Liverpool: James, Jones, Kvarme, Babb, McManaman, Fowler
(Riedle 84), Berger, Ince, Owen, Bjornebye, Carragher.
Subs Not Used: McAteer, Nielson, Harkness, Thomas, Kennedy,
Murphy.
Booked: Jones.
Celtic: Gould, Mahe, McNamara, Stubbs, Larsson, Burley, Donnelly,
Wieghorst, Hannah, McKinlay, Annoni.
Subs Not Used: Kerr, Gray, MacKay, McLaughlin, McBride.
Booked: Stubbs, Wieghorst.
Agg (2-2)
Att: 38,205
Ref: E Steinborn (Germany).
[PA-report] [Telegraph-report] [Times-report]
Liverpool won the 'Battle of Britain,' but it was brave, battling Celtic that won the acclaim. The men from Glasgow, written off for the second leg of this UEFA Cup clash, gave Liverpool the fright of their lives. It was Celtic who produced the pride, passion and fire, and they will look back to the very last minute of the first game at Parkhead as the moment they lost their dream of progress in Europe.
It was that wonderful Steve McManaman goal that night that really condemned Celtic to overall defeat. If they had held on then to a 2-1 lead, this result would have been good enough. As it was it was the Celtic fans at the end who were acclaiming their side and roaring their approval of Rangers' exit from the same competition at Ibrox as Liverpool tried to put a brave face on it all. It was Celtic who almost clinched the tie with just 11 minutes left. Henrik Larsson had held off three men on a left wing charge, crossed low to the near post, and little Simon Donnelly slid in to send his shot inches wide.
Donnelly, at the other end six minutes later, kicked a goalbound Karlheinz Riedle header off the line, but that was about the best chance the Merseysiders produced all night. They had looked uncertain, lacking in decisive passing from midfield, and vulnerable to pace on the counterattack. As it is, Liverpool now move rather sheepishly into the next round. But the noise of Celtic's fans roaring in their ears long after they had left the pitch, told you who had emerged with most pride.
The atmosphere was as electric as it had been at Parkhead a fortnight previous, a superb rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone sung by both sets of fans before the game, had the hairs on the back of your neck standing up. Celtic had come with no intention of being rolled over. They were organised, dogged and effective-with the quick raiding of Simon Donnelly and Henrik Larsson a constant threat. It is fair to say, too, that Liverpool's composure was not helped by one of those wayward, indecisive displays of goalkeeping that David James must surely have hoped he had left behind last season.
Celtic were injury ravaged too. Darren Jackson, Andreas Thom, Regi Blinker, Tommy Johnson and Phil O'Donnell were all missing, with Tommy Boyd suspended. Liverpool had Rob Jones back from injury, but their injury list was also extensive. No Mark Wright, Jamie Redknapp or Oyvind Leonhardsen, with Steve Harkness and Michael Thomas only fit enough for the bench.
Celtic set about taking the sting out of Liverpool's early attacks, and they had some success. Steve McManaman was tightly marked, mainly by Jackie McNamara, Enrico Annoni did a solid stifling job on Robbie Fowler and Stephane Mahe followed Michael Owen all over the park. Alan Stubbs got himself booked for a slashing tackle on Owen after 20 minutes, with Liverpool having considerable possession but failing to produce the killer ball.
The first instance of James' uncertainty came after 20 minutes when he advanced to the edge of the area to field a long cross from the left from Tosh McKinlay. Admittedly Sting Bjornebye got in his way, but James badly fumbled the ball, and Donnelly hung his head in shame after hooking over an open goal as confusion reigned.
McManaman with a rising shot from 18 yards was about all that Liverpool could muster.
While at the other end Larsson, cruelly abused by the Kop for his part in the 'dive' which produced Celtic's penalty at Parkhead, rose superbly to crash a header inches over from McKinlay's free kick. After 28 minutes, Celtic reckoned they deserved a penalty when Bjornebye charged down a point blank shot from Morten Wieghorst. Celtic surrounded German referee Edgar Steinborn, but he steadfastly refused to consult his linesman.
McManaman, on one of those now familiar snaking runs from deep, cut across two defenders and forced Jonathan Gould to make a fine save. The tension, pace and noise were jacked up several notches in the second half, but still Celtic were more than holding their own. At times their high speed passing stretched Liverpool to the limits. But the Merseysiders were beginning to push Celtic back. Paul Ince surged forward and lashed a shot over the bar, and both Owen and Ince found themselves the other side of their markers to crack efforts inches wide.
