Liverpool 2 - 0 Roma

[mhnew]

Roma 0-2 Liverpool: Red history
By John Edwards at Stadio Olimpico

Gerard Houllier pencilled his name next to Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan in the annals of Liverpool history after his gamble on Michael Owen was rewarded with two goals in the Stadio Olimpico.

Robbie Fowler on the charge at Stadio Olimpico
(AlexLivesey/Allsport)
The Frenchman's two illustrious predecessors knew what it took to conquer the Italian capital when they steered Liverpool to European Cup triumphs in 1977 and 1984.

Paisley's unstoppable side were too strong for Borussia Moenchengladbach as they swept to a 3-1 win, while the team Fagan inherited defied even greater odds by beating Roma on their own ground after a penalty shoot-out.

Both momentous achievements ended with Liverpool crowned European Champions, as opposed to last night's reward of merely planting one foot in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup.

The latest quest for honours on the Continent may be a more modest affair but is just as worthy of the plaudits that accompanied previous Liverpool line-ups in the 70s and 80s.

Ending the unbeaten home record of Serie A leaders Roma was the perfect vindication for Houllier, who risked giving Owen his first start after a month on the sidelines.

Quietly spoken and unassuming, the Liverpool manager could hardly be mistaken for the rugged combatants who first turned Rome into a famous sporting venue two millennia ago.

Yet, there was an almost gladiatorial air about the way he towered over his opposite number Fabio Capello as Liverpool closed in on the most notable result of his two years in charge.

Capello had been on his feet barking orders but sank into his chair in the dug-out as Liverpool stunned the home crowd with a 46th-minute breakthrough. When Owen made it 2-0 with 18 minutes left, Capello looked as though he was expecting a fatal thumbs-down from the Emperor's box.

If the two goals marked a return to England contention for Owen after yet more problems with form and fitness, they also stood as a tribute to Houllier's knack of bringing the best out of his side when it matters most.

The Liverpool manager sprang a surprise by recalling Owen to the starting line-up after a month's absence, during which the 21-year-old was restricted to a singularly unconvincing reserve outing at Bradford and a brief appearance as a substitute at Sunderland.

Houllier sensed the stage was set for a reminder of Owen's lethal best and was proved right in a dramatic start to the second half.

It was only seconds old when Alessandro Rinaldi looked up on the right of Roma's area and inexplicably failed to spot the lurking Owen as he aimed a pass across the 18-yard line.

Owen needed no second invitation to pull it down and dart past the challenge of Amadeo Mangone before rifling a low shot back across the goal and beyond Francesco Antonioli.

All the anguish of persistent hamstring problems were suddenly forgotten as Owen let out a long, heartfelt yell of elation.

Roma's six-point lead at the top of the Italian league has been based on a home record of six wins and two draws. It counted for little as Owen struck again.

Christian Ziege, another unexpected selection by Houllier, crossed from the by-line after being fed by Gary McAllister and Owen, showing all the initiative of old, nipped in ahead of Antonioli to glance a header into an unguarded net.

All the pre-match talk was of Capello relegating the UEFA Cup to second place behind the league in his list of priorities, and the presence of Gabriel Batistuta on the bench and Francesco Totti in the stand confirmed as much.

There was little about their performance to disprove the theory as, other than a 65th-minute drive from substitute Marcos Assuncao that Sander Westerveld beat away, they seldom threatened a breakthrough.

Not that any misgivings over their commitment to the cause should be allowed to detract from Liverpool's most outstanding results in more than a decade.

Indeed, Nick Barmby might even have extended their lead in the last minute after powering through and driving an angled shot against Antonioli's legs.

It scarcely mattered. Putting two goals past the pride of Italy was more than enough and Houllier's reaction said as much as he raised both arms in a clenched fist salute before commiserating with the vanquished Capello.

There were other heroes - Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz at the back, Didi Hamann and Gary McAllister in the middle and Owen and Robbie Fowler up front - as Liverpool confirmed that this is indeed a happy hunting ground for English teams.

As well as Liverpool's two European Cup triumphs, the stadium also saw Glenn Hoddle's England battle to the 0-0 draw that secured their passage to the 1998 France World Cup Finals.

And only last December, Alan Smith's goal made history on one of Leeds United's greatest European nights, a 1-0 win over Italian champions Lazio in the Champions League.

Few results, though, can match the one Houllier, Owen and Liverpool engineered.

[Locky]

i guess, i was wrong about liverpool, what a shocker. i can just say well done to liverpool...

[yasmin]

They were lucky cos they had a WOrld Class player in Christian Ziege. The EVIL piece of plop left us in the lurch. But we'll get our own back when we take it to the courts. This isn't the first time L'pool have made illegal approaches.

They tried to sign Litmanen before a few years ago and during one European game when Barca were playing Man U they sneaked one of their ppl into Jari's room and made an offer to him which he declined. This goes to show what an evil conniving club that L'pool are.

Ziege was awesome yesterday and without him they would have lost 8-0.

[Star]

For starters - he's now shaved off the evil bit of plop - so no need to be nasty bout his blonde hair..

"Not the first time Liverpool have made illegal approaches": Well I know how proud you are of Borough's defensive record post-venables, but u gotta realise that some teams need to score goals, in addition to defending, and that may require the odd raid into the opposition half..u need to be open minded, sis.

I didn't particularly spot Ziege's performance, it was hard to keep an eye on any one particular star - but Yasmin, u need to let go of him now - he's no longer your player - he plays for Liverpool now.

[The sporting forum has missed your prescence of late, Yasmin].

[yasmin]

We will get OUR money and Liverpool will lose 40 points forcing them to be relegated.

Ziege was by far L'pools best player yesterday. He got forward and whipped in the crosses like Beckham. You see Ziege is so good because he whips the ball in rather than float them in like many of the rubbish that England produce.

We made him into a world class player. How would you like it if we nicked the entire Liverpool team huh? Cos that's wot you took from us when you STOLE our Ziege.

We were going to build a team around him with Ziege playing in midfield. You don't care who you destroy!!!

It's not fair. We never win anyrthing. All the Southern Scum press hate us. The FA hate us. We lose all our best players every season

Branco (World Cup winner 1994- he was a bomb at taking free kicks. Much better than Brazils current left back. Forgot his name)
Ziege
Juno
Ravanelli
Emerson
Merson
Gazza
Branca
Alun Armstrong

Decency costs nothing. But it's worth a billion pounds in my book.

[Star]

oh didnt know u felt that strongly

But with chrissy ziege that's the problem - the only way u can please him, is to do what he wants - hence the midfield problem - apparently he doesnt wanna play left wing-back no more.

And your contract ppl gave him a contract in which he was allowed to leave under certain conditions...

And, and you did nick venables whilst he was (and is) under contract to the ITV.

But, i'm sorry bout ziege..

if it were up to me, i'd give him back on a free - big clubs should help out the smaller clubs - and l'pool, arsenal and man utd, are becoming a lil bit selfish by buying up all the good players to occupy their benches.

[yasmin]

Never spoil an apology with an excuse.

hehehehehehehehhe

We don't want him anymore. He's damaged goods now. We'ver got another youngster on our books and he's better than Maradona. He's called Carlos Marinelli. So keep your filthy mitts off him. He's only 17.