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Champions League Final 2015 | Liverpool vs Manchester City
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Lineker: Good evening everyone, and welcome to the Champions League final's live coverage on BBC1. The 2015 Champions League final brings Manchester City and Liverpool together for the second time in the space of a week.
The last time these two sides met, was a week ago in the FA Cup final. An FA Cup final that saw Liverpool's Florenzi smash in a 94th minute equalizer in to the back of City's net, and an 18 year old score the winning goal on penalties. Jordan Rossiter.
So, today I have Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf and French magician Thierry Henry with me to speak about this huge match. So, Thierry where's this one going?
Henry: Well, I think before the FA Cup final we all thought Liverpool were going to win the match no problem. They won the game, but like always they did it the hard way. City played really well, which has swung me in their favor slightly. We saw a really good performance and I can see the Citizens getting their revenge.
Seedorf: To be honest, I think Liverpool will still win this. Thierry, you raise a good point but remember what Danny Murphy spoke about in the build up to that match? Complacency. That Liverpool side was complacent to start with, and it was also considerably weaker than Liverpool's starting 11 today. Liverpool have a much stronger side today, one which I expect to tear the blues apart.
Lineker: One point that has been raised by many reporters, is the fact that in the FA Cup final, City fielded their strongest side and were beaten by a weaker Liverpool side. A week later, Liverpool have fielded a completely different team, and City only have two or three changes with Negredo, Zableta and Richards coming in. Richards is considered by many to be quite a poor full back, especially when compare to Alaba who started the last game. Should City have rested their better players in the last match?
Seedorf: I think they should have. In my opinion, it was a stupid move from Spalletti to field such a good side. Especially when they have the chance to win their first ever European trophy. I mean, they have won the FA Cup before, I am sure the fans would rather they won the Champions League than a domestic cup. This team can still compete tonight though, they aren't out of it. They'll put up a fight I think.
Linker: Also, John Flanagan starts for Liverpool today, when Serge Aurier is fully fit. Jordan Rossiter doesn't start this game either. Even when he earned himself man of the match in the FA Cup final. Thierry, good or bad choice from Gerrard?
Henry: I can't really call it to be honest. The last match proved just how good youth can be when you put faith in him, and I think John Flanagan is fully capable of replacing Aurier tonight. As for Rossiter, he's a lot younger. 18 years old. You can't be overplaying a hot prospect like him at his age. Especially at this point in the season.
Can you imagine what it'd do to him if he was to say, make a poor back pass to the keeper and have Jovetic intercept it and scored the winning goal? It would destroy him. I think he'll come on as a substitute, and I think it's a good decision not to start him. Whilst he may cope well with the pressure, it takes one small mistake. Henderson and Florenzi will be able to take the flak for a mistake like that better than he would.
Lineker: Ok, well the match is about to kick off so we'll now hand you over to our commentators John Motson, and John Champion.
Liverpool XI: Pepe Reina(c), Flanagan, Subotic, Sakho, Umtiti, Markovic, Henderson, Florenzi, Insigne, Suarez, Borini.
SUBS: Rossiter, Sturridge, Sterling, Reyes, Ewandro, Coutinho, Agger.
Manchester City XI: Hart, Richards, Kompany(c), Dragovic, Sagna, Sandro, Zableta, Sanchez, Aguero, Jovetic, Negredo.
SUBS: Kjetil Haug, Karim Rekik, Bossaerts, Silva, Jesé, Milner, Fernandinho.
Champion: So, get comfy everyone. Jovetic and Aguero are about to kick off as both Liverpool and Man City lock horns to decide who's the strongest side in Europe. Will it be Manchester City, or Liverpool John?
Motson: It's gotta be Liverpool hasn't it? Much better side. Quality in depth. The City team will be a little worn out after the FA Cup final, so yeah, Liverpool 3-0.
Champion: Here we go then. Manchester City have kicked off, and Kompany has the ball at his feet.
2'- Champion: Both teams have started well. End to end at the moment, here's Liverpool now though with Henderson on the ball. Fizzes it on the right to Markovic, Henderson makes a darting run in to space...Gets it! Suarez running on, Henderson makes the pass! Suarez makes a heavy touch past Kompany, SUAREZ WITH A CHANCE!! SUAAAAAAAAREZZ!!! GOOOAL FOR LIVERPOOL!!
