CL Final - AC Milan vs. Liverpool (scores)

TheDoc

I can really see a comfortable AC win to be honest. There is nothing in the Liverpool attack that would make me change my mind. Baros, muck, head down runs into corners worst finisher, if you sold him during summer youd make a fortune, now youll be making little. The Italian teams are built around defense, so unless there is pure gun ho by Liverpool cant see them scoring many if at all.

On the other hand I can see AC really cuasing problems. Traore left back is a major week link, make me sick cause my cousin was at liverpool and was hailed as a future denis irwin, and they have this guy instead. Finnan is looking solid with Carragher shining this season, and Hyppia, well looks unsteady, dont be suprised to see Shevvy walking near Hyppia and Traore.

I think that Liverpool, well, i stil lcant understand how they got this far. But some major adjustments needed in summer. I love listening to liverpool fans ranting bout how they beat chelsea and there millions. Under Gerrard Houllier, he spent over 250 million building his team, of useless talent.
They need to get rid of useless players like nunez,traore,pongol, that fat gerrard up front.

And o yes buy some good wingers!!!Finaly they realise how good Riise is on the wings.

redspider

Seaneh wrote:

The winning team will be as follows:
Stam--Nesta--Maldini--Kaladze

Stam at right back, great! Dont see that happening though.

As for the "winning" team, you must be a time traveller then, did you take a wrong turn and go to the wrong parallel universe? Check your Tardis settings. Bring it back to the garage if they look dodgy.

Hydromonkey

[DM]-TheDOC- wrote:

I think that Liverpool, well, i stil lcant understand how they got this far. But some major adjustments needed in summer. I love listening to liverpool fans ranting bout how they beat chelsea and there millions. Under Gerrard Houllier, he spent over 250 million building his team, of useless talent.
They need to get rid of useless players like nunez,traore,pongol, that fat gerrard up front.

If you're gonna slate them at least get your facts nearly right. Houllier spent about 100 million on players over 5 years, alot of which was recouped from sales, remember he got about 14m for Fowler. Of the palyers you mention Nunez was only ever a stop gap, Traore has improved alot and is imo easily worthy of a squad place and Pongolle is still very young and showed alot of promise before his injury

TheDoc

Traore being worthy of a squad place says everything to me and people who dont support liverpool all about liverpool. That 5th place was a reasonable fair position, cause anyone with Traore in their team should not be pushing for champions league.

And the facts i read in papers, and on sky sports news at the end of his reign, was over 250 million.

Also Pongol proved himself by scoring goals against very weak defenses =/

Chucky the tree

they spent £110m and sold players for £68m.

mike65

Chelsea have spent £250 million since Roman arrived....

Mike.

ianomccabe

i thought for once that the title of this thread "CL FINAL" might encourage a bit of support for Liverpool but i guess its only understandable that some fans need to vent their jealousy and anger at the possibility of us winning number 5 which all English teams can only dream of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TOPDAWG

[DM]-TheDOC- wrote:

Gerrard Houllier, he spent over 250 million building his team, of useless talent.

Useless talent that still picked up 6 trophies........a terrible return :rolleyes:

PHB

Benetiz can't play Kewell.
Riise is first off
very attacking as a full back, which can be a bad thing
not a good enough defender to handle the left on his own

Kewell isn't a huge team player, and will disappear. He might do some great stuff in attack, but Cafu has lots of assists this year and Kewell will have to police that.
You can tell for sure that Riise will.

----

Baros imo deserves to start. He has taken the team this far with his preformances up front and since Cisse isn't 100% fit then he really shouldn't be playing against one of the best defenses in the world.

Stam is going to be playing, no doubt about it after his form this year, but I'd imagine it will be in the CB position with Nesta, with Maldini playing on the left, and Ambro something cant think of his name on the right.

