Pool to stamp on AC Milan's class

THE Crazy Gang versus The Culture Club was how BBC commentator John Motson famously described the clash of Wimbledon and Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup Final.

While it wouldn't be fair to describe Wombles-style levels of insanity to Rafael Benitez's Reds - maddening though their domestic form has been - Liverpool, once the kings of Europe, now have some idea of what it's like to go into a major final billed as plucky little underdogs attempting to bite hands of the masters.

Their mere presence in the continent's ultimate club game means the Merseysiders clearly can't be considered rank outsiders but, leaving aside international caps, a selective comparison of the honours achieved by members of the respective finalists, starkly illustrates the pecking order going into tonight's Champions' League decider in Istanbul.