Liverpool FC MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET Quarter-Finals, - Matchday 9

Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET Quarter-finals, - Matchday 9

Contents 1 - Match background 7 - UEFA information 2 - Match facts 8 - Match-by-match lineups 3 - Squad list 9 - Competition facts 4 - Head coach 10 - Team facts 5 - Match officials 11 - Competition information 6 - Domestic information 12 - Legend

Match background

Conquerors of the two Milan clubs in the last round, Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC will meet for the first time in European competition – and the 200th time overall – when they contest the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final in north London.

• Arsenal's superior Premier League position and their recent record against the Anfield club may make them appear marginal favourites but Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez eliminated the Gunners from the UEFA Champions League with Valencia CF and his success in all-English contests against Chelsea FC, not to mention his club's history in the competition, should ensure no shortage of self-belief on the visitors' part.

• This is Arsenal's fifth quarter-final appearance in Europe's élite club competition and their record to date is one win and three defeats. Liverpool, by comparison, are appearing at this stage for the 12th time and have a record of eight wins and three defeats.

• Arsenal advanced to the quarter-final by deposing holders AC Milan in the first knockout round. Following a goalless draw in London, Arsène Wenger's team became the first English club to beat Milan at San Siro when goals from Cesc Fabregas (84) and Emmanuel Adebayor (90+2) secured a 2-0 triumph in the return.

• They had previously finished second in Group H behind Sevilla FC, ending the group stage with a record of W4 D1 L1.

• Liverpool's progression through the group stage was less comfortable – they won their final three matches to secure second spot in Group A behind FC Porto and a record of W3 D1 L2.

• Yet they were impressive 3-0 aggregate winners against Italian champions FC Internazionale Milano in the first knockout round, winning 2-0 at Anfield through Dirk Kuyt (85) and Steven Gerrard (90), before a Fernando Torres strike (64) decided the return in Milan.

• Arsenal have won their last four home games against Liverpool and are unbeaten in eight fixtures against their opponents on home soil.

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:10CET Match background 1 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

• The last time Liverpool prevailed at Arsenal was 13 February 2000, Titi Camara's 18th-minute goal securing a 1-0 Premier League win.

• Arsenal may also gain confidence from the fact they eliminated Liverpool from both English cup competitions last season. The London club beat then FA Cup holders Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield in a third-round tie on 6 January 2007, Tomáš Rosický (37, 45) and Thierry Henry (84) scoring for the visitors while Kuyt (71) got Liverpool's goal.

• Arsenal returned to Anfield three days later and beat Liverpool 6-3 in a League Cup quarter-final match. It was the first time the Reds had conceded six goals at home since a 6-0 reverse against Sunderland AFC in April 1930.

• For Arsenal this is only the second time they have faced English opposition in Europe and they will not want reminding of their quarter-final defeat by London rivals Chelsea FC in the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League season. Arsenal finished that campaign unbeaten in the Premier League but they went down 3-2 on aggregate to Chelsea, losing the second leg 2-1 at home after a 1-1 away draw. That defeat was Arsenal's last at home in the UEFA Champions League – of the subsequent 18 games, excluding qualifiers, they have won 12 and drawn six.

• Liverpool, by contrast, have fared well in previous all-English ties. Although beaten 2-0 on aggregate by Nottingham Forest FC in the first round of the 1978/79 European Champion Clubs' Cup, they recorded victories in their three other knockout contests.

• In 1972/73 the Merseyside club got past Tottenham Hotspur FC on away goals in the UEFA Cup semi-finals following a 2-2 aggregate draw. More recently, they beat Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League semi-final in 2004/05 – winning the second leg 1-0 at Anfield following a 0-0 first-leg draw – and then repeated the feat last season when Daniel Agger's goal cancelled out a 1-0 first-leg loss in London and the Reds proceeded to win 4-1 on penalties.

• Arsenal may be above Liverpool in the Premier League standings but domestic form has counted for nothing in recent all-English duels. When Chelsea beat Arsenal in 2004 and Liverpool bettered Chelsea in 2005 and 2007, it was the losing side that finished higher in the Premier League.

• Benítez got the better of Arsenal in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League second group stage when in charge of Valencia. The teams drew 0-0 at Highbury in December 2002 and met again in their final group match at Mestalla in March 2003, when a 2-1 Valencia victory secured first place in the section for the Spanish side – and relegated Arsenal to third.

• The clubs have met 199 times previously, with Arsenal winning 70 and Liverpool 80, with 49 drawn.

• In 94 home games against Liverpool, Arsenal have recorded 41 wins, 29 draws and 24 defeats.

• Arsenal's biggest home win in this fixture was an 8-1 triumph in the English top flight in 1934/35. Liverpool's biggest victory was 5-0, on their first visit to Arsenal in the old second division in 1893/94.

• Liverpool and Arsenal last met in a two-leg tie in the English League Cup semi-final in February 1978. Liverpool won the first leg at Anfield 2-1 and held out for a goalless draw in north London in the return.

• The teams will face each other three times in the space of seven days. After the first leg on 2 April, they will reconvene at the Arsenal Stadium for a Premier League match on 5 April before the second leg of their quarter-final on 8 April.

• If that seems excessive, their counterparts in the 1979/80 season played each other five times in 20 days. After drawing their FA Cup semi-final 0-0 on 12 April, they drew two subsequent replays – 1-1 on both 16 and 28 April – before Arsenal finally prevailed in the third, winning 1-0 through a Brian Talbot goal on 1 May. In the middle of all that the teams also met in the league, drawing 1-1 at Anfield on 19 April.

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:10CET Match facts 2 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

• Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini was part of the Olympique de Marseille team defeated 2-0 by Benítez's Valencia in the UEFA Cup final in May 2004.

• Liverpool's Ryan Babel featured for former club AFC Ajax in their home defeat (1-2) and away draw (0-0) with Arsenal in the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League group stage.

• Arsenal midfielder Fabregas is a colleague of Liverpool trio Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina, Álvaro Arbeloa and Torres in the Spain national squad.

• The tie also pits Arsenal forward Robin van Persie against his Dutch international team-mates Babel and Kuyt. Van Persie and Kuyt have also played together at club level, during the 2003/04 season at Feyenoord.

• Arsenal pair Jens Lehmann and Rosický finished on the losing side against Liverpool with BV Borussia Dortmund in the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League first group stage. Rosicky was denied a winning goal by the woodwork in a 0-0 home draw with the Merseyside club in September 2001, but a 2-0 defeat at Anfield the following month eliminated Dortmund and confirmed Liverpool as group winners.

Match facts

ARSENAL

UEFA milestones • None

2007/08 UEFA Champions League statistics • No Arsenal player has featured in all ten UEFA Champions League games this season, including qualifying. Indeed, none has played in all eight matches in the competition proper with Bacary Sagna and Emmanuel Eboué making the most appearances with seven each.

• Emmanuel Adebayor has been flagged offside on 19 occasions, more than any other player in this season's UEFA Champions League.

• Arsenal have been caught offside 29 times to date, with Chelsea FC the joint highest total of the eight remaining teams.

Disciplinary information • Denilson, Gaël Clichy, Eboué, Aleksandr Hleb and Adebayor are within one yellow card of a suspension.

Latest domestic information • Saturday 29 March: Bolton Wanderers FC 2-3 Arsenal FC (Matthew Taylor 14 43; William Gallas 62, Robin van Persie 68 pen, Jlloyd Samuel og 90) Arsenal mounted a sterling comeback at the Bolton Stadium after falling 2-0 down to Taylor's first-half double and losing Abou Diaby to a 31st-minute red card for a foul on Gretar Steinsson. Captain Gallas started the recovery from Cesc Fabregas' left-wing corner just past the hour and Van Persie levelled from the penalty spot six minutes later after Gary Cahill had brought down Hleb. It still looked as if the visitors would have to settle for a point, but in added time Fabregas' shot took two deflections with Bolton defender Samuel getting the final touch to give Arsenal a memorable win.

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:10CET Match facts 3 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

• "It's an incredible win, it was a real mental test today," said Arsène Wenger. "It looked as if everything was going against us; 2-0 down at half-time and down to ten men when you know 2-2 is not good enough demanded a lot from us, but I'm very proud of the team because they gave absolutely everything. We fought until the last second of the game and we got a great win today. [At 2-0] we wanted to dig deep and give everything to come back; you have to go for it and we did that in a marvellous way. I've said many times this team is mentally very strong. We'll fight until the last minute of this championship and these players will do it."

• The Arsenal manager dropped Adebayor to the bench with Nicklas Bendtner starting up front, while Diaby and Philippe Senderos – making his 100th start for the club – came in for Eboué and the injured Sagna.

• Kolo Touré made his 250th start for Arsenal at Bolton.

• Arsenal have now picked up 20 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other side.

• The win was Arsenal's first in six Premier League matches. Had they failed to win at Bolton, it would have been the north London club's longest run without a league victory since Wenger took over in October 1996.

• Arsenal had won only one of their previous eight games – the second leg against Milan. Since defeating Blackburn Rovers FC 2-0 on 11 February, they bowed out of the FA Cup with a 4-0 reverse at Manchester United FC and drew their next four Premier League matches before suffering only their second league defeat of the season, going down 2-1 at Chelsea FC on 23 March. The defeat at Stamford Bridge ended a 14-match unbeaten league run, left Arsenal six points behind leaders United and allowed Chelsea to climb above their London rivals into second position.

• Only Clichy has featured in all 32 Premier League matches so far this season.

• Twenty-four of Arsenal's 62 league goals to date have come in the final 15 minutes of matches.

• Arsenal have also conceded just twice in the last 15 minutes of the first half in the league this season.

