Strength of will was enough to win the Champions League final on a famous night in Istanbul but, two years on, this was a final decided by details, by individuals and critical moments — and AC Milan enjoyed the best of them. Having seized the lead, the Italians were not going to have the trophy snatched from their grasp, even if Dirk Kuyt’s late goal for Liverpool did, momentarily, raise the prospect of another outrageous Liverpool comeback.

The Dutchman’s 89th- minute header caused a late flurry of excitement, and had Rafael Benítez complaining that his team had not been given the allotted three extra minutes, but the truth was that Milan had shown a cutting edge that their opponents had lacked — not only last night but for much of the season. The Liverpool manager was happy to admit as much afterwards.

Benítez talked enviously of the individual quality of Milan’s forwards and, in doing so, he hoped to remind his American bosses that he needs many millions of pounds to attract the likes of David Villa, Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o this summer.

His use of Steven Gerrard as an auxiliary striker last night may have been tactical but it also highlighted a lack of confidence in the forwards that he himself had brought to Anfield.

Expert View

This was a pale imitation of the 2005 European Cup Final

Joe Lovejoy

• More

• Post a comment

BACKGROUND

• View from the stands

• No way back for Liverpool

• Show clearly not for the benefit of Mr Kuyt

• Italian press quick to rub salt into the wound

• Right tactics but you need luck too

Multimedia

• European Cup Final 2007

• AC Milan v Liverpool clockwatch

Milan had been fortunate with the first, deflected goal from Filippo Inzaghi but they had added to it in the 82nd minute with a second of ruthless efficiency from the striker, running on to Kaká’s through-ball as Jamie Carragher belatedly tried to catch him offside. It was the sort of finish that Liverpool could not muster, and which confirmed to Benítez that he must overhaul his roster of forwards. Only Kuyt is certain to remain.

Peter Crouch was a late substitute but Craig Bellamy did not even make it off the bench. And Robbie Fowler spent his last night as a Liverpool player sat forlornly in the stands.

Victory secured Milan’s seventh European Cup after their third final in five seasons; a formidable record and respect was shown when Gerrard gave Gennaro Gattuso an embrace at the end. It was hard for anyone to begrudge Milan as Paolo Maldini, one of the very greatest of footballers, went up to collect the trophy and a winner’s medal for the fifth time.

Liverpool had looked a match for them in the first half but Benítez had predicted that the first goal could be crucial. He knew how hard it would be for his team to come from behind and his words were to become a prophecy, as he must have feared they might.

It was all the more galling that the critical opening strike should come against the run of play and in the seconds before the interval. Liverpool had never looked more assured and determined than in the minutes before Milan took the lead through a deflected free kick.

It was Xabi Alonso who conceded it, knocking Kaká to the ground close enough to the penalty area to spread a tremor of worry through every Liverpool supporter. Andrea Pirlo’s set-piece diverted off the upper arm of Inzaghi, seemingly the sort of slice of luck that the striker has enjoyed all his career, although he claimed that it had been rehearsed.

Suddenly, Benítez had another salvage job to perform in the interval. His team were not trailing 3-0, as two years ago, but their confidence had suffered a huge blow. In Istanbul they knew that they had been outplayed. How much worse last night to know that they did not deserve to be behind.

No one had covered more ground in the first half than Jermaine Pennant, dashing up and down to good effect. Steve McClaren has been considering right-wing candidates, including David Beckham, of late, and Pennant will certainly have caught his eye as he caused all sorts of problems for Marek Jankulovski. Pennant might have scored after ten minutes but Dida parried.

Boudewijn Zenden was making considerably less headway on the other wing but, strategically, Benítez must have been happy with the way the game was unfolding. Gerrard was proving as versatile as ever in his role behind Kuyt, driving at the Milan defence with the ball at his feet, while Alonso and Javier Mascherano were quick to the tackle in the holding roles.

But the goal would change everything. Liverpool were suddenly required to take risks, which was bound to leave more space for Kaká to exploit. “We were going forward but leaving big spaces,” Benítez said. “And they had some players who, even isolated, could change the game.” He was not afraid to admit that his team lacked that match-winning talent.

He had Gerrard but, after the captain drove at Milan and barged past Alessandro Nesta, he had to manoeuvre his body around the ball so that he could shoot with his right foot. A precious second had been lost and Dida saved comfortably.

By now, Benítez had summoned Harry Kewell from the bench to replace Zenden but again it was Gerrard who went closest with a long-range drive.

More attacking reinforcements were required and on came Crouch for Mascherano but the next goal was to come at the other end.

Eight minutes were left when Kaká threaded the ball through to Inzaghi. For about the first time all season, Carragher hesitated, allowing the forward to skip past José Manuel Reina.

Kuyt struck with his close-range header but it was too late.

“We need to take two steps forward this summer,” Benítez said. Give me the money, in other words.