Reds season 2007/08 - the final leg
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Rafa ready to take on rivals
Rafael Benitez faces arguably the toughest spell of his time as Liverpool boss insisting his players will be ready for the challenge.
The Anfield chief's side have been drawn against Premier League leaders Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The games will take place in a spell of little more than a fortnight that sees Liverpool having to face Manchester United, Everton and Arsenal again, all in the league.
The three matches with Arsenal will be played over just seven days at the beginning of April. Before that Manchester United and Everton will be Liverpool's previous two opponents.
Almost insignificant compared to those games - but Liverpool dare not think that way - is tomorrow's home clash with Reading, a game they have to win to keep Everton behind them in fifth place.
Benitez, who insists his team are running into form at just the right time, believes his rotation policy is at last being appreciated.
He said: 'We know the schedule will be tough this month, and next. Apart from the Champions League games we also have Everton and Manchester United.
'But we have a good squad and we will be ready to play against all of them. This could be an advantage now for Everton in the race for fourth spot. They are out of Europe and have only the final league games to worry about.
'All we can do is to keep winning and see where that takes us. Firstly, we must beat Reading, we can only win our games and see what happens. But we must keep winning, winning, winning. We will see what Everton do each week, but if we win, the job will be done.'
Benitez will have Xabi Alonso back in his squad against Reading, the midfielder having missed the midweek win against Inter Milan to be at his girlfriend's bedside when she gave birth to their first son.
Benitez dismissed suggestions of a problem over Alonso's absence in Milan, saying: 'I have told Xabi I have prepared a new contract for his baby son, because Xabi's father was a good player too, so maybe Xabi's son will be a good player too so it is important to sign players early!'
Benitez has also lost Daniel Agger for the season. The Dane will have a third operation on Monday to repair a broken metatarsal.
But Benitez, whose side have won six on the trot, is confident the Reds will make life extremely difficult for Arsenal.
He said: 'It will be difficult for both of us. We know we have five very big games over little more than two weeks. That is where the squad comes in, I will not rotate but I will change players!
'Games with Arsenal are difficult in the Premier League, and they will be in Europe too. It will be the same for both. They are a very good team, but I do not feel that either of us have an advantage, maybe we will be the underdogs but it will be difficult for us both.
'But we are playing well, winning games in succession and we are not conceding. We are at a good point of our season, but any game is difficult at this stage of major competitions.
'We must accept that if we progress in the Champions League then we may have to play two more English clubs. We, though, have players who have confidence and believe in themselves. It may be easier for the players now.
'I have said before that this is the time that players will be at the best because they have had rest. We are at a situation when we have Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt all playing very well.
'We are fourth and a good position in the Champions League. We have a lot to play for.'
Liverpool's season has been overshadowed by ongoing speculation about the ownership of the club, with co-owner Tom Hicks this week confirming he has terminated talks with potential investors Dubai International Capital.
But Benitez believes success on the pitch will push the issue down the news agenda.
'There is a calmness now around the squad. When you are winning everyone is happy and they want to talk about football rather than other things,' he said.
'Tom Hicks has rung me and said how pleased he is with the result and the team. And in particular the players that he has helped to buy, (Martin) Skrtel, Mascherano and Torres.'
Liverpool will find themselves playing Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals for the third time in four years if both win their quarter-finals.
Benitez's side have won both the previous encounters, and he said: 'This draw is not unusual for us, it seems we have played Chelsea time and again in all competitions including three times in the Champions League. So now it is Arsenal's turn.
'And we know that next could be Chelsea in the semi-finals again. But first we must concentrate on Arsenal and not think about games in the future, Arsenal will be tough enough without worrying about what is next.
'It is very important to go one step at a time. But I know people will say that to win the Champions League we will probably have to beat Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, the three teams above us in the Premier League.
'But we have confidence, we are winning and scoring goals. We are in good form so we do not worry about who we play.'
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everton is hot on our trails, just like chelsea is only 3 points behind manure.
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man u go go go
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Crouch may quit Liverpool in search of games
England striker Peter Crouch accepts he will probably have to consider quitting Liverpool in the summer to get regular first-team football.
The 6ft 7ins forward scored an impressive opening goal in the 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
However, Crouch feels he is likely to be back on the Anfield bench for tomorrow night's second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with the Gunners, when leading scorer Fernando Torres is expected to lead the attack again.
Liverpool have offered the 27-year-old, who arrived from Southampton in a £7million deal during 2005, a new contract.
Yet Crouch, who has 25 England caps, intimated his future could well lay elsewhere if he cannot hold down a first-team place.
'I would love to stay, it is a fantastic club and I love everything about it, but I have got to be realistic,' said Crouch, who has just seven Premier League starts this season.
'If I want to have any aspirations of playing for England, or furthering my career, then I have to be playing - and that doesn't seem to be the case at the moment.
'I will have to look at it - but that's certainly something I won't be doing now, I will be doing it at the end of the season.'
Crouch, though, insists his current focus in on helping Liverpool progress in Europe.
