Better teams may make dimmer spectacle
Champions League Final PreviewChris O'Keefe
A lot can happen in a fortnight and usually does in football. However, both sides in the Champions League Final this month in Athens will be aware of what they did wrong last time and how to seal those cracks.
Both sides are certainly of greater quality than the sides that played out the epic Istanbul final, and the sequel may be pulsating but mistakes are likely to be at a premium which means a six goal thriller is unlikely to be on the cards. Milan of course will guard against the kind of display that allowed Liverpool to mount that great comeback and well Liverpool will look to make sure that kind of comeback isn't required
One thing Liverpool will need to do is try and keep Kaka contribution to the game at an absolute minimum. What Manchester United's display against the Brazilian showed that it needs perhaps a man marking job, and preferably a defensive midfielder rather than a centre back. Which would suggest the first name on the team sheet is unusually not Jamie Carragher nor Steven Gerrard but Javier Mascherano.
Liverpool's biggest problem in Istanbul was the inability to stop Kaka and with it Milan's attacking impetus. Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf may provide the industry and Andrea Pirlo the calm foot on the ball, but its Kaka that gives Milan a cutting edge. When Dietmar Hamann came on for Liverpool at half time and started to break up those attacks, the game changed and with it the result. Mascherano has shown so far in his Liverpool career that he some of those virtues that may thwart the Brazilian.
Assuming that Milan follow their trend in this years competition, Carlo Ancelotti will select one forward, either Alberto Gilardino or Filippo Inzaghi. Barring a surprise this leaves Rafael Benitez with options. Benitez should, injury permitting, pick Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger, but his options may be interesting. We may see Benitez ponder a bolder three man defence pushing Riise into midfield and leaving room to accommodate Xabi Alonso, left out of the semi-final starting line-up.
Whilst Liverpool could also free up extra attacking options, they should be weary, not necessarily of Kaka, but a less obvious threat, the trio of Gattuso, Pirlo and Seedorf. With two sidesunlikely to give too much away this time, ability to work well in small spaces may be key. The tough tackling Gattuso, the clever passing of Seedorf and Pirlo as well as the set pieces of the latter will give a few headaches throughout the night.
However, this Liverpool side is better equipped than two years ago. One writer who shall remain nameless felt it was the worst English side to play in a European Cup Final. That individual probably felt a tad sheepish but the same won't happen here. It will be far from easy and Milan will be out for revenge but this is a Liverpool side in search of immortality and trying to create a dynasty to make even Shanks proud, they'll have a point to prove too!
As for the game, itself it may not keep the scoreboard as active as last time but the football purists should still get a kick out of it.
Possible line-up (3-1-4-2)
Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger
Mascherano
Pennant Alonso Gerrard Riise
Kuyt
Crouch
posted by C O'K @ 3:19 pm
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