Chelsea's semi-final was sandwiched between Wigan at home and Portsmouth at Fratton Park. The former was seen as a nice stroll in the park under the sunshine where Jermaine Pennant proved again his worth and Dirk Kuyt notched two goals in a personal great performance which must have done his confidence no harm. Some of the chosen eleven for the latter though must have had a strange sensation. With the exception of Xabi Alonso most of the chosen eleven must have taken it as a message that they have been over looked for the big, big match on the following Tuesday at Anfield against Chelsea, just one step away from Athens. For others it was the chance to don the Liverpool shirt in an official match for the first time. The first half just struttered on and Liverpool went two goals down. No surprise there and no time for shaking heads either. Everyone's mind was somewhere else. A weird and nauseating feeling.

The second half started in the same manner and it had to be Jerzy Dudek that kept Liverpool in the game with a superb block. Sami Hyypia then reminded us of his better days with a great header from a corner. This best signing by Gerard Houllier has been instrumental through the years, made defending look easy, had some of the best positional sense ever witnessed and could chip in his fair share of goals too. This year has been his nadir though, at thirty-three his legs started to wobble and the Danish Daniel Agger gradually took his place alongside Jamie Carragher.

Chelsea away, what did I make of it? It seems Rafael Benitez was extremely disappointed with the lads' performance and resulted in an unfamiliar big rant in the dressing-room. The result was disappointing and let's face it if it was the other way round I would have been made up with a one-nil victory at Anfield. Still today on May Day and just hours before kick-off I am far from disheartened and I just can't wait for it even though let's face it with a sense of trepidation. It goes with the territory, there is so much at stake and the opponents aren't from foreign shores which we usually admire from afar. They come from London, got players who you would joyfully kick and poke all day and a manager who loves the sound of his voice and in a way conducts himself like your typical Cockney car dealer which he manages well considering his dark looks.

The below par performance has been used by Rafael Benitez as a stick to beat his Iberian enemy with. We played badly and they could only score one goal, or something in that vein. There is no need for paper cuttings on the dressing-room wall, I am sure The Kop will be shaking the dressing room walls from hours before. That alone, never mind the lure of a place at Athens and the Shiny Big Ears is much, much more than enough. If any player needs more motivation from that he is not of the flesh and blood variety.

Being May Day, how sweeter and poignant it would be for our club founded on Bill Shankly's Socialist ethics to beat the bourgeoisie funded by Abrahmovic's millions.

Make us dream indeed.