had booked their place in Athens, but again had to make do with a substitutes role as Benitez's side brought the curtain down on their league campaign with a 2-2 draw with Charlton.

Alonso took just 60 seconds to score against Charlton after climbing off the bench yet his place in the heavyweight European showdown with AC Milan is by no means guaranteed.

"We will have to wait and see what team the manager decides," said the 25-year-old, who ended his first season at Anfield by scoring the equaliser in normal time when Liverpool clawed back a 3-0 deficit to beat the Italians in the dramatic 2005 final in Istanbul.

"Of course I want to be involved. Playing in the Champions League final is one of the best things you can do as a player. I want to be involved, but this is a team game and we will see what happens.

"We have been working towards this all season and we are going to Athens to try and bring home the European Cup."

Two years ago, Liverpool conquered Milan after a dramatic penalty shoot out and Alonso is confident the Merseyside club will hold their nerve again should the final be tied after 120 minutes.

Benitez's side have been involved in two high-stakes shoot outs since then. They overcame Chelsea in the semis on penalties after the tie had ended 1-1 after winning last season's FA Cup against West Ham on spot kicks.

"This is nothing new to us," added Alonso. "We seem to do well when it comes down to penalties. It was very nervous in Istanbul two years ago, but the momentum was with us because we were 3-0 down at half-time.

"I'm confident of the same thing happening if it goes down to penalties again but I think it could be a different type of game this time."

Alonso is aware Milan are itching for revenge and believes the Serie A club pose a serious threat to Liverpool being crowned champions of Europe for a sixth time. "Milan have some excellent players," he added.

"Everyone talks about Kaka and he is definitely one of their main threats. If we're going to succeed then we have to make sure he does not have an influence on the game.

"Milan will make it extremely difficult for us, but we're confident. We've worked hard to get this far and we want to finish the season on a high. It would be so special to win the competition twice with Liverpool."

I have never been too sure about this keeping the team lineup from the players, especially before a Cup Final, nerves are already stretched and burning off vital energy, to increase players nervousness with uncertainty may further exacerbate the problem. Maybe its "old fashioned " but at the very least it must help the players to sleep better if they know the team beforehand.

Just can't see it.

IMO there's no way we'll go in against Milan with Gerrard as one of two central midfielders.

So either Sissoko or Alonso will play with Mascherano, and Gerrard will either be on the wing or as an attacking midfielder in a 4-5-1.

[66-1112520797]

Alonso sweats on Champions League place

Written by: AFP
   
LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Xabi Alonso admits he is sweating on his place in Liverpool's side to face AC Milan in Wednesday's Champions League final after a mixed season at Anfield.

It is not that long ago that manager Rafa Benitez would write Alonso's name down first on the team sheet - so influential was the Spanish international alongside Steven Gerrard in the Liverpool midfield.

Yet Alonso's place in the engine room is no longer guaranteed as Benitez demonstrated when he opted for Javier Mascherano to start alongside Gerrard in the crucial Champions League semi-final, second leg victory over Chelsea.

The former Real Sociedad player started the league defeat at Fulham four days after Liverpool had booked their place in Athens, but again had to make do with a substitutes role as Benitez's side brought the curtain down on their league campaign with a 2-2 draw with Charlton.

Alonso took just 60 seconds to score against Charlton after climbing off the bench yet his place in the heavyweight European showdown with AC Milan is by no means guaranteed.

"We will have to wait and see what team the manager decides," said the 25-year-old, who ended his first season at Anfield by scoring the equaliser in normal time when Liverpool clawed back a 3-0 deficit to beat the Italians in the dramatic 2005 final in Istanbul.

"Of course I want to be involved. Playing in the Champions League final is one of the best things you can do as a player. I want to be involved, but this is a team game and we will see what happens.

"We have been working towards this all season and we are going to Athens to try and bring home the European Cup."

