Champions League 2006/07

[caducus]

Now we know who the finalists will be.

In many cup competitions the final itself is a mis-match and consequently a boring game. It is often in the semi-final(s) that the title is lost and won. This may well be the case with the 2007 Champions League.

Can we try to forget out own particular partisan bias and look at the two semi-final second legs as a football savvy alien invader would have viewed them.

If you had asked this alien invader whether he thought the game at Anfield was a Champions League semi-final or a Championship play-off he may have chosen the latter. Whenever the tabloid sports columnists refer to 'a night of footballing passion, drama and heart-ache' we know that the level of actual football skill on display is nothing to write home about.

Contrast that with the silky skills (in appalling conditions) on display at the San Siro last night.

The great Bill Shankly famously remarked that 'football is not a matter of life and death, it's much more serious than that'.

I don't know about life and death but I do know that Liverpool will need more than a miracle to repeat their 2005 success on May 23rd. But if you are a Merseysider you are born believing in more than miracles.

[BaaBaa.]

Yes we are really flukey.

Liverpool are through on merit, having beaten Barcelona and chelsea.

Where did Uniteds "skill" get them?

Ronaldo can do step overs all day and it might look nice but Liverpool are effective at BOTH ends of the pitch.

[BaaBaa.]

Dear Alex,
Its been hot here, gerrard and the lads have been training hard and are looking forward to the big match, hope you will be watching us on tv.
Wish you were here.
Yours, Rafa x
ps. please tell Jose what time its on! take care x