Soccer: Liverpool cup kings welcomed back

Liverpool returned home in triumph today with boss Gerard Houllier claiming the honour of carrying the Uefa Cup from their delayed flight home from Dortmund.

Liverpool were met at Liverpool Airport by delighted fans who ringed the perimeter with their banners and flags adorning the wire fencing.

Chairman David Moores was first down the steps onto the tarmac leaving a plane that had flown with a special "Liverpool and Uefa Cup champions" banner emblazoned on the fuselage.

Danny Murphy and Steven Gerrard were the first players off the plane greeted with tremendous cheering from hundreds of fans and a blaze of flash bulbs.

After the entire squad had disembarked Houllier emerged, clutching the heavy trophy which he carried down the steps before giving it to vice-captain Robbie Fowler.

Fowler said: "This is a great moment. Some of us having waited a long time for this, let's hope there's many more to come."

Liverpool's return had been delayed in Dortmund for well over an hour following heavy rain.

Their plane taxied round the airport with the team on board, plus officials and the media for more than 30 minutes to allow the engines to burn off fuel to allow take-off.

Liverpool eventually left Speke in a fleet of coaches and they will have an open top bus ride through Liverpool on Sunday afternoon to show off their three cups to fans.