Gerrard: 4-0 over Madrid was due to fantastic team performance

Great news in Europe for the English clubs as Liverpool and Chelsea got their Champions League quarter-final tickets after sending Real Madrid and Juventus packing.

The outstanding Liverpool went through in a canter, with captain Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres both on target - the England midfielder netting a brace on his 100th European appearance - while Andrea Dossena added the last goal. The result: 4-0 to crush the so called "best team of the 20th century".

Benitez team wrapped up a 5-0 aggregate win following their 1-0 victory at the Bernabeu.

"I'm so happy to see that the first 30 minutes we were awesome," Gerrard said. "It was a fantastic team performance."

Rafa Benitez showed his deep satisfaction and praised the labor of Kuyt, Gerrard and Torres.

Now, Liverpool begins to dream with the most desired title of the World, and the team is everyday closer to it.

Daniel Agger might play in Italian Calcio: Big clubs after him

Inter, Juventus and AC Milan are after defender Daniel Agger. The talented defender will go to Italy soon.

Yes, Agger appeared to be heading out of Anfield in January when Milan moved to take him to the San Siro and opened informal talks about a transfer.

Indeed, the defender has grown frustrated under manager Rafael Benitez after being relegated to the substitutes’ bench on returning from a series of injuries this season.

The Spaniard publicly insists that the footballer remains part of his long-term plans, and in despite of that, there is a growing sense of certainty to Agger leaving.

As we know, both Jose Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri, managers of Inter and Juventus respectively, have been alerted to the prospect of signing Agger, a highly rated Danish international, for a relatively modest fee in the summer, according to a report in the Mail.

Agger has little more than a year to run on his current contract at Liverpool and negotiations over a new deal have almost irretrievably stalled.

It’s amazing to notice that should Agger remain on the fringes of Benitez’s side then a summer move is likely, with Liverpool in a weak bargaining position when it comes to the fee.

We must consider that AC Milan remain the favourites to secure his signature and in despite of that, the competition from the two other Serie A giants may make the deal more problematic that it might otherwise have been.

Liverpool needs more soccer players for Champions League

Liverpool won’t field a full roster at the time the club resumes its Champions League campaign against Real Madrid later this month.

The 2005 European champion failed to replace outgoing players Robbie Keane and Jermaine Pennant on its 25-man roster, a spokesman for UEFA said today. The club may be four short for the Feb. 25 game with captain Steven Gerrard sidelined for three weeks after tearing his left hamstring in last night’s F.A. Cup loss at Everton, and defender Philip Degen already ruled out.

“Liverpool didn’t add any players to the list before the Feb. 1 deadline,” the spokesman said.

Liverpool is just two points behind Manchester United in the chase for the Premier League title, and faces Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League. The club’s attempt to strengthen its squad failed at the time Tottenham refused to include winger Aaron Lennon in its deal for Keane.

The 28-year-old Ireland captain joined Liverpool for 20.3 million pounds ($29.45 million) in July. U.K. media reports said he may have left for as little as 12 million pounds. Neither club revealed the cost of the transaction.

Liverpool’s loss would have been even bigger had they tried to offload Keane at the end of the season, team boss Rafael Benitez said earlier this week.

Benitez is asking for greater control over the way the club handles player acquisitions before agreeing on a contract extension to 2013. He didn’t meet with the club’s American owners at the time they visited for last weekend’s clash against Chelsea.

Torres' double help Liverpool defeat Chelsea

Two goals from Liverpool’s Spanish striker Fernando Torres stunned Chelsea 2–0 in the final moments of a snowy clash at Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool took over sole possession of second place, two points back of Manchester United. United has a game in hand on all its closest pursuers.

The flashpoint in the game came on the hour at the time Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard tackled his counterpart, Xabi Alonso, with his studs up high and was given a red card.

Chelsea would have been content with a draw after Liverpool dominated the play. Now, new hopes will be restored in Liverpool’s title challenge.