Injury news • Eduardo da Silva – out since 23 February (broken leg) • Tomáš Rosický – out since 1 February (hamstring) • Kolo Touré – out 20 February to 9 March (calf) • Theo Walcott – out 6-15 March (thigh) • Abou Diaby – out 4-23 March (calf) • Robin van Persie – out 11 January to 9 March (thigh) • Johan Djourou – out since 11 January (groin) • Alexandre Song – out since 10 February (knee) • Bacary Sagna – out since 23 February (ankle)

• Eduardo is expected to be out of action for at least nine months after breaking his leg against Birmingham City FC on 23 February. The injury also rules the Croatian international striker out of UEFA EURO 2008™.

• Sagna will miss both legs against Liverpool after twisting his ankle against Chelsea on 23 March, an injury that is expected to keep him on the sidelines for three weeks.

International news • On 26 March, Bendtner scored Denmark's goal in a 1-1 friendly draw against the Czech Republic while Jens Lehmann and Senderos were in direct opposition as the former's Germany won 4-0 against Switzerland. There were 1-0 triumphs for Spain's Fabregas and Gallas of France as Italy and England respectively were defeated, while Gilberto played 90 minutes in Brazil's victory against Sweden at the Arsenal Stadium by the same scoreline. Van Persie also played the full game as the Netherlands came from three goals down to win 4-3 against Austria in Vienna.

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:10CET Match facts 4 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

• Hleb played all of Belarus' 2-2 home draw with Turkey, and Touré and Eboué were in the Ivory Coast squad that lost 2-0 against Tunisia.

Miscellaneous • On 27 March, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited the Arsenal Stadium, where they met Wenger and were greeted by members of the club's youth team.

LIVERPOOL

UEFA milestones • Sami Hyypiä and Steven Gerrard both made their 50th UEFA Champions League appearances in the second leg against Inter.

• Jamie Carragher played in his 100th UEFA club competition match in the same game.

2007/08 UEFA Champions League statistics • Pepe Reina and Hyypiä have featured in all ten UEFA Champions League games this season, including qualifying, while Carragher and Gerrard have played all eight games in the competition proper. Reina and Carragher have played every minute of the competition proper to date.

• Liverpool scored 21 goals in their first eight games, the most of the eight sides in the quarter-finals.

Disciplinary information • Carragher, Gerrard and Fábio Aurélio will incur a suspension with their next yellow cards.

Latest domestic information • Sunday 30 March: Liverpool FC 1-0 Everton FC (Fernando Torres 7) Liverpool consolidated fourth place in the Premier League as Torres' early goal at Anfield proved enough to settle the 207th Merseyside derby. The Spanish international pounced after Everton had failed to clear a seventh-minute corner, slotting his 28th goal of the season in all competitions beyond Tim Howard. The win leaves Liverpool five points ahead of fifth-placed Everton in the race for England's final place in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds. Steven Finnan was on the bench after a groin injury, while Lucas Leiva replaced the suspended Javier Mascherano.

• "We're in a good position but there are difficult games to come so we need to keep winning," said Rafael Benítez. "When you're five points above the other team, it's always a lot easier. The understanding between Steven Gerrard and Torres is good and we need to use these two key players. Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt are also playing well going forward so this formation has been good for the team."

• Torres' goal was Liverpool's 100th in all competitions this season.

• Reina has kept 15 clean sheets this season, more than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League, and made his 100th appearance in the competition against Everton.

• Liverpool have been involved in five goalless league draws this season, the joint highest total in the division along with Portsmouth FC.

• Liverpool's run of seven successive wins in all competitions had been brought to a halt on 23 March as Manchester United FC ran out 3-0 winners at Old Trafford.

• Torres' winner against Reading FC on 15 March made him the first Liverpool player to score 20 goals in a season since Robbie Fowler in 1995/96. The striker has now scored ten goals in his last eight club appearances.

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:10CET Match facts 5 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

• Only Reina has played all 32 of Liverpool's Premier League games this season. The club's No1 has appeared in all 2,880 minutes of league action.

• Eight of the 24 Premier League goals Liverpool have conceded this season have come in the final 15 minutes. By contrast, they have been breached just four times in the first half-hour.

Injury news • Andriy Voronin – out 25 January to 26 March (knee) • Javier Mascherano – out 5-11 March (dead leg) • Steve Finnan – out since 23 February (groin) • Harry Kewell – out since 22 March (groin) • Daniel Agger – out since 15 September (metatarsal)

• Agger is unlikely to play again this season after learning that he must undergo surgery on his troublesome metatarsal injury. The Danish international has been blighted by the problem to his right foot since breaking a bone in mid-September. He has neared full fitness several times since, but suffered a recurrence on each occasion.

• Kewell captained Australia in a friendly international against Singapore on 22 March but picked up a groin injury and was forced to sit out the subsequent 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against China.

International news • On 26 March Álvaro Arbeloa made his international debut in Spain's 1-0 win against Italy, a match in which Torres and Xabi Alonso also featured. Gerrard was replaced at half-time by his Liverpool team-mate Peter Crouch as England lost 1-0 to France in Paris, but there was better news for Yossi Benayoun, who scored the only goal as Israel overcame Chile in Tel-Aviv.

• Babel appeared as a substitute as the Netherlands fought back from three goals down to defeat Austria 4-3 in Vienna, while Voronin made his return from two months out with a knee injury in Ukraine's 2-0 win against Serbia. Mascherano appeared for Argentina, who won 2-0 in Egypt, although there were defeats for John Arne Riise, whose Norway side lost 3-1 in Montenegro, and Martin Škrtel, part of the Slovakia side who lost 2-1 against Iceland.

Miscellaneous • Scottish actor Jonathan Watson has been cast as Bill Shankly in a play based on his final days as Liverpool manager. The play, entitled The Shankly Show, has been commissioned as part of Liverpool's European Capital of Culture celebrations and will open on 24 April.

• On 11 March Alonso became a father for the first time as his girlfriend Nagore gave birth to the couple's son Jon.

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:10CET Match facts 6 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Squad list

Arsenal Current season All-time UCLQ UCL League UCL UEFA No Player Nat. DoB Age BL Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers 1 Jens Lehmann GER 10.11.1969 38 - 1 - 2 - 4 - 59 - 96 - 21 Łukasz Fabiański POL 18.04.1985 22 ------8 - 24 Manuel Almunia ESP 19.05.1977 30 - 1 - 6 - 28 - 13 - 16 - 40 Vito Mannone ITA 02.03.1988 20 ------Defenders 3 Bacary Sagna FRA 14.02.1983 25 - 1 - 7 - 29 1 7 - 29 - 5 Kolo Touré CIV 19.03.1981 27 - 2 - 5 - 25 2 50 2 54 2 6 Philippe Senderos SUI 14.02.1985 23 - 1 - 6 - 15 2 16 - 19 - 10 William Gallas FRA 17.08.1977 30 - 1 - 5 - 26 4 48 2 63 2 20 Johan Djourou SUI 18.01.1987 21 ------3 - 5 - 22 Gaël Clichy FRA 26.07.1985 22 * 2 - 6 - 32 - 19 - 21 - 27 Emmanuel Eboué CIV 04.06.1983 24 * 1 - 7 - 17 - 22 1 32 1 30 Armand Traoré FRA 08.10.1989 18 - - - 2 - - - 2 - 2 - 31 Justin Hoyte ENG 20.11.1984 23 - 1 - 1 - 3 - 7 - 10 - 35 Håvard Nordtveit NOR 21.06.1990 17 ------37 Paul Rodgers ENG 06.10.1989 18 ------41 Gavin Hoyte ENG 06.06.1990 17 ------44 Abu Ogogo ENG 03.11.1989 18 ------46 Kerrea Gilbert ENG 28.02.1987 21 ------1 - 1 - 47 Rene Steer ENG 31.01.1990 18 ------Midfielders 2 Abou Diaby FRA 11.05.1986 21 - 1 - 4 1 15 1 7 1 12 1 4 Cesc Fabregas ESP 04.05.1987 20 - 2 2 6 4 28 7 32 6 36 10 7 Tomáš Rosický CZE 04.10.1980 27 - 2 1 3 - 18 6 39 9 59 10 13 Aleksandr Hleb BLR 01.05.1981 26 * 1 1 5 1 28 2 31 2 59 7 15 Denilson BRA 16.02.1988 20 * 1 - 3 - 9 - 4 - 5 - 16 Mathieu Flamini FRA 07.03.1984 24 - 1 - 5 - 29 3 25 - 37 1 17 Alexandre Song CMR 09.09.1987 20 - 1 - 2 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 19 Gilberto BRA 07.10.1976 31 - 1 - 5 - 17 - 43 4 46 4 39 Henri Lansbury ENG 12.10.1990 17 ------45 James Dunne ENG 18.09.1989 18 ------Forwards 9 Eduardo CRO 25.02.1983 25 - 1 1 5 2 17 4 5 2 25 10 11 Robin van Persie NED 06.08.1983 24 - 2 - 3 2 12 6 24 6 38 7 25 Emmanuel Adebayor TGO 26.02.1984 24 * 1 - 6 1 30 19 29 2 41 6 26 Nicklas Bendtner DEN 16.01.1988 20 - - - 5 2 21 2 5 2 5 2 32 Theo Walcott ENG 16.03.1989 19 - 1 - 6 2 19 2 11 2 13 2 Coach - Arsène Wenger FRA 22.10.1949 58 - 2 - 8 - - - 104 - 153 -

