Liverpool 4 - 1 FC Haka......

[Abs]

A bad start for my boys. Starting the champions league campaign with an aggregate score of 9-1. Hope we win this cup . Here's an official report:

Liverpool's comeback men made sure of their comeback to into the Champions League for real.

With a much changed side, the flow was never there, and that was a big disappointment to the 30,000-plus fans who had come expecting a goal glut.

But the sight of their side finally reaching the very elite competition in Europe after such a painful, long absence, made up for what was a poor match.

Liverpool, who last played in this tournament when it was just the plain European Cup - and they won it four times - can now get ready for a taste of the money-laden new version.

In the end it was Robbie Fowler, Jamie Redknapp and Emile Heskey who secured an aggregate win that sees Liverpool heading for Monte Carlo later this week for the European Super Cup Final and their much sought after place in the draw for the group stages of the Champions League.

Fowler, back in the fold, scored the first goal.

Captain Redknapp, after 15 months of injury anguish, blasted the second and Heskey - who had flu at the weekend - drilled in the third.

With great irony, it was former Manchester United youngster David Wilson who dived to head an own goal with seven minutes left to complete Liverpool's victory.

But Haka were never outfought, scored a shock equaliser on the stroke of half time, and departed Anfield with their heads high.

Only three of the Liverpool team that started against West Ham on Saturday were included.

It was who was on the bench that proved more interesting, with Steven Gerrard back from injury and clearly being lined up to face Bayern Munich in Monaco, with a good chance of being fully fit for England's big match with Germany.

Fowler had a couple of half chances but Liverpool rarely looked like producing the glut of goals expected with poor passing and lack of telling possession keeping the scoresheet blank.

Igor Biscan got in Liverpool's best early effort when he blasted over the bar from 18 yards after Bernard Diomede's clever run and cros s had been laid back to the Croatian by Djimi Traore.

On 30 minutes, Haka keeper Andras Vilnrotter was forced into his first save, as he struggled to keep out a blistering 25-yarder from Redknapp. The ball bounced out off the 'keeper's hands and Nick Barmby hit the rebound wide.

But the man all of Anfield wanted to break the deadlock managed just that on 36 minutes.

Redknapp's corner reached Diomede, whose hooked shot was palmed away by Vilnrotter - but only as far as Fowler, who dived forward to head Liverpool ahead.

The Kop were silenced by the an equaliser on the stroke of half time after Stephen Wright saw a header from Diomede's cross saved by the keeper, who then thumped the ball the length of the pitch.

Traore tried to take possession, but the ball bounced away and striker Peter Kovacs clipped the ball past the exposed Pegguy Arphexad.

It took Liverpool just five minutes to regain the lead, when Redknapp's pass presented Fowler with an opening that was instantly closed. But the striker kept possession well and neatly slipped the ball to Diomede, whose laid back pass was thumped into the roof of the net by Redknapp.

It was 3-1 after 56 minutes when Redknapp's fine pass found Heskey, and the big striker brushed aside his marker before striding on to slide the ball past Vilnrotter from the edge of the box.

Four minutes later, Heskey was replaced by Finland ace Jari Litmanen, then Hyypia was replaced by Markus Babbel into defence. Then Gerrard, on 70 minutes, replaced Redknapp.

Wilson's unfortunate intervention came in the 83rd minute when he dived to head home in his own six-yard box from
a Barmby free-kick.

[Star]

wow - u wrote all that stuff - even though noone was really gone read it


hey absy, what u reckon - not the same gloating over l'pool victories when we can't laugh at the Borough results, simultaneously



Get her back abs.

do summink - u the organising sort.

[Abs]

Don't worry brudder Star, he'll be back wen Uni starts.

I guess u missin hi, (u know hint hint )

How comes u aint got his moby no.
I thought u n him are eeeerrrrr...pals...

[Edited by Star on 25th August 2001 at 12:55]

[Star]

Dhurr Man

I might have rellies who check into this place.

[analysis]

Who we talkin' about eh?

This season has been a strange one methinks. The Gunners are looking good in the league but no one has really shown any consistency really.

Man U seem to have fallen apart so it's a pretty open race.

[Abs]

Liverpool r definately lookin like strong contenders for da league dis season, but judgin by Man U's performance dis week end.... tis gonna be tough to write em off.

I guess tis still early days