Lady Luck leaves Liverpool in the lurch

Liverpool 0 Benfica 2 (Agg 0-3)

Not even God, or Robbie Fowler as he is known at Anfield, could prevent Liverpool’s remarkable reign as European Champions from being brought to a sad end, as goals from Sabrosa Simao and Fabrizio Miccoli sent Benfica through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

An unlikely adventure that began more than 18 months ago and culminated in one of the most dramatic nights in football history, in Istanbul last May, came to an end at the hands of a Portuguese side who defended resolutely and attacked with the sort of venom Liverpool lacked, completing a 3-0 aggregate victory.