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:12CET Squad list 1 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Liverpool Current season All-time UCLQ UCL League UCL UEFA No Player Nat. DoB Age BL Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Pld Gls Goalkeepers 25 Pepe Reina ESP 31.08.1982 25 - 2 - 8 - 32 - 32 - 86 - 30 Charles Itandje FRA 02.11.1982 25 ------28 - 40 David Martin ENG 22.01.1986 22 ------Defenders 3 Steve Finnan IRL 20.04.1976 31 - 2 - 5 - 19 - 34 - 56 - 4 Sami Hyypiä FIN 07.10.1973 34 - 2 1 8 - 24 1 50 3 104 7 5 Daniel Agger DEN 12.12.1984 23 - 1 - - - 5 - 11 1 19 1 6 John Arne Riise NOR 24.09.1980 27 - 2 - 5 - 25 - 57 3 85 4 12 Fábio Aurélio BRA 24.09.1979 28 * - - 6 - 14 1 19 2 33 2 17 Álvaro Arbeloa ESP 17.01.1983 25 - 2 - 4 - 25 - 9 - 11 - 23 Jamie Carragher ENG 28.01.1978 30 * 1 - 8 - 30 - 61 - 100 1 37 Martin Škrtel SVK 15.12.1984 23 - - - 1 - 9 - 1 - 20 - 39 Stephen Darby ENG 06.10.1988 19 ------Midfielders 7 Harry Kewell AUS 22.09.1978 29 - - - 3 - 10 - 29 - 67 11 8 Steven Gerrard ENG 30.05.1980 27 * 1 - 8 5 30 10 50 11 87 24 11 Yossi Benayoun ISR 05.05.1980 27 - 2 - 6 3 24 3 6 3 27 7 14 Xabi Alonso ESP 25.11.1981 26 - - - - - 16 2 35 2 42 2 16 Jermaine Pennant ENG 15.01.1983 25 - - - 4 - 15 1 19 - 21 - 20 Javier Mascherano ARG 08.06.1984 23 - 2 - 7 - 22 1 11 - 15 - 21 Lucas Leiva BRA 19.01.1987 21 - 1 - 5 - 12 - 5 - 6 - 33 Sebastian Leto ARG 30.08.1986 21 - 1 - 1 - - - 1 - 2 - 34 Jay Spearing ENG 25.11.1988 19 ------35 Raymond Putterill ENG 02.03.1989 19 ------36 Ryan Flynn SCO 04.09.1988 19 ------Forwards 9 Fernando Torres ESP 20.03.1984 24 - 1 - 6 4 29 21 6 4 12 6 10 Andriy Voronin UKR 21.07.1979 28 - 1 1 5 - 13 3 10 2 23 5 15 Peter Crouch ENG 30.01.1981 27 - 2 1 5 3 18 2 23 9 33 11 18 Dirk Kuyt NED 22.07.1980 27 - 1 2 7 3 29 3 18 4 38 13 19 Ryan Babel NED 19.12.1986 21 - 2 - 7 3 27 4 16 3 29 8 Coach - Rafael Benítez ESP 16.04.1960 47 - 2 - 8 - - - 56 - 92 -

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:12CET Squad list 2 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Head coach Arsenal FC: Arsène Wenger Date of birth: 22 October 1949 Nationality: French Playing career: AS Mutzig, FC Mulhouse, AS Vauban, RC Strasbourg Coaching career: RC Strasbourg (assistant coach), AS Cannes (assistant coach), AS Nancy-Lorraine, AS Monaco FC, Nagoya Grampus Eight, Arsenal FC

Arsène Wenger was never covered in glory as a player, but has more than made up for that lack of success in his time as a coach, turning Arsenal FC into one of Europe's top teams thanks to his incredible eye for a bargain and an astute footballing mind.

Born in Strasbourg, Wenger worked at RC Strasbourg and AS Cannes before AS Nancy-Lorraine offered him his big break. He impressed sufficiently to be offered the job as coach of AS Monaco FC in 1987. Within a year Monaco scooped the French championship and Wenger the Manager of the Year award. He reportedly turned down France and FC Bayern München to continue at Monaco, although he did subsequently move on to Japan and enjoy tremendous success with Nagoya Grampus Eight.

Appointed by Arsenal in September 1996, Wenger became the first foreigner to win the Premiership in 1998, adding the first of four FA Cup triumphs to boot. The Gunners lost the 2000 UEFA Cup final to Galatasaray SK but claimed another double in 2002, and in 2004 played some thrilling attacking football en route to becoming the first team since 1889 to negotiate a top-flight season unbeaten. Wenger, given the freedom of Islington for his domestic success in north London, nearly topped all of his achievements by taking Arsenal to the 2006 UEFA Champions League final, only for FC Barcelona to come from behind to win 2-1.

Liverpool FC: Rafael Benítez Date of birth: 16 April 1960 Nationality: Spanish Playing career: Real Madrid CF B, CP Parla, CD Linares Coaching career: Real Madrid CF (youth coach), Real Valladolid (assistant coach), CA Osasuna (assistant coach), CD Tenerife, CF Extremadura, Valencia CF, Liverpool FC

Rafael Benítez has stamped his authority on Liverpool FC since his arrival from Spain on 16 June 2004. Former Primera División stars Xabi Alonso and Luis García blended perfectly with locals such as Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher as Benítez guided the Reds to UEFA Champions League glory in his first season in charge. Liverpool's recovery from 3-0 down against AC Milan and their subsequent penalty shoot-out victory was one of the greatest finals. Although the holders were eliminated in the 2005/06 first knockout round, Benítez still oversaw an FA Cup triumph and they returned to the UEFA Champions League final in 2006/07, though Milan had their revenge with a 2-1 win in Athens.

After spending his playing career in the lower leagues as a midfielder with Real Madrid CF B, Benítez coached youth players at Madrid before taking charge of CD Tenerife and CF Extremadura, impressive spells which earned him his big break at Valencia CF in 2001. He led the club to their first league title for 31 years in 2002, repeating the trick in 2004 when they also won the UEFA Cup in Gothenburg.

That 2-0 victory against Olympique de Marseille was his final game before being lured to Liverpool, a club starved of league honours since 1990. The Reds' UEFA Champions League triumph in 2004/05 was followed by winning the FA Cup in 2006 when Liverpool recovered from a two-goal deficit against West Ham United FC in the final to draw 3-3 and then prevail on penalties. The highlight of last term was the UEFA Champions League run, Chelsea FC again overcome in the semi-finals.

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:14CET Head coach 1 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Match officials

Referee Pieter Vink (NED) Assistant referees Adriaan Inia (NED), Hans Ten Hoove (NED) Fourth official Bas Nijhuis (NED) UEFA Delegate Dane Jost (SVN) UEFA Referee observer Eugen Strigel (GER)

Referee

Name Nat. DoB UCL UEFA Pieter Vink NED 13.03.1967 5 17

Pieter Vink has made great strides in recent years after being the man in the middle for the 2006 Dutch Cup final as AFC Ajax beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 in Rotterdam and earning his first appointment in the UEFA Champions League the following November.

The policeman from Noordwijkerhout has been on the FIFA list since 2001, but actually began refereeing back in 1987. His first European appointment came with two UEFA European Under-17 Championship matches involving eventual semi-finalists Portugal back in March 2004, as Greece and Israel were defeated 2-0 and 3-0 respectively. By that August, he had worked his way up to U21 level but a major honour was still to come his way in the U19 category in May 2005.

Vink was given the honour of officiating at the 2004/05 UEFA European Under-19 Championship final played in Belfast, which France won 3-1 against England. It was his third match of the finals in Northern Ireland. A keen family man who enjoys a round of golf, Vink has been a regular face in the UEFA Cup in recent years. He has also been in charge for UEFA Champions League qualifiers and had his first taste of UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying with Norway's 4-1 win in Hungary in September 2006. He has also been selected as one of 12 referees who will work at UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland this summer.

UEFA Champions League matches involving teams from the two countries involved in this match No matches found

Other matches - Matches involving teams from either of the two countries involved in this match Date Comp. Stage Res. Venue 29.07.2005 F England - France 1-3 Belfast 14.02.2007 UCUP 1/16 Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Blackburn Rovers FC 3-2 Leverkusen 08.09.2007 EURO QR England - Israel 3-0 London

