Besiktas 1 Liverpool 0

Liverpool lost their first European penalty shoot-out as Dejan Lovren was the only man to miss from the spot against Besiktas in Istanbul.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers may have left eight players at home but he remains confident what remains of his squad can get the job done against Besiktas.

Liverpool 1 Besiktas 0

Turkish football has a turbulent history but no-one could anticipate the crisis unravelling this season, writes David Shonfield

Everton may be returning to European football in the continent’s secondary competition, but they have been drawn in a group worthy of the Champions League, according to one of the men plotting their downfall.

Galatasaray 3 Real Madrid 2 (Real Madrid win 3-5 on aggregate)

Galatasaray 3 Real Madrid 2 (Real Madrid win 3-5 on aggregate)

CROATIA all but guaranteed themselves a place at Euro 2012 after hammering hosts Turkey in the first leg of their play-off at the Ataturk Stadium last night.

Turkey 0 Croatia 3

Kenny Miller today completed the formalities of his transfer from Rangers to Bursaspor in front of about 8,000 fans.

“GIVEN the time of the year that’s in it, I suppose you’ll be wanting an oul’ look back on the decade, boss,” I said to the Commander-In-Chief, as I plumped up the pillows behind his back and spoon-fed him his favourite tipple of brandy and Complan.

OF all Ireland’s play-off defeats, this one was the hardest to take.

SPORTING excellence can be found in the most unlikely of places but few can be as incongruous as a soulless industrial estate on the outskirts of High Wycombe, a town in South Buckinghamshire 30 miles west-north-west of London.

Besiktas 2 Liverpool 1

Rafael Benitez revealed that he left striker Robbie Fowler on the pitch in Turkey because he believed the veteran had the talent to salvage something from their 3-2 defeat by Galatasaray.

Galatasaray 3 Liverpool 2

Liverpool’s return to the scene of their Champions League final triumph 18 months ago, was a far cry from that last visit.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard hopes the Reds have the firepower to claim some “consolation” for Barclays Premiership failure this season by winning a sixth European Cup for the club.

Rafael Benitez spoke tonight of his anticipation of an exciting future for Liverpool on the day it was confirmed they in talks over a possible £450m (€668m) takeover.

“CHELSEA are almost out of the Champions’ League,” said the man on the television news late on Wednesday night, making it sound like their imminent exit from the competition is a mere technicality, a matter of formal ratification in the Nou Camp.

Former Anfield favourite Craig Johnston has backed compatriot Harry Kewell to bounce back from his injury nightmare and help kickstart Liverpool’s season.

Sprinter Paul Hession claimed Ireland's third medal at the 2005 World University Games medal in Izmir, Turkey tonight, battling hard for bronze in the 200 metres final.

A mystery Liverpool player pictured celebrating on the pitch following the team’s European Cup win was a fan in a “borrowed” official tracksuit, it emerged today.

Liverpool’s French defender Djimi Traore admitted that the sounds of Milan players celebrating victory in the Champions League final outside the dressing room at half- time spurred the Anfield men on to their Istanbul heroics.

Liverpool chairman David Moores, who has been under fire for much of the past two years, thanked his wife Marg and the club’s fans for encouraging him to stay at the Anfield helm.

Xabi Alonso is determined to provide the spark which helps Liverpool win the Champions League tonight and end Anfield’s 21-year wait for a fifth victory on the biggest stage in European club football.

THOSE who still advocate the ‘Bertiebowl’ over the redevelopment of dear old Lansdowne Road should take a trip from the centre of Istanbul out to the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, where tonight’s Champions’ League final between Liverpool and AC Milan will be played in front of 70,000 people.

Rafael Benitez has warned European aristocrats AC Milan that Liverpool's hunger will make up for the difference in class and experience.

Adrian Curtis

Two-goal hero Djibril Cisse admits he is only “70 or 80% fit” as he heads for the Champions League final.

Galatasaray claimed their first points of this European season with a hard-fought victory against Olympiakos at the Ataturk Stadium which keeps their hopes of reaching the second round alive.