Liverpool cup hero backs today's stars

Last updated : 21 March 2002 By Ananova


Liverpool's European Cup hero David Fairclough believes the Reds have little to fear in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Fairclough was at Anfield to witness the 2-0 defeat of Roma to clinch a place in the last eight.

The manner of the victory took him back 25 years, to when St Etienne were beaten 3-2 in the semi-finals of the European Cup with Fairclough netting the winner.

He said: "I don't think they have anything to be scared of in Europe. All the teams, with the exception of Real Madrid, have all had bad moments.

"In knockout competitions Liverpool probably have a lot of confidence given their results last year when they won the treble. That was good experience for them.

"Maybe the format suited them more than the league where they were more cat and mouse and cagey.

"Liverpool are now showing they can play in a number of ways. There is so much reliance on Michael Owen to score goals, but they are more than that.

"Sometimes when he isn't there it just makes one or two others take responsibility, and I thought Emile Heskey was magnificent.

"These lads are now fighting back a little bit. They have taken criticism from Roma and Barcelona and even on the home front.

"They are now actually saying, 'We are a good side and can surprise a few people'."