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:14CET Match officials 1 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Domestic information Arsenal FC (Premier League) Comp. Date Opponent Res. Goalscorers League 12/08/07 Fulham FC (H) 2-1 Van Persie 84(pen), Hleb 90 League 19/08/07 Blackburn Rovers FC (A) 1-1 Van Persie 18 League 25/08/07 Manchester City FC (H) 1-0 Fabregas 80 League 02/09/07 Portsmouth FC (H) 3-1 Adebayor 8(pen), Fabregas 35, Rosický 59 League 15/09/07 Tottenham Hotspur FC (A) 3-1 Adebayor 65, 90, Fabregas 80 League 22/09/07 Derby County FC (H) 5-0 Diaby 10, Adebayor 25, 50(pen), 79, Fabregas 70 Cup 25/09/07 Newcastle United FC (H) 2-0 Bendtner 83, Denilson 89 League 29/09/07 West Ham United FC (A) 1-0 Van Persie 13 League 07/10/07 Sunderland AFC (H) 3-2 Van Persie 7, 80, Senderos 14 League 20/10/07 Bolton Wanderers FC (H) 2-0 Touré 68, Rosický 80 League 28/10/07 Liverpool FC (A) 1-1 Fabregas 80 Cup 31/10/07 Sheffield United FC (A) 3-0 Eduardo 8, 50, Denilson 69 League 03/11/07 Manchester United FC (H) 2-2 Fabregas 48, Gallas 90 League 12/11/07 Reading FC (A) 3-1 Flamini 44, Adebayor 52, Hleb 78 League 24/11/07 Wigan Athletic FC (H) 2-0 Gallas 83, Rosický 85 League 01/12/07 Aston Villa FC (A) 2-1 Flamini 23, Adebayor 36 League 05/12/07 Newcastle United FC (A) 1-1 Adebayor 4 League 09/12/07 Middlesbrough FC (A) 1-2 Rosický 90 League 16/12/07 Chelsea FC (H) 1-0 Gallas 45 Cup 18/12/07 Blackburn Rovers FC (A) 3-2 Diaby 6, Eduardo 29, 104 League 22/12/07 Tottenham Hotspur FC (H) 2-1 Adebayor 48, Bendtner 76 League 26/12/07 Portsmouth FC (A) 0-0 League 29/12/07 Everton FC (A) 4-1 Eduardo 47, 58, Adebayor 78, Rosický 90 League 01/01/08 West Ham United FC (H) 2-0 Eduardo 2, Adebayor 18 Cup 06/01/08 Burnley (A) 2-0 Eduardo 9, Bendtner 75 Cup 09/01/08 Tottenham Hotspur FC (H) 1-1 Walcott 79 League 12/01/08 Birmingham City FC (H) 1-1 Adebayor 21(pen) League 19/01/08 Fulham FC (A) 3-0 Adebayor 19, 38, Rosický 81 Cup 22/01/08 Tottenham Hotspur FC (A) 1-5 Adebayor 70 Cup 26/01/08 Newcastle United FC (H) 3-0 Adebayor 51, 83, Own goal League 29/01/08 Newcastle United FC (H) 3-0 Adebayor 40, Flamini 72, Fabregas 80 League 02/02/08 Manchester City FC (A) 3-1 Adebayor 9, 88, Eduardo 26 League 11/02/08 Blackburn Rovers FC (H) 2-0 Senderos 4, Adebayor 90 Cup 16/02/08 Manchester United FC (A) 0-4 League 23/02/08 Birmingham City FC (A) 2-2 Walcott 50, 55 League 01/03/08 Aston Villa FC (H) 1-1 Bendtner 90 League 09/03/08 Wigan Athletic FC (A) 0-0 League 15/03/08 Middlesbrough FC (H) 1-1 Touré 86 Lineups: Almunia, Sagna (Bendtner 61), Touré, Gallas, Clichy (Senderos 89), Eboué, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Adebayor, Van Persie (Walcott 61) League 23/03/08 Chelsea FC (A) 1-2 Sagna 59 Lineups: Almunia, Sagna (Diaby 72), Touré, Gallas, Clichy, Eboué, Fabregas, Flamini (Bendtner 88), Hleb, Adebayor, Van Persie (Walcott 76) League 29/03/08 Bolton Wanderers FC (A) 3-2 Gallas 62, Van Persie 68(pen), Own goal Lineups: Almunia, Touré, Senderos (Walcott 59), Gallas, Clichy, Hleb, Flamini, Fabregas, Diaby, Bendtner (Adebayor 60), Van Persie (Hoyte 90) League 05/04/08 Liverpool FC (H) League 13/04/08 Manchester United FC (A) League 19/04/08 Reading FC (H)

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:16CET Domestic information 1 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Comp. Date Opponent Res. Goalscorers League 28/04/08 Derby County FC (A) League 03/05/08 Everton FC (H) League 11/05/08 Sunderland AFC (A)

Pos. Clubs Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Manchester United FC 32 24 4 4 68 15 76 2 Chelsea FC 32 21 8 3 56 23 71 3 Arsenal FC 32 20 10 2 62 26 70 4 Liverpool FC 32 17 11 4 56 24 62 5 Everton FC 32 17 6 9 48 27 57 6 Portsmouth FC 32 15 8 9 46 33 53 7 Blackburn Rovers FC 32 13 11 8 42 38 50 8 Aston Villa FC 32 13 10 9 52 44 49 9 Manchester City FC 32 13 10 9 37 37 49 10 West Ham United FC 32 12 8 12 35 39 44 11 Tottenham Hotspur FC 32 10 9 13 61 55 39 12 Newcastle United FC 32 9 8 15 37 58 35 13 Middlesbrough FC 32 8 10 14 28 45 34 14 Sunderland AFC 32 9 6 17 29 49 33 15 Reading FC 32 9 5 18 37 58 32 16 Wigan Athletic FC 32 8 7 17 28 47 31 17 Birmingham City FC 32 7 9 16 38 49 30 18 Bolton Wanderers FC 32 6 8 18 30 48 26 19 Fulham FC 32 4 12 16 29 53 24 20 Derby County FC 32 1 8 23 16 67 11

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:16CET Domestic information 2 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Liverpool FC (Premier League)

Comp. Date Opponent Res. Goalscorers League 11/08/07 Aston Villa FC (A) 2-1 Own goal, Gerrard 87 League 19/08/07 Chelsea FC (H) 1-1 Torres 16 League 25/08/07 Sunderland AFC (A) 2-0 Sissoko 37, Voronin 87 League 01/09/07 Derby County FC (H) 6-0 Alonso 27, 69, Babel 45, Torres 56, 78, Voronin 76 League 15/09/07 Portsmouth FC (A) 0-0 League 22/09/07 Birmingham City FC (H) 0-0 Cup 25/09/07 Reading FC (A) 4-2 Benayoun 23, Torres 50, 72, 86 League 29/09/07 Wigan Athletic FC (A) 1-0 Benayoun 75 League 07/10/07 Tottenham Hotspur FC (H) 2-2 Voronin 12, Torres 90 League 20/10/07 Everton FC (A) 2-1 Kuyt 54(pen), 90(pen) League 28/10/07 Arsenal FC (H) 1-1 Gerrard 7 Cup 31/10/07 Cardiff (H) 2-1 El Zhar 48, Gerrard 66 League 03/11/07 Blackburn Rovers FC (A) 0-0 League 10/11/07 Fulham FC (H) 2-0 Torres 81, Gerrard 85(pen) League 24/11/07 Newcastle United FC (A) 3-0 Gerrard 28, Kuyt 46, Babel 66 League 02/12/07 Bolton Wanderers FC (H) 4-0 Hyypiä 17, Torres 45, Gerrard 56(pen), Babel 86 League 08/12/07 Reading FC (A) 1-3 Gerrard 28 League 16/12/07 Manchester United FC (H) 0-1 Cup 19/12/07 Chelsea FC (A) 0-2 League 22/12/07 Portsmouth FC (H) 4-1 Benayoun 13, Own goal, Torres 67, 85 League 26/12/07 Derby County FC (A) 2-1 Torres 12, Gerrard 90 League 30/12/07 Manchester City FC (A) 0-0 League 02/01/08 Wigan Athletic FC (H) 1-1 Torres 49 Cup 06/01/08 Luton (A) 1-1 Crouch 74 League 12/01/08 Middlesbrough FC (A) 1-1 Torres 71 Cup 15/01/08 Luton (H) 5-0 Babel 45, Gerrard 52, 64, 72, Hyypiä 57 League 21/01/08 Aston Villa FC (H) 2-2 Benayoun 19, Crouch 88 Cup 26/01/08 Havant and W (H) 5-2 Lucas Leiva 27, Benayoun 44, 56, 59, Crouch 90 League 30/01/08 West Ham United FC (A) 0-1 League 02/02/08 Sunderland AFC (H) 3-0 Crouch 57, Torres 69, Gerrard 89(pen) League 10/02/08 Chelsea FC (A) 0-0 Cup 16/02/08 Barnsley (H) 1-2 Kuyt 32 League 23/02/08 Middlesbrough FC (H) 3-2 Torres 28, 29, 61 League 02/03/08 Bolton Wanderers FC (A) 3-1 Own goal, Babel 60, Fábio Aurélio 75 League 05/03/08 West Ham United FC (H) 4-0 Torres 8, 61, 81, Gerrard 83 League 08/03/08 Newcastle United FC (H) 3-0 Pennant 43, Torres 45, Gerrard 51 League 15/03/08 Reading FC (H) 2-1 Mascherano 19, Torres 48 Lineups: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Škrtel, Fábio Aurélio, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt (Benayoun 80), Gerrard (Hyypiä 90), Babel (Riise 83), Torres League 23/03/08 Manchester United FC (A) 0-3 Lineups: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Škrtel, Fábio Aurélio, Mascherano, Alonso, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel (Benayoun 66), Torres (Riise 82) League 30/03/08 Everton FC (H) 1-0 Torres 7 Lineups: Reina, Carragher, Hyypiä, Škrtel, Riise, Lucas Leiva, Gerrard (Crouch 90), Alonso, Babel (Benayoun 82), Torres (Pennant 89), Kuyt League 05/04/08 Arsenal FC (A) League 13/04/08 Blackburn Rovers FC (H) League 19/04/08 Fulham FC (A) League 26/04/08 Birmingham City FC (A) League 03/05/08 Manchester City FC (H)

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:16CET Domestic information 3 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Comp. Date Opponent Res. Goalscorers League 11/05/08 Tottenham Hotspur FC (A)

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:16CET Domestic information 4 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

UEFA information

Final venues unveiled The Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid will host the 2010 UEFA Champions League final, with UEFA awarding the same season's UEFA Cup final to the Arena Hamburg. The UEFA Executive Committee confirmed the decision after its meeting in Liechtenstein but postponed a decision on the venues for the 2011 finals to allow members more time to consider the bids. The home stadiums of Real Madrid CF and Hamburger SV were chosen on the basis of capacity, facilities, accommodation and security among other considerations. The Santiago Bernabéu staged the European Champion Clubs' Cup finals in 1957, 1969 and 1980, the final of the 1964 UEFA European Championship and the 1982 FIFA World Cup final. The Arena Hamburg opened in 2000 on the site of Hamburg's old Volksparkstadion and hosted matches at the 2006 World Cup. The Volksparkstadion also held group-stage games at the 1974 World Cup and the semi-final of the 1988 UEFA European Championship

The Executive Committee also confirmed that the 2009, 2010 and 2011 UEFA Super Cup matches will be played at the Stade Louis II in Monaco, as has been the case since 1998. The 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship was awarded to France, and the same year's U17 event to Liechtenstein, while Nyon will be the setting for the 2009 UEFA European Women's U17 Championship.

