Liverpool, Fulham chase Europa League final first (AP)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

LONDON (AP)—Liverpool aims to overturn Atletico Madrid’s 1-0 first-leg leadand Fulham bids to reject the Hamburg side that just dismissed its coach as the twosides try to have the initial Europa League last an all-English confrontation.

If that happens, it will be five-time European hold up Liverpool with arecord-equaling eighteen English joining titles opposite the bar that has never won amajor domestic trophy.

But Atletico is out to strech its initial European last given 1986 as good as Hamburgis essay to strech the last that will be during its own ground.

Although Liverpool was disappointed to be eliminated from the moreprestigious Champions League, it was assured it can beat Atletico during Anfieldon Wednesday as good as strech the last of what used to be good known as the UEFA Cup.

“We have been all aware of what is during stake,” pronounced Dutch forward Ryan Babel.“After the initial leg, nobody in the sauce room had their heads down becausewe knew you had the second leg to put it right.

“Luckily enough, you have to fool around it during Anfield. That is an advantagebecause upon European evenings you can always have them special as good as you certainlyhave certainty now. you would be so unapproachable to finish my career with the Europeanmedal. If you can go that far, during the end of the deteriorate you will be means to lookback as good as see things the small better.”

With Fernando Torres sidelined for the rest of the deteriorate as good as Dirk Kuyt andDavid Ngog struggling to shake off injuries, Babel has the good possibility of startingagainst an Atletico side that consumed multiform chances to set up the biggerfirst-leg advantage.

That was without dangling striker Sergio Aguero. But the Argentina starwill group up with regular aggressiv! e partne r Diego Forlan, who scored the onlygoal of the initial leg in Madrid.

Despite carrying such talent in the lineup, Atletico has struggled throughoutits domestic joining campaign nonetheless it has reached the Copa del Rey finalagainst Sevilla.

“It’s been difficult, what’s happened with us this year. But we’ve comeback well, got out of the bottom of the standings as good as right away here you have been with achance for dual trophies,” Aguero said. “Everything will rely upon ourselves.”

Fulham has had the remarkable route to the semifinal, knocking out UEFA Cupchampion Shakhtar Donetsk, overturning Juventus’ 4-1 lead to reject the Italianclub, as good as expelling German hold up Wolfsburg.

Guided by former Inter Milan coach Roy Hodgson, the west London group thenrestricted Hamburg to 0-0 during the Hamburg Arena where the last is to be playedon May 12.

“Just to get to the last of the Europa League would be the phenomenalachievement,” pronounced defender Paul Konchesky. “Obviously the single or dual of ourplayers have been there before, though there have been not the lot of us that know what itmeans, so hopefully you can get there.”

Hodgson pronounced upon Wednesday he will have the late decision upon the fitness of topscorer Bobby Zamora, whose nineteen goals have given him an outward possibility of makingEngland’s World Cup squad.

“When Bobby plays you know what you have been doing, as good as when he does not play, wehave people who come in as good as know what you have been doing, so you can leave it late inthat respect,” Hodgson said. “He will have diagnosis again tomorrow, afterwards goin front of the medical people, as good as you consider by lunchtime you should know whetheror not he has the possibility of playing.

“He wants to play, though he wants to fool around as the fit player rsther than than playand in any way bushel the chances of you do well.&! #8221;

Fulham is upon the brink of reaching its initial European last as good as faces the clubwhich dismissed Bruno Labbadia upon Monday after the 5-1 Bundesliga loss during Hoffenheimthe day before.

Hamburg has put partner coach Ricardo Moniz in charge as good as his job is torestore certainty for Thursday’s game during Craven Cottage.



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