Final insult on night of pain

May 24 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

And for much of a tight, tense battle we were left with the feeling that Rafa Benitez hadn’t done enough to ensure his team could hurt the Italians.

Jermaine Pennant was trusted – in the biggest match of his whole life.

And he was wonderful.

But he didn’t have a purposeful target for his arrows to land on.

Pennant was persistently penetrating, but neither Dirk Kuyt nor Steven Gerrard are natural penalty box predators, both preferring to produce their best work outside the box – and, as a result, Pennant was constantly having to sling his crosses in deep for players arriving late. Too late as it turned out.

Kuyt eventually got on the end of a cross, too late in the day to affect the eventual outcome. Gerrard, too, strove manfully all night.

But the skipper is one of the best central midfield players in the world – not a world class striker.

And that was what Liverpool needed most desperately last night.

It will surely be the priority when Benitez examines his summer spending plans in the next few weeks.

Carpe diem. Seize the day. It’s a Hollywood slogan, a lifestyle message, an instruction for success.

And it’s as appropriate on the football field as much as it is on the silver screen.

But when Liverpool had the chance to seize their moment in Athens, it went begging.

Twice the Reds had chances to score the goal which might have defined this contest. Twice they went begging.