Articles
Player By Player
DIDA JOSE REINA Made a tidy early save from Pennant, but otherwise was unruffled. Tipped over well from Crouch. 7 A long-range first-half shot from Kaka jumped up awkwardly and the Spaniard did well to control it. He had no chance with the diverted free kick, and could not be faulted for Milan's well-taken second goal. 7
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MASSIMO ODDO STEVE FINNAN
Marked Zenden effectively and was once able to skip through the Liverpool defence with alarming ease. 7 Was a quietly calming presence on the right hand side of defence, and when he fed the ball into a promising area in the second half, Kewell could have done better. Replaced by Arbeloa late on. 6
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ALESSANDRO NESTA JAMIE CARRAGHER
Applied crucial pressure when Kuyt looked ready to shoot. Made brave late challenge to defy Gerrard early in the second half, but occasionally looked ragged and vulnerable against Kuyt. 6 Kept up an intense vigil on Inzaghi for most of the night, although one rare moment of uncertainty with Agger almost cost Liverpool dear, with Kaka and Inzaghi bearing down. Booked. 7
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PAOLO MALDINI DANIEL AGGER
A peerless presence, he distracted Pennant as he prepared to pull the trigger in the first half. Did not have the steadiest support from Nesta or Jankulowski but began to look sluggish in the second half. 6 His cynical block on Kaka deserved a booking but he escaped. Appeared unnerved by Gattuso’s aggressive interventions, and also carelessly lost the ball to Inzaghi in a dangerous position. 6
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MAREK JANKULOVSKI JOHN ARNE RIISE
Mistake let in Pennant for a real chance, forcing Dida to save. Not shy of a surge up the pitch, but on defensive duty made little impact, opening large swathes of space on Liverpool's right. Booked. 5 Beaten for skill embarrassingly by Kaka in the first half, and sought to atone with a speculative 30-yard drive. Had the same impulse to shoot from distance late on but was found wanting. 6
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GENNARO GATTUSO JERMAINE PENNANT
Committed from the first whistle, he flew in at Agger with abandon. Booked for late lunge on Alonso. 7 Deployed wide right in midfield, was frequently put under pressure by Nesta and tried to make his mark with surging near-post runs. Poor pass back to Gerrard incurred the captain's wrath. 6
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ANDREA PIRLO JAVIER MASCHERANO
Effortlessly assumed the midfield anchor role, and one reverse ball with Seedorf early in the first half almost created a chance for Inzaghi. Ever the master of the set-piece, his free-kick was turned in by Inzaghi. 7 Such a reliable figure at the base of midfield, it was the Argentine’s last-ditch slide that ended a display of trademark Kaka trickery. His tackling alone had the power to lift Liverpool. Booked. 8
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MASSIMO AMBROSINI XABI ALONSO
An occasional lack of control invited Alonso to pounce, and otherwise appeared subdued. 5 One raking shot from 25 yards arced narrowly away from the far post. Liverpool needed their playmaker to pull the strings in the centre of the pitch, but he was largely constrained by Gattuso. 6
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KAKA BOUDEWIJN ZENDEN
Mesmerising on the ball, and far too slippery for Riise, he also let fly with one 25-yard shot to stir Reina into action. But hints of a casual, complacent side, as he tended to leave Inzaghi on his own. 7 Made a costly hesitation from his left-wing station when a telling pass was on to Gerrard in the centre. Never at full throttle in his first Champions League final and was replaced by Kewell. 5
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CLARENCE SEEDORF STEVEN GERRARD
The elegant Dutchman can occasionally be idle in tracking back, but in attack he was forgaging, probing, always looking to unleash Kaka. Would have settled quicker in a more central position. 6 A memorable night was required, and Liverpool’s talisman could not be faulted for ground covered. Did get clean through once but, as at other times, did not trust himself to put his left foot through the ball. 6
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FILIPPO INZAGHI DIRK KUYT
Showed his eye for goal by playing on the shoulder of the last defender. Put his body in the way at the crucial moment to deflect Pirlo's free-kick in and fine skill to angle the ball under Reina. 8 Had a chance when Gerrard stole in, but was squeezed out by Nesta. Relied perhaps unduly on Pennant for a sight of goal, but was tireless at chasing down and gave Liverpool hope with his late goal. 6
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CARLO ANCELOTTI RAFAEL BENITEZ
The debate was whether to start Inzaghi or Gilardino up front and this win vindicated the manager. Set Milan up for their passing game but errors by Jankulowski meant they never moved through the gears. 7 Reputation as a master strategist was all but confirmed in the first half. His selections arguably restricted Liverpool’s goalscoring ability, but Mascherano showed himself to be a model pupil. 7
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SUBSTITUTES SUBSTITUTES
Kaladze (for Jankulowski, 79) Could only improve on the Pole’s ponderous performance. Gilardino (for Inzaghi, 88) Only had two minutes to shine. Favalli (for Seedorf, 90) Came on in injury time. Kewell (for Zenden 59): Caught out of position in run- up to Milan's second goal. Dwelt too long on a cross from Finnan. Crouch (for Mascherano 78): Troubled Dida once but came on too late to impress
