Gerrard displays value to Liverpool

Liverpool 2 Milan 1

Steven Gerrard and Milan Baros guided Liverpool got a morale-boosting win here in the third-place play-off for the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy here last night. The England midfielder showed why he is so important to the Anfield cause by setting up Liverpool's two goals; the first a free-kick which Dario Simic sliced into his own net and the second an inch-perfect cross for Baros to head home.

Gérard Houllier, the Liverpool manager, will have been pleased by Baros's performance. The Czech youngster gave a hint of his potential by causing the great Paolo Maldini constant problems.

Djimi Traoré also showed what he is capable of with a sold display in defence, where he played at full-back and centre-back and produced two goal-saving challenges.

With Real Madrid facing Bayern Munich almost three hours later, Liverpool and Milan took the field in front of less than 10,000 fans long before the heat of the afternoon had time to dissipate.

There was still no place for Michael Owen in attack, with Baros given his chance next to Emile Heskey while Abel Xavier was left out after suffering a knee injury during Saturday's training session.

Liverpool got off to a bright start and in the very first minute Traoré found space on the left, but misplaced his pass to Nick Barmby. Next it was Baros's turn to find space, however, Emile Heskey's touch let him down as he tried a return pass.

Another mistake from Heskey midway inside his own half gave Milan the chance to break, but Sami Hyypia was on hand to block Massimo Ambrosini as he advanced on goal.

Liverpool should have taken the lead after 11 minutes when Heskey headed wide when he should have hit the target.

Andrei Shevchenko's first touch surprisingly let him down and allowed a grateful Chris Kirkland to gather at his feet and as Milan continued to look dangerous. Andrea Pirlo sent a free-kick into the side-netting with Kirkland at full stretch.

As the half progressed, the ground began to slowly fill up with fans arriving for the Real Madrid game later on; however, some of them may have regretted not having stayed longer at home as the game became scrappy.

Liverpool had an amazing let-off on 29 minutes, when Shevchenko found space on the right and sent a low cross to Jon Dahl Tomasson unmarked three yards from goal. However, the Dane showed the form he showed at Newcastle, rather than Feyenoord, as he somehow managed to scoop the ball over the bar.

Simic could have done with doing the same at the other end a minute later, but he could only slice a Gerrard free-kick past the helpless Dida to give Liverpool the lead.

Baros made it 2-0 on 35 minutes, once again Gerrard supplied the ammunition and the Czech striker placed a neat header into the bottom corner.