---

Liverpool will get some chances in this game, but I don't think they will be clinical enough.
Chelsea weren't able to break down Liverpool due to a weak attack imo, Milan have magic in their attack. Shev + Kaka can create something from nothgin and probably will.
I think this means that Benetiz is gona have to be attacking as much as possible, which will in turn leave them very vulnerable to the best counter-attack team in the world.

That said, I still wouldn't want to call this game.
But I will anyway,
Milan 2-0 with a goal in the first half and another nicked when Liverpool are going nuts at them towards the end

ianomccabe

Call me the eternal optimist here but im gonna go for a one nil win to Liverpool with Carra again putting in one of the greatest performances in a Liverpool shirt - a la Chelsea at Anfield.

It's made for Cisse to score the winner after what he's been through. What a story that would be!

mike65

I'm going for a 3-1 win to Pool - two from Cisse and one from Riise or Garcia.
I dont care who scores for Milan.

Mike.

redspider

The result of this game is nearly impossible to predict, never mind the score. The current bookie (Boylesports) odds are:

AC Milan 11/10
Draw 2/1
Liverpool 11/4

Can this game go to a replay or must it be finished on the night?

Here are some of the scoreline odds:

AC Milan Win
1 - 0 5/1
2 - 0 13/2
2 - 1 8/1
3 - 0 20/1
3 - 1 22/1
3 - 2 33/1
4 - 0 66/1

Match to Draw
0 - 0 11/2
1 - 1 5/1
2 - 2 14/1
3 - 3 80/1

Liverpool Win
1 - 0 13/2
2 - 0 18/1
2 - 1 14/1
3 - 0 50/1
3 - 1 50/1
3 - 2 40/1
4 - 0 100/1


So, a Milan 1-0 win or a 1-1 draw (over 90 mins) being the most likely.

Dont forget that bookies are wrong 49% of the time!

Redspider

~Rebel~

redspider wrote:

Can this game go to a replay or must it be finished on the night?

Match must be finished on the night.

Extra time then penalties. Personally i cant see how people are blowing on so much about the milan defence, in theory they're fantastic totally agree, but in practice they've been very dodgy of late, costing them the scudetto. They'll also be fúcked tired as are playing right up till the final.

Im gonna put money on the penalties anyway, could easily see a 0-0 or a 1-1, when was the last champs league final that lived up to the hype? (gonna ignore last years result in this respect cause was most unexpected disappointing final lineup ever![unless you're from monaco or porto of course])

Think it'll be scrappy game with a lot of staunch defending and could see liverpool nicking a goal with the genius of football that is sheva getting one back then onto peno's and its anyones guess!!

PHB

They'll also be fúcked tired as are playing right up till the final.

They aren't.
They have lost the Serie A.
They know it

uberwolf

Believe me, I know from painful experience, fatigue doesn't pass after a weeks break. Especially at the age of some of their players.

Liverpools injury problems all season look like a blessing in disguise now.

SpAcEd OuT

8/1 for Milan to win 2-1........seems very likely.

~Rebel~

Milan have lost the league but they'll still have to turn up against Palermo the friday before the final. while it probably wont take a whole lot out of them id imagine it will stop them getting any more rested. Im sure they wont be totally ragged around the pitch but the difference between a team with a break and a team without could be telling.

Shred

PHB wrote:

They aren't.
They have lost the Serie A.
They know it

Laursen said in the interview on page 1 of this thread "I have seen them the last couple of times and talked to some of their players and they are feeling a bit tired". Regardless of whether they have lost Serie A, they're still a bit knackered from the tough battle they've had with Juve all season along with their other domestic/european games. I think their fatigue was evident in their last couple of Seria A games and champs league games especially.

TheDoc

Baros imo deserves to start. He has taken the team this far with his preformances up front

What Baros are you talking about? Any time I have watched liverpool which has been alot, he hs done little to impress, he is not a guy who can play up front alone.

6 trophies none of major importance.

