2 seasons, 2 big trophies. Rafa Benitez has turned the club around in a rather short period and is holding the helm firmly. Course? Of course, set towards winning the Premiership and perhaps another Champions League trophy.
Premiership title was a bit far fetched this season, and Champions League letdown named Benfica kicked the club out of Europe, but the fans weren’t dissapointed with anything but the result. Liverpool dominated but lost. It’s football.
FA Cup was one of the goals set by Rafa and the board before the season started, but was played somehow in the shadow of forementioned competitions.
So how did we win the cup?
Third Round
Luton Town 3-5 Liverpool (Howard 31,Robinson 43, Nicholls 53(pen.); Gerrard 16, Sinama Pongolle 62, X.Alonso 69, Sinama Pongolle 74, X.Alonso 90)
It all started in Luton, Round 3 of the competition. Luton were heroic, had a 3:1 lead and it all seemed lost until 2nd half when Red men showed character and scored 4 goals. The one that we will remember will be Xabi’s goal scored from behind center.
Florent Sinama-Pongolle (loaned to Blackburn shortly after) scored twice in one of his best games since he arrived in the club.
Fourth Round
Portsmouth 1-2 Liverpool (Davis 54; Gerrard 37 (pen.), Riise 41)
Despite being down 2-0 Pompey almost equalized late in the game but Liverpool managed to hold on to the lead nevertheless.
Fifth Round
Liverpool 1-0 Man United (Crouch 19)
A very satisfying win against the biggest rivals. Until that game, Liverpool haven’t beaten the mancs in the FA Cup for 85 years.
Petey Crouch showed that he doesn’t only pass the ball well, he can score too. A tough clash and a very well deserved win for the Red men.
Quarter Final
Birmingham 0- 7 Liverpool (Hyypia 1, Crouch 5, 38, Morientes 59, Riise 70, Tebily 77 (OG), Cisse 89)
One word: Massacre. It could’ve been even more. A fantastic, brilliant display, a football lesson for Steve Bruce and his lads. Liverpool outclassed Birmingham on their stadium and went on scoring 7 goals.
To all LFC fans who watched it, it will be remembered as one of the best games of the season. And against a team that Liverpool have struggled against in recent seasons.
Semi Final(Old Trafford)
Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool (Drogba 70; Riise 21, Luis Garcia 53)
A great game and an evidence of how Maureen-the-whining-ho is miles behind Rafa in setting the game. Chelsea lost the game even before it started, as Mourinho practically suffocated Lampard in the back and played Essien on the pinpoint of a diamond. Liverpool had numerous chances, Garcia alone missed a couple, in the end we were lucky not to see Joe Cole’s last minute shot go in.
Maureen-ho wasn’t going to be bothered and shake Rafa’s hand as a show of true sportsmanship and respect, he just went on and whined to the press of how “the better team lost”. OMG Maureen. Not again!? Poor Chelsea.
Nevermind, we were too busy signing:
“Joooohn Arne Riiiiise, I wanna knoooow, how you scored that goaal”
Final (Cardiff)
Liverpool 3-3 West Ham (Cisse 32
Gerrard 54, 90+1; Carragher og 21, Ashton 28,Konchesky 64)
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Gerrard, Alonso (Kromkamp 67), Sissoko, Kewell (Morientes 48), Cisse, Crouch (Hamann 71)
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Traore
Booked: Carragher, Hamann
West Ham: Hislop, Scaloni, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Konchesky, Benayoun, Fletcher (Dailly 77), Reo-Coker, Etherington (Sheringham 85), Ashton (Zamora 71), Harewood
Subs Not Used: Walker, Collins
Booked: Ashton
Goals: Carragher 21 og, Ashton 28, Konchesky 64
Liverpool win 3-1 on penalties
Att: 74,000
Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire)
Another mithical final, after last year’s Istanbul shocker Liverpool went on and did it again. The defence had a couple of unorthodox mistakes (I honestly believe Carra would clear that in 999 out of 1000 cases) and Reina was all over the place in some occasions (poor reaction which resulted in Hammers’ scoring their 2nd and Konchesky’s lob), but redeemed for it by saving 3 out of 4 in the penalty shootout (Zamora, Konchesky, Ferdinand).
Captain Steven Gerrard was the absolute hero of the day. Even though he was half injured (before we lost Kewell and Xabi due injuries, and couldn’t rely on Robbie to help us since he played for Man City earlier in the competition), and even though Peter Crouch’s goal was onside, the team had to lift themselves above all that, step up and win it. It took courage and determination, and they did it. After assisting for Djib’s volley, Gerrard scored twice to tie the score up. His goals came when we most needed them: in the 54th for 2-2 and in the 91st (for 3-3) from a 35 meter range.
Stevie G scored once more from the 11 m spot in the shootout (alongside Hamann and Riise) and the cup was ours!
Total stats:
6 P 5 W 1 D 0 L 20: 8 GD
Scorers:
Gerrard 4
Crouch 3
Riise 3
Xabi Alonso 2
Sinama Pongolle 2
Cisse 2
Garcia 1
Hyypia 1
Morientes 1
Compiled by Satyr, May 2006
Written by This Is Anfield
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