Chelsea keeper Petr Cech kept the Blues in the game after chances fell to Alonso and Yossi Benayoun. Defender Alex stifled the Reds attack and was there to thwart the best chance of the game that fell to Torres.

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari took off Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka who were absent from the play and brought on Deco and Didier Drogba, which did have a positive effect.

Torres left it to the last minute of full time to get on the score sheet with a near post header from a Fabio Aurelio cross. Then, in the 94th minute of play, he made it two with an easy side foot tap in after Benayoun’s set up. Chelsea’s defense was very sloppy on the second Torres goal.

Steven Gerrard fit to face Marseille for the UEFA Champions League

Liverpool super star Steven Gerrard is available to play against Olympique Marseille in their Champions League Group D game after recovering from a groin injury, manager Rafa Benitez said on Tuesday.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's match at Anfield, Benitez told the club's website: "He (Gerrard) was training and is available. And I think that he could start and I think he could play 90 minutes, but in the end that depends on the player during the game."

The popular Gerrard tore the adductor magnus muscle in his right leg against Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League on November 15.

As we know, the midfielder missed England's 2-1 victory over Germany last week and Liverpool's game at home to Fulham on Saturday.

Liverpool Football Club, who suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat by Marseille at the same stage last season, are second in Group D and victory at Anfield would put them through to the last 16.

Fernando Torres backs Cristiano Ronaldo for World Best Player Award

According to a famous magazine, Spanish footballer Fernando Torres assured that Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo is the most deserving player of the European and World Player of the Year awards after his amazing performances for the Red Devils in the 2007-08 season.

Indeed, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a magnificent total of 42-goals for the Old Trafford side last season to help them lift the Premier League as well as Champions League title.

Liverpool frontman Torres is also on the 23-man shortlist for the prestigious award, however Torres insisted that the Portuguese International, who has already been named the FIFPro World Player of the Year for 2008 “has class of his own” and should win the award.

"No-one can rival him," Torres expressed. "He is in a class of his own. I have never seen a comparable player.

"I can say that what he did last season is incredible. No-one won this year what he's won: Champions League, Premier League and Golden Boot. Yes, for me he is the best player in the world. A machine. Incomparable" he concluded.

Xavi Alonso seduced by Juventus

Liverpool's midfielder Xabi Alonso admits he is fascinated by the prospect of joining Juventus.

The Italian Powerhouse are expected to sign the Spanish international for around £16million this summer, and the midfielder admits he has always been fascinated by the prospect of playing in Italy.

"We'll see what will happen with Juventus. It's difficult to say,” said Alonso. "I've spent four fantastic years at Liverpool, but I have to admit that I have always been fascinated by Italian league.

"However, it's too soon to talk about the future. In short - we'll see. Juve are one of the biggest clubs in Europe, perhaps the biggest in Italy. They have many fans, not only in Italy, but all over the world.”

Defeated

Liverpool had a dream about reaching the glory once again. But this time, it was Chelsea the team that made history, by winning 3 - 2 and reaching the UEFA Champions League final for the first time

Chelsea finally broke the jinx that their Northern rival had held over them in the competition in recent years, despite Yossi Benayoun doing his best to ruin coach Avraham Grant's day.

The Israel captain set up forward star Fernando Torres with a virtuoso display in the second half to level the contest and send it into overtime, after the first leg at Anfield was also tied at 1-1.

But it is was third time lucky for Chelsea. After falling at the same stage twice in the last three years to the Reds, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba scored in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful to pour misery on their bitter rivals.

Indeed, Chelsea was in the ascendency for most of the first half. Didier Drogba looked dangerous, dominating his opponents in the air and on the ground, while Michael Ballack controlled the match in midfield, playing well-timed balls over the top for the Ivorian and the sprightly Salamon Kalou.

Didier Drogba won a corner in the fifth minute and when the ball bobbled out from a scramble in the box, Michael Essein struck it first time from 25 meters, but high over the crossbar.

