Daves On Soccer

If you haven't followed Liverpool's trials and tribulations this season, you've missed out on one of the most gritty and inspiring campaigns of recent years. The Reds have confronted a litany of obstacles to overcome this season including a new coach, several new players, and, most seriously, a lengthy list of long-term injuries. In spite of it all, they've fought their way back to within a single point of the final Champions' League slot in the Premiership. They took mighty Chelsea to extra time before capitulating in the final of the Carling Cup. And they've been one of the surprises of the current Champions' League, making it to the knockout stages and getting past Bayer Leverkusen. For a club that has suffered much this season, it's fitting then that Liverpool should face none other than Juventus on the anniversary of the Heysel Stadium Disaster.

In true Liverpool fashion, Liverpool rose to the occasion and, thanks to two first class first half goals, managed to delight the home fans and come away with an historic win. And while I delight for the Reds, I have to favor Juventus to go through. They simply have more depth and talent, and are a much more cohesive side than Liverpool. I fear that the obstacle of holding onto their slim advantage over Juventus at the Stadio Delle Alpi in two weeks will prove too much for even this gritty Liverpool side.