Match Pictures | The Road To Seville | Matches: 2002 – 2003
Trivia
- UEFA Cup 2002/03: The Road To Seville
- Second leg, Celtic go thru 3-1 on aggregate.
- Celtic scored in their 50th consecutive game…
- …and sent Liverpool crashing out of the Uefa Cup with a convincing victory.
- There was a realisation that night for the Celtic support of just how good we were, before this there were still hesitation about the Celtic side. Beating Blackburn was seen as a big thing, but after this that was small fry and we had really returned to the European stage with respect due from all comers. The hiatus was over and we were challengers for a European Trophy again.
Review
After a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park, Celtic knew they needed to come out and attack from the off and they were more than willing to do so. They were soon on the offensive with Thompson intercepting a stray Hamann pass in a dangerous area before shooting over.
Henrik Larsson curled a free-kick from 30 yards that Jerzy Dudek acrobatically turned around the post. Larsson’s strike partner Hartson was a constant menace for the Liverpool defence and he was just off target with two headers.
Steven Gerrard went close with a fine strike from well outside the area that Rab Douglas did well to parry out for a corner.
But for much of the opening period Liverpool looked content to sit back and absorb the pressure, knowing a 0-0 draw would be good enough. That was always likely to be a dangerous game against side who went into the tie having scored in their previous 49 outings. It was little surprise when they made it 50 on the stroke of half-time when Thompson scored from a free-kick.
Larsson could have added a second when he was one-on-one with the keeper, but Jamie Carragher got back well to deflect his first effort and the Swede’s second attempt was wide of the mark.
Dudek had to be at his best to tip over as Larsson again threatened from a corner.
But he could do little about Hartson’s stunning strike that made sure of the win and a place in the semis.
Martin O’Neill pre-match team talk
Here is an extract from Neil Lennon’s autobiography, ( Lennon, Neil (2006) Neil Lennon: Man and Bhoy. HarperSport, ISBN-10: 0007233477) which describes gaffer Martin O’Neill’s famously inspirational speech at Anfield prior to the game.
“Everyone, but everyone, had predicted our demise, but at that point Martin showed his mettle. In the dressing room before the match he gave us an unforgettable talk. I personally do not think we needed much motivation as we were all sure of ourselves and positive that we would compete and get a result. Yet Martin’s words inspired us to even greater heights of determination. He looked around the dressing room and pointed out young Shaun Maloney. ‘This is a European quarter-final and this boy is only nineteen, but he might never get this opportunity again.’ He looked around the older guys and added: ‘You guys in your thirties probably won’t get the opportunity again to prove a point, to prove to England and Europe that you deserve respect, and that you are worthy of respect, and that you are worthy of a place in the semi-finals.’ He made his points tellingly in his usual manner and did so in two or three minutes, yet by the time he had finished we were ready to go out and run through brick walls if we needed to.”
Teams
Liverpool:-
Dudek, Carragher, Traore, Hyypia, Riise, Murphy, Hamann, Gerrard, Smicer (Baros 56), Heskey, Owen.
Subs not used:- Arphexad, Berger, Diao, Biscan, Cheyrou, Mellor.
Celtic:-
Douglas, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Sylla (Smith 86), Lennon, Lambert (McNamara 73), Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Hartson.
Subs not used:- Marshall, Laursen, Maloney, Guppy, Crainey.
Goals:- Thompson 45, Hartson 82.
Booked: Mjallby, Sylla, Thompson, Douglas.
Att:- 44,238
Ref:- Markus Merk (Germany)
Match Pictures
Articles
- I Was There…. Celtic defeat 2-0 Liverpool at Anfield on Road to Seville (UEFA Cup)
- Clockwatch (BBC)
- Celtic brush L’pool aside (BBC)
- John Murray – Celtic win deserved (BBC)
- Hartson & Thommo Interview (BBC)
- Lambert hits out at critics.
- Houllier downcast after loss
Quotes
“So we’ve got the away goal, just right on half time,” recalls Lennon. “It was such a huge boost for us. We were pretty happy with the way we played in the first 45 minutes. Martin asked for more of the same; just defend for your life and be brave on the ball when you can.”