In the eighth minute, the red team created its best chance of the half when Benayoun hit Chelsea on the counter attack. After Joe Cole was dispossessed on the edge of the Reds' box, the Israeli midfielder played a clever one-two with Steven Gerrard before sliding Fernando Torres through on goal. But the Spaniard could only pummel the ball at keeper Peter Chec and out for a corner.

The african striker continued to threaten Liverpool's nervous defense. First he barged Martin Skrtel over, and Liverpool's January signing had to leave the field, to be substituted by the aging Sammi Hyppia.

Minutes later Drogba, with a point to prove after coming in for criticism by Liverpool coach Benitez in the last couple of days, powered past Jamie Carragher on the left, leaving only goalkeeper Pepe Reina to beat. But the Ivorian slid his left footed shot agonizingly wide of the post.

The breakthrough came in the 31st minute when Salomon Kalou was put clear through on goal and struck a fierce shot from the edge of the box which Pepe Reina did brilliantly to save. But Drogba picked up the rebound and struck an inch-perfect shot past the keepers grasping glove.

Michael Ballack paused over the ball, seemingly allowing the pressure to build on his uneasy opponent. But he could not reproduce the killer touch he showed against Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday's last game. His free kick swerved inches wide of the post and clattered against the metal framework behind.

Talented Dirk Kuyt almost put Liverpool straight back into the tie three minutes into the second half when he latched onto a Gerrard header only three meters out, but Cech got down to block the ball.

As the weather worsened, Liverpool became ever more bogged down, struggling to create anything coherent outside its own half. We can say that Liverpool needed a moment of inspiration and Benayoun provided in the 63rd. He came in from the right, jinking past three home defenders before playing Torres through on goal. This time Liverpool's top scorer coolly slotted the ball home.

As both teams tired in the final minutes the match went into injury time. Essien scored a pile driver from twenty meters five minutes in, but it was ruled out. Nicolas Anelka was offside and was adjudged by the linesman to have impeded Reina's vision.

However, it was to be an academic sidenote. Hyppia needlessly fouled Ballack on the edge of the box in full view of the referee who did not hesitate to sentence a penalty shot.

The lonely star, Frank Lampard, made no mistake from the spot and celebrated emotionally less than a week after the death of his mother.

For every blue fan happiness, Drogba sealed the time at the end of the first 15 minutes after substitute Nicolas Anelka set him up.

Finally, Ryan Babel scored a stunning goal from over thirty yards with five minutes left on the clock, but Liverpool couldn't capitalize, and Chelsea goes through. Dream over for Benitez' side.

Rafa Benitez wants to stay for a long time

The popular Spanish coach Rafael Benitez reaffirmed his commitment with the club by making clear his desire to "stay for a long time" ahead of today's visit to Fulham and Tuesday's Champions League semi-final against Chelsea FC.

Indeed, Benitez had cast grave doubts about his long-term future at Anfield last weekend in the row over exactly who attended meetings before Christmas with Jurgen Klinsmann when the manager's job was discussed.

The current Liverpool manager demanded answers from co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, plus chief executive Rick Parry, but speaking yesterday he refused to discuss the ownership battle or any meetings he may have had with his bosses and said instead: "At this moment I have two years of my contract still to go, I am absolutely happy here. And I want to stay. And I want to stay for a long time."

Later, asked if he had spoken to Hicks, Gillett or Parry, the manager assured: "I do not need to talk to them, I need to talk with my staff and my players. We have been training and all I want to talk about is the matches against Fulham and then Chelsea."

Liverpool about to face a vital game against United

Liverpool FC may be out of contention for the Premiership trophy but coach Rafael Benitez's side could still have a major say in the outcome of the title battle on what could be a decisive Easter weekend.

In fact, having watched his men hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks, Benitez will travel to Old Trafford on Sunday confident they can finally claim the league victory over Manchester United that has eluded the Reds in seven previous attempts since their Spanish boss' arrival at Anfield in 2004.

