OTHER SPORT

WE'LL COME HOME AS HEROES

Gerrard: It's time to deliver

Wednesday May 23,2007

By Paul Joyce in Athens

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STEVEN GERRARD delivered a rousing battle-cry to his Liverpool team last night and urged them to be heroes as they pursue an historic sixth European Cup.

The Liverpool skipper says Rafa Benitez’s squad must have no regrets when they step off the pitch at the Olympic Stadium following another bone-shuddering collision with AC Milan.

Benitez is considering unleashing Gerrard in a role behind lone striker Dirk Kuyt tonight, as he seeks to outmanoeuvre the Italians again two years after masterminding Liverpool’s incredible comeback in Istanbul.

Gerrard admits the glory of 2005, when the Reds recovered from a 3-0 half-time deficit to win on penalties, has whetted his appetite to pen another glorious chapter in the club’s illustrious history.

He said: “The players don’t want to come back from here upset and with regrets that we have not brought the cup home. We want to make history, be heroes and come home winners.

We want to make history, be heroes and come home winners.

Steven Gerrard

“To win one final was absolutely magnificent, to do it twice could be really special.

“The expectation level is exactly the same as 2005. The same prize is there. As a player, you have to cope with that.”

Liverpool midfielder Bolo Zenden has undergone a course of acupuncture as he battles to overcome the ankle injury suffered during the training camp in La Manga last week.

Zenden has been earmarked for a role on the left of midfield by Benitez and joined in training with the rest of his team-mates at Athens’ Olympic Stadium, as Liverpool were put through their paces for a final time.

“I did all the physical work in Spain before getting this injury,” said Zenden. “It feels a lot better now and I feel sure I will be all right to play.”

Benitez did see Momo Sissoko fail a fitness test on a hamstring problem when he limped out of the session, but the Mali midfielder was expected only to be on the substitutes’ bench anyway.

Liverpool maintained a relaxed build-up to the final by repeating the formula that worked so well in Istanbul two years ago, the whole squad going ten-pin bowling.

WE'LL COME HOME HEROES

23.05.07, 1:13pm

I am very positive for tonights final and once steven gerrard is unleashed i am sure they will come home heros, He is an excellent captain and i am sure he will mastermind a fantastic win for liverpool yet again. We always go into these matches as under dogs i do'nt know why but we always come out champions and like my son says thats just the way we like it. And no one could call Rafa because time and time again he has got it spot on. it will be a hard but an exciting game tonight so come on liverpool you know you can do it. good luck steven, jamie and the rest of the team...

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