Motson: WHAT A START! WHAT AN UNBELIEVABLE START! Liverpool off to a flyer in this game, a wonderful goal from Luis Suarez.
Champion: Well, if you thought he was a legend before, there's no doubt about it now. Especially if Liverpool go onto win this game. Liverpool strike early.
8'- Champion: Florenzi has the ball in the centre circle. Back pass to Sakho, who finds Umtiti on the left. Umtiti with a long pass onto the opposite side of the field. Markovic brings it down...My word Umtiti is incredible at long passing. Markovic can attack now anyway. Crosses, BORINI! Ooo!
Motson: Unlucky there. it's gone just wide, as the replay tells us, Hart has not got this one covered and it's only just skimmed the post. Man City let off with a warning here.
12'- Champion: Sanchez is on the left with the ball, goes to cross! Blocked by Flanagan. it's a throw in.
Sagna with the long throw, on to Jovetic, back to Sagna. Jovetic is in the box, receives a lobbed pass, where are the defenders?! JOVETIC! SAVED! JOVETIC AGAIN, GOOOOAL!! Manchester City hit back, as Jovetic wheels away in celebrations!!
Motson: That is really poor by Liverpool their. Rubbish defending. Credit to Flanagan for stopping Sanchez' initial cross but he's caught ball watching from the throw in and doesn't track Jovetic. And he capitalizes brilliantly. Reina will not be happy with his defense, they really didn't do him any favors their, and Liverpool's lead is lost.
13'- Champion: Liverpool will get the game started again then. Suarez and Borini have kicked off, and it's found it's way to Henderson. Flanagan running down the right wing, good pass from Henderson to his English teammate. Flanagan now, Markovic is running on, he's pulled Zableta with him, Suarez has exploited the space left as Flanagan passes. Great play. Florenzi and Borini pushing forward, Suarez bends the ball in to BORINNNNNIIIIIII!!!! LIVERPOOL'S LEAD HAS BEEN RESTORED!
Moston: Well, ya talk about Liverpool's defending being poor. Look at that for defending. Pathetic! They've only just scored as well. I said Flanagan got caught ball watching before as well, but in this case Zableta is caught out for tracking his man.
Brilliant knowledge from Markovic to pull his marker out of position and in the end it's all about the Luis Suarez' cross. It's a beauty, and credit to Borini with the header. He smashed it past Hart! Liverpool lead again! A minute after City equalize...
30'- Champion: Richards with the throw in. It's poor. Straight to Diego Reyes who has come on for Florenzi. Back to Reina who clears the ball, oh and look at this, it's going to come down to Borini who's in acres of space, first touch is a flick on to Suarez who's now one on one! How did Borini create that?! It's all about Suarez now though, Hart comes out! SUAREEEZZZ!!! HIT'S THE BAR! Over the goal for a goal kick!
Moston: City really are knocking on deaths door here. They aren't tracking runs, they aren't keeping the ball well enough at all, and their back line is way too high. They need to really pull their socks up.
45'- Champion: Well we've had a fantastic first half. A lot of chances for both teams, mostly Liverpool who have been a lot better than their opposition. At half time, the score remains 2-1 to Liverpool. Goals from Suarez, Jovetic and of course Fabio Borini. Back to you Gary.
Lineker: Well, what a brilliant half it has been! 2-1 Liverpool, all three goals coming in between the 3rd and 13th minutes. Did we expect this, Clarence?
Seedorf: I did actually. I thought Liverpool would go at City with everything they had, and I did expect goal or two from Liverpool. Just not in the third minute. I think Liverpool have been too good for City today. I am surprised they scored really.
Thierry: Actually I didn't think we'd have a Liverpool goal. But we have two. They have really impressed me so far. Play the way they have been and the Champions League is there's for a seventh time.
Lineker: Well, football's a funny game so maybe we won't see a Liverpool by the end of 90 minutes. Anyway, back to your commentators, John Motson, and John Champion.