Ronaldo named ICRC ambassador Manchester United FC winger Cristiano Ronaldo has been named ambassador for the UEFA EURO 2008™ Score for the Red Cross online fundraising campaign which kicked off on 26 March. Internet users will be able to help their favourite side win the title of Most Humanitarian Team by purchasing virtual goals on scorefortheredcross.org. They will also have the chance to win prizes including tickets to UEFA EURO 2008™ matches. The winning team will be announced on 6 July. The Score for the Red Cross campaign, jointly organised by UEFA and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), will benefit land-mine victims in Afghanistan by providing them with artificial limbs, physiotherapy and vocational training.

Moscow ticket sales Ticket sales to the general public for the 2008 UEFA Champions League final in Moscow have closed. The international general public ticket sales process – exclusively via uefa.com – began on 28 February and ended on 19 March. The allocation will be decided by lottery, with every valid application entering the ballot, regardless of the time of submission within the application period. Each successful candidate will be entitled to a maximum of two tickets. Applicants will be informed via email by 2 April at the latest whether they have been successful or not.

Franchi remembered Twenty-five years after the death of Artemio Franchi, and with the patronage of UEFA, ACF Fiorentina are to organise a special event on 30 July commemorating the man who was UEFA President from 1973 to 1983. In the Florence stadium named after him, the Artemio Franchi Memorial match will take place between Fiorentina and FC Barcelona in the presence of the UEFA Executive Committee and UEFA President Michel Platini.

Trophy tour The UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour's visit to Chile proved just as popular as its previous stops on a four-country tour of Latin America. An estimated 15,000 people came to see the trophy at the Parque Arauco in Santiago. The trophy was the centrepiece of a display, along with signed football memorabilia, while visitors also had the chance to be photographed with the trophy, which has already been on show in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Buenos Aires (Argentina). After the Santiago leg, the Trophy Tour – presented by Heineken – will move on to Mexico City, Mexico (5/6 April) and Monterrey, Mexico (12/13 April).

Key dates The draw for the UEFA Champions League quarter and semi-finals and final was staged in Nyon on 14 March. The quarter-final ties will be played on 1/2 and 8/9 April before the semi-finals on 22/23 and 29/30 April. The winners of the tie between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC will meet Fenerbahçe SK or Chelsea FC in the last four, with FC Schalke 04 or FC Barcelona facing AS Roma or Manchester United FC. The UEFA Champions League final will be held in Moscow on 21 May, before UEFA EURO 2008™ kicks off in Austria and Switzerland on 7 June.

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:18CET UEFA information 1 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Match-by-match lineups - Arsenal FC

Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts Sevilla FC 6 5 0 1 14 7 15 Arsenal FC 6 4 1 1 14 4 13 SK Slavia Praha 6 1 2 3 5 16 5 FC Steaua Bucureşti 6 0 1 5 4 10 1 Date Match Result Stadium, Venue 19.09.2007 Arsenal - Sevilla 3-0 Arsenal Stadium, London Goals: 1-0 Fabregas 27, 2-0 Van Persie 59, 3-0 Eduardo 90+2 Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Fabregas, Touré, Senderos, Rosický (Diaby 50), Van Persie (L. Diarra 88), Hleb, Flamini, Clichy, Adebayor (Eduardo 83)

02.10.2007 Steaua - Arsenal 0-1 Steaua Stadium, Bucharest Goals: 0-1 Van Persie 76 Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Fabregas, Touré, Senderos, Van Persie, Hleb, Flamini, Clichy, Adebayor, Eboué (Gilberto 73)

23.10.2007 Arsenal - Slavia 7-0 Arsenal Stadium, London Goals: 1-0 Fabregas 5, 2-0 Hubáček 24(o.g.), 3-0 Walcott 41, 4-0 Hleb 51, 5-0 Walcott 55, 6-0 Fabregas 58, 7-0 Bendtner 89 Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Fabregas, Touré, Gallas, Hleb (Rosický 63), Flamini (Gilberto 63), Clichy, Adebayor (Bendtner 63), Eboué, Walcott

07.11.2007 Slavia - Arsenal 0-0 Evžena Rošického, Prague Goals: - Arsenal: Almunia, Diaby, L. Diarra, Eduardo (Eboué 81), Gallas, Denilson, Song, Gilberto, Clichy, Bendtner (Adebayor 77), Walcott 27.11.2007 Sevilla - Arsenal 3-1 Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, Sevilla Goals: 0-1 Eduardo 11, 1-1 Keita 24, 2-1 Luis Fabiano 34, 3-1 Kanouté 89(pen) Arsenal: Almunia, Fabregas (Rosický 56), Touré, Senderos, Eduardo, Denilson, Gilberto, Bendtner, Eboué (Walcott 78), Traoré, Hoyte (Sagna 66)

12.12.2007 Arsenal - Steaua 2-1 Arsenal Stadium, London Goals: 1-0 Diaby 8, 2-0 Bendtner 42, 2-1 Zaharia 68 Arsenal: Lehmann, Diaby (Eboué 71), Sagna (L. Diarra 71), Senderos, Gallas, Van Persie (Eduardo 65), Denilson, Song, Bendtner, Traoré, Walcott

First knockout round, first leg Date Match Result Stadium, Venue 20/02/08 Arsenal - Milan 0-0 Arsenal Stadium, London Goals: - Arsenal: Lehmann, Sagna, Fabregas, Touré (Senderos 7), Eduardo (Bendtner 74), Gallas, Hleb, Flamini, Clichy, Adebayor, Eboué (Walcott 90)

First knockout round, second leg Date Match Result Stadium, Venue 04/03/08 Milan - Arsenal 0-2 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan Goals: 0-1 Fabregas 84, 0-2 Adebayor 90+2 Arsenal: Almunia, Diaby, Sagna, Fabregas, Senderos, Gallas, Hleb (Gilberto 90), Flamini, Clichy, Adebayor, Eboué (Walcott 71)

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:18CET 1 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Match-by-match lineups - Liverpool FC

Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts FC Porto 6 3 2 1 8 7 11 Liverpool FC 6 3 1 2 18 5 10 Olympique de Marseille 6 2 1 3 6 9 7 Beşiktaş JK 6 2 0 4 4 15 6 Date Match Result Stadium, Venue 18.09.2007 Porto - Liverpool 1-1 Estádio do Dragão, Porto Goals: 1-0 Lucho González 8(pen), 1-1 Kuyt 17 Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypiä, Gerrard, Torres (Voronin 76), Pennant, Arbeloa, Kuyt, Babel (Fábio Aurélio 85), Mascherano, Carragher 03.10.2007 Liverpool - Marseille 0-1 Anfield, Liverpool Goals: 0-1 Valbuena 77 Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypiä, Gerrard, Torres, Benayoun, Fábio Aurélio, Crouch (Kuyt 75), Sissoko, Carragher, Leto (Riise 52)

24.10.2007 Beşiktaş - Liverpool 2-1 Inönü, Istanbul Goals: 1-0 Hyypiä 13(o.g.), 2-0 Bobo 82, 2-1 Gerrard 85 Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypiä (Crouch 83), Riise, Gerrard, Voronin, Pennant (Benayoun 59), Kuyt, Babel, Mascherano (Lucas Leiva 76), Carragher

06.11.2007 Liverpool - Beşiktaş 8-0 Anfield, Liverpool Goals: 1-0 Crouch 19, 2-0 Benayoun 32, 3-0 Benayoun 53, 4-0 Benayoun 56, 5-0 Gerrard 69, 6-0 Babel 78, 7-0 Babel 81, 8-0 Crouch 89 Liverpool: Reina, Hyypiä, Riise, Gerrard (Lucas Leiva 73), Voronin (Kewell 72), Benayoun, Fábio Aurélio, Crouch, Arbeloa, Mascherano, Carragher

28.11.2007 Liverpool - Porto 4-1 Anfield, Liverpool Goals: 1-0 Torres 19, 1-1 Lisandro 33, 2-1 Torres 78, 3-1 Gerrard 84(pen), 4-1 Crouch 87 Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypiä, Gerrard, Torres, Voronin (Kewell 63), Benayoun (Crouch 71), Arbeloa, Babel (Kuyt 85), Mascherano, Carragher 11.12.2007 Marseille - Liverpool 0-4 Vélodrome, Marseille Goals: 0-1 Gerrard 4, 0-2 Torres 11, 0-3 Kuyt 48, 0-4 Babel 90+1 Liverpool: Reina, Hyypiä, Riise, Kewell (Fábio Aurélio 67), Gerrard, Torres (Babel 77), Benayoun, Arbeloa, Kuyt (Lucas Leiva 86), Mascherano, Carragher

First knockout round, first leg Date Match Result Stadium, Venue 19/02/08 Liverpool - Internazionale 2-0 Anfield, Liverpool Goals: 1-0 Kuyt 85, 2-0 Gerrard 90 Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypiä, Gerrard, Torres, Fábio Aurélio, Kuyt, Babel (Pennant 72), Mascherano, Lucas Leiva (Crouch 64), Carragher

First knockout round, second leg Date Match Result Stadium, Venue 11/03/08 Internazionale - Liverpool 0-1 Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan Goals: 0-1 Torres 64 Liverpool: Reina, Hyypiä, Gerrard, Torres, Fábio Aurélio, Kuyt (Riise 81), Babel (Benayoun 61), Mascherano (Pennant 87), Lucas Leiva, Carragher, Škrtel

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:18CET 2 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Competition facts

UEFA Champions League knockout stage: Did you know?

• Teams have come back from a first-leg deficit to go through to the next stage on 20 occasions, including both 2006/07 semi-final victors. The biggest losing margin a side has overturned was achieved by RC Deportivo La Coruña in 2003/04 when they fought back from a 4-1 defeat at AC Milan to win 4-0 at home and progress to the semi-finals.