As Liverpool pressed in vain for an equaliser, Celtic struggled to retain possession and were under the cosh until a frustrated verbal exchange between Lennon and striker John Hartson sparked the giant striker into life.
“About half an hour into the second half, big John [Hartson]’s going through a wee dodgy period and gave the ball away a couple of times,” said Lennon. “So I said ‘hey, you, you hold that ball’.
“Then he turned round to me and said ‘you shut up or I will rip your head off’. Something like that, words to that effect anyway. Two minutes later I played it into him and he shrugged off Hyppia, played a one two with Henrik [Larsson] and lashed one into the top corner.
“That was the best moment for me in the whole tournament that goal. Just to see the big man wheel away to our fans and looking at our bench and you know that you are 3-1 up with 10 minutes to go and there is just no way back for Liverpool.”
Neil Lennon
Articles
Celtic brush aside Liverpool
BBC
Celtic sent Liverpool crashing out of the Uefa Cup with a convincing victory at Anfield.
An Alan Thompson free-kick and a stunning strike from John Hartson secured a relatively comfortable passage for Martin O’Neill’s side into the semi-finals. It was another lacklustre display from a Liverpool side who are left with little to play for in a disappointing season.
After a 1-1 draw in Scotland, Celtic knew they needed to come out and attack from the off and they were more than willing to do so. Liverpool’s Dietmar Hamann went close in the early stages with a vicious shot after Vladimir Smicer had dummied a Danny Murphy corner.
But Celtic were soon on the offensive with Thompson intercepting a stray Hamann pass in a dangerous area before shooting over. Henrik Larsson curled a free-kick from 30 yards that Jerzy Dudek acrobatically turned around the post. Larsson’s strike partner Hartson was a constant menace for the Liverpool defence and he was just off target with two headers.
He nodded just over from a Paul Lambert free-kick before heading wide from a fine driven cross by Larsson. The home side had their chances, with Emile Heskey slicing well wide from close range after a brilliant run from Michael Owen.
Steven Gerrard went even closer with a fine strike from well outside the area that Rab Douglas did well to parry out for a corner.
But for much of the opening period Liverpool looked content to sit back and absorb the pressure, knowing a 0-0 draw would be good enough.
But that was always likely to be a dangerous game against side who went into the tie having scored in their previous 49 outings. It was little surprise when they made it 50 on the stroke of half-time when Thompson scored from a free-kick.
It was a decent effort from the former Bolton winger, but there will be questions asked of the Liverpool wall for allowing the shot to slide underneath them and past a stranded Dudek.
Larsson could have added a second when he was one-on-one with the keeper, but Jamie Carragher got back well to deflect his first effort and the Swede’s second attempt was wide of the mark. Gerrard was superbly put through by Owen but with just Douglas to beat the midfielder fired straight at the keeper.
Dudek had to be at his best to tip over as Larsson again threatened from a corner.
But he could do little about Hartson’s late strike that made sure of the win and a place in the semis at the expense of their English rivals.
Hartson breaks Anfield hearts
Liverpool 0 Celtic 2
Thompson 45, Hartson 81
Celtic win 3-1 on aggregate
- The Guardian, Friday 21 March 2003 01.50 GMT
By stepping away from Dietmar Hamann to smite home a 20-yard shot eight minutes from the end, John Hartson added majesty to Celtic’s delight. This result will be added in some quarters to the dossier intended to damn the Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier, but that would be shameful use of the evidence last night. The win, added to the 1-1 draw in Glasgow, carries Celtic into the semi-finals.
That success testifies to Martin O’Neill’s remarkable feat of leading his club so far beyond their meagre environment in the Scottish Premier League. The adjustment needed whenever they face clubs from the strongholds of European football is radical, yet the transformation is being made regularly. Liverpool join Blackburn Rovers, Celta Vigo and Stuttgart in the distinguished list of the vanquished.
For all that Celtic endured chaotic moments in defence, they created more chances than Houllier’s team. The truly remarkable aspect of the visitors might have been the relaxed mood that let them combine fruitfully in midfield even if they were without any individual who could equal the dynamism of Steven Gerrard in his best moments.