45'- Champion: Yes, welcome back everyone. Still 45 minutes to be played, but expect it to be an exciting 45 minutes. Suarez and Borini have got us underway once more...
50'- Champion: Here's Richards on the right. Back to Kompany. Now Zableta, good punt up field to find Alexis Sanchez! Brings it down, takes on Flanagan brilliantly, here they are now! Low cross in!! AGUERROOOOOOOO!!! OOH offside!!
Motson: Very, very unlucky here. He has scored, but he is only just offside. It's a good decision from the linesman, he was definitely off, but not by much. Good effort from City, keep playing like that and they will get a goal no problem.
57'- Champion: Suarez can run forward with the ball now, and does. Takes on Kompany, he has support in Borini. Good pass, flag stays down, Borini's in the clear! Suarez stays along side him, what can Liverpool make of this? Henderson is pushing up as well! Borini pulls it back to HENDERSON! HIT'S THE BAR! SUAREEEZ!! OH!! How did he miss? The goal was wide open!!
Motson: I think that's the first good chance the Reds have had in the second half. Really unlucky from Henderson. It's a good strike, it's curling into the top corner but doesn't dip enough and hits the bar.
I don't know how Suarez missed, the goal was open and he's five yards out! Really unlike the goal machine.
65'- Champion: It's been end to end football so far, but a great half of football. City have it now though. Negredo with his back to goal. Aguero sprinting toward the Spaniard, collecting his pass. Sanchez is breaking through the Liverpool defense, good pass from the Argentine! SANCHEZ! Blazed it over.
Motson: High, wide. Pathetic effort from Sanchez really. I can't see City getting back if they keep this up. He's 30 yards out for god sakes!
72'- Champion: Here we go then. Henderson on the ball, a Liverpool stoking the fire. Onto Reyes who has Richards and Kompany on him. He's moving into the left channel, the defenders have been pulled away from position yet again, and Markovic will take Reyes' lobbed pass into the box! great ball! Markovic is literally on the touchline, where's it going? Borini's there, Suarez's there...Passes to BORRIIINNNNNIII!!! BORINI FINDS THE OPEN GOAL, TO MAKE IT 3-1!
Motson: Good night City. Good night Manchester City. I think that'll be it John. Great goal there. Really great goal. Very creative from Reyes to find Markovic with a great ball to Markovic who just sweaty's it to Fabio Borini for his second goal of the game.
80'- Champion: City have been really demotivated by that last Liverpool goal, but they are on the ball now with the chance to attack. Could be a goal, here's Sandro. Short to Sanchez. Through ball Aguero! HE'S IN! PASS TO JOVETIIIIICCCC! OFFSIDE!
Motson: Oh my word! It's City's 3rd offside goal in two games against the Reds!! Was that offside? Oh, it's a tough call to make, but you know what I think the right decision has been made again.
Brilliant officiating again. City will feel hard done by though!
90'- Champion: Well, City can feel as hard done by as they like, but the referee is about to blow the whistle...AND LIVERPOOL, REMAIN CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE! THIS IS THEIR 7TH TROPHY. AND WHAT A WAY TO WIN IT!
Motson: Oh they have been delightful all campaign long, they have been amazing today, they fully deserve it! City had two offside goals, but that won't matter to Liverpool, the Champions League trophy will remain at Anfield for another year!
Champion: Well, me and John will leave you, but we'll hand you back over to Gary, Clarence and Thierry!
Lineker: So...Thierry. Can you summarize that game for us?
Henry: Yes well, I think overall Liverpool were the better team. They had many chances, they took three of the 13 the thirteen they had. City had their chances as well, they had 9, and took three also but unfortunately for them two were offside. Liverpool deserved it though, I thought City would win, but the Reds were very impressive today, and they showed exactly why they are the best team in Europe.
Seedorf: I completely agree Thierry. They showed the world what they can do. Last season, I put their Champions League win down to luck after the quarter final, but this time round I'm putting it down to quality. They are the best team in the World right now in my opinion, and they'll only get better. Their squad is very young.
Lineker: So, Liverpool have lifted the Champions League for a seventh time in their history, and they become the first team to win the trophy twice in a row. We'll leave you now, but be sure to watch the Reds lift the trophy, in a matter of minutes...