But Celtic were giving almost as good as they got. Stubbs sent a towering header over James' bar from a David Hannah free kick. The former Bolton star was lucky not to be sent off soon after when he caught Owen at full pace. Amazingly the referee did not even give a free kick as the Kop howled its disgust. Stubbs, having already been booked, was very lucky to escape. Patrik Berger and Bjornebye both saw shots sail over, but Liverpool were struggling desperately to create anything constructive in the box.
And at the other end, James continued to unnerve his defence, sloppily palming down a Donnelly header when he should surely have caught the ball.
Celtic fail to storm Anfield fortress
By Henry Winter at Anfield
Liverpool (0) 0 Celtic (0) 0 (2-2 on aggregate) Liverpool win on away goals
CELTIC bowed out of the UEFA Cup on the away goals rule last night when they failed to score at Anfield despite the best efforts of exciting striker Henrik Larsson but at least they could take heart from the fact that they pushed their illustrious hosts all the way.
In the final analysis they were undone by England winger Steve McManaman's wonderful solo goal at Celtic Park which earned Liverpool a decisive 2-2 draw two weeks earlier.
So history repeated itself with the Reds marching on as they had done in their previous European encounter, in the semi-finals of the Cup-Winners' Cup in 1966.
Fans of these two great clubs stood united beforehand, sharing a rousing rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, the noise rolling in great waves around this magnificent stadium, which was holding away supporters for the first time this season.
From the first minute, from the first Scottish surge, it became immediately apparent that the visitors were not confined to their allotted area. Splashes of green and white were visible throughout those famous red ranks.
Such a pattern was reflected on the pitch. Celtic, needing to score, looked far livelier than Liverpool for the opening half-hour, breaking swiftly and always seeking to utilise Henrik Larsson's great pace.
Charging towards a Kop End full of banners and sounds, they gave the home supporters palpitations, particularly when the ball was curled away from the unsure David James.
After 20 minutes, Tosh McKinlay's swirling left-wing cross appeared meat and drink for James. As the ball dropped down, James suddenly resembled a nervous boundary fielder. Calamity almost claimed Liverpool.
James collided with Stig Bjornebye, allowing the ball to run free to Simon Donnelly 25 yards out. The Celtic forward, such a willing accomplice to Larsson, had an open goal to aim for but hooked his shot into a grateful Kop.
McKinlay's next delivery triggered similar problems in Liverpool's defence, the ball arcing in front of the Kop, zeroing in on Larsson's forehead. Again the English were reprieved when Larsson's header flashed wide. The Kop was living on its nerves, no more so than when Morten Wieghorst's shot hammered into Bjornebye, causing Celtic screams for hand-ball.
The German official was having none of it. Television replays indicated the ball struck the stooping Bjornebye as much on the head as arm.
The force was with the marauders from the north. Wim Jansen's game-plan was working well, closing down Liverpool's flair players with numbers but never allowing the elusive likes of Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler to drag markers out of position.
Liverpool were really struggling against Celtic's zonal defence. When Fowler or Owen switched sides, Stephane Mahe or Enrico Annoni simply passed over responsibilities. Ditto McManaman.
Starting on the right, the newly-recalled England squad player was soon drifting around, always in the hunt for the ball, always eager to take on players, always looking the player most likely to lift Liverpool. But Celtic spread their net well in the first half.
The hosts enjoyed few chances. Before the half-hour, McManaman's most telling contributions had been two fulsome challenges, testament to the high level of commitment on view.
But then a gap opened and McManaman was off, those sinewy legs carrying him past David Hannah and then Wieghorst.
Suddenly, Liverpool were hoping for a repeat of McManaman's moment of magic at Celtic Park. But as his shot curled in, Jonathan Gould stepped across and held the ball comfortably.
Ince, breaking off from a real midfield tussle with Craig Burley, gradually began to show his more creative side, giving Liverpool an extra dimension with his knive-like thrusts through the middle. Owen, too, was trying to wriggle free, his darting runs bringing him some heavy tackling by Celtic's two centre-halves and their sweeper, Alan Stubbs.