I am hardly jealous of liverpool, I'm totally neutral towards the premiership. I do not want liverpool to win because of all this moan about them going into it next year. Fact is they have to win first which is unlikely. And even if they do they should not be allowed go in instead of everton, cause Everton played the better this season and more consistent. It would be an outrage, and the champions league would turn into a joke.

~Rebel~

[DM]-TheDOC- wrote:

Fact is they have to win first which is unlikely.

Nobodies saying its a foregone conclusion that liverpool will win, in fact they're still firm underdogs and im sure nobody here would disagree with that, its a match, once off, 11 v 11, anything can happen either way.

[DM]-TheDOC- wrote:

And even if they do they should not be allowed go in instead of everton, cause Everton played the better this season and more consistent. It would be an outrage, and the champions league would turn into a joke.

As for everton not being in if liverpool qualify i think you're a little behind the times there, already very firmly stated by everyone involved (PL, FA, UEFA) that everton ARE in the champions league next season regardless of what happens in the final. The debate is about whether liverpool will get an EXTRA english spot, which looks all set really as the president of UEFA has basically said the holders should defend the title and that if the FA make a little noise, put in a petition for an extra place for defending champion that the 'pool will be in. Obviously not set in stone but the signs are good.

The Clown Man

AC 3-0 is 20/1 !?

Nice one. That's an easy €400 for me!

Jivin Turkey

[DM]-TheDOC- wrote:

And even if they do they should not be allowed go in instead of everton, cause Everton played the better this season and more consistent. It would be an outrage, and the champions league would turn into a joke.

A total outrage alright, that the "Champions" of the "Champions League" could get in ahead of a team that finished champions, no sorry, second, no sorry, third, no sorry fourth, in their domestic league.

But as has been pointed out, that debate has been settled.

Take it

TheDoc u say neutral hahahaha so funny, your definitly not neutral on this subject :rolleyes: this topic was on the CL final i dont see why you have to make comments that you SURELY know will P1ss people off you seem to hate Traore and purely say Liverpool shouldn't finish top 5 because of him (neutral eh?) anyway what about Drogba, what about Huth, what about Cygan, what about Neville, what about howard/carrol? these players are hardly top class and make the team regularly so does Chelsea and Man U not deserve top 3? i am not even going to start on the everton team line up!! neutral my ar$e

Facts are facts, you want to know the reason Liverpool have got this far??

Answer:
(1) they have beaten anyone that has been put in front of them!!
(2) not in ONE leg have they lost they have beaten B.L home and away, beaten Juve at home got a draw away, beaten Chelsea at home and got a draw away. NOT ONE LOSS in the knock out stages even AC have lost in the knock out stages

Liverpool deserve to be there full stop

Baros has done a thankless job for Liverpool up front running around on his own up front while the midfield sits back he deserves a start i think

~Rebel~

I liked the way liverpool looked at the start of the season with 2 up front. They were forced to change it due to injuries and were lucky at some points to even get 1 fit striker but i feel id like to have seen them with 2 up front in the past weeks. Fairly sure it would have gotten goals, baros finds it very hard to play on his own as he needs to be closer to goal when he gets the ball with his head down style (quite similer to that of ronaldo back in the barca days i think).

Admittedly this is definately not the time to go changing from a winning method in champs league but would have been nice to see, think baros and morientes could have done well together but were hardly ever on the pitch at the same tim even against shíte teams.

Would like to see baros and cisse together for at least a portion of the match though, maybe cisse come on for someone (whoever isn't doing the best on the night) on bout 50/55 mins and the 2 of them work together (only if goals needed of course) Cisse looks sharp and clever at the moment, could see him giving and getting incisive passes around the box and needs another forward to work with.

Do think baros should start, he's on a cold streak but i still like him as a player, lets not forget what hes like when hes on form, had a great 1st half to the season and was the hero going from sometimes used sub last year to sole striker this year.

yes this is long enough.