'At the moment I am concentrating on winning something for Liverpool and playing some part in the end of the season,' he said.
'We have got a Champions League run-in now and it's exciting for us, and all my efforts are focused on that.'
Reds boss Rafael Benitez made eight changes for the Premier League match on Saturday, and looks set to tinker with his side again tomorrow.
Crouch, though, is expecting to be back on the bench.
'It's pretty clear I probably won't start,' he said.
'Obviously if the manager plays one up front, he is more than likely to go with Fernando - and rightly so, he's been fantastic this season.
'Before when he was rotating at least I was getting a game here and there. But the manager's obviously stuck with a formation now that seems to be working, and credit to the players that have been playing in that system.
'We have certainly been playing well and I think we have got a great chance of going through to the semi-finals now in Europe.
'But for me, I will just have to obviously keep working hard and try and change his mind.'
Crouch revealed: 'It can be disheartening, but you have to keep going.
'I am one of those players that will keep going, I keep working hard in training, and, if called upon then hopefully I'll do what I did at Arsenal.
'At a big club there is always that pressure. Even if you start every game, if you don't perform, you know you are going to be out.
'But maybe me more so, with the fact that I haven't played that much this season, so, when I do, I have to make sure that I do well and do the business to try and stay in.'
After holding the Gunners to a 1-1 draw twice in the space of four days, Crouch believes Liverpool will have a psychological edge tomorrow.
'We have got to take confidence from the fact that we've played two away games now against Arsenal and certainly not been outplayed at any time,' said the striker.
'We have given them a good account of ourselves, could have won either game, it could have gone either way.
'Now, when we are at Anfield and with the crowd behind us, we feel we can beat anyone.'
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LIVERPOOL
Remaining matches:
v Blackburn (home),
v Fulham (away), v Birmingham (a),
v Manchester City (h), v Tottenham (a).
On paper, the Reds should easily win all their
remaining matches.
In reality, if they are still in the Champions
League, these games will pale in significance as
they chase their second European Cup in four
years.
Even if they do win every league game, they
would need Man United to slip up four times to
overtake them.
VERDICT:
Mission impossible.
ARSENAL
Remaining matches:
v Man United (a),
v Reading (h), v Derby (a), v Everton (h),
v Sunderland (a).
Should they beat Man United on Sunday, they
have four easy games left.
Much will depend on tonight. If Arsenal lose
to Liverpool in their Champions League clash,
they might make a concerted effort for one last
title push.
But it is a tall order for the jaded young
Gunners, many of whom are already running on
fumes.
VERDICT:
Highly improbable.
CHELSEA
Remaining matches:
v Wigan (h),
v Everton (a), v Man United (h), v Newcastle (a),
v Bolton (h).
Certainly, beating United at Stamford Bridge is
a must if the Blues want to win the BPL title.
They would also have to eke out three tough
points against Everton at Goodison Park.
Otherwise, they are the only Big Four club
with three home games left.
Can they win it, sans Jose Mourinho? They
just might.
VERDICT:
Shock winners, anyone?
MAN UNITED
Remaining matches:
v Arsenal (h),
v Blackburn (a), v Chelsea (a), v West Ham (h),
v Wigan (a)
The toughest run-in, with the final Wigan match
as the only sure-win match.
Worse still, defensive stalwarts Rio
Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are injured at a
most inappropriate time.
Alex Ferguson remains the best manager to
rouse his players to triumph against such odds.
But the pressure is on. It would be a major
choke if they lose the title.
VERDICT:
Hanging on, precariously
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Liverpool
v Blackburn (home),
v Fulham (away)
v Birmingham (a)
v Manchester City (h)
v Tottenham (a)
Everton
v Birmingham (a)
v Chelsea (h)
v Aston Villa (h)
v Arsenal (a)
v Newcastle (h)
the Reds should be able to get 10 points from their last 5 games while Everton would be lucky to get 9 points.
the Reds should be able to hold on to the 4th and final position for champions league qualification.
