Better Red than dead

OF ALL the glorious nights in Liverpool’s rich European history the 1977 victory against Saint-Etienne remains the most revered.

It was the European Cup quarter-final tie in which they came back from a 1-0 deficit to claim a 3-2 aggregate victory with a late, late winner from ‘Supersub’ David Fairclough.

The late Emlyn Hughes called it the ‘match of my life,’ Liverpudlians old enough to remember it still maintain the frantic atmosphere was the most inspiring ever witnessed at Anfield.

If Liverpool and their fans are to progress to the final of the Champions League they must produce something similar against Premiership champions Chelsea tonight in what is arguably the biggest match of all-time between two British clubs.

Forget last week’s goalless first-leg chess match at Stamford Bridge. That was an exercise in containment by Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez and an exhibition of patience by Jose Mourinho.

Benitez will be looking for the sort of Anfield atmosphere which so intimidated the Juventus players during that memorable quarter-final first-leg, encouraging Liverpool to surge forward at a tempo which denied their more technically-gifted opponents space and time and allowed them to score two fabulous first-half goals.

It was a thrilling performance, one which was as much about passion and phenomenal workrate as tactics.

But it was also a display which would have given Mourinho the sort of confidence he exuded following last week’s goalless draw.

Why? Because there is no team in Europe, save perhaps AC Milan, more adept at picking off opponents on the counter-attack.

Their confidence could not be higher after securing their first championship in 50 years at Bolton with a performance typical of their ability to meet any challenge when not playing their best football.

It is that capacity to be at their most dangerous when their opponents are exerting pressure at its most intense which has been most impressive.

Few would wager their mortgage on Chelsea being incapable of producing at least one goal at Anfield. Which, courtesy of away goals counting double in Europe, means Liverpool almost certainly will have to score at least twice.

That puts huge pressure on a Liverpool strike force which has not been prolific of late in the Premiership. Milan Baros has been most infuriating, scoring just twice in his last 20 outings. His general hold-up play was poor last week and there is a strong case for Benitez starting with Djibril Cisse, who is fresh and eager after recovering so speedily from a complex leg break.

But the outcome of this tie is still most likely to come down to whichever side is able to exert most control in midfield. And that means another battle between Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

The loss of the suspended Xabi Alonso is a blow to Liverpool but if Dietmar Hamann is anywhere near his best after his prolonged absence then at least Benitez has a midfield man whose instinct is to defend.

And that will allow Gerrard the freedom to surge in the style he surely must if Liverpool are to hurt Chelsea. Gerrard was a little short of his brilliant best in the first leg, although his equalising strike against Middlesbrough on Saturday suggested he is only a smidgen away.

And Lampard? We should be worrying about fatigue from a man who has started every Premiership and European match for Chelsea this term and been the outstanding competitor in the vast majority.

Instead we hailed his 17th and 18th goals of the season on Saturday in another match-turning title-winning performance which confirmed him as by some distance the Premiership’s most prolific goal-scoring midfielder.

In truth, however, this remains a match too close to call, which is surprising considering Chelsea are 33 points ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool in the Premiership and have beaten the Merseysiders three times already this season.

But this is not about the league. This is about the chance of representing English football in the final of the world’s most prestigious competition.

Only the odd tea lady or groundsman remain at Anfield from the days when European glory was considered a right in the red half of the city, but still there is a gathering sense of history and tradition about this match.

The talk is of another emotional night like that against Saint-Etienne and a similar performance. It will be devilishly difficult against a Chelsea side without weakness and buoyant after confirming their place in history. But English football needs a strong and successful Liverpool.

It might just happen.