Report by Dave Usher at Anfield

I really don't know where to start. The words 'unbelievable' 'sensational' and 'amazing' are used so often these days that they no longer seem appropriate for occasions like this.

It's tough writing a report on a game like the one last night, as it was that special how do you possibly do justice to it? I certainly can't, but I'll have a go.

I really don't know if there is a word that can describe last night's events in L4. If there is it's one that isn't in my vocabulary. DJ George Sephton said at the end that it was the best atmosphere for thirty years, which is a bold statement indeed coming from a man who has seen every game in that period.

Maybe George got a little carried away amidst the euphoria of it all (and who can blame him?) or maybe it WAS the best in thirty years, I don't know. The emotion of Roma game a couple of years ago takes some beating, as does the drama of St Ettienne of course.

It's too hard to judge just how highly this game rates alongside those. The best one is often the most recent simply because it's so fresh in the memory. For now I just want to savour this, and it will only be in a few years time when we can say just where this ranks among all the other great European nights.

What isn't in doubt is that this was a momentous night where once again the reds overcame what seemed an insurmountable deficit to emerge victorious in front of a rocking capacity crowd.

I know it's easy to say now, but I was actually pretty confident all the way through that we would do it, even when we were trailing at half time and needed to score three. The only time my spirits flagged was for a ten minute spell after Gerrard saw a goal ruled out by a referee who I was becoming more and more convinced had been bought off by someone.

Once Mellor got the second however, the feeling that this was going to be one of those special European nights returned, and so it proved. Not even a bent referee could deny us, despite his best efforts.

The official was truly abysmal all evening. He was so bad that I was honestly beginning to get suspicious. Could any referee genuinely be THAT bad?

He harshly ruled out a Baros header early on for what he saw as a push, and all evening the Greeks only had to fall down and he obliged with a friendly whistle.

We began the game positively enough, and were unfortunate not to score in an opening half hour where they were camped in the Olympiakos half.

Hyypia headed into the side netting (I've written before that Sami should be getting double figures every year given the amount of clear headers he wins in the opposing penalty area), Gerrard touched Alonso's free kick onto a post and Baros had a goalbound shot deflected wide.

There was also the disallowed goal when Baros was adjudged to have climbed on a defender before heading the ball in. The decision was dubious to say the least, and I'm sure you'll see plenty of similar goals given around Europe this weekend.

The reds were on top, but then Rivaldo escaped Alonso in the centre circle and then left Carra flat on his arse before being brought down by Hyypia. The Brazilian took the free kick himself, opening the scoring as Nunez moved out of the way and Kirkland was once again caught behind his wall and unsighted.

I'm fed up of saying that teams only seem to have to get a shot on target to score against us these days. I mentioned it in the Arsenal report, but stressed that I wasn't necessarily blaming Kirky for that. However, the last two he's let in he certainly should have saved.

That goal meant we had a mountain to climb, especially as Monaco were destroying Deportivo in Spain. We now needed three, but I was still fairly relaxed about it as after all, we've done it before haven't we?

There was also Olympiakos' shocking away record to give us hope. Prior to last night it was played 21, won 0, drawn 4 and lost 17. Now you can make that 18 defeats.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of us for a little while, and when the Greeks were awarded another free kick in exactly the same spot from which they'd opened the scoring, Anfield held it's breath fearing the worst.

This time though, there was no Rivaldo. The bow legged prick had 'won' the free-kick with another theatrical fall, but instead of just getting to his feet to get on with it, he rolled around in mock agony to try and get Carragher a yellow card.

He paid the price for his treachery though, as the rules state that any player who needs to be treated on the pitch has to then leave the field until the game is restarted. In other words, he couldn't take the free kick.

Rivaldo didn't quite seem to be able to grasp this, and we witnessed the comical sight of him making a miraculous recovery and sprinting to the touchline, thinking he could then come back on to take the kick. His fury when he realised he wasn't allowed back on was most amusing, almost as funny as him hobbling back onto the field seconds later. Scumbag.

It was clear that Benitez had to make at least one change at half time. The question was who to bring on and who to take off. Personally I'd have brought Mellor on, but Rafa clearly did the right thing by introducing Flo, as the little Frenchman was absolutely briiliant.

He scored with his first touch within seconds of the game restarting, converting from close range after fantastic play by the much, much improved Harry Kewell.

The goal was just what we needed, and suddenly Anfield was bouncing again. The goal certainly inspired Sinama, as from that moment on he was different class.

Too often in the past his control has been suspect, but last night everything stuck to him. His control, and ability to turn quickly caused the Greeks no end of problems, and suddenly we were looking threatening up front.

