Definitely on the better side of the draw. Real are no longer the team we last faced. Having said that we are having our struggles of course. My main worry is the lack of experience at the back costing us against the likes of Benzema.
He made us dream again. 2001 was magic and we went so close to winning the league in 2002...maybe we could have won it had he not had his health problems. His return vs Roma remains one of our best European nights.
I met him in 2000. I flew the Liverpool team to Malta for a training camp. Got to meet him before the flight and we took photos with him and Redknapp (then captain) prior to the flight.
As soon as the plane reached cruising altitude I left the cockpit to go to the loo and obviously try and meet some of the players. Ged and Moores were seated in row 1 and having their meal. Moores seemed to be on his third Bloody Mary judging by the miniatures and tomato juice cans on the table by his side. Ged then looked at me and asked "Can we have some water?". The cabin crew were halfway down the cabin serving the rest of the passengers so I decided to fetch them some water myself. I was telling myself "You are serving Houllier and Moores!" as I prepared their drinks. Disaster then struck. As soon as I went to place their cups on their table I knocked one of Moores' tomato juice cans and one of the cups of water toppled out of my hand and created a mess. I looked at Houllier and told him "That is why I usually stick to flying the planes." I then frantically searched for some tissues to help clean the mess. They were both very nice about it.
Clemence was before my time as a Liverpool fan. My first memories of Liverpool include us playing against Spurs with him in goal. My Dad, an Arsenal fan, would always speak in glowing terms about him and that great team in the late 70s. RIP Ray.
Left-footers ( I am one myself) seem to have a heavy preference towards placing the ball to a keeper's left and more prone to be sussed out. Remember reading it somewhere.
I think Gattuso did that when he did his ACL. Virgil is a monster so once the pain subsides (usually a couple of mins) he would walk it off. I remember when I did my ACL the pain was unbearable for a couple of minutes but I walked in and out of hospital..........then the swelling started.