This was not the ragged self-destructive aggression with which Scottish clubs have tormented themselves down the decades. Celtic go on to meet either Lazio, Porto or Malaga knowing that their senses should be sharpened by the adventure. An appearance in the 1974 European Cup semi-final was the club’s last experience of the sport at this level.
There will be renewed discussion of the merits of inviting the Old Firm into the Premiership. The barriers to that ambition make the route to England look like a steeplechase, but there can be no doubt that Celtic would add substance to football south of the border. They had a sense of their own worth here, seeing only opportunity in complex circumstances.
The 1-1 score from the first leg that looked so level was really a see-saw. The sudden lurch when Alan Thompson converted a free-kick in the 45th minute dumped Liverpool on the seat of their pants and they never recovered from the shock. The advantage of the away goal was gone. Celtic had begun to reveal a predatory streak from the mid-point of the first half.
Henrik Larsson was adroit and quick-witted here, forcing Jerzy Dudek to beat away his chipped free-kick in the 19th minute. Liverpool had their first hint of the jeopardy lurking in the shadows. They tried to respond to the emerging danger. Rab Douglas reached a roaring volley from Gerrard and Michael Owen, too, illustrated the talent behind the reputation, sticking the ball through Bobo Balde’s legs before angling a cut-back which caused mayhem until Emile Heskey, spinning, put an awkward opportunity wide. The same attacker was then favoured with a better chance but headed John Arne Riise’s corner at Douglas.
Celtic were never cowed. Hartson, shaking himself loose from the misery of a missed penalty in that CIS Cup final, attacked crosses hungrily. Momo Sylla was also caught up in the mood, surging through the middle for a drilled shot which Dudek brushed round a post in the 36th minute.
On the verge of the interval, Djimi Traoré was naive enough to tug Larsson as the Swede backed into him. Thompson kept the free-kick down from 25 yards and, with Dudek distracted by the jump with which Gerrard let the ball run under him, the shot steamed into the net.
The unexpected deficit had its effect on Liverpool, who attacked in rage and panic as Gerrard sprinted to the pass that Owen put beyond the back four before finding he could not force a finish beyond Douglas’s strong raised arm.
The need for a goal cut the scope for poise in Liverpool’s approach and there were passages when it was Celtic who were the more composed.
Liverpool rightly dread the lapse into predictability that has cost them dear in the Premiership, FA Cup and Champions League. Despite messy flurries from Houllier’s players, Celtic were closer to a goal when Dudek stretched to flip a Larsson header from Stilian Petrov’s corner over the bar in the 74th minute.
This may be the finest achievement of O’Neill’s career. He has brought success to Celtic, but football heritage is fashioned from occasions as much as silverware. For decades to come fans will relive their night at Anfield, with memories as trophies they can retain forever.
Liverpool (4-4-2): Dudek; Carragher, Traore, Hyypia, Riise; Murphy, Hamann, Gerrard, Smicer (Baros, 57); Heskey, Owen. Celtic (3-5-2): Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Sylla (Smith, 86), Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson; Hartson, Larsson. Booked : Mjallby, Sylla, Thompson, Douglas. Referee : M Merck (Germany).
The Guardian
Kick off: 8.05pm.
Time I hope to arrive home and immediately start swilling a large glass of red wine not totally dissimilar to the one on the right: 10.45pm.
The teams
Liverpool:
Dudek, Carragher, Traore, Hyypia, Riise, Murphy, Hamann, Gerrard, Smicer, Heskey, Owen.
Subs: Arphexad, Baros, Berger, Diao, Biscan, Cheyrou, Mellor.
Celtic:
Douglas, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Sylla, Lennon, Lambert, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Hartson.
Subs: Marshall, McNamara, Laursen, Maloney, Guppy, Smith, Crainey.
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
Preamble There’s to be no El Hadji Diouf for Liverpool, of course, so their fans must suffer the antics of the stunningly ineffectual Vladimir Smicer instead. Meanwhile for Celtic: Chris Sutton broke his wrist in the CIS Cup final defeat at the hands of Rangers, so Stilian Petrov takes his shirt.
And Momo Sylla replaces Jamie Smith.
