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IT WAS the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.
I know it looks cheesy quoting Dickens, but these words just sum up the transition from the beginning to the end of the match.
Frustrations
But, and it's a big but, there were many positives Liverpool can take from the game. Before I start with the positives, I have a few frustrations I'd like to voice -
First, the referee doesn't deserve to officiate a match ever again. He got too many decisions wrong, critically, the Inzaghi hand ball. But, to be honest that is excusable. On the other hand ending the game when 2 minutes and 40 seconds of the 3 minutes of stoppage time, when 40 seconds of the stoppage was utilised in a Milanese substitution is inexplicable and unpardonable. I'm sorry but it's as daft as giving a player 3 yellow cards.
Second, Fillipo Inzaghi and Gennaro Gattuso. The histrionics, the theatrics - they behaved like women. For all his shouting, and beating up Ancelloti, Gattuso went to ground like a pussy.
It was fitting the way he put his head down and looked at the referee before Harry Kewell was anywhere near the ball (the high boot incident). Inzaghi - I'm sorry again, but the way he waited and then fell so fucking agonisingly close to the touchline and refused to go off. Cunt.
Third, there was a very good shout for a penalty against Nesta's tackle on Gerrard.
Now for the positives
Almost every Liverpool player looked calm, composed, and none of them were daunted by the occasion. They started the better team and continued to be better for the first 44 minutes, until Lady Luck intervened.
Mascherano won every tackle, and Argentina was clearly on top of Brazil.
The players have grown used to big finals. It was clear how daunting even a semi final could be for a league winning Man United team. They didn't turn up in Milan, and I'm proud that the same can't be said about Liverpool tonight. As Gerrard pointed out, there are leaders all over the pitch now.
Liverpool played the better football, inhibited Milan from attacking, and had the better of the half chances. The players didn't give up. I hope those damn pundits don't try and psycho analyse why Liverpool deserved to lose, because they didn't. Plain and simple. Sometimes its just down to luck. Shevchenko had never missed a chance like the one in Istanbul, and never will.
The Future
A fit and firing Harry Kewell could give Liverpool a massive boost next season. There were some good touches, and if he gets back that little burst of speed, we could be talking about a high quality new signing. Luis Garcia will be back as well. His knack for important goals was missed.
Brazilian U20 captain Lucas Leiva was signed for around GBP 8M. I saw some clips on YouTube and he looks a very similar player to Gerrard. Many top European clubs were after him, but he chose Liverpool.
This was a goodbye to Robbie, Jerzy and maybe quite a few others. A summer clear out is expected. I genuinely believe Crouch, Kuyt and Bellamy all deserve to be at the club along with the signing of a top-drawer hitman. Eto'o would be ideal, but very unlikely.
Man United mounted a League winning campaign by making a single transfer of any significance. It shows the value of stability and familiarity within the squad. I genuinely think that Liverpool should follow a similar route - just 2 high quality players, no more, and a small scale clearing out of the deadwood.
The Futures Bright, The Futures Red.. mothha fucka's!!
2 finals in 3 years is still a huge achievement, and I’m sure rafa knows that and will continue to win things and take us to the very next level. YNWA!
I think that the future looks good for Liverpool, this match will make the team better players.
All we need now is to sign a left winger, right winger and Torres/Eto'o (whichever one we get) and we will have a team better than Chelsea's and United's
Third, there was a very good shout for a penalty against Nesta's tackle on Gerrard.
omg. no, u thought that was a pen shout? u can clearly see nesta touch the ball.
although that inzaghi thing when he got hit with the ball was awfully embarrassing.
personally, i know it sounds harsh but football is all about goals. they scored 2, you scored 1, whether its down to luck or not - luck you create - if you dont shoot you won't get a deflection.
therefore on the basis of goals scored, in which the rules of the game are based upon and what liverpool fans seems to have forgotten in the last few hours, you deserved to, and rightly lost.
I don't know how Benitez planned the game, or i don't know what was Gerrard doing on the pitch, but there was a lack of ball control in the midfield, in my opinion.
Mascherano and Alonso made a great defensive work, Zenden was decent and Kewell slightly good, Pennant worked more than he normally doeas in a match; Because when you recovered the ball, you all the time were lookin for the wingers, something that is not commonly in your game.
If you wanted to play through the wings, you should move Pennant to the left, put Gerrad into the right, then obviously substitue Zenden for Bellamy/Crouch and place him beside Kuyt, with those changes you have a more offensive team. Is like Gerrard was out of place, his nature is retain a bit the ball in the middle, make some clever passes or crosses and creat chances, he's also good recovering balls, but today he was not even his shadow.
That final was for Gerrard, he was the captian and he had to carry the team, no much leadership from him, kinda dissappeared.
About the future, you have someone like Mark González who is a great player, have a great shot, is good taking free kicks and is quite fast. Shape him for the next two seasons and you will have a top class player, much better than Kewel and Zenden; He and Pennant would make an ideal pair in the wings.
Don't act like all the decisions went against you....
1. Kaka definately was not offside at all and if play had of continued there was a 99% chance he would of slotted past Pepe Reina.
2. Kuyt definately was offside and had it of been spotted the game would of ended 2-0.
And if both decisions went the opposite (and correct) way then Milan would of won 3-0.
Secondly, as Ash said, Nesta got the ball there is positively NO QUESTION whatsoever that it was a fair challenge, I'm actually stumped as to why you think that was a penalty...after match frustration is what i'll put it down to.
Don. For the last time mate, INZAGHI CONTINUED HIS RUN, 'thusly' off-side! You have to stop! Or go the other way, or hold up your arms or something!
Mate, if the Kuyt goal was off, I'm sure I'd have read about it somewhere. I've read around 7-8 articles from different sources. Link me to a video if possible.
And the Nesta tackle, my point wasn't that it was a stone wall pen, but there could be an argument that he got ball and man, and it could have given. But i accept that in the end it was the correct decision.
The inzaghi goal was definitely hand ball. Intent comes into question ONLY when a pen is being awarded. If you score with your arm, that's a handball, no question about it!
Ash, I agree. I didn't say we deserved to win. I dont think i did. My point has always been that the game was decided on a stroke of luck. And many games are. Jimbob made an excellent point comparing it to the Liverpool Manure game where the scum stole it. I'm not being childish and screaming that we deserved to win, all I'm doing is analysing it from a different perspective.
Almost all decisions the referee made were in fact anti Liverpool. The Milanese newspapers were really happy he was chosen, (correct me if I'm wrong) but Milan have won all 5 previous CL games in which he has officiated! Conspiracy theories anyone? :p.
Victory in Loss, You'll Never Walk Alone 
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