• Fifteen ties, including three in the 2006/07 season's first knockout round, have been decided on the away goals rule, including five where the triumphant team lost the first leg.

• Manchester United FC hold the record for the biggest first-leg lead with a 4-0 home success against FC Porto in the 1996/97 quarter-finals, eventually going through by that margin after a goalless return.

• Eight ties have now gone to penalties. Four of these were finals – 1996, 2001, 2003 and 2005. The first two-legged tie decided on spot-kicks was PSV Eindhoven's 4-2 win against Olympique Lyonnais on 13 April 2005 after a 2-2 aggregate draw. The second was Liverpool's 4-1 semi-final win on penalties on 1 May 2007 against Chelsea after a 1-1 aggregate draw.

• In all, 14 ties have required extra time, including, in 2007/08, Fenerbahçe's win against Sevilla FC and FC Schalke 04's triumph against FC Porto in the first knockout round, with both ties eventually being settled on penalties. So far, only six ties have been settled by extra time alone: four quarter-finals and two first knockout round encounters.

• Real Madrid CF extended their record for knockout stage qualification in successive seasons. The 2007/08 campaign was the eleventh straight season since 1997/98 that they made it beyond the group stage, moving them ahead of Manchester United, who appeared nine times in a row between 1996/97 and 2004/05. Overall, they have now played in the knockout stage 12 times, one more than United and two more than FC Bayern München.

• Had Bayern beaten AC Milan in the 2006/07 last eight, it would have meant the first time the UEFA Champions League final four had no representation from either the Primera División or Serie A.

• The last European Champion Clubs' Cup season that featured not one semi-finalist from either Spain or Italy, or England for that matter, was the 1990/91 campaign.

• The 2004/05 first knockout round encounter between Lyon and Werder Bremen featured more goals (12) over its two legs than any previous UEFA Champions League knockout tie – as Lyon defeated Bremen 10-2.

• United's 7-1 victory against AS Roma in the 2006/07 campaign is the biggest victory in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final match. The previous best were Barcelona's 5-1 second-leg defeat after extra time of Chelsea (1999/00), RC Deportivo La Coruña's 4-0 return victory against AC Milan (2003/04) and United's 4-0 first-leg success against Porto (1996/97).

• The biggest European Cup quarter-final victory was Madrid's 8-0 first-leg defeat of Sevilla FC in the 1957/58 edition.

• Roma-United featured eleven goals over the two legs, a quarter-final record shared by Chelsea's 6-5 aggregate victory against Bayern in 2004/05 and Madrid's success by the same margin against United in 2002/03.

• There has never been a knockout tie ending goalless after two legs. Eight have finished 1-0 on aggregate, most recently Milan's narrow victory against Celtic after extra time in the 2006/07 first knockout round.

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:19CET Competition facts 1 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

• Clarence Seedorf is the only player to win the European Cup with three clubs (Ajax 1995, Madrid 1998 and Milan 2003 and 2007). Had Bayern gone all the way last season, Ottmar Hitzfeld would have joined Liverpool FC's Bob Paisley – 1977, 1978 and 1981 – as the only coach to win three times, having won with BV Borussia Dortmund in 1997 and Bayern in 2001.

• Hitzfeld and Ernst Happel (Feyenoord 1970, Hamburger SV 1983) are the only coaches to win with two clubs.

• If Arsenal FC, Chelsea FC, Fenerbahçe SK or AS Roma go all the way this season, it would be the first European Cup success for London, Istanbul or Rome. Only five capital cities have been successful in this way: Madrid (Real Madrid CF), Belgrade (FK Crvena Zvezda), Bucharest (FC Steaua Bucureşti), Amsterdam (AFC Ajax) and Lisbon (SL Benfica).

• Moscow was awarded the 2008 UEFA Champions League final after a decision by the UEFA Executive Committee at its meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia in October 2006. The Luzhniki Stadium, formerly known as the Grand Arena of the Central Lenin Stadium, was inaugurated in 1956. Owned by FC Torpedo Moskva, it is the biggest sports arena in Russia with 84,745 covered seats. The capacity reached 103,000 when the Luzhniki sports complex staged the Olympic Games in 1980, but was reduced following renovation work between 1995 and 1997. It is one of few major European stadiums to use an artificial pitch, having installed the UEFA-approved FieldTurf surface in 2002 to withstand the effects of the freezing winters, although the final will be played on a new natural grass pitch. Luzhniki held the 1999 UEFA Cup final between Parma FC and Olympique de Marseille, and also hosted the first UEFA Champions League match on artificial turf, between FC Spartak Moskva and Sporting Clube de Portugal, in September 2006.

• UEFA Champions League: Did you know?

• S.S. Lazio goalkeeper Marco Ballotta became the oldest player to compete in the UEFA Champions League when he featured against Olympiacos CFP on Matchday 1 at the age of 43 years and 168 days. The record was previously held by Alessandro Costacurta, the AC Milan defender who played against AEK Athens FC in 2006/07 at the age of 40 years and 211 days. Ballotta was aged 43 years 252 days when he featured against Real Madrid CF on Matchday 6. Laurent Blanc is the oldest player to score in the competition, aged 36 years and 339 days, having found the net for Manchester United FC in their 3-2 defeat of Olympiacos on 23 October 2002.

• Celestine Babayaro is the youngest player to have appeared in the UEFA Champions League. He was 16 years and 87 days old when he started for RSC Anderlecht against FC Steaua Bucureşti on 23 November 1994. He was then sent off in the 37th minute.

• UEFA Champions League: All-time records Biggest wins 8-0: Liverpool FC v Beşiktaş JK (06.11.2007) 7-0: Arsenal FC v SK Slavia Praha (23.10.2007) 7-0: Juventus v Olympiacos CFP (10.12.2003) 7-1: Manchester United FC v AS Roma (10.04.2007) 6-0: Olympique de Marseille v PFC CSKA Moskva (17.03.1993) 6-0: Leeds United AFC v Beşiktaş JK (26.09.2000) 6-0: Real Madrid CF v KRC Genk (25.09.2002)

Most goals in a game 8-3: AS Monaco FC v RC Deportivo La Coruña (05.11.2003) 7-2: Paris Saint-Germain FC v Rosenborg BK (24.10.2000) 7-2: Olympique Lyonnais v Werder Bremen (08.03.2005) Only one team has scored more than five goals in an away game: Manchester United FC, who won 6-2 at Brøndby IF in 1998/99.

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:19CET Competition facts 2 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Leading scorer in a season 12: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United FC, 2002/03) Kaká finished as top scorer in 2006/07 with ten goals for AC Milan.

Four goals in a match Marco van Basten (AC Milan 4-0 IFK Göteborg, 25.11.1992) Simone Inzaghi (S.S. Lazio 5-1 Olympique de Marseille, 14.03.2000) Dado Pršo (AS Monaco FC 8-3 RC Deportivo La Coruña, 05.11.2003) Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United FC 4-1 AC Sparta Praha, 03.11.2004) Andriy Shevchenko (Fenerbahçe SK 0-4 AC Milan, 23.11.2005) Of these four-goal hauls, Dado Pršo's against Deportivo was the quickest. He scored his first goal 26 minutes into the game and his fourth just 23 minutes later.

Fastest goal in a match 10.03 secs: Roy Makaay (FC Bayern München 2-1 Real Madrid CF, 07.03.2006) 20.07 secs: Gilberto (PSV Eindoven 0-4 Arsenal FC, 25.09.2002) 20.12 secs: Alessandro Del Piero (Manchester United FC 3-2 Juventus, 01.10.1997) 21.20 secs: Clarence Seedorf (FC Schalke 04 2-2 AC Milan, 28.09.2005) 25.40 secs: Marek Kincl (Club Brugge KV 3-2 SK Rapid Wien, 02.11.2005)

Fastest hat-tricks 9 mins: Mike Newell (Blackburn Rovers FC 4-1 Rosenborg BK, 06.12.1995) 19 mins: Marco Simone (Rosenborg BK 1-4 AC Milan, 25.09.1996) 19 mins: Dado Pršo (AS Monaco FC 8-3 RC Deportivo La Coruña, 05.11.2003) 21 mins: Sigurd Rushfeldt (Rosenborg BK 3-0 Galatasaray SK, 21.10.1998) 21 mins: Simone Inzaghi (S.S. Lazio 5-1 Olympique de Marseille, 14.03.2000)

Youngest players to score 17 years, 195 days: Peter Oforiquaye (Rosenborg BK 5-1 Olympiacos CFP, 01.10.1997) 17 years, 218 days: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal FC 5-1 Rosenborg BK, 07.12.2004) 17 years, 241 days: Martin Klein (Panathinaikos FC 2-1 AC Sparta Praha, 27.02.2002) 17 years, 353 days: Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyonnais 2-1 Rosenborg BK, 06.12.2005) 18 years, 61 days: Sammy Kuffour (FC Bayern München 2-2 FC Spartak Moskva, 02.11.1994) 18 years, 70 days: Andriy Shevchenko (FC Dynamo Kyiv 1-4 FC Bayern München, 07.12.1994) Peter Oforiquaye became the youngest player to score, but Celestine Babayaro is still the youngest to appear having begun RSC Anderlecht's game against FC Steaua Bucureşti on 23 November 1994, aged 16 years and 87 days.