Lex Luthor

ianomccabe wrote:

no big screen in anfield but they are showing it on a big screen in clayton square in the city centre for people who arent going to istanbul

Where is clayton square?

I thought there would be one in Concert Square just in front of the Outback bar?

ianomccabe

Clayton square is the modern shopping centre right in the centre of the town. Where boots, jd sports, game etc. are located.

~Rebel~

Just read a very good (if long) artical that has me totally fired up yet again for the final and beaming from ear to ear at the possibilities in store for the 'pool. Just so happy we've reached the final anything else is a bonus - but what a bonus!!! Here it is anyway [oh and if anyone thinks its too long to leave here lemme know and ill just leave the link instead.]
- http://www.redandwhitekop.com/article.php?id=1048183

What does this Champions League final really mean?
So what does this match –– this monumental occasion, now just one week away –– mean.
Not what it means to us as fans, as hell, it means everything.

But what does it mean for the future of the club? Is this a one-off trip to the stars, or are we setting up another space station beyond the thermosphere? Will victory make Liverpool the best team in Europe, or simply the best team in European competition? In 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984 it was clear that the Reds were the best; changes to the rules on qualification (apparently, as of next season, they let any old rubbish in) means it's now less clear.

When Liverpool finished 5th in the league in 1981, no one dared say they weren't the best when they won the big one in Paris. But the Reds had dominated at home and in Europe for a number of years.

The achievement of reaching this year's final seems to have been somewhat belittled. Because of the domestic struggles, the Reds are not getting the credit they deserve for being one of the two best teams in European competition this season. Forgive me for missing something, but isn't this a one-off match where the winner is crowned Champions of Europe? Other, supposedly 'better' teams have had their chance to get this far and flunked it. Meanwhile, David Moyes believes Everton are the best team in Liverpool. While the Blues have done well, clearly he'd been drinking too much of his celebratory champagne before making that statement.

Everton have scandalously won more plaudits for their very good season, but one which ultimately leaves them empty handed. As Steven Gerrard so poignantly pointed out, you don't get medals for finishing 4th. Does being just one more win better than Liverpool in the league (with a minus goal difference!) outweigh Liverpool's eleven extra victories in cup competitions, including top-half Premiership teams like Spurs and Boro, and in Europe, the English and Italian champions (-elect)?

Both teams were mediocre in the league. At least Liverpool were very good in the Carling Cup, and exceptional in the the continent's elite club competition. The Reds, by reaching two cup finals in one season (and that's six since the turn of 2001), have shown their class. Not many teams do that in a season. It's not an 'accidental' coincidence. If this team isn't yet perfect, there is clearly something special there.

It was funny to hear ex-Evertonian Kevin Ratcliffe suggest Everton could reach the Champions League final next season –– on the basis that if Liverpool could, so could they. Finishing three points above Liverpool appears to have gone to the Toffees’ heads. Was he forgetting the extensive European experience Liverpool had picked up in the previous four years –– a Champions League quarter-final, another six-game group stage a year later, and the Uefa Cup victory of 2001 –– while Everton were busy in relegation battles? Talk about getting carried away!

Arsene Wenger was another to disparage the Reds' achievement. Speaking three days after Liverpool made the final, he claimed the Champions League had become like a standard cup, which anyone could win. He said: “The priority has to be the Premiership. If the Champions League goes well it goes well, but the Premiership has to be the most important by miles. The Champions League is too much of a surprise cup now.” Although strangely, Highbury is yet to be taken unawares...

It’s hard to imagine him saying that should Arsenal actually get somewhere in the competition. I think Arsenal are a superb team, but can they really be proud of just two quarter-final appearances in nine years? Liverpool actually have a higher ranking in Europe over the last five years, and if the Reds beat Milan, and earn the reward of the 5th Champions League place (apt, for the 5th European Cup), then Arsenal will go into the qualifiers on account of their lower Uefa coefficient. Liverpool must be very 'lucky' indeed, in that case.