Meanwhile. “I was at a wine fair this week just down the road at Tain Hermitage,” writes Alan Kane. “If I had known your weakness for the red stuff I would have had a glass or two for you.” It’s never too late to toast the health of a minute-by-minute football reporter, Alan, so why not crack open that 1976 Haut-Médoc you’ve been saving for a special occasion and see if you can polish it off by the end of the first half?
Rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone
When they turn the volume of the PA down and let the crowd do the work, well.
1 min: And we’re off. Celtic are kicking towards the Kop in the first half. Liverpool can’t get the ball. “Are you all alcohol mad?” asks a not-particularly-perceptive Michael Durkan. “Barry Glendenning was moaning about beer and its perils last night, now you’re telling me to relax and have a glass of wine! Do you guys run a drink counselling service in your spare time?” Drink counselling? Have a look again at the advice I gave Alan Kane in the preamble, Michael.
2 min: Gerrard tries a Hollywood left-to-right pass. It’s not very good and sails into touch. Let’s keep count.
3 min: Nobody can keep hold of the ball for very long. A good run down the centre of the pitch from Riise; a lovely turn by Hartson which confuses Traore. Hmm … “confuses Traore” … let’s keep count.
5 min: Larsson bounds down the right and is clearly upended by Hamann, but there’s no free-kick. This is going along at a rare old pelt.
7 min: Heskey knocks a header down to the feet of Murphy, who feeds Owen in the box. But the wee fella can’t turn quickly enough and Mjallby is on hand to hack the ball away.
8 min: Hamann is really chancing his arm. Now he’s clattered into Petrov. No booking though.
10 min: Celtic are seeing plenty of the ball in midfield, but they’re not doing anything with it. “Strangely reassuring to see the fill-to-line marking,” writes Andrew Stephen. “Living in the US we tend to either get gypped or ripped
depending on the mood of the bar-keep.” Gypped? Ripped? Bar-keep? Eh? You probably only get shoddy service because the bartender doesn’t know what the hell you’re talking about, Andrew.
11 min: A lovely curling ball by Murphy finds Smicer down the left. The Czech cuts the ball back across the face of goal, evading Douglas, but there’s nobody there to slot home and Mjallby, not for the first time this match, is on hand to smack it out of harm’s way.
13 min: The ball falls to Thompson on the left-hand edge of the Liverpool box. His first-time volley sails just over the crossbar. “Why has a phone rather hastily replaced last week’s cascading beer cans in the minute-by-minute logo?” asks Aidan Rush. Because we’re desperately trying to maintain a veneer of professionalism, Aiden, even though the horse bolted ages ago.
15 min: Now it’s Liverpool’s turn, with Hamann cracking a half-volley from Thompson territory along the floor and just wide of the left-hand post.
17 min: The second hopeless Hollywood pass of the night by Gerrard clatters off Lennon’s legs.
20 min: Celtic win a free-kick about 20 yards out. Larsson takes. It’s not much of a smack, but it dips violently and Dudek has to scramble it away for a corner. Almost immediately, the ball’s sent back into the Liverpool box and Hartson is inches away from heading into the top-right corner of the net.
22 min: Eh, Steven Gerrard, I’m too hard on you. A clearance from Hartson is met on the volley by the Liverpool midfielder 25 yards out with the outside of his right foot. It’s flying into the left-hand corner but Douglas does brilliantly to tip the ball round for a corner. Which, Liverpool being Liverpool, is wasted.
25 min: Owen breaks free down the left and cuts the ball back where Heskey and Smicer await, two yards from goal in acres of space. Heskey and Smicer. I don’t really need to tell you what happens, do I? “In defence of US barkeeps,” writes Atlanta resident Simon Barlow, “they’re fairly free with spirits. There’s no evidence of those measly little silver measuring cups when you ask for a tequila shot, just a hefty pour straight from the bottle.” Slainthe!
27 min: Headers at either end, as Heskey sends the ball straight at Douglas from four yards, before Hartson nuts the ball wide left of Dudek’s goal from an equally risible distance. “Multepulciano!” exclaims Garrett Holt. “I don’t know if the spelling is right, but it’s a damn good grape from Italy.”