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Liverpool 4 - 2 Arsenal
2ND LEG: 5 - 3 (Agg)Liverpool 4-2 Arsenal: Frenetic finish at Anfield
Scoring Summary Liverpool Arsenal Sami Hyypia (30) Abou Diaby (13) Fernando Torres (69) Emmanuel Adebayor (84) Steven Gerrard (pen 85) Ryan Babel (90) 
Match Stats Liverpool Arsenal Shots (on Goal) 18(6) 9(3) Fouls 10 8 Corner Kicks 5 2 Offsides 5 6 Time of Possession 51% 49% Yellow Cards 0 2 Red Cards 0 0 Saves 1 2 Match Information Stadium: Anfield, England
Attendance: 41,985
Match Time: 19:45 UK
Teams Liverpool Arsenal 25 Pepe Reina 24 Manuel Almunia 23 Jamie Carragher 10 William Gallas 4 Sami Hyypia 6 Philippe Senderos 12 Fabio Aurelio 5 Kolo Toure 37 Martin Skrtel 22 Gaël Clichy 8 Steven Gerrard 13 Alexander Hleb 14 Xabi Alonso 27 Emmanuel Eboue 20 Javier Mascherano 4 Francesc Fabregas 15 Peter Crouch 16 Mathieu Flamini 9 Fernando Torres 2 Abou Diaby 18 Dirk Kuyt 25 Emmanuel Adebayor Substitutes 6 John Arne Riise Jens Lehmann 1 11 Yossi Benayoun Robin Van Persie 11 10 Andriy Voronin Gilberto Silva 19 19 Ryan Babel Justin Hoyte 31 17 Alvaro Arbeloa Alexandre Song Billong 17 30 Charles Itandje Theo Walcott 32 21 Lucas Nicklas Bendtner 26 Substitutions Ryan Babel for Peter Crouch (78) Gilberto Silva for Mathieu Flamini (42) John Arne Riise for Fernando Torres (87) Robin Van Persie for Abou Diaby (72) Alvaro Arbeloa for Dirk Kuyt (90) Theo Walcott for Emmanuel Eboue (72) Yellow Cards Philippe Senderos (17) Kolo Toure (85) · Club Squads: Liverpool | Arsenal Updated: April 8, 2008, 5:17 PM ET
Liverpool marched into their third Champions League semi-final in four years after seeing off Arsenal at Anfield.
GettyImagesSteven Gerrard fires home the penalty that put Liverpool into the semi-final.With seven minutes left, Arsenal looked like were through as the score stood at 2-2.
But Steven Gerrard restored the lead with a controversial penalty, before Ryan Babel's breakaway goal sealed a victory which sets up another semi-final clash with Chelsea.
Arsenal scored first through Abou Diaby, before Sami Hyypia and then Fernando Torres forced Liverpool ahead.
Adebayor's strike with seven minutes left looked to have finished off the Anfield men before the late fireworks.
The end of the week-long trilogy between these English giants saw one surprise selection, with Benitez opting for Peter Crouch.
Arsenal were without Robin van Persie from the first leg, the Dutchman's injured knee not risked beyond the bench initially.
The Gunners started in sensational style, displaying blistering pace, strength in the tackle and sublime passing skills.
Alexander Hleb, in a central role supporting Adebayor, was a constant danger and they were ahead in the 13th minute.
Anfield was stunned into silence as Hleb threaded a ball down the right for Diaby to surge into the box before crashing home a shot between Jose Reina and his near post.
With Gerrard deployed on the left, Arsenal were destroying Liverpool's midfield, and flying at a frantic defence.
They were handed a lifeline when the 34-year-old Hyypia produced a towering header from Gerrard's corner after completely losing marker Philippe Senderos.
Suddenly Liverpool were alive. Gerrard flashed a 30-yard shot wide, Dirk Kuyt's drive was charged down and Senderos - already booked for a foul on the Liverpool captain - started to struggle against Crouch's height.
Then Arsenal suffered the blow of Mathieu Flamini being carried off after looking to have fallen awkwardly on an ankle.
Gilberto came on after 40 minutes. By now Liverpool looked a changed side; steaming forward, their confidence restored.
England boss Fabio Capello and Manchester United chief Sir Alex Ferguson sat side by side as Arsenal steeled themselves to defend in front of the Kop after the break.
Fabio Aurelio's shot was deflected agonisingly wide by Crouch, Torres having provided the cross.
It was the Spain striker, quiet up to that point, who forced Liverpool ahead. Crouch's flick-on reached the Liverpool goal machine in the box, he turned Senderos with ease before firing his shot into the top corner.
Wenger replaced Diaby and Emmanuel Eboue with Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott, knowing another Arsenal goal would put them through.
Adebayor missed when clean through, the tension by now could be cut with a knife. Babel then came on for Crouch, who left the field to a standing ovation.
Liverpool switched back to their preferred system, with Gerrard working behind Torres while two holding players protected the midfield.
But Liverpool were caught searching for more, and Arsenal caught them cold on the break.
Walcott embarked on an amazing run from his own half before pulling the ball back for Adebayor to drill in the equaliser after 83 minutes.
But astonishingly they rallied. Straight from the restart, some Gunners still celebrating, Babel surged into the box and was brought down by Kolo Toure, for what looked a soft penalty.
Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt pointed to the spot, and with the Kop in hushed agony, Gerrard drove the penalty high into the net.
John Arne Riise came on for Torres with Liverpool desperate for the end now as another Gunners goal would again see them through.
But with Arsenal all up in Liverpool's box for a free-kick, the ball broke from the mass of players to be belted forward for Babel to outpace Fabregas to drive home the fourth.
Alvaro Arbeloa came on for a shattered Kuyt, and there was nothing left now from Wenger's men as Anfield celebrated.
Jump To Scores -- UEFA Champions LeagueEnglish Premier LeagueEnglish League ChampionshipEnglish League OneEnglish League TwoEnglish ConferenceScottish Division OneScottish Division ThreeCopa LibertadoresSouth African PremiershipTuesday, April 8
Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0 Final Liverpool 4 Arsenal 2 Final 