Milan was not at his sharpest, which is understandable. He did work his socks off as usual, but as is so often the case he got nothing from the match official.

Every challenge he made seemed to be penalised, and when the referee chalked off what seemed a legitimate goal from Gerrard for a 'foul' by Milan, his anger and frustration was there for all to see.

The visitors continued to throw themselves to the floor under every challenge, and the official continued to give them free-kicks. Any time a player went down he blew his whistle, and it was incredibly frustrating.

As a last throw of the dice, Rafa withdrew the tiring Baros and sent on the goal machine. With what may have been his first touch (think he may have had an earlier touch but I'm not sure) Mellor delivered what his manager had wanted.

It came from a great ball from the left by Flo which was met at the back post by Nunez. His header was brilliantly kept out by the keeper, and the ball dropped at the feet of the centre back who was shaping to clear the ball when the predatory Mellor showed how quick he is to react to things in the box by nipping in to poke the ball home from close range.

Time was running out, but we had the momentum and I was convinced we'd get another. Mellor should have been awarded a penalty, but surprise surprise, for the first time in the game the referee decided not to give a foul when a player went down.

We continued to press, throwing everything forward, and with four minutes to go we were rewarded. And how!

Steven Gerrard had owed us something special after his ridiculously timed eve of game comments about his future. I'm not getting into all that here as it isn't the time and I want to focus on the game (shame Gerrard didn't think the same way), but the skipper had put enormous pressure on himself to deliver, and deliver he certainly did.

Carragher's part in the goal shouldn't be overlooked, nor should Mellor's, who intelligently nodded the ball back to the waiting Gerrard.

It wasn't an easy one to hit, and when you look at the situation it makes his strike even more incredible. Opinion is split amongst the supporters on the qualities of Steven Gerrard as a person. There is no such split on his qualities as a footballer however. It's unanimous, he's fucking brilliant.

He'll get all the plaudits and credit after this, and in some respects I suppose that's only right as he delivered when we needed it most, and did so in some style.

But up until then he'd only been decent, nothing that special. He was perhaps trying too hard because of the unnecessary pressure he's heaped on himself, and the absence of Hamann may also have been a factor. Alonso too was good but not great.

Liverpool's best player was a lad who I guarantee none of the national media will be talking about today. When the Pong and his best mate Tony Le T arrived at Anfield we expected great things, and we have been largely disappointed.

Whereas I don't really care much for Le Tallec and his big headed attitude, I quite like Flo as by all accounts he's a nice quiet lad and nothing like Le Tallec. He's liked by the other players and always gives 100%.

He's not done himself justice though, and I was beginning to think he never would. Maybe it was a confidence thing, as he visibly seemed to grow after his goal last night. Perhaps he was already feeling more confident after his penalty kick heroics at White Hart Lane?

Whatever, in the second half last night we saw the 'gem' that we have been waiting for. As much as I enjoyed all of the goals, one of the most pleasing aspects last night was watching Flo demand the ball and then take it to the corner to waste time late on.

The manner in which he executed it was most impressive, as was the maturity he showed by deciding to do it in the first place, not just once but two or three times. He probably wasted about two minutes of stoppage time on his own and his team-mates must have been delighted to see it.

I also thought Mellor was great when he came on, and he caused havoc in the Greek defence. You all know how highly I rate Mellor, so don't worry I'm not going to harp on about him again. But don't bet against him scoring in the derby, if he gets on the field of course.

Riise impressed me too, as did the centre backs who a couple of hairy moments aside were very dominant. Kewell continued his recent improvement with perhaps his best game of the season, and it looks like he's coming into form at just the right time for us.

This was not about individuals though, it was a team effort, and when I say team I'm including the fans. It was a fantastic night and the atmosphere was amazing. The whole stadium was up singing and willing the team forward in the last ten minutes, and I feel honoured to have been a part of it. YNWA at the end was highly emotional.

I got home to catch the end of Sky's coverage (fucking ITV had no highlights and showed Murder She Wrote instead!), and Gary Mac said that there's just something special about Liverpool and Anfield that makes evening like this possible. How right he is.

St Ettienne, Auxerre, Roma and now Olympiakos. The draw for the knockout stages is next week. Who will we get? Who cares, just bring em on.

 

Team: Kirkland; Finnan (Josemi), Carragher, Hyypia, Traore (Sinama-Pongolle; Nunez, Gerrard, Alonso, Riise; Kewell, Baros (Mellor):

Agree or disagree? Email me at dave@liverpoolway.co.uk

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