And with Chelsea facing Arsenal on the same day, such an outcome could have major repercussions for United, who start the weekend as favourites to retain the title after opening up a three-point advantage over the Gunners and five away from Chelsea.

The Anfield team have put together a run of seven straight wins, largely thanks to the sharper cutting edge they have displayed since Steven Gerrard was switched to an attacking role on the heels of forward star Fernando Torres.

It's important to say taht Torres has plundered 27 goals already this season while Gerrard needs one more to hit the 20 mark for only the second time in his career.

"The understanding between our players is always important, especially players up front," Benitez admitted. "The partnership between Torres and captain Gerrard has made a massive difference, it is difficult for teams to stop them both. We are profiting from this."

Benitez' side have also looked more solid defensively of late with Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso both operating as holding players in midfield, but any defensive system is bound to be strained under the pressure generated by a United attack spearheaded by the apparently unstoppable Cristiano Ronaldo. However, everyone in Liverpool feel ready for the challenge.

Gerrard says the press twisted his words

Last week, the media in England branded it an outburst and even went as far as suggesting that Gerrard's heart is not in the Champions League. Naturally, the England international was keen to alleviate the misconception by defining his real position.

"I think that as captain of the club it's very easy for your words to be twisted into something that doesn't really reflect the interview," Gerrard said.

"The real message I was trying to get across was that we are disappointed with where we are in the league, but that we're going to try to get into the top four and improve our league situation next season. Hopefully while we're going along we can get to another Champions League title. That would be a really great season.

"But the headlines got twisted into 'If we win the Champions League it won't be important' – which is nonsense, and that is not what I meant at all. There won't be anyone happier in Liverpool than me if we do get the Champions League crown again. Istanbul was the best night of my football career and if we go on to achieve that again it will be right up there with that.

"But, because we're at Liverpool FC, even if we do win it, we'll still worry about and try to improve our league form. We are winners and we want to try to win every competition we are in.

Having made the intention behind his comments clear, the popular Steven Gerrard went on to elaborate on his original comment.

"I think that the important thing short-term is to get in that fourth position, then we can re-group in the summer and have another go at winning the league. The players here know we've underachieved in the premier league this year. You go back to before the Aston Villa game and we believed we could still be in the title race. That's disappointing but now we've got to finish as high as possible this year and have another go the next one."

Chelsea beat Liverpool out of the Carling Cup

Liverpool fans didn't expect this results, but it's over now. The reds are out of the Carling Cup, as Chelsea got a 2-0 win and reached the semis.

It was a tough game, were Peter Crouch was incensed at what he saw as two attempts by Mikel to stud him from the knee down in the moments leading up to his ill-advised two-footed lunge at the Nigerian. Despite minimal contact on Mikel, there was little option for referee Atkinson other than to dismiss Crouch – just as Didier Zokora and Denilson found themselves red-carded on Tuesday night for raising their studs.

In fact, the incident over-shadowed the goals from Frank Lampard and Andrei Shevchenko that gave Chelsea their place in the semi-final especially when Benitez accused the referee of inconsistency. He might have a point when you consider that Steed Malbranque's brutal challenge on Vedran Corluka in Tottenham's win over Manchester City went unpunished, but even Benitez had to concede that Peter Crouch's challenge itself was "maybe" a red card.

"I have watched the replay twice and Mikel was trying to kick Crouch," Benitez admitted. "If the referee had blown his whistle he would have avoided the sending off. He was kicked twice and that was the reason Crouch lost his head. I have seen more dangerous tackles. Sometimes they are yellow cards, sometimes they are nothing. He just needed to stop it before."

According to the people who were close to him, Crouch was furious at what he saw as play-acting from Mikel who, despite playing dead by the touchline, was back on his feet a few minutes later. By then the game was well out of Liverpool's reach. Avram Grant may have been appointed to win the Champions League, but for now it looks like he is happy to settle for Carling Cup.

