SOCCER/Champions League Quarter-final, first leg/Liverpool - 2 Juventus - 1: Emotion clearly brings the best out of Liverpool. On an evening when public moves were made to heal wounds inflicted on a terrible night at Heysel 20 years ago, Rafael Benitez's side went some way towards restoring their footballing reputation on the continent.
This was a majestic if thoroughly unlikely victory as Liverpool's campaign remains on course. Few would have predicted that a side which stumbles so readily in the Premiership could be taking a lead to Turin for the second leg next week, yet that is the reality.
Juventus ground their way back into the contest with a second-half display to befit their lofty reputation, but the advantage remains with Liverpool. These two clubs made progress towards unity last night; this morning, they are separated by a single goal.
The pre-match ceremonies ended with a snarl. Catcalls from the Italian fans, dismayed that some of their number had dared offer appreciative applause at the welcoming mosaic displayed on the Kop, prompted the Belgian referee to curtail the minute's silence early.
The players had stood solemnly enough in the centre-circle, though they had warned in the build-up that thoughts of Heysel would not linger once the first whistle sounded. It was in Liverpool that urgency swelled most.
There has been a vibrancy to Benitez' side in this competition this season which defies their occasionally anaemic Premiership form.
The Italians were supposed to offer sterner resistance - Juventus had, after all, conceded only twice in this competition in eight matches. Instead they were all but swept aside, swamped by Steven Gerrard's energy in the centre of the Liverpool midfield.
Liverpool's captain is irrepressible when the mood takes him on nights such as these. His crunching challenge upon Emerson in the opening seconds, leaving the Brazilian breathless on the turf, set a tone which had Juventus quaking. By the interval that apparently impervious defence had been breached twice and Liverpool, remarkably, had the Serie A thoroughbreds deflated.
The hosts' goals were suitably stunning to match the increasingly incredulous atmosphere. Gerrard's 10th-minute corner, flicked on by a mixture of Gianluca Zambrotta and Luis Garcia, fell kindly for the unmarked Sami Hyypia at the far post, though few could have foreseen the magnificence of the centre-half's volley, guided low and in at the far post, which careered the home side ahead.
Other chances had been gleaned and passed up by the time Garcia, fed by an Anthony le Tallec flick, turned to lash a brilliant volley from 25 yards over Gianluigi Buffon.
Perhaps the boldness of Benitez' selection had surprised Fabio Capello. Gone was the lone-striker system he had favoured at Valencia, with Le Tallec making his first start in 14 months as a partner of sorts for Milan Baros. In, too, remained Scott Carson with Jerzy Dudek still troubled by a hamstring strain, though as Juve found belated momentum, it was upon the teenage goalkeeper that Liverpool relied.
They may have arrived here boasting only eight goals in this competition this season, but there is bite to the Italians' approach when needed. Zlatan Ibrahimovic spun on the edge of the area and hammered a left-foot shot against the post with Carson beaten to remind all of the threat. That the rebound was speared wide of an open goal by Pavel Nedved merely offered brief respite as Juve, shocked but never floored, found menace on the break.
By the interval, Alessandro del Piero had seen a headed goal wrongly disallowed for offside, as well as an eagerly struck attempt tipped aside by Carson. Yet that merely offered the Italians hope of reward which duly came as the tie lurched beyond the hour mark.
Liverpool had long-since retreated, their midfield forced back and Gerrard's presence nullified by the half-time introduction of Gianluca Pessotto. When the hosts failed to clear a corner, Zambrotta swung a cross into the six-yard box and Fabio Cannavaro, leaping at the far post, headed down with the ball looping over Carson's dive and in. It was the Italy defender's first goal in the Champions League, offering a timely route back into this tie.
LIVERPOOL: Carson, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Biscan, Riise, Le Tallec (Smicer 73), Baros (Nunez 66). Subs Not Used: Dudek, Alonso, Warnock, Welsh, Potter. Goals: Hyypia 10, Luis Garcia 25.
JUVENTUS: Buffon, Zebina (Montero 81), Cannavaro, Thuram, Zambrotta, Blasi (Pessotto 45), Emerson, Camoranesi, Nedved, Del Piero (Trezeguet 61), Ibrahimovic. Subs Not Used: Chimenti, Appiah, Olivera, Zalayeta. Goals: Cannavaro 63.
Referee: F De Bleeckere (Belgium).
