Steven Gerrard (L) and Jamie Carragher present the 'Freedom of the City' to the Hillsborough Families Support Group (Photo: AFP)

Hillsborough remembered

Sky Sports

Thousands of people have gathered at Anfield to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool supporters.

The Kop and the Centenary stands at Liverpool's Anfield Stadium were opened early for the official memorial service in remembrance of those who died at an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground on Saturday 15th April 1989.

As numbers grew, part of the main stand was also opened to the public and, at 3.06pm, the exact time the referee blew the whistle and abandoned the FA Cup tie, a two-minute silence was held.

As the families of the victims took their places on the Kop, the crowd of up to 25,000 people gave them a huge round of applause.

There were also loud cheers and clapping for a group of Celtic fans who laid two banners on the Anfield turf emblazoned with "Justice for the 96" and "You'll never walk alone".

Club officials then took their seats, followed by members of Liverpool's Academy.

As Pepe Reina led the first team out, there were huge cheers and applause.

Rafa Benitez followed with his wife, Montse, coach Sammy Lee, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.

There were also cheers and applause for Everton's manager, David Moyes, and Kenny Dalglish, who gave a reading.

Opening the service the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, said the tragedy "broke the heart but not the spirit" of the community.

He said: "On this, the 20th anniversary of the tragedy at Hillsborough, which broke the heart but not the spirit of our community, Her Majesty the Queen has asked me to say that her thoughts and prayers are with us and all those affected by the tragedy.

"For many here today it seems still like yesterday. Those we lost always in our minds.

"Never a day passes without a thought of what their tomorrow might have been, without that longing for justice for their sake as well as for ours."

As the names of the 96 victims were read out at the service a bell tolled, while the bells of Liverpool's two cathedrals also rang out.

The silence was also observed outside Hillsborough and in Nottingham, and was followed by a round of applause from those inside Anfield.


Kaka urges Milan
to bid for Gerrard
Kaka has urged AC Milan to try to sign Steven Gerrard, despite the England midfielder recently agreeing a new contract with Liverpool.
"A cycle is ending. The time has arrived to re-energise a group which has many players at the end of their contracts," the Brazil playmaker told Italy's Sky television on Wednesday.
"If it was up to me, I would take someone like Gerrard, who for me is a complete player and can play anywhere. I could see him fitting in really well at Milan," added Kaka, who almost joined Manchester City for a world record fee in January.
(FIFA.com)

UEFA hail Chelsea-Liverpool
among 10 ´classics´
Chelsea´s Frank Lampard celebrates at the final whistle against Liverpool after an epic 4-4 draw. UEFA have included Chelsea´s thrilling 4-4 Champions League quarter-final draw with Liverpool in a list of 10 classic matches to have graced the competition. PARIS (AFP) - UEFA have included Chelsea's thrilling 4-4 Champions League quarter-final draw with Liverpool in a list of 10 classic matches to have graced the competition.
Chelsea went into Tuesday's second-leg game with a 3-1 lead from the away leg and hit back from 2-0 and 4-3 down to secure a 7-5 aggregate victory that sets up a semi-final meeting with in-form Spanish giants Barcelona.
Three more Liverpool matches feature on the UEFA list, published on their official website on Wednesday.
First up is the Reds' dramatic 4-2 victory over fellow Premier League heavyweights Arsenal at the quarter-final stage of last season's competition.
Liverpool led 2-1 with six minutes remaining and looked to be on course for the last four, before an incredible slaloming run from England winger Theo Walcott set up Emmanuel Adebayor for a goal that put Arsenal in front on the away goals rule.
With extra time beckoning, Steven Gerrard converted a penalty after substitute Ryan Babel had been brought down by Kolo Toure, with the Dutchman then firing home in added time to clinch Liverpool's progress and a 5-3 aggregate win.
(Soccerway.com)

Babel frustrated by bench role
Ryan Babel has admitted his disappointment in being constantly omitted from Liverpool's starting line-up.
The 22-year-old has played the majority of matches this season in a peripheral role having made only six starts in 23 games.
Named as a substitution in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash with Chelsea, the Dutch international had little time to create any real impact on a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Admitting his frustration in being constantly overlooked by Rafa Benitez, Babel insists he can offer much more to the club if given the chance.
Reflecting on Benitez's instructions to work on the defensive side of his game, he told Sportweek: "With this supporting role, I am not happy.
"I have had three good talks with the trainer this season in which he indicated that I could not lose sight of the defensive aspect.
"It is my feeling that I have strongly improved, but I still get no real chance."
(Sky Sports)

Reina 'positive'
over League hope
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina says the club will bounce back following their 7-5 aggregate defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League
quarter-finals.
"We are still positive in terms of the Premier League," Reina told BBC Radio Merseyside after Tuesday's match.
"There are six games remaining and we have to win them all. It's in Manchester United's hands, it's not depending on us.
"We will never give up that's our character and that's the way we are."
The Spanish international also says that if they are with out Steven Gerrard for games they can still get results, as they showed
at Stamford Bridge.
"It's a 24 or 25-player squad, anyone who plays for Liverpool plays with heart. We will fight until the end," Reina added.
(BBC Sport Online)

Drogba praise
for beaten Reds
Chelsea forward Didier Drogba has lavished praise on vanquished rivals Liverpool following Tuesday’s epic Champions League encounter at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were given an almighty fright before progressing to the semi-finals of the Champions League, 7-5 on aggregate.
Drogba hauled his side back into the tie with a goal shortly after the break and he feels it was a pivotal moment with Liverpool in the driving seat.
“I think my goal was really important,” he told Setanta Sports News. “After that they were playing more long balls and were not so confident like they were in the first half. We could see this so we pushed and scored
another goal.
“Liverpool are a fantastic team and play with no fear. They did everything to try and go through.
”It takes two teams to make big games like this and we saw two great teams.”
(Setanta Sports)

Gerrard blow cost
Liverpool dearly
It's not much comfort to Liverpudians today to hear everyone saying what a classic last night’s match was.
We lost it when we had taken control so emphatically by half time. And today we are out of the European Cup – a trophy we have won so many times and were so close to winning once again.
Last night it was our turn to be involved in a really great game – but to come out of it as losers for once.
I honestly believe if Steven Gerrard had been fit he would have revelled in that sort of game last night. And he just might have made the difference.
We missed him when it mattered most.
(Tommy Smith - Liverpool Echo)  

Brave Reds can
hold heads high
On a day when the Liverpool anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone takes on even greater emotional significance, it is particularly apt that the club’s players and supporters can hold their heads up high today.
Last night, pride came after Liverpool’s fall.
Rafa Benitez’s team produced one of the most heroic performances in the Reds’ illustrious history as they came agonisingly close to conjuring up the kind of sensational result which would have stunned football.
It is Chelsea who take their place in the last four of this season’s Champions League, but it is Liverpool who again defied logic and who almost created a tale of the unexpected to rival even that which was written in Istanbul.
(Tony Barrett - Liverpool Echo)  

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