The Israeli made seven changes from the team that lost to Arsenal on Sunday, but this was still virtually the strongest squad that he could field in the circumstances. Benitez picked the likes of Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso but let his imagination run wild with the rest of the formation. He chose a 4-3-3 system that became 4-5-1 for most of the match and left Crouch isolated and frustrated.

With Andriy Voronin on the right wing and Ryan Babel on the left, Liverpool created too little. The Brazilian Lucas Leiva exerted only a sporadic influence from the space behind Crouch. The pick of the half was a flick from Crouch that played in Leiva who missed; and an identical opportunity for Lampard at the other end that he could not lift over Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje.

It was a clash that cried out for a bit of invention and when Joe Cole replaced Scott Sinclair on 56 minutes the Chelsea manager had gambled on virtually his strongest formation.

Before then Itandje had made a brilliant one-handed save from Michael Essien's shot. At the other end an error from Ricardo Carvalho, back for the first time since 11 November, gave Crouch a half-chance to lob Petr Cech which he could not lift over the Chelsea goalkeeper. Then came a goal that proved to Grant he has not used up all his luck just getting the Chelsea job.

Shortly before the hour the controversial Shevchenko knocked down a ball on the edge of the area into the stride of Lampard who got his shot away just as the ubiquitous Carragher lunged across to block. The Liverpool captain was having another one of his giant games, but he will probably wish he had not got a heel to this shot. It bounced down against the turf and looped over Itandje to give Chelsea the lead.

Crouch's sending off followed the goal, the fourth of his career after red cards playing for Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City and Southampton. A blue fan as a child, he was a ball boy at Stamford Bridge in his youth and he has certainly had better nights at the stadium than this. "I think he didn't need to do it," Grant stated. Chelsea are hardly in a position to moralise after the brawl in last season's Carling Cup final saw Mikel sent off.

Grant had asked for protection from referees for his players and he got it last night. Captain Terry had the last word on the challenge that left him with three broken bones in his foot on Sunday. In his programme notes, the Chelsea defender accused Emmanuel Eboue of having "left his studs in" in the crucial challenge that did the damage.

German talent Michael Ballack was given a run-out as a substitute, his first game in eight months out with an ankle injury, and Shevchenko added the second in injury-time. By then, the Carling Cup was starting to look like more trouble than it was worth for Liverpool.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Cech; Belletti, Ben Haim, Carvalho, Bridge; Mikel (Ballack, 68); Kalou, Essien, Lampard, Sinclair (Cole, 57); Shevchenko (Sidwell, 90). Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Ferreira.

Liverpool (4-4-1-1): Itandje; Arbeloa, Hobbs, Carragher, Aurelio; Voronin, Alonso (El Zhar, 60), Sissoko, Babel (Benayoun, 73); Leiva; Crouch. Substitutes not used: Martin (gk), Hyypia, Riise.

Liverpool got a bright start in the EPL

In the Liverpool most important team, the Captain is considered almost a national hero. Even if he hadn't scored in a long time ago. Because when he appears, Liverpool can get important victories, like the last one over Aston Villa, by 2-1.

Indeed, Steven Gerrard took 14 games to score his first league goal last season, by which time Liverpool were floundering in mid-table with Man. U. long over the horizon. This campaign was 87 minutes old, with all the familiar doubts about Liverpool's away form resurfacing, when he won and scored the free-kick which earned the first opening-day win since 2002. That the free-kick was a soft decision only confirmed Steven Gerrard's stature. As Sheffield United found on the opening day last season, referees have a habit of saying "yes" when Gerrard appeals.

Afterwards, confided John Arne Riise, the Super Captain addressed the team in the changing room, driving home the need for the Reds to make a good start. Champions League qualifying means they will miss the midweek round offixtures. Losing to Villa could have sent them into the home game with Chelsea on Saturday six points adrift.

"Finally we have three points from the first league encounter," Dirk Kuyt praised. "That was important for us. It's very important that you don't lose many points at the start of the season. We have been too far behind in the last few seasons. We had a very good second half last season. But that's not good enough if you want to be champions."