The European Cup has always had ‘surprise’ teams in the final. It has always involved a knock-out competition, in one form or another. But it was impossible to say that Liverpool hadn’t earned the right to be there in 2005. If the competition was devalued years earlier by opening it up to teams who finish 4th in their domestic leagues –– from which Liverpool clearly benefited –– Benítez’ team at least proved worthy finalists with their performances in the competition. Frankly, the Reds have been rather special.

While there was a modicum of truth in Wenger’s assessment –– it is, after all, hard to argue that there is no better team in Europe than Liverpool –– his statement that the Premiership was more important by “miles” was laughable, and indicative of a man under pressure in the Premiership (from Chelsea) and needing to disguise his own radical shortcomings in the Champions League.

Anyone who thinks Liverpool reaching the Champions League final is anything less than a momentous achievement , needs only to look at how many other English teams have made it this far in the last twenty years (since Liverpool's domination of Europe ended). We are all well aware that the number is one. It took Manchester United at their very best, in 1999, to achieve the feat. So Liverpool have already 'achieved' something. That it was achieved –– unlike United six years ago –– with an absolutely staggering injury list makes it even more remarkable.

Chelsea lost three games in this season's knock-out rounds; Liverpool, so far, have lost none. That tells a significant story. Milan were outplayed by PSV on two separate occasions, and soundly beaten in the second game. No one has outplayed Liverpool in the last 16.

Everton, meanwhile, can enjoy their brief moment in the sun, but they need to know that a rude awakening awaits –– if that wasn't already evident after their decimation at Highbury last week.

Arsenal were superb in the first half against Liverpool three days earlier, but in the second half the Reds showed the level of their quality and character. After 45 minutes there appeared to be an unbridgeable gulf in class, but in the second half Rafa's men showed how well the team can perform, and suddenly Arsenal were 'hoofing' clear. An equaliser never quite materialised, but it was always on the cards. On the balance of play a draw, or a narrow Arsenal victory would have been the fair result –– there was not a two-goal difference in terms of play. However, reports said Everton were lucky to lose 7-0 at Highbury.

What Everton proved against Arsenal was that without 100% commitment and effort, they are nothing. Their second game in a week, they obviously took their foot off the gas having secured 4th place –– but Arsenal also had nothing to play for. Let's watch the Blues try to maintain their previous levels of performance every Saturday when facing a possible extra 20 games in their season. With all the extra games (if they are remotely successful) will come more injuries, too.

I honestly believe Everton will do well to finish in the top half of the table next season. The trouble is they are now there to be shot at. Also, after the delirium of an unexpected high, the fall is harder, and further. If they can repeat this year's success, then they really are onto something, and I will hold my hands up and applaud them (while gritting my teeth). But George Burley was right to call to mind the season when his Ipswich side were relegated after finishing 5th and playing six games in the Uefa Cup.

part 2 on next post

~Rebel~

part 2

Surreal

Does anyone else still find it all a little surreal –– the European Cup final? Weren't we supposed to build up to a moment like this over a number of years? I don't think it will sink in until I am inside the stadium, drinking in the atmosphere. It all feels like a dream, but a dream that has yet to really get started.

I haven't even contemplated the Reds losing. Then again, I dare not think about the high should we win.

Beating Milan, should the previously unthinkable become a reality, will both help and hinder Liverpool next season. It will mean more to live up to, as Champions of Europe; expectations will be raised. It will make the Reds even more of a scalp in the Premiership. But at the same time, it will breed confidence, ensure more money from re-qualifying, and while attracting players won't be tough whatever happens, it will make getting the very best that little bit easier.

It all just seems so perfectly set up for the Reds. Milan are not only tired, but have an extra game to play this Friday. Should they fail to win, then Juventus will be champions –– how tired will they feel after that? After all, Liverpool had already made Juventus look rather average –– another psychological boost, to have outplayed Milan's 'betters'.

