I bet you do!
Even though I was unlucky enough to miss your final against Milan in '05, Liverpool were also the ultimate winners of easily one of the most compelling games of football if seen in my lifetime.
In the intervening years, I suppose few Liverpool fans have asked themselves what happened to Alavés, a small team who were playing their first ever cup final that night. Having spent most of the intervening years in the lower divisions, many in Spain's regionalised, 80-team third level, they've never climbed anywhere as remotely high as a UEFA Cup final since.
Not until tonight at any rate, when they'll take to the field in Spain's Copa del Rey final to an FC Barcelona side they already beat at the Camp Nou earlier this season. Their second-ever final. Their second-ever shot at glory.
A lovely little subplot to the game links back to that 2001 UEFA Cup final in the person of Manu García, who is set to captain his side. Oddly enough, even though he was far too young to play the 2001, his name was printed on the shirt worn by Alavés all those years ago in Dortmund.
Feel free to share your memories on that 2001 final, leave your best wishes for Alavés in the mammoth task facing them tonight and, for anyone with a broader interest in football, check out the Manu García and Alavés story in the beatiful article from The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/may/26/alaves-barcelona-copa-del-rey-final-2017-manu-garcia
Remember Alavés?
posted on 27/5/17
I watched that game at the astolat pub in Guildford not far from the uni of Surrey.
I expected us to give them a good beating beforehand
Still a great game and epic cup final
posted on 27/5/17
2-0 up so quickly..
Fowler coming off the bench with a superb finish
And an own goal to hand us victory..
posted on 27/5/17
We scored from a corner
posted on 27/5/17
I suppose it must have been tragic if you were an Alavés fan. Your first and possibly only ever shot at a European title, to come back from going 2-0 down inside 20 minutes, 3-1 and 4-3 down, be clinging on with 10 men in extra time, get your captain sent off to make it 9 and then lose to a golden fackin' own goal... that's gotta hurt!!!
It was fascinating from the Alavés side - on the one hand their refusal to be beaten, and on the other a kind of fear of heights at the prospect of being able to win it.
It's too long ago for me to remember that game chance by chance, but Liverpool never trailed and I can't clearly recall if Alavés actually had any clear chances to win it right at the end of regulation or in extra time.
posted on 27/5/17
Epic game that one, will live long in the memory. Comfortable win for Barca tonight to salvage something from a poor season however.
posted on 27/5/17
The Europa League final on Wednesday night was still a bigger gulf in quality than that night. Fair play to Alaves in the UEFA Cup though, highly doubt you'd see that sort of reputation side reach the final nowadays.
posted on 27/5/17
We had a great team that night. Gerrard, Mcallister, Owen..I remember Alaves wearing similar to Boca Juniors shirt for some reason.
posted on 27/5/17
Good luck to Alavés
posted on 28/5/17
Plucky losers again.
posted on 28/5/17
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