The problem, last season, was results like these. Liverpool finished 21 points behind Manchester United. The gap was almost entirely attributable to their away form. On the road United won 42 points, Liverpool 22. And Liverpool scored 18 goals away, fewer than Wigan and less than half United's tally.

"We really need to score goals away, then we will win a lot of games," said coach Rafa Benitez, logically enough.

To that end all his most important new plyers are ofensive: Fernando Torres, who started, Ryan Babel and Andrei Voronin, who both came off the bench, and Yossi Benayoun who was left, with Javier Mascherano and Peter Crouch, in Liverpool with a view to Wednesday's European qualifier in Toulouse.

Spaniard frontman Torres looked sharp. His finishing was wayward but his speed of thought and footwork was impressive. He also showed a goodunderstanding with Kuyt. But the Dutchman is also a haphazard finisher and one wonders who will get the necessary goals.

Kuyt's qualities created the opening goal, but it required of a Villa player to score it. Kuyt's dummy gave Torres the chance to draw the first of many fine saves from Stuart Taylor. The Dutch player, a great chaser of lost causes, then collected Taylor's parry and his cross was inadvertently turned in by Martin Laursen.

Benitez team should have gone on to secure the three points with ease. Some of their interplay was superb, though it helped that Villa's midfield was unbalanced and unsure of their roles. And Aston Villa stayed in the game through Taylor. Lastseason the former under-21 international played five matches and conceded ten goals. On the eve of this he was given the confidence-sapping news that Martin O'Neill, concerned by a hamstring strain to Sorensen, had signed Scott Carson on a season-long loan. WithCarson ineligible, Taylor had 90 minutes to show his ability, and he took it.

So, when Barry converted a late penalty after Jamie Carragher's reflex handball it seemed Taylor's heroics would win a point. Then Mike Riley misjudged Stilian Petrov's tackle on Steven Gerrard and the Englishman curled the free-kick over the wall.

"Gerrard remains the heartbeat of that club," O'Neill expressed. "He drives them. He's a great, great player, and he looks as if he is even improving." If only the Villa manager could inject the same desire into John Carew. He also needs a right-back, which would enable the promising Craig Gardner to move into midfield, and more defensive role. A glossy American-influenced brochure was given to fans before the game. It contained the promise, from chief executive Richard Fitzgerald, that "We aim to play a big role in the Champions League". On this evidence, they remain a long way off and the optimism which filled Villa Park could soon disappear.

TLiverpool, meanwhile, walk on with hope in their hearts and a weight off their shoulders. "We were talking before the game," said Benitez. "We knew it was very important to get the thre points: everybody was talking about the pressure."

Even though coach Benitez says Liverpool are still a long waybehind Manchester United and Chelsea, many supporters and journalists disagree. For them it is time to wrest the title back from the Florida franchise, sorry, Old Trafford.

Goals: Laursen og (31) 0-1; Barry pen (85) 1-1; Gerrard (87) 1-2.

Aston Villa: Taylor; Gardner, Mellberg, Laursen (Cahill, 46), Bouma (Moore, 71); Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry; Agbonlahor, Carew, Young. Substitutes not used: Harewood, Maloney, Osbourne (gk).

Liverpool: Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa; Pennant (Babel, 74), Gerrard, Alonso, Riise; Torres (Voronin, 79), Kuyt (Sissoko, 90). Substitutes not used: Itandje (gk), Hyypia.

Referee: M Riley (Yorkshire).

Man of the match: Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool is closer to the European Glory as they defeated Chelsea in the semifinals

The Red fans will never forget the emotions they felt this night. Benitez's team defeated Chelsea 4-1 on penalties to reach the Champions League final match for the second time in three seasons yesterday. And that is remarkable

Indeed, Liverpool got their second leg ended 1-0 after extra time with the only goal scored by from Danish defender Daniel Agger after 22 minutes.

And with the tie ending locked in a 1-1 stalemate after Chelsea's 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge last week, the stage was set for the first penalty shootout at the semifinal stage since the Champions League replaced the old European Cup in 1992.