Two years ago, Liverpool conquered Milan after a dramatic penalty shoot out and Alonso is confident the Merseyside club will hold their nerve again should the final be tied after 120 minutes.

Benitez's side have been involved in two high-stakes shoot outs since then. They overcame Chelsea in the semis on penalties after the tie had ended 1-1 after winning last season's FA Cup against West Ham on spot kicks.

"This is nothing new to us," added Alonso. "We seem to do well when it comes down to penalties. It was very nervous in Istanbul two years ago, but the momentum was with us because we were 3-0 down at half-time.

"I'm confident of the same thing happening if it goes down to penalties again but I think it could be a different type of game this time."

Alonso is aware Milan are itching for revenge and believes the Serie A club pose a serious threat to Liverpool being crowned champions of Europe for a sixth time. "Milan have some excellent players," he added.

"Everyone talks about Kaka and he is definitely one of their main threats. If we're going to succeed then we have to make sure he does not have an influence on the game.

"Milan will make it extremely difficult for us, but we're confident. We've worked hard to get this far and we want to finish the season on a high. It would be so special to win the competition twice with Liverpool."

I have never been too sure about this keeping the team lineup from the players, especially before a Cup Final, nerves are already stretched and burning off vital energy, to increase players nervousness with uncertainty may further exacerbate the problem. Maybe its "old fashioned " but at the very least it must help the players to sleep better if they know the team beforehand.

Just can't see it.

IMO there's no way we'll go in against Milan with Gerrard as one of two central midfielders.

So either Sissoko or Alonso will play with Mascherano, and Gerrard will either be on the wing or as an attacking midfielder in a 4-5-1.

Well I dont think Alonso wont start but Rafa could still play this.


               Sissoko -- Gerrard -- Mascha
      Pennant                                   Riise/Kewell

[stmichael]

this is omonia square by the way. we should try and arrange to meet up here or something.

[account deleted by request]

My worry is he will go with a 4 in midfield instead of 5, with Kuyt, Crouch/Bellamy up front. I would be happy with any 3 from Alonso, Gerrard, Mascherano, Sissoko playing central, but I just think if we play any two, we will get over run in midfield as we did last time.

[66-1112520797]

My worry is he will go with a 4 in midfield instead of 5, with Kuyt, Crouch/Bellamy up front. I would be happy with any 3 from Alonso, Gerrard, Mascherano, Sissoko playing central, but I just think if we play any two, we will get over run in midfield as we did last time.

As you said we got overun by them last time, so this is the reason I think he'll go with a five-man midfield. Knowing full well what their (AC) are capable of, and knowing Rafa as being slighty cautious thats why I reckon.

Once bitten, twice shy 

[*Juventino*]

My worry is he will go with a 4 in midfield instead of 5, with Kuyt, Crouch/Bellamy up front. I would be happy with any 3 from Alonso, Gerrard, Mascherano, Sissoko playing central, but I just think if we play any two, we will get over run in midfield as we did last time.

As you said we got overun by them last time, so this is the reason I think he'll go with a five-man midfield. Knowing full well what their (AC) are capable of, and knowing Rafa as being slighty cautious thats why I reckon.

Once bitten, twice shy 

Exactly. You have to play with 5 men to center of the field so that to stop Kakà and Seedorf that are in an exceptional form. Gerrard must possibly be made to play on the right so that doesn't suffer the doubling of Pirlo and Gattuso.

[Rafa D]

TO THE 96, THAT PASSED AWAY,

AT HILLSBOROUGH ON THAT FATEFUL DAY,

NOW LOOKIN DOWN,

WITH SMILES SO PROUD,

YOU SING WITH US, AS WE SING ALOUD,

YOU HELP US, GUIDE US,

AND GET US THROUGH,

I KNOW ISTANBUL WAS DOWN TO YOU,

AND THO THE FUTURE IS UNSURE AND UNKNOWN,

YOULL NEVER EVER WALK ALONE