After The Match

                                                                                    

Liverpool-Celtic       

 

 

 

 UEFA Cup, QF - 2nd leg                   Wednesday  March 20                Kick-off: 21.05cet


Result: 0-2 (0-1)
Goals: Thompson (45), Hartson (81)
LFC Team:

 Dudek
Carragher  Hyypia  Traore  Riise
Murphy  Gerrard  Hamann  Smicer
Owen  Heskey

Subs: Baros (Smicer 55)
Not used: Arphexad, Berger, Biscan, Cheyrou, Diao, Mellor
Booked: Mjallby, Sylla, Thompson, Douglas
Sent off: None
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
Attendance: 44.238

TEAM STATS

On target:
Off target:
Fouls:
Corners:
Yellow cards:
Red cards:  
 

 


MARCH 20
Houllier: My players are dejected

LFC Official Website

Gerard Houllier said he and his players were totally dejected following the UEFA Cup exit at the hands of Celtic, but said he was proud of his team's efforts throughout the 90 minutes.

Houllier said he couldn't ask for any more in terms of effort and commitment from his players, and said the goal on the stroke of half time was the turning point.

Houllier said: "I'm like the players, I'm hurt but that's football. We had three good chances in the first half and didn't take them.

"The goal came at a worst time for us and was the turning point in the match. Celtic are very clever and very functional and credit to them, and I hope they go on and win the UEFA Cup.

"I was pleased with the response of the players in the second half. In terms of effort you can't ask for any more than that.

"I enjoyed the game and thought it was a fantastic game of football. The players put in a remarkable effort. Maybe we pushed too much in the second half in terms of build up, but they are young players who will only get better."
 


MARCH 20
Reds bow out of Europe

Ananova

Celtic celebrated a 3-1 aggregate win over Liverpool after an impressive 2-0 success at Anfield in their Uefa Cup quarter-final second-leg encounter.

The Hoops showed they were more than a match for the Premiership club with a superb all-round performance.

A first-half free-kick from Alan Thompson and a late stunner by John Hartson did the damage to Liverpool.

Without the injured Chris Sutton there was a place in Celtic's engine room for skipper Paul Lambert, and it provided that extra dimension in terms of genuine midfield running and tackling.

Although Celtic were not able to mount the dramatic siege they produced in the opening minutes of last week's 1-1 draw, they certainly troubled Liverpool early on with Thompson, Henrik Larsson and Hartson all going close inside the first 20 minutes.

At the other end Vladimir Smicer - in for the suspended El Hadji Diouf - almost created a close-range chance for Michael Owen, but Johan Mjallby managed to clear.

Robert Douglas saved a 20-yard Steven Gerrard piledriver and close-range Emile Heskey header, before the latter spun on an Owen cross and fired wide of the far post.

But it was the Scottish champions who took the lead a minute into first-half stoppage time.

Djimi Traore was judged to have held Larsson some 25 yards out and from the free-kick Thompson drilled the ball through the wall and just inside Jerzy Dudek's left hand post.

The second half was closely contested but it was Hartson who clinched victory for the visitors with a stunning goal.

The former Arsenal star played a neat one-two before firing the ball into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
 


 



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