29 min: A deep cross from Larsson nearly causes panic in the Liverpool box but Hyypia does just enough to muscle Sylla away from the ball. “While on the topic of the logo,” notes Paul McDevitt, “is the smoke meant to be a simultaneous play-by-play of the bombing of Baghdad or simply that you clip your roach onto the side of the keyboard?”
31 min: Sylla is booked for a nothing challenge on Riise. I’ve also just been informed that Mjallby was earlier booked for something that happened at some point. Apologies to you all; you deserve better treatment than this.
35 min: At last, a lull, a lovely lull. “Did someone say red whine? Must be some Gooners with us this evening!” quips Tris Bray. Tris, have you ever been either: (a) a scriptwriter for Bobby Davro, or; (b) bottled off stage in a comedy club?
37 min: Sylla confuses Traore (two) in the centre of the park and lets rip from 30 yards. Dudek dives low to tip the ball round the post. Great football. From the corner, Hartson belabours the ball against Carragher. There’s another corner, but nothing more to say.
40 min: Liverpool can’t get hold of the ball. The crowd are very quiet. Meanwhile, it’s time for the traditional you-have-the-same-name-as-the-Scotland-lock-and-a-Bristol-City-midfielder email of the day. “I am sure it’s not the first time you’ve been told this,” writes Evan Colbert, “but you should be getting some rest before the big game on Saturday. Is the Scottish RFU that badly off they have to send you down to London to make some extra money?” Will I ever be free of this?
43 min: The half is petering out. “I love the way the glass of wine continues to move up the page,” writes Paul McDevitt, drooling over his keyboard. “It’s really tempting. Should have that on the AA website as a test of people’s newly-found resilience to booze. Me, I’m on my way to the drinks cupboard.” Pour a large one for me, will you?
45 min: GOAL Liverpool 0 – 1 Celtic. A confused Traore (three) needlessly fouls Larsson. Thompson takes the free-kick – 30 yards out, just to the right – and sends in a daisy-cutter which goes under the wall (they jump out of the way) and into the net. What a terrible goal to give away, but Celtic deserve it.
Half-time: Liverpool 0 – 1 Celtic. OK, now it’s Liverpool who need to score. An equaliser from them and it’ll be extra time (and no booze for me at 10.45pm). “I work in the same office as Andrew Stephen,” writes Philly Mac. “Looking at the state of him most mornings, I’d say he gets ripped more often than he gets gypped by said bar-keep.”
46 min: Right, we’re off again, and I’ve reinstated the beer cans in the logo, because Simon Gonzalez pointed out that “in the interest of accuracy and/or symbolism, the phone should stay for the first half and then be replaced by the beer cans in the second half. The phone, or course, would symbolise the need to call the IT guys after the inevitable computer crash. The beer cans would symbolise the frustrated minute-by-minute reporter’s response when they can’t do anything about it.”
48 min: A lethargic start to the second half from Liverpool, who need to get their act together and quickly if they want to stay in this tie. Larsson gets in between Carragher and Dudek and nearly loops the ball over the keeper’s head and into the net. The ball bounces harmlessly wide, though. Dudek looks incandescent with rage.
50 min: Celtic have already taken the sting out of the Liverpool “charge”, such as it was. The crowd, who were whooping and hollering at the restart, are now very quiet indeed. “This is the first time in my life that I may be able to add to the knowledge of a Guardian journalist,” writes Alan Kane, who I fear would be very disappointed were he to ever actually meet and talk to one. “We in the Rhone valley would never drink Medoc wine as we have our own wines which your wine expert would refer to as ‘well-kept secrets’. Try some Cote Rotie.”
52 min: Owen threads a ball through the Celtic back four to the feet of Gerrard, who races into the box. But Douglas comes out to smother brilliantly, and the loose ball is slammed away by Balde. “The good news is that it is Friday in New Zealand,” writes Ian Long, “therefore Friday night drinks are near. And the best Pinot’s in the world!”
55 min: Smicer finds space down the right but suddenly stops running a la Devon Loch. He stands around for a while looking as confused as a Traore before passing it into touch.
56 min: Smicer off, Baros on.
