08/05/2007, 08:58 PM
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| مشرف سابق بمنتدى الرياضة العالمية | | تاريخ التسجيل: 01/04/2004 المكان: ANFEILD ROAD
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ماعندي وقت للترجمه .. عندي اختبار بكرا ..دعواتكم 
CHELSEA 2007 BETTER THAN 2005
Despite achieving the win this way, few would argue the Reds thoroughly deserved their victory over one of our greatest opponents. The fact it took us so long into the night to get to Athens only prolonged the drama and ensured we witnessed one of Anfield's greatest ever nights.
If there was ever a doubt the crowd could re-create atmosphere of 2005 we shouldn't have feared, Anfield 2007 was bigger, better and even more memorable.
Walking up to the ground on the Tuesday night felt just the same, the buzz was there and everyone knew what was expected of them. If anyone had any doubts about the outcome of the match before walking up to Anfield then surely, like me, once outside the walls of Anfield you couldn't fail to feel there was only going to be one winner.
There was no quick breakthrough this time but the support and belief was unstinting and in those early exchanges the Anfield roar was magnificent.
Of course, after 20 minutes, that backing from the crowd paid off and the Reds were back on level terms, even though it took us all by surprise. As Steven Gerrard stood over the ball in front of the anxious Chelsea fans most of us expected a curling delivery into the visitor's six-yard area but, instead, as he rolled the ball across the face of the Chelsea defence Anfield fell silent for a split second.
A training ground combination worked to perfection as Daniel Agger calmly passed the ball into the Chelsea net – the noise level was restored and Anfield went ballistic. As the players hugged and celebrated on the pitch we did similar in the stands after the Reds prised open one of the tightest defences in Europe with the sweetest free-kick seen at Anfield in modern times.
Liverpool have never been recognised for their success at free-kicks and corners but since Rafa arrived we have seen a different type of imagination and the young Dane's effort was Liverpool's most memorably worked free kick for years.
I don't think Anfield has seen anything to rival it since Bill Shankly's team destroyed the mighty Inter Milan in the club's first ever European Cup semi-final in 1965.
On one of Anfield's first super nights, Reds fans were similarly delighted and open-mouthed at seeing Ian Callaghan sprint down the side of an Inter Milan defence to put the finishing touch to a Willie Stevenson and Roger Hunt free-kick combination that made it 2-1 for Liverpool on what was an equally special night.
Back in May '65 the Reds were able to add to Cally's strike, this time though, despite their best efforts, Liverpool failed to find another way through but thankfully they made it in the end.
As I've said before, nights like this always throw up their heroes and Chelsea at Anfield 2007 will always be Pepe Reina's night.
After his outstanding performance in the first leg, the Spanish keeper really lived up to his reputation for saving penalties and once again did well to keep out the threatening Chelsea attack. With his tremendous level of consistency he's more than repaid Rafa's faith and belief. Up until now though, he's failed to receive widespread appreciation.
With the guarantee of finishing in the top four, and with it a place in next season's Champions League qualifiers, achieved before the two-legged semi with Chelsea began there was little surprise where Liverpool's priorities lay.
It's fair to say the two Premiership games with Portsmouth and Fulham sandwiched between Chelsea were not two of the Reds most memorable of the season.
Rafa certainly made full use of the squad in the two away games against sides that still had plenty to play for, albeit at opposite ends of the table. But while some felt Liverpool had enough in reserve to still take wins at both Fratton Park and Craven Cottage without the star quality and leadership of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, the Reds failed to disguise their omissions and the old chestnut of lacking goal power upfront again looked obvious in both games.
Certainly, a number of players particularly benefited from missing the Portsmouth trip and, judging by his all-action performance against Chelsea, Dirk Kuyt clearly came back ed.
One point I found interesting in the wake of the Chelsea success was Jose Mourinho trying to make out that beforehand Liverpool had an advantage over the Londoners by not having played as many games as them.
Interestingly I found out later that if the number of individual appearances of all those players of both sides who started last Tuesday night was totalled up together Liverpool players had collectively played 376 games against a Chelsea total of 370 games – something Mourinho failed to add into his comments perhaps.
After our success in getting to Athens last Tuesday we still had the nerve-wracking experience of watching the other semi-final in Milan the following night. And if we were all honest most of us were hoping for an AC Milan victory. I have never enjoyed seeing two English sides meet in Europe and in a final especially I was hoping we avoided Man United. Not because I fear them as a team but the occasion would have been marred by our great rivalry. Needless to say the Italians advanced to set up a final few could have thought possible so soon after the events in Istanbul.
So with that to look forward too, the Reds' season has been extended and all Liverpool fans are busy planning for an invasion of Athens.
Before that though we have the final Premiership game of the season on Sunday. I know when I looked at the fixtures last August I hardly expected this game to be meaningless. The Reds have really had the perfect end of season run of fixtures, it's a pity we were unable to maintain a title challenge and feel the benefit.
But after the recent poor results hopefully the Reds can finish the campaign on a positive against a side already relegated in front of a home crowd who will expect to send them into preparation for Athens on a high note.
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