Liverpool’s heroes hail home support

Apr 9 2008 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL heroes Steven Gerrard and Ryan Babel hailed the part the home supporters played last night in inspiring them to the Champions League semi-finals.

Gerrard hit the penalty that put Liverpool 3-2 up with five minutes left, just a minute after Emmanuel Adebayor’s strike seemed set to send Arsenal through on away goals.

Babel then scored at the end to complete a 4-2 victory on the night, 5-3 on aggregate, and Liverpool will face Chelsea for a place in the final for the third time in four years.

“If the fans perform like that it’s a big help to us,” said Gerrard. “Other teams find it impossible. It was a fantastic team performance. Arsenal had a lot of good possession over the two legs but we are a match for anyone.”

Babel, who made his late impact after coming on as a substitute for Peter Crouch, said: “The fans pulled us to another level.

“It’s the same in all the big games, like against Everton and Inter. It’s like playing with 12 men.”

Gerrard was less complimentary of his own personal performance, however, as he described it as his “worst ever in a Liverpool shirt”.

But Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was forgiving of his captain – and praised all his players for the way they hit back after effectively being behind three times over the two legs.

“(Gerrard) was okay,” Benitez said. “We talk about big games and to step up and score that penalty was very positive.

“It was the belief of the players that got us through. It was a very difficult night and the first half was really bad.

“But the second half was much better and after we conceded the second goal the players believed in their own quality.

“I was disappointed when the goal went in but I’m happy with the reaction and character of the players.”

Benitez began with Gerrard on the left of his attacking formation as he surprisingly paired Peter Crouch up front with Fernando Torres.

It was the first time the two had started together in more than two months but they combined for Torres’s 29th goal of the season, which put Liverpool 2-1 up on the night and gave them the lead for the first time in the tie.

And Benitez revealed it was Crouch’s previous

performances against Arsenal – including Saturday’s Premier League game at the Emirates when he scored Liverpool’s goal in their 1-1 draw – that earned him his place in the line-up.

“He scored a hat-trick against them here last year and the other day he was very good,” said Benitez.

“He was a threat and I wanted to take advantage of the attacking options in our squad.

“Torres, Gerrard and Kuyt can all score goals, and Babel did when he came on. When they made it 2-2 I was looking at bringing Voronin on as well before we hit back straight away.

“We have pace and ability in our offensive players so it’s always in my plans to use them.”

After getting the better of Jose Mourinho in the semi-finals in 2005 and 2007, Benitez will now face Avram Grant’s Chelsea in a bid to complete the hat-trick.

The Stamford Bridge side overturned their 2-1 deficit form the first game against Fenerbahce to triumph 2-0 in last night’s home leg.

Benitez said: “I will just enjoy today and afterwards will start thinking about Chelsea – but it will be a tough tie.”

Arsenal manger Arsene Wenger was critical of the referee for the second week running following his side’s quarter-final exit.

After Pieter Vink failed to point to the spot at the Emirates last week following Dirk Kuyt’s pull on Aleksandr Hleb’s arm, last night it was Swede Peter Frojfeldt who incensed Wenger for awarding Liverpool their penalty for a foul on Ryan Babel.

“The game was over and then it’s down to a dodgy decision,” said Wenger.

“We were guilty of naivety and a lack of concentration but over the two games defeat is very difficult to swallow.

“The big decisions went against us.”