Appearances: UEFA Champions League Note: This list considers group stage to final only; 116 Raúl González (Real Madrid CF) 114 Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid CF, Fenerbahçe SK) 109 Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) 103 David Beckham (Manchester United FC, Real Madrid CF) 103 Oliver Kahn (FC Bayern München) 101 Clarence Seedorf (AFC Ajax, Real Madrid CF, AC Milan) 100 Luís Figo (FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, FC Internazionale Milano) 100 Ryan Giggs (Manchester United FC) 98 Gary Neville (Manchester United FC) 98 Paul Scholes (Manchester United FC) 93 Andriy Shevchenko (FC Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea FC) 91 Claude Makelele (FC Nantes Atlantique, Real Madrid CF, Chelsea FC) 91 Thierry Henry (AS Monaco FC, Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona) 89 Fernando Morientes (Real Madrid CF, AS Monaco FC, Liverpool FC, Valencia CF) 89 Iván Helguera (Real Madrid CF, Valencia CF)

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:19CET Competition facts 3 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Goals: UEFA Champions League

61 Raúl González (Real Madrid CF) 53 Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United FC, Real Madrid CF) 47 Andriy Shevchenko (FC Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea FC) 45 Thierry Henry (AS Monaco FC, Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona) 42 Filippo Inzaghi (Juventus, AC Milan) 37 Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus)

Appearances: UEFA club competition

172 Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) 139 Luís Figo (Sporting, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, FC Internazionale Milano) 138 Oliver Kahn (Karslruher SC, FC Bayern München) 132 Clarence Seedorf (AFC Ajax, UC Sampdoria, Real Madrid CF, FC Internazionale Milano, AC Milan) 130 Frank de Boer (AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona, Galatasaray AS) 127 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (FC Bayern München, FC Internazionale Milano, Servette FC) 126 Roberto Carlos (FC Internazionale Milano, Real Madrid CF, Fenerbahçe SK) 125 Raúl González (Real Madrid CF) 122 Zinédine Zidane (AS Cannes, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid CF) 121 Alessandro Costacurta (AC Milan) 121 Phillip Cocu (SBV Vitesse, PSV Eindhoven, FC Barcelona)

Goals: UEFA club competition

63 Filippo Inzaghi (Parma FC, Juventus, AC Milan) 63 Raúl González (Real Madrid CF) 62 Gerd Müller (FC Bayern München) 60 Andriy Shevchenko (FC Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea FC) 57 Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United FC, Real Madrid CF) 56 Eusébio (SL Benfica) 56 Henrik Larsson (Feyenoord, Celtic FC, FC Barcelona, Manchester United FC, Helsingborgs IF) 53 Thierry Henry (AS Monaco FC, Juventus, Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona) 50 Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid CF) 47 Carlos Santillana (Real Madrid CF)

Goals: UEFA Champions League/European Champion Clubs' Cup Note: This list considers the all-time goalscorers list in both competitions including all qualifying round matches.

61 Raúl González (Real Madrid CF) 57 Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United FC, Real Madrid CF) 56 Andriy Shevchenko (FC Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea FC) 49 Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid CF) 47 Eusébio (SL Benfica) 46 Filippo Inzaghi (Juventus, AC Milan) 45 Thierry Henry (AS Monaco FC, Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona)

Last updated: 25.03.2008

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:19CET Competition facts 4 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Team facts

Arsenal FC

UEFA club competition milestones • In the 2005/06 season Arsenal advanced to the European Champion Clubs' Cup final for the first time although they had previously been involved in both UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Cup finals.

• Arsenal played in three UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals, triumphing in the 1993/94 season when they overcame Parma FC 1-0 thanks to Alan Smith's 22nd-minute goal. The other finals ended in narrow defeats by Valencia CF and Real Zaragoza in 1979/80 and 1994/95 respectively.

• Following their elimination from the 1999/00 UEFA Champions League at the end of the group stage, Arsenal advanced to the UEFA Cup final only to lose on penalties to Galatasaray SK at Copenhagen's Parken stadium.

UEFA Champions League milestones • Their finest UEFA Champions League campaign culminated on 17 May 2006 with a 2-1 defeat by FC Barcelona, after Sol Campbell had given the London club the lead in Paris.

UEFA club competition honours • UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1993/94

Ten-year record 2006/07: UEFA Champions League - first knockout round 2005/06: UEFA Champions League - runners-up 2004/05: UEFA Champions League - first knockout round 2003/04: UEFA Champions League - quarter-finals 2002/03: UEFA Champions League - second group stage 2001/02: UEFA Champions League - second group stage 2000/01: UEFA Champions League - quarter-finals 1999/00: UEFA Cup - finalists (having transferred from the UEFA Champions League group stage) 1998/99: UEFA Champions League - group stage 1997/98: UEFA Cup - first round

2006/07 season Domestic record: Arsenal again finished fourth in the English Premier League, level on 68 points with third-placed Liverpool FC. They were eight points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur FC and 15 points behind third-placed Chelsea FC, while champions Manchester United FC were a further six points ahead. They were eliminated in the fifth round of the FA Cup by Blackburn Rovers FC.

European record: Arsenal were making their ninth successive attempt at winning the UEFA Champions League. They reached the group stage by defeating NK Dinamo Zagreb in the third qualifying round. The English side and rivals FC Porto both recorded three victories and two draws from their six outings in Group G – to finish ahead of PFC CSKA Moskva and Hamburger SV – but Arsenal topped the standings due to their better head-to-head record against their Portuguese opponents. Arsenal lost 2-1 over two legs to PSV Eindhoven in the first knockout round.

Key facts UEFA club competition • Pld: 165 W: 80 D: 44 L: 41 GF: 260 GA: 159

UEFA Champions League (group stage to final) • Pld: 97 W: 44 D: 28 L: 25 GF: 136 GA: 94

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:20CET Team facts 1 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League • Pld: 111 W: 53 D: 29 L: 29 GF: 167 GA: 105

Records UEFA club competition • Biggest win 7-0: Arsenal FC v SK Slavia Praha 23.10.2007, UEFA Champions League group stage 0-7: R. Standard de Liège v Arsenal FC 03.11.1993, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round second leg

• Biggest home win 7-0: Arsenal FC v SK Slavia Praha (see above for details)

• Biggest away win 0-7: R. Standard de Liège v Arsenal FC (see above for details)

• Heaviest defeat 0-3: Arsenal FC v FC Internazionale Milano 17.09.2003, UEFA Champions League group stage 4-1: FC Spartak Moskva v Arsenal FC 22.11.2000, UEFA Champions League second group stage 3-0: FC Shakhtar Donetsk v Arsenal FC 07.11.2000, UEFA Champions League first group stage 2-5: Arsenal FC v SK Spartak Moskva 29.09.1982, UEFA Cup first round second leg

• Heaviest home defeat 0-3: Arsenal FC v FC Internazionale Milano (see above for details) 2-5: Arsenal FC v SK Spartak Moskva (see above for details)

• Heaviest away defeat 4-1: FC Spartak Moskva v Arsenal FC (see above for details) 3-0: FC Shakhtar Donetsk v Arsenal FC (see above for details)

UEFA Champions League (group stage to final only) • Biggest win 7-0: Arsenal FC v SK Slavia Praha (see above for details) • Biggest home win 7-0: Arsenal FC v SK Slavia Praha (see above for details) • Biggest away win 1-5: FC Internazionale Milano v Arsenal FC (see above for details) 0-4: PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal FC (see above for details)

• Heaviest defeat 4-1: FC Spartak Moskva v Arsenal FC (see above for details) 3-0: FC Shakhtar Donetsk v Arsenal FC (see above for details)

• Heaviest home defeat 0-3: Arsenal FC v FC Internazionale Milano (see above for details)

• Heaviest away defeat 4-1: FC Spartak Moskva v Arsenal FC (see above for details)

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:20CET Team facts 2 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Liverpool FC

UEFA club competition milestones • The most successful English club in UEFA competition history, Liverpool have won the European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League five times.

• Liverpool have also won the UEFA Cup on three occasions and the UEFA Super Cup three times, having lost five finals: the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1984/85 and 2006/07, the 1965/66 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the 1978 and 1984 UEFA Super Cup.

UEFA Champions League milestones • Winners in 2004/05, with a 3-2 shoot-out victory against AC Milan after a 3-3 draw in Istanbul, Liverpool were beaten 2-1 by the Rossoneri in the 2006/07 showpiece in Athens. Only once since their bow in 2001/02 have they failed to get beyond the group stage.

UEFA club competition honours • European Champion Clubs' Cup: 1976/77, 1977/78, 1980/81, 1983/84, 2004/05 • UEFA Cup: 1972/73, 1975/76, 2000/01 • UEFA Super Cup: 1977, 2001, 2005

Ten-year record (including current season) 2006/07: UEFA Champions League - runners-up 2005/06: UEFA Champions League - first knockout round 2004/05: UEFA Champions League - winners 2003/04: UEFA Cup - fourth round 2002/03: UEFA Cup - quarter-finals (having transferred from the UEFA Champions League group stage) 2001/02: UEFA Champions League - quarter-finals 2000/01: UEFA Cup - winners 1999/00: Did not compete in UEFA club competition 1998/99: UEFA Cup - third round 1997/98: UEFA Cup - second round

2006/07 season Domestic record: Liverpool again finished in third place in the Premier League. They were 15 points behind second-placed Chelsea FC and six points further adrift of the champions Manchester United FC. Third spot was enough to secure a place in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. They relinquished the FA Cup with a 3-1 home third-round defeat by Arsenal FC.

European record: The English side recorded four victories and a draw from their six outings to top Group C, three points clear of PSV Eindhoven, six ahead of FC Girondins de Bordeaux and nine in front of Galatasaray SK. They eliminated holders FC Barcelona in the first knockout round, going through on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw. It was more comfortable in the quarter-finals as PSV were dispatched 4-0 over two legs before a meeting with old foes Chelsea in the last four. A 1-1 draw after 210 minutes of football led to penalties at Anfield, which Liverpool won 4-1. They fell short in the final, however, as Milan gained revenge for the 2005 defeat with a 2-1 success in Athens.

