After The Match 

            


CSKA Moscow-Liverpool 1-3aet (1-1) Fri 26.08.05 Super Cup F
Goals: Cisse (82, 103), Garcia (119)      Carvalho (28)
Team: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Josemi, Riise, Alonso, Hamann, Zenden, Garcia, Morientes
Subs: Sinama Pongolle (Finnan 55), Sissoko (Alonso 71),
Cisse (Riise 79)
Not used: Carson, Warnock
Yellow: Zenden (39), Garcia (50), Hyypia (73), Pongolle (95)
Booked: Dudu (101)
Red: None
Referee: R Temmink
Attendance: 18.000

                           
TEAM STATS
Shots on target: 1-9
Shots off target: 4-14
Fouls conceded: 14-23
Corners: 3-4
Yellow: 1-4
Red:

 

 

0-0
HEADLINES "What happens
about Michael
or Djibril is nothing
to do with me."
    Jamie Carragher

2708: Carra in the dark over Owen
2708: Benitez praises Cisse contribution
2608: Cisse sparks Reds win

 



Reds celebrate their second trophy this year. (Photo: AP)

AUGUST 27
Carra in the dark over Owen

TEAMtalk

Jamie Carragher has hailed Super Cup hero Djibril Cisse - but admits he has no idea if he will be replaced by Michael Owen at Liverpool.

Manager Rafael Benitez witnessed an outstanding substitute display by Cisse on Friday, who scored two goals and made the other in Liverpool's 3-1 Super Cup final win over CSKA Moscow.

Carragher - stand-in as captain for the injured Steven Gerrard in Monaco - is nonetheless well aware that Cisse could be sold to Lyon and Michael Owen bought from Real Madrid before Liverpool are next in action.

Carragher could hardly help but be impressed by the way Cisse rose above the speculation to turn the game against the Uefa Cup holders.

"Djibril is very popular, a great lad, and came on and changed the game," said the Reds defender.

"That's why we celebrated like we did with him - because of what he did and the fact we were all determined to win.


 Cisse and Garcia celebrate. (Photo: AP)

"The pressure he has been under this week is just what football is about.

"We've all had things like this with people coming in and maybe trying to pinch your position, so he has got to get on with it."

Carragher believes Cisse's reaction to unsettling circumstances proves his resilience.

"He is still here and still playing for us. He has responded well, with his place under threat - that's great character," he said.

"What happens about Michael or Djibril is nothing to do with me.

"The manager brings in whoever he wants - it is up to him. That is his decision and how he manages.

"But he keeps saying he wants a centre-back and a right midfielder - and he wants them in first."

Both Carragher and Gerrard have made no secret of the fact that they want their England team-mate Owen to return to Anfield.

"I speak to Michael a lot. I know what he wants - but I'm not telling anyone," said Carragher.

"It would be nice to have my mate back - but then I would also like to see Thierry Henry, John Terry and Frank Lampard here. You cannot have everything you want.

"If you could sit down and pick a fantasy football team it would be the best in the world but it is up to the manager's priorities. I hope he gets them before Wednesday."

Liverpool ended a frustrating night against Moscow's massed defence with their hands on another European trophy - to add to the Champions League they so gallantly earned in Istanbul last season.

For Carragher, there were obvious similarities in the two performances - although he made it abundantly clear there was considerably less riding on Friday night's match than against AC Milan three months ago.

"That's another European trophy and another three-goal comeback - we are making a habit of this," he said.

"It's nice to win it - but if you lose, it isn't the end of the world. If you win it is a reward for what we did last season, and it is great to be involved in it.

"It has more prestige than something like the Community Shield in England. It is another trophy - and you don't get too many opportunities to win European trophies.

"Not many players in the Premiership have got European trophies - so you have to grab the chance with both hands."

Being in charge for the night made it a memorable occasion for Carragher too.

"It was special for me to be captain - a real bonus - but the most important thing was to win the game," he said.

"I was thankful to Stevie [Gerrard] for allowing me to go up and get the cup.

"As captain he could have done it - but he wanted me to do it."


AUGUST 27
Benitez praises Cisse contribution

By Steve Hunter - LFC Official Website

Rafael Benitez felt Liverpool deserved to win the Super Cup and praised Djibril Cisse for the impact he made when coming off the bench to win the Reds the Super Cup.

Benitez felt the pace of Cisse and his fresh legs would trouble CSKA Moscow in the final stages of normal time and he was proved correct.

Benitez said: "We are very happy to win another trophy for the club and the supporters.

"I felt the game was made for Djibril to come on and score. He is a good player and with his pace and fresh legs against their defenders we knew he would have chances

"We controlled the game and we had more possession and more opportunities than the other team. We made one mistake which cost us a goal but we must be happy with the result."


AUGUST 26
Cisse sparks Reds win

By Alex Livie - Planet Football/Sky Sports

Djibril Cisse enhanced his claims for regular playing time at Liverpool as he scored two goals and created another in the 3-1 European Super Cup victory over CSKA Moscow.

The Reds looked dead and buried prior to the arrival of Cisse, as they squandered a host of chances and were on the receiving end of a fine strike from Daniel Carvalho, but the French striker netted once in normal time and again in extra time and set up Luis Garcia for a third to hand The Reds their first piece of silverware of the season.

Cisse was left to kick his heels on the bench for 80 minutes, as Liverpool produced a performance which gave ammunition to those calling for Rafa Benitez to dip into his pocket and sign Michael Owen, but the Frenchman's two fortunate goals put him in the spotlight in Monaco.

Many had feared that Liverpool would struggle to create chances without the absent Steven Gerrard, but it was their profligacy in front of goal that almost cost them on Friday.

Liverpool dictated play, with Dietmar Hamann testing Igor Akinfeev's handling with a low shot in the second minute.

Luis Garcia's movement was a joy to watch, but the same could not be said of his shooting as, after being picked out superbly by Boudewijn Zenden, he lashed a shot over the bar, while shortly afterwards Fernando Morientes shot tamely at Akinfeev.

CSKA took some time to settle, but Milos Krasic signalled their intent on 27 minutes when cutting inside and curling a shot just wide of the far post.

Liverpool did not heed the warning as CSKA took the lead 60 seconds later. Wagner Love turned on the halfway line and threaded a ball beyond the Liverpool centre halves and Carvalho composed himself before tucking a low shot under the advancing Reina.

Garcia should have equalised before the break after being set free, but he poked a shot horribly wide of goal with his weaker right foot.

Liverpool probed after the break, as CSKA contented themselves with hitting The Reds on the break, and it took the introduction of Cisse to turn Liverpool's fortunes around.

Cisse entered the fray on 80 minutes and made an immediate impact, as he somewhat fortuitously levelled the contest.

The Frenchman chased down a Garcia knock-down more in hope than expectation, but a wild clearance from Sergei Ignashevich hit him on the arm and looped over Akinfeev - leaving the Reds striker with the simple task of tapping into an empty net.

Cisse could have stolen the tie deep into injury time, but he shot straight at Akinfeev from a tight angle.

He did not let the miss play on his mind as he kept probing and was rewarded just before half time in extra time as he latched onto a long ball and netted at the second attempt after his first shot was parried by Akinfeev.

Buoyed by his goals, Cisse turned on the style and zipped down the right wing, collecting a fine pass from Hamann, before delivering a sublime cross which even the wayward Garcia could not miss.

Liverpool looked short of attacking purpose for long periods, but the cameo from Cisse will certainly give Benitez food for thought in the final few days of the transfer window.


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