Alonso fears missing another cup final

LIVERPOOL midfielder Xabi Alonso fears a repeat of his Cardiff nightmare as he prepares for a decision on his FA Cup final prospects.

Alonso was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury after 38 minutes of Sunday’s 3-1 win at Portsmouth.

To the Spaniard’s relief, a scan confirmed no serious damage, but Alonso has yet to resume training and the clock is ticking towards Saturday’s showdown with West Ham.

Manager Rafael Benitez is hoping Alonso will be involved in training today, and if not, it is likely he will have to start preparing for the game without the 24-year-old.

Alonso, though, is confident he will face the Hammers as he does not want to miss out on another showpiece occasion through injury as happened last season with the Carling cup final defeat to Chelsea.

“The ankle is getting better, although I’m not involved in training at the moment with the rest of the team,” confirmed Alonso.

“I’ve a few days to see if it improves. As for my chances, I don’t know, but I feel confident that I will be fit. I hope so because it would be a nightmare not to be involved. I sat in the stands last season watching the Carling cup final, so I don’t want to repeat that experience.”

Liverpool are overwhelming favourites, especially after ending the season with a club record 11 successive wins.

Alonso, though, believes that counts for nothing: “We’ll be favourites, and we’ve earned that right after beating Manchester United and Chelsea.

“But we know West Ham have nothing to lose, and just because we are favourites that doesn’t make us feel any more confident.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans whose FA cup final tickets were stolen will not receive duplicate versions, despite the FA consulting Millennium Stadium officials in an attempt to resolve the problem.

Around 1,600 tickets were stolen following a raid on a Royal Mail van last week in Liverpool, with Reds chief executive Rick Parry looking to work with the FA to find a solution.

“The FA has looked at every way of helping the fans affected,” read a statement from the FA.

“The Safety Advisory Group, which has the final say on all safety and security matters for matches at the stadium, has maintained a no-duplicates policy. The police have also stressed that anyone found in possession of a stolen ticket will be arrested.

“The FA has enormous sympathy for those genuine fans whose tickets were stolen. However, we have no option but to follow the advice and policy of the Safety Advisory Group.”

Parry yesterday criticised Millennium Stadium officials for failing to resolve the problem.

He said: “The decision by the Millennium Stadium not to issue duplicate tickets is totally unacceptable and penalises ordinary supporters who have had the misfortune of being the innocent victims of a robbery.”