Stubbs, a passionate Evertonian, had an eventful second half, starting by heading over and then bringing down Owen, a similar offence to one that had earned him a first-half booking. Herr Steinborn refused to administer a second yellow card.
The incident did reflect Liverpool's increasing confidence. Attacking the Kop, Evans' side were producing more and more signs of menace, Owen and Fowler both going close.
Liverpool hold firm to prove best of British
BY KEVIN MCCARRA
Liverpool ...0 Celtic ...0 (2-2 on aggregate; Liverpool win on away goals rule)
LIVERPOOL failed to triumph on the night but won this Uefa Cup first-round tie, having scored twice in their draw in Glasgow. It was, though, Celtic who concocted most of the drama at Anfield. They were left to recite their regrets, cataloguing the chances that Donnelly missed and brooding over an appeal for a penalty that was rejected.
Wim Jansen, the Celtic head coach, could only praise his side and make courteously optimistic remarks about Liverpool's prospects in the tournament. The words were an exercise in diplomacy, and reality is harder to gauge. This game was almost over before Liverpool truly threatened to score, when Karlheinz Riedle, a late substitute, crashed in a header that was cleared from the goalline. Menace, however, can be difficult to devise when it is not essential and it was understandable that Roy Evans's team should have settled for nursing the game along.
Of far greater concern to Anfield sensibilities will be the recognition that their defence is easily troubled. In determining the outcome, Celtic's lack of a decisive finisher was as great a factor as the skills that Liverpool possess. "I wouldn't say we were lucky," Evans said, "but we did get more worried the later it got."
Some will find it apt that the score could barely separate the teams. Much is made of the affinity between these clubs and, indeed, bunches of Celtic supporters were to be found mooching reverently around Anfield in the drizzle of yesterday morning.
Solidarity, however, has a limited span in sport. There was to be nothing fraternal about the game and the intensity of the visiting side ensured abrasiveness. That friction was a comfort to Celtic players who might have feared that Liverpool would glide beyond their reach.
This was an awkward mission for a Liverpool team that wished to attack but, so long as the game remained goalless, was not actually obliged to do so. Celtic attempted to add a practical discomfort to that philosophical dilemma. In its planning, the Glasgow club spurned its own nature.
A three-man defence was introduced, with Annoni making his first appearance of the season, and Hannah was asked to shadow McManaman. He worked assiduously to liberate himself, but much of Liverpool's play seemed to come to drab endings. Oddly, it was Celtic, in their occasional attacks, who had the best opportunities to score before the interval.
They were abetted by misunderstandings in the defence that faced them. David James was prone to advance from his goal and only exacerbate problems that he intended to solve. After 20 minutes, he collided with Bjornebye while reaching for McKinlay's cross, letting the ball drop to Donnelly. The forward turned and attempted to float a shot into the unattended net, but lifted it over the bar. Soon afterwards, James was distracted by a challenge by Donnelly and allowed possession to drop to Wieghorst, and the Dane vehemently claimed a penalty when his drive struck Bjornebye.
The referee rejected the claim, but disappointments for Celtic were slow to emerge. While there was a vigour about Liverpool as they drove from midfield, the momentum was usually quick to dissipate, with Owen and Fowler finding tiers of opponents in front of them. Stubbs, in particular, was majestic, giving his best display for Celtic.
It was in the nature of this game to aim its challenge and its questions primarily at Jansen's side. If Ince was a little too high with a booming effort from the edge of the area, as he was in the fiftieth minute, no harm was done to Liverpool's cause. Celtic, though, winced at each misplaced pass and every free kick that lacked impact.
Need impelled Celtic and made them vulnerable as, increasingly, they pitched men forward and left spaces in their own half. Liverpool could afford to be patient, to devote their concentration to limiting the scope for Donnelly and Larsson and, all the while, to keep their eyes open for opportunities.
The match itself was sometimes undistinguished, but the contrasting circumstances of the sides gave it fascination. Liverpool had the satisfaction of knowing that, as they occupied space, they were also moving through the minutes that separated them from the second round.
Incisive moves were rare and when, after 70 minutes, McManaman wrestled the ball away from Hannah, his cut-back was drilled wide of the post by Ince. For their part, Celtic must have become morose as they saw Donnelly stab Larsson's cross wide in the eightieth minute and began to appreciate that their lack of attacking prowess would deny their courage any reward.