Carraghercules - Time For Liverpool To Shine

The last game day of the current season has arrived. Liverpool take on the might of AC Milan in one of the most historically important port cities in the world, Athens. Tonight is a re-match of the 2005 Champions League Final which saw Liverpool rise from a 3-0 defecit at half time to run out 90 minutes at 3-3, extra time at 3-3 and seal a victory with a powerhouse display in penalties.

Tonight might be no different.

I write with a cautious optimism about tonight. Cautious as I know what Milan are like, we all know what they’re capable of - Kaka being a serious threat to the side if he’s given even an inch of space. Early goals are a killer, concede early and it shifts the entire mentality of the game. Score early and there’s no sense in sitting on your lead - you’re after setting the benchmark for the game so now you’ve got to carry it on for the remainder of 90 minutes.

Optimistic as I know what Liverpool are capable of, we all do. The season hasn’t been the best in the league and we’re still a bit off being crowned league champions but in Europe we’re up there with the best and we hold our own. We hold our own with a force to be reckoned with and hold our own as previous champions - five times.

Rafa Benitez has made his team selection and he’s looking cautiously optimistic as well. Jermaine Pennant and Bolo Zenden start on the wings with the trio of Gerrard, Mascherano and Alonso manning the engine room in the middle. Plenty of width packed with strength and courage in the centre.

The back four is as expected - Finnan and Riise in the corners with Carragher and Agger in the centre. Pepe Reina mans the goal while Dirk Kuyt is the lone ranger up front, likely getting long ball assistance from Xabi Alonso, some pace on the wing from Pennant and a general marching up behind him in Steven Gerrard for the close releases.

Harry Kewell makes the bench along with Mark Gonzalez, both of whom I still question as to being at Anfield next season given Rafa’s recent reshuffle announcement. Alongside the pair sit Jerzy Dudek and Sami Hyypia, Dudek set to bow out in June while Arbeloa, Craig Bellamy and Peter Crouch make the bench.

Overall a slightly defensive start with great possibilities of counter-attacking likely wrapped up with an appearance by both Bellamy and Crouch later on in the game (making way for Zenden and Kuyt I’d imagine).

It is time for all Liverpool players to shine. I don’t think there’ll be a lot of goal action in the game but I’ve a feeling they’ll go at each other the way Chelsea and Man United couldn’t do it at the weekend (don’t get me started on that mare of a game). The press conferences are done, the fans are already in the stadium, the players sitting waiting in the dressing room. Now isn’t the time to be nervous, though its quite fine to say that while you’re blogging. Now is the time for the squad to stand up and be counted, to add that sixth European win to the trophy cabinet, to reaffirm Liverpool as the top footballing side in Europe and to lay the foundation in a new era of football beginning at the club.

The game kicks off in half an hour, if I’ve the wit I’ll be live blogging the game while watching from the safe surrounds of the house. Best of luck to the team, may we come away with a win.

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