Milan, while a great side, full of top players, have not been well of late. Their recent form has been terrible in all competitions. They are running on empty. The sensation of a season imploding around their ears is one from which it is hard to escape. While they've been playing and losing games or dropping points, Rafa has been plotting their downfall. If Milan have some extra quality, Liverpool have the elements in their favour.

The last thing –– or the last person –– Milan's slow, ageing defence will want to see is Djibril Cissé, who is fresh and coming into form and fitness just at the right time. Maybe his broken leg can prove a blessing in disguise. He has settled into English football from the sidelines, watching and learning, and while I am a fan of Milan Baros, I feel Cissé has earned the right to start next week. His attitude and hunger ensure, to my mind, that he will. His all-round play against Villa was sensational –– he finally looked like he'd 'arrived'.

(Having said that, Baros' questionable attitude of late might not make him a good sub –– starting Baros would be the only way to get the best out of him, as undeserved as it may seem; especially after he was dropped for his two previous cup finals, while Cissé will be "happy" just to be on the bench after the season he has had. But Cissé would still get my vote, and I think Milan will be living closer to Milan than Liverpool next season.)

All the other serious injuries have cleared up. Alonso, Gerrard, Baros, Luis Garcia, Kewell and Hamann have all had spells from six weeks to four months on the sidelines over the winter months –– their own personal mid-season breaks. They've had just about enough time to get match fit. Finnan, Hyypia and Traore were afforded a rest on Sunday. With the exception of Kirkland and the two ineligible recruits, Benítez currently has his strongest squad to select from.

Milan are still favourites. But they will be in for one hell of a game. In the venue where teams are welcomed to "Hell", let's hope it's a heavenly ending for the Reds, whatever its enduring 'meaning'. To alter a Bob Paisley quote, just go out and win the thing, lads, and after we'll discuss the significance of the achievement at our leisure.

© Paul Tomkins 2005

ianomccabe

great article. gets me too excited though and i realise there's still a week to go!

uberwolf

I'm sorry - I've to keep adding to this thread and the build up!!

John Arne Riise has warned Champions League favourites AC Milan that Liverpool will "work like lions and fight like tigers" in next week's final in Istanbul.

The Norwegian has been one of Liverpool's stand-out performers in a dramatic season which will climax with the sixth European Cup final in their history at the Ataturk Stadium.

Riise claims that he and the Anfield players are determined to write their names in that history of the club.

"You always want to be able to write history at the club you are playing for, and the whole team is now just one game away from doing that here at Liverpool," said the 24-year-old.

"To have the chance to put myself with some of the big names that have represented this club is beyond my wildest dreams.

"I have always wanted to be in the final of the Champions League and win it with Liverpool, because that is where this club belongs."

Riise, talking in the club's LFC magazine, added: "It will be a dream come true for every single player here.

"We know it will be a hard game but we cannot stop thinking that if we do win the cup it will go down in history.

"Without doubt this is the pinnacle of my career. I won the league in France with Monaco and finished second in my first season with Liverpool.

"But the Champions League trophy is the biggest thing you can win in club football.

"Just to walk out in the stadium and take part in the final will be the biggest moment of my career.

"To have such a game on your CV is great for any player, and to have done it with the biggest club, ever, in England is even better."

Despite his appetite for the occasion, Riise is aware that Liverpool cannot hope to have it all their own way in Turkey.

However he has warned Milan just how hard Liverpool will fight for the crown.

"We are going to work like lions and fight like tigers," he vowed.

"It is the last game of the season for us and the biggest in everyone's career so we are going to give it our all, that's for sure."

Riise hopes that the side will know before next week's final whether they will be allowed back into the competition next season as holders.

He said: "Hopefully we will know before we play what the outcome will be should we win.

"Just winning the Champions League alone is enough incentive for us, but it would give us that extra boost if we knew about next season."