It's important to mention that the only goal of a nerve-wracking 120 minutes came following a free-kick from talented captain Steven Gerrard. The midfielder sent a hard-low cross towards the edge of the Chelsea penalty area rather than an expected high ball to the centre of it. Agger played his part perfectly, sweeping in a well-struck shot that swerved just inside the post and into the Chelsea FC net out of the reach of goalkeeper Cech.

Liverpool Spanish manager Rafa Benitez said afterwards: "Every player and every supporter was a real hero tonight. The team all worked very hard - against a very good team. I was confident in the footballers (for the penalties). It's just that they like to practise penalties every day after training."

And Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho admitted: "There is little to say. This is a moment where everyone has to be strong. I think that our players have a lot of reasons to be proud of themselves. We were the best team today, even against a team playing only in the Champions League. Football is like this and we must to be strong to face it."

For the records, Boudewijn Zenden, Xabi Alonso, Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt all converted their penalties for Liverpool while an amazing goalkeeper Pepe Reina saved penalties by Chelsea's Arjen Robben and Geremi to send Liverpool through to the seventh European Cup final in their history against either Manchester United or AC Milan in Athens on May 23.

During the game, the chances were few and far between for both sides with Peter Crouch seeing a header saved by Cech's feet on the line after 55 minutes and Dirk Kuyt heading against the Chelsea crossbar after 59 minutes.

At the other end, African star Didier Drogba drew a fine save from Pepe Reina after 32 minutes. Kuyt had a second goal ruled out for offside in extra time, but scored the final penalty to give Liverpool their 4-1 winning margin.

In fact, Liverpool took the game to Chelsea and made good use of towering striker Peter Crouch and scored from their first scoring with Agger putting them in front in a well-worked move.

Blue midfielder Joe Cole conceded a free kick on the left and Gerrard, instead of lifting the ball high into the area, squared it low for Agger to curve a low first-time shot just inside the post and wide of Cech into the back of the Chelsea net.

And that goal, which looked as if it had come straight from Liverpool's training field, roused Chelsea players from their lethargy and it took a good block by Reds keeper Jose Reina to stop Drogba's angled shot on the run after 32 minutes.

The Anfield fans, which had been belting out their passionate support since kickoff, made sure the atmospere stayed electric as Liverpool FC turned the screw on the English champions.

It's fair to say that Liverpool always looked the hungrier of the two sides, underlined by Boudewijn Zenden's fierce 25-metre shot from the left flank which Cech only gathered at the second attempt. However, there was no breaking the deadlock over two legs, sending the game into extra time and ultimately to the penalty shootout. And then Liverpool just wrote another important page in their history.

Liverpool could share their brand new stadium with Everton

Indeed, the American businessmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who on Monday announced that they had secured the 98.6 per cent of the club's shares they needed to compulsorily purchase the remainder, want to make Liverpool's new Stanley Park stadium even bigger than the planned 60,000-capacity. However, in order to reach that objective, they will need council permission.

Anfield's team have always ruled out sharing with Everton but the city council leader, Warren Bradley, wants them to reconsider.

Bradley expressed: "They have got their guys [Dallas firm HKS] looking at designs, infrastructure and everything.

"Are you telling me a commercial business in America doesn't sweat the asset? They sweat that asset until they can't get any more out of it. I think that if they can consider increasing the stadium size, why can't they consider a shared new stadium?"

And Everton are pondering a move to a site outside Liverpool in Kirby but Bradley - a Blues season-ticket holder - believes Goodison Park could be redeveloped. "I think maybe in a few years' time they'll be playing in a new stadium and I think it will be in Liverpool. I would be happy with a joint stadium, I've got to be honest, even if my gut feeling is probably not."

And he also said: "I don't see any reason why Goodison Park cannot be redeveloped. You could quite easily fit an additional footprint and some commercial activity - a hotel, for example - into a new development."