Key facts UEFA club competition • Pld: 264 W: 149 D: 57 L: 58 GF: 471 GA: 216

UEFA Champions League (group stage to final) • Pld: 62 W: 30 D: 18 L: 14 GF: 90 GA: 47

European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League • Pld: 153 W: 89 D: 32 L: 32 GF: 282 GA: 118

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:20CET Team facts 3 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Records UEFA club competition • Biggest win 11-0: Liverpool FC v Strømgodset IF 17.09.1974, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup first round first leg

• Biggest home win 11-0: Liverpool FC v Strømgodset IF (see above for details)

• Biggest away win 0-5: FC Haka v Liverpool FC 08.08.2001, European Champion Clubs' Cup third qualifying round first leg 0-5: Crusaders FC v Liverpool FC 28.09.1976, European Champion Clubs' Cup first round second leg 0-5: KR Reykjavík v Liverpool FC 17.08.1964, European Champion Clubs' Cup preliminary round first leg

• Heaviest defeat 5-1: AFC Ajax v Liverpool FC 07.12.1966, European Champion Clubs' Cup second round leg

• Heaviest home defeat 0-2: Liverpool FC v SL Benfica 08.03.2006, UEFA Champions League first knockout round second leg 0-2: Liverpool FC v Celtic FC 20.03.2003, UEFA Cup quarter-finals second leg 1-3: Liverpool FC v FC Barcelona 20.11.2001, UEFA Champions League second group stage 0-2: Liverpool FC v FC Spartak Moskva 04.11.1992, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round second leg

• Heaviest away defeat 5-1: AFC Ajax v Liverpool FC (see above for details)

UEFA Champions League (group stage to final only) • Biggest win 8-0: Liverpool FC v Beşiktaş JK 06.11.2007, UEFA Champions League group stage

• Biggest home win 8-0: Liverpool FC v Beşiktaş JK (see above for details)

• Biggest away win 0-4: Olympique de Marseille v Liverpool FC 11.12.2007, UEFA Champions League group stage

• Heaviest defeat 0-2: Liverpool FC v SL Benfica (see above for details) 2-0: Valencia CF v Liverpool FC 17.09.2002, UEFA Champions League group stage 4-2: Bayer 04 Leverkusen v Liverpool FC 09.04.2002, UEFA Champions League quarter-finals second leg 1-3: Liverpool FC v FC Barcelona (see above for details)

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:20CET Team facts 4 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

• Heaviest home defeat 0-2: Liverpool FC v SL Benfica (see above for details) 1-3: Liverpool FC v FC Barcelona (see above for details)

• Heaviest away defeat 2-0: Valencia CF v Liverpool FC (see above for details) 4-2: Bayer 04 Leverkusen v Liverpool FC (see above for details)

Last updated: 13.03.2008

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:20CET Team facts 5 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Competition information

UEFA's most prestigious club competition was originally created as the European Champion Clubs' Cup for the 1955/56 season, before its revamping as the UEFA Champions League in 1992.

• Away goals: If the two teams involved in a tie score the same number of goals over the two legs, the team which scores more away goals qualifies for the next stage. If this procedure does not produce a result, extra time of two periods of 15 minutes shall be played at the end of the second leg. If, during extra time, both teams score the same number of goals, away goals count double. If no goals are scored during extra time, kicks from the penalty mark determine which club qualifies for the next stage.

• Disciplinary information: As a rule, a player who is sent off is suspended for the next match in a UEFA club competition. The Control and Disciplinary Body is entitled to augment this punishment. In the case of repeated cautions, a player is suspended for one match after three cautions in three different matches, as well as following any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc). Single yellow cards and pending suspensions are always carried forward either to the next stage of the competition or to another club competition in the current season.

• Locally-trained players rule: In February 2005, UEFA announced the 'A' list that teams submit for UEFA club competitions will continue to be limited to 25 players, and from season 2007/08, at least six places will be reserved for players trained by the club's own football academy of which half can be players trained by other clubs from within the same association of the said club. The 'B' list will also continue to exist – involving an unlimited number of Under-21 players who have been at the club for two seasons. In 2006/07, the number of locally-trained players required began at four but the current six will rise to eight in 2008/09, with up to half of each figure allowed to be association trained. A club-trained player is defined as a player who has been registered for a minimum of three seasons with the club between the age of 15 and 21, whereas an association-trained player is one who has been registered for at least three seasons by the club or by other clubs affiliated to the same association between the age of 15 and 21.

• Player registration: UEFA regulations state that for all UEFA Champions League matches from the start of the first knockout round, a club may register a maximum of three new eligible players within their squad of 25 for the remaining matches in the current competition. One player from the above quota of three who has played UEFA club competition matches for another competing club in the current season may exceptionally be registered, provided that the player has not been fielded by another club in the UEFA Champions League this season.

• Financial information: UEFA estimate the gross income for the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League is €824.5m. Under competition regulations, 75 per cent of the total revenue received from television and commercial contracts concluded by UEFA, up to a maximum of €530m, will go to the 32 teams taking part in the group stage of Europe's premier club competition. The remaining 25 per cent is earmarked for European football and remains with UEFA to cover organisational and administrative costs, as well as for solidarity payments to associations, clubs and leagues. It is also stipulated that participating clubs will receive 82 per cent of any revenue received from the same stream in excess of €530m, with the remaining 18 per cent allocated to UEFA for European football. In addition, 50 per cent of the revenue received from new media contracts concluded by UEFA will also be available for distribution to the clubs, and the remaining 50 per cent will be allocated to the above-mentioned European football portion/quota.

According to projections, the estimated €824.5m will be made up of €819m from TV and commercial contracts and €5.5m from new media contracts. The total amount to be distributed to the clubs is €588.6m. Each of the 32 clubs in the group stage will receive a starting bonus of €3m. In addition, they will receive a match bonus of €400,000 per match. Performance bonuses will amount to €600,000 for a win and €300,000 for a draw in the group stage. The 16 teams playing in the first knockout round will receive €2.2m, the eight quarter-finalists €2.5m each and the four semi-finalists €3m each. The UEFA Champions League winners will receive €7m, and the runners-up €4m.

• Disclaimer: Although UEFA has taken all reasonable care that the information contained within this document is accurate at the time of publication, no representation or guarantee (including liability towards third parties), expressed or implied, is made as to its accuracy, reliability or completeness. Therefore, UEFA assumes no liability for the use or interpretation of information contained herein.

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:20CET Competition information 1 Arsenal FC - Liverpool FC Wednesday 2 April 2008 - 20.45 CET MATCH PRESS KIT Arsenal Stadium, London

Legend

:: All-time statistics The all-time record of the competing clubs in UEFA club competition.

UEFA club competition: These are the official statistics considered valid for communicating official records in UEFA club competition defined as the European Champion Clubs' Cup, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1960-1999), the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup (1973 - ), the UEFA Intertoto Cup and the European/South American Cup (1960-2004). Matches in the Inter-Cities' Fairs Cup and the 1972 Super Cup are included only for information as these were not held under UEFA auspices, while the FIFA Club World Cup is excluded.

Goals for/against: Goals totals include the outcome of disciplinary decisions (eg. match forfeits when a 3-0 result is determined). Goals totals do not include goals scored from the penalty mark during a penalty shoot-out after a tie ended in a draw.

:: Squad list The eligible list of players ordered first by playing position and then numeric order. Current season - UCLQ: Total UEFA Champions League appearances in qualifying rounds only. Current season - UCL: Total UEFA Champions League appearances from the group stage onwards prior to the current matchday. All-time - UCL: Total appearances in the UEFA Champions League from the 1992/93 season, group stage to final only. These are the official statistics considered valid for communicating official records in the competition. All-time - UEFA: Total appearances in UEFA club competition (as defined above) including all qualifying round matches. These are the official statistics considered valid for communicating official records in the competition. Age: based on the date press kit was last updated BL: Booking list (*: misses next match if booked, S: suspended) :: Match officials The match officials appointed to officiate the fixture. UCL: Total matches officiated in the UEFA Champions League from 1992/93 season, group stage to final only. Matches where the official has acted as the fourth official are not included in these statistics. These are the official statistics considered valid for communicating official records. UEFA: Total matches officiated in UEFA club competition including all qualifying round matches. Matches where the official has acted as the fourth official are not included in these statistics. These are the official statistics considered valid for communicating official records. :: Competitions Club competitions ECCC: European Champions Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League UCUP: UEFA Cup • UCWC: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup SCUP: UEFA Super Cup • UIC: UEFA Intertoto Cup National team competitions EURO: UEFA European Football Championship • U21: UEFA European Under-21 Championship WC: FIFA World Cup • CONFCUP: Confederation Cup FRIE: Friendly internationals • U21FRIE: Under-21 friendly internationals U21: UEFA European Under-21 Championship U19: UEFA Under-19 Championship • U18: UEFA European Under-18 Championship :: Competition stages :: Other Abbreviations F: Final QR3: Third qualifying round AP: Appearances No: Number GS: Group stage R1: First round Comp.: Competition Pld: Matches played GS1: First group stage R2: Second round D: Drawn Pos.: Position GS2: Second group stage R3: Third round DoB: Date of birth Pts: Points KO1: First knockout round R4: Fourth round GA: Goals against R: Sent off (red card) PR: Preliminary round SF: Semi-finals GF: Goals for Res.: Result QF: Quarter-finals 1/8: Eighth-finals L: Lost W: Won QR: Qualifying round 1/16: Sixteenth-finals Nat.: Nationality Y: Booked QR1: First qualifying round 1st: first leg N/a: Not Applicable Y/R: Sent off (yellow card then direct QR2: Second qualifying round 2nd: second leg red) FT: Final tournament P-O: Play-off :: Statistics (-) : Denotes player substituted (+) : Denotes player introduced (*) : Denotes player dismissed/sent off (+/-) : Denotes player introduced and substituted

Last updated 01.04.2008 9:38:21CET Legend 1