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Gerrard aims to stand out
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) -- Liverpool's long overdue return to a European cup final gives Steven Gerrard a chance to show why he's destined to grow into one of the biggest names in English soccer. Gerard Houllier's star studded team takes on modest Alaves in the UEFA Cup final in Dortmund, Germany, on Wednesday in Liverpool's first final since that tragic 1985 Champions Cup game at Brussels' Heysel Stadium where 39 mostly Juventus fans were killed in a riot. The Reds have already won England's two domestic cups -- the League Cup in February over Birmingham City, and the FA Cup on Saturday 2-1 over Arsenal on Michael Owen's two late goals. While Liverpool chases another title, 1.83-meter (6-foot-2) Gerrard aims to stand head and shoulders above the rest. Michael Owen and Emile Heskey have been banging in the goals while Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz have shored up a leaky defense. But the emergence of 20-year-old Gerrard as a versatile, hardworking midfielder with a strong tackle and powerful shot has been the main reason why Liverpool has recaptured the sort of form that made it a powerhouse team of the 1970s and 80s. After a decade of living in the shadow of Manchester United, which has won the league title seven times in the last nine seasons, the Merseyside team at last is gunning for a European title to go with the four Champions Cups and two UEFA Cups it won between 1973 and '84. It hasn't been in a European final since 1985 and Gerrard wants to make Wednesday's game against Alaves a successful one. Gerrard has the build to be a dominant force in the midfield battle. But the fact that he has reached that height by growing quickly in the last few years has created problems. The rapid growth put such a strain on his body that he would wake up so stiff the day after a game. Then he would be unable to play or even train for several more days, ruling him out of important games. The problem seems to be easing and the young midfielder is confident of facing Alaves just four days after Saturday's win over Arsenal. Gerrard is considered one of England's stars of the future and the UEFA Cup final gives him a golden chance to make his mark. "Me being so young and seeing what this club has achieved in the past, it's down to we young players to put more trophies in the cabinet," Gerrard said. "We have still got a lot to learn as a team and, when we do, that's when we can challenge Manchester United for the title and do well in the Champions Cup. We have got to do a lot better in the league and get ourselves in the Champions Cup and do well in that competition. "To get into three cup finals and the top three in the league is a terrific achievement," he said. "It's our aim to do well in the league, start winning cups again and do well in the Champions Cup." Gerrard, whose team ousted Italian league leader AS Roma and Spanish soccer giant FC Barcelona on the way to the final, admits he doesn't know much about Alaves. "I had never really heard of Alaves before only the last couple of months. It's over these couple of months that I took note. It's going to be a very hard game. It's a massive competition and they wouldn't have achieved it without a lot of hard work." The midfielder laughed when he was told that Alaves coach Jose Manuel Esnal picked him out as the biggest danger to his team. "He's got big problems if he's only worried about me because we have got some great players," said Gerrard, who will be watchful of all the Alaves players. "We will give them the same respect as we gave Barcelona and Roma."
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