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MASSIMO ODDO STEVE FINNAN
Marked Zenden effectively and was once able to skip through the Liverpool defence with alarming ease. 7 Was a quietly calming presence on the right hand side of defence, and when he fed the ball into a promising area in the second half, Kewell could have done better. Replaced by Arbeloa late on. 6
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ALESSANDRO NESTA JAMIE CARRAGHER
Applied crucial pressure when Kuyt looked ready to shoot. Made brave late challenge to defy Gerrard early in the second half, but occasionally looked ragged and vulnerable against Kuyt. 6 Kept up an intense vigil on Inzaghi for most of the night, although one rare moment of uncertainty with Agger almost cost Liverpool dear, with Kaka and Inzaghi bearing down. Booked. 7
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PAOLO MALDINI DANIEL AGGER
A peerless presence, he distracted Pennant as he prepared to pull the trigger in the first half. Did not have the steadiest support from Nesta or Jankulowski but began to look sluggish in the second half. 6 His cynical block on Kaka deserved a booking but he escaped. Appeared unnerved by Gattuso’s aggressive interventions, and also carelessly lost the ball to Inzaghi in a dangerous position. 6
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MAREK JANKULOVSKI JOHN ARNE RIISE
Mistake let in Pennant for a real chance, forcing Dida to save. Not shy of a surge up the pitch, but on defensive duty made little impact, opening large swathes of space on Liverpool's right. Booked. 5 Beaten for skill embarrassingly by Kaka in the first half, and sought to atone with a speculative 30-yard drive. Had the same impulse to shoot from distance late on but was found wanting. 6
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GENNARO GATTUSO JERMAINE PENNANT
Committed from the first whistle, he flew in at Agger with abandon. Booked for late lunge on Alonso. 7 Deployed wide right in midfield, was frequently put under pressure by Nesta and tried to make his mark with surging near-post runs. Poor pass back to Gerrard incurred the captain's wrath. 6
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ANDREA PIRLO JAVIER MASCHERANO
Effortlessly assumed the midfield anchor role, and one reverse ball with Seedorf early in the first half almost created a chance for Inzaghi. Ever the master of the set-piece, his free-kick was turned in by Inzaghi. 7 Such a reliable figure at the base of midfield, it was the Argentine’s last-ditch slide that ended a display of trademark Kaka trickery. His tackling alone had the power to lift Liverpool. Booked. 8
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MASSIMO AMBROSINI XABI ALONSO
An occasional lack of control invited Alonso to pounce, and otherwise appeared subdued. 5 One raking shot from 25 yards arced narrowly away from the far post. Liverpool needed their playmaker to pull the strings in the centre of the pitch, but he was largely constrained by Gattuso. 6
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KAKA BOUDEWIJN ZENDEN
Mesmerising on the ball, and far too slippery for Riise, he also let fly with one 25-yard shot to stir Reina into action. But hints of a casual, complacent side, as he tended to leave Inzaghi on his own. 7 Made a costly hesitation from his left-wing station when a telling pass was on to Gerrard in the centre. Never at full throttle in his first Champions League final and was replaced by Kewell. 5
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CLARENCE SEEDORF STEVEN GERRARD
The elegant Dutchman can occasionally be idle in tracking back, but in attack he was forgaging, probing, always looking to unleash Kaka. Would have settled quicker in a more central position. 6 A memorable night was required, and Liverpool’s talisman could not be faulted for ground covered. Did get clean through once but, as at other times, did not trust himself to put his left foot through the ball. 6
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FILIPPO INZAGHI DIRK KUYT
Showed his eye for goal by playing on the shoulder of the last defender. Put his body in the way at the crucial moment to deflect Pirlo's free-kick in and fine skill to angle the ball under Reina. 8 Had a chance when Gerrard stole in, but was squeezed out by Nesta. Relied perhaps unduly on Pennant for a sight of goal, but was tireless at chasing down and gave Liverpool hope with his late goal. 6
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CARLO ANCELOTTI RAFAEL BENITEZ
The debate was whether to start Inzaghi or Gilardino up front and this win vindicated the manager. Set Milan up for their passing game but errors by Jankulowski meant they never moved through the gears. 7 Reputation as a master strategist was all but confirmed in the first half. His selections arguably restricted Liverpool’s goalscoring ability, but Mascherano showed himself to be a model pupil. 7
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SUBSTITUTES SUBSTITUTES
Kaladze (for Jankulowski, 79) Could only improve on the Pole’s ponderous performance. Gilardino (for Inzaghi, 88) Only had two minutes to shine. Favalli (for Seedorf, 90) Came on in injury time. Kewell (for Zenden 59): Caught out of position in run- up to Milan's second goal. Dwelt too long on a cross from Finnan. Crouch (for Mascherano 78): Troubled Dida once but came on too late to impress
