Liverpool signed off the season on a winning note as Rafa Benitez’s side clinched runners-up spot in the Premier League on Sunday.

Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun found the net while Alan Hutton scored an own goal as Liverpool defeated Tottenham 3-1 to give veteran Finland defender Sami Hyypia a fitting send-off at Anfield.

Hyypia, who is joining German side Bayer Leverkusen in July, was given a rousing reception by the fans when he made an 83rd-minute appearance as a substitute before breaking down in tears after the final whistle.

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Keane marked his return with Tottenham’s goal but it was not enough to prevent Benitez’s side, who finish four points behind champions Manchester United, from signing off with a fifth successive win.

This is the third successive season Liverpool have finished without any major silverware. But the crushing disappointment of missing out to bitter rivals Manchester United after leading the table for long spells has been cushioned by overwhelming evidence that their league form under Benitez is improving.

Not only did this result secure Liverpool’s highest finish since the 2001-02 campaign, their final tally of points is their best Premier League return. They finished the season with nine wins in the last ten games and with an unbeaten home record, the first time they have achieved that for 21 years when Liverpool were in their pomp.

Hyypia Ends Liverpool Career on Winning Note … read more »

Steven Gerrard’s leadership of Liverpool’s most sustained title challenge in years has won him the Football Writers’ Association (FWA)’s player of the year award for the first time.

The Reds captain saw off challenges from Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand to secure top spot in a poll of FWA members.

The 28-year-old has spent most of this season playing as a second striker, forging an exhilarating partnership with Fernando Torres. He has scored 23 goals in all competitions and become the club’s record scorer in European competition.

“We are delighted to honour Steven’s contribution this season with our prestigious award,” said FWA chairman Steve Bates.

“Steven has had a fantastic season and has so often been the driving force behind Liverpool’s forceful challenge for the Premier League title.

“Steven is viewed by the football writers who voted as the heartbeat of Liverpool’s team and a player who gives everything for the cause.”

Gerrard, who will receive his award at a dinner in London on May 29, succeeds Cristiano Ronaldo, who was honoured by the FWA in both 2007 and 2008.

The accolade means Gerrard joins a list of illustrious past winners that includes Sir Stanley Matthews, the first winner of the award in 1948, Sir Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore, George Best, Jurgen Klinsmann, Eric Cantona and Thierry Henry.

Liverpool’s talisman also joins an even more exclusive club of players to have won both the writers’ award and the Professional Footballers Association (PFA)’s player of the year award, which he collected in 2005-06.

This year’s player’s award was won by Giggs, who was recognised for his achievements over a long and exemplary career as much as his performances this season.

Another enthralling encounter between these teams left Chelsea FC celebrating a fifth UEFA Champions League semi-final appearance in the last six seasons. But what a fright Liverpool FC gave them after they first established a 2-0 lead inside the first 30 minutes and then scored twice again late on.

Goals galore
The 3-1 first-leg deficit was a formidable barrier for the Anfield club to overcome but they set about it with gusto and Fábio Aurélio’s free-kick and Xabi Alonso’s penalty had the scores level. However, Chelsea roared back with second-half goals from Didier Drogba, Alex and Frank Lampard. Lucas, with a deflected shot, and a Dirk Kuyt header left the home supporters fearing the worst but Lampard scored again with a minute remaining to ensure Chelsea a semi-final meeting with FC Barcelona.

Gerrard out
With Steven Gerrard ruled out with a groin injury, Liverpool’s task looked even more onerous. While their desire was all too apparent, the early passing lacked sufficient sharpness, even if they created a good chance in the 13th minute that Fernando Torres would normally have put away. It was skilfully created by Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun but having sidestepped Alex’s challenge, Torres was unable to keep his shot down.

Chelsea Withstand Stunning Liverpool Surge … read more »

Two headers by Branislav Ivanović and a clinical finish by Didier Drogba brought Chelsea FC to the verge of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals as they ended their barren run of European visits to Liverpool FC.

Goal flurry
Chelsea had only a John Arne Riise own goal to show for the previous four recent UEFA Champions League trips to Anfield but Serbian defender Ivanović, who had never previously scored for Chelsea, found the net from two corners either side of the break, while Drogba neatly tucked the third in from four metres out. Liverpool now have an enormous job on their hands at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday if they are to stay in the competition, despite forging an early lead through Fernando Torres.

Torres strikes
Dirk Kuyt set the move rolling for that sixth-minute goal with a superb back-heel out to the right wing, where Álvaro Arbeloa crossed for Torres to calmly side-foot the ball into the corner of the net from close to the penalty spot. Moments later, Drogba had a glorious chance to equalise when he found himself through on Pepe Reina after being released by Salomon Kalou at the Kop end, but the Spanish goalkeeper – making his 100th appearance in UEFA club competition – blocked the Ivorian striker’s shot, which was straight at his body.

Unlikely Hero Ivanović Heads Chelsea Charge … read more »

Liverpool          4 – 0                Real Madrid
Torres 16,

Gerrard 28(pen), 47,

Dossena 88

A commanding performance took Liverpool FC through to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the third season in a row as two goals by Steven Gerrard and one each from Fernando Torres and Andrea Dossena overwhelmed Real Madrid CF at Anfield.

Bright start
The result, Los Merengues’ biggest margin of defeat in this competition, was nothing more than Liverpool deserved as they took hold of the game from the outset. Torres opened the scoring just past the quarter-hour and Gerrard doubled the lead from the penalty spot before half-time. Gerrard scored his second and Liverpool’s third early in the second period and substitute Dossena added a late fourth, leaving Madrid to reflect on yet another campaign ending in the first knockout round. They have been eliminated at this stage in each of the last five seasons, though few exits have been more painful.

Casillas excels
A lightning-quick move almost unlocked the visiting defence as early as the fourth minute, Gerrard’s stunning burst of pace setting up Torres for a clever back-heel that created space for a side-footed shot which Iker Casillas’s right foot deflected to safety. From the resulting corner Javier Mascherano tried his luck with a dipping volley and once again the Madrid goalkeeper produced a tremendous stop to tip it on to the crossbar and over.

Lethal Liverpool Too Much For Madrid … read more »