57 min: With Owen lurking in the six-yard box, Valgaeren heads out for a corner. Riise’s corner is far too strong, though, and sails over everyone in the box. Within the minute, Gerrard is trying a Hollywood strike from 30-odd yards. Row Z.
60 min: Hartson is starting to put himself about, and he’s causing Traore a lot of heartache. The Liverpool centre-half confuses himself for the fourth and fifth time, conceding a needless corner that is eventually cleared.
“You might like wine drinking here in Atlanta,” writes Simon Barlow, who, as we’ll see, is not wrong. “There are a lot of very nice restaurants and bars over here and most of them serve wine in huge goblet-type affairs rather than the regular ISO-sized thing you get in the UK. you only get about three to four glasses to the bottle. Cocktails are also pretty highly leaded, not the stingy things you get in theme bars and restaurants in the UK.” How easy is it to get a work permit, Simon?
63 min: Heskey falls over. Not sure why that’s worthy of a mention.
64 min: Baros grabs half-a-yard in the Celtic box but the ball clatters between his legs and he can’t quite get a shot in. Then Lambert has a crack down the other end from 25 yards, but he can’t keep the shot from sailing high into the away supporters.
66 min: Oh Emile! He nutmegs Valgaeren by miscontrolling the ball and then, with the goal gaping and acres of space in front of him, shanks it miles into the air and yards wide of the goal. Truly terrible. “Sounds like you’re one of those amusing chocoholics – but with booze!” chrips Dan Bear. “I myself have been inspired by your words and have been stuck into the wine since kick-off. Trouble is, it’s 7.25am here in Brisbane, so it could be a long day. Right, I’m off to work – wish me luck!”
68 min: Thompson is booked for clattering into Heskey, who falls over (two).
69 min: Baros bustles down the right and cuts the ball back but there’s nobody in the area to convert the chance for Liverpool. Twenty minutes to save their European season … where’s the support?
70 min: Apologies for the slow updates: our servers are straining under the weight of the war, so bear with us with the updates.
71 min: Douglas is booked for time-wasting.
73 min: Lambert off, McNamara on. Celtic win a corner, and then another. Dudek has to fingertip the ball over the bar after it spoons off the shoulder of Larsson and over the keeper’s head. Liverpool aren’t going to do this, you know.
75 min: As if to prove it, Gerrard and Heskey combine to give the ball away in the middle of the park with no Celtic player within ten yards of them.
77 min: The Kop harangue Heskey who tries to feed a delicate ball through to Owen in the box. And fair enough, because he’s welted it into the crowd with his shin. Dear me.
79 min: Balde, Baros, ball, candy, baby.
81 min: Hollywood Ball IV from Gerrard catches Owen miles offside. Celtic are in total control here.
82 min: GOAL Liverpool 0 – 2 Celtic. Hartson exchanges a one-two with Larsson, drops a shoulder to beat Hamann and lets fly from 25 yards. The ball moves from left to right and settles in the top-right corner of Dudek’s net. Celtic deserve no less, Liverpool deserve no more. Liverpool need three goals in eight minutes. Will it happen? Put it this way: they’ve got Heskey up front.
84 min: Balde, Baros, ball, candy, baby.
86 min: Baros has a dig from outside the box, but the ball doesn’t dip quickly enough and sails over the bar.87 min: Sylla off, Smith on.
88 min: Murphy tries to play the ball forward to Heskey, but it doesn’t reach the lumbering striker, which is probably best for everybody concerned.
89 min: “Gone to the bog? Missus on the blower?” asks Brian Parkin, one of many readers who have spotted our system has gone down. Many, many apologies.
90 min: There will be two minutes of stoppage time, but let’s face it, it was all over a long, long time ago.
Full-time: Liverpool 0 – 2 Celtic.
Well, Celtic were superb and are deserving winners. But this Liverpool side needs ripping up, given that (a) they’re tedious to watch, (b) they’re not very good, and (c) Emile Heskey. Thanks for your emails, and please accept my apologies for our system dying midway through the second half. It lasted a damn sight longer than Liverpool, I can tell you that for nothing.
Anfield was my greatest night
The Sun, 2009
ANFIELD was the venue for the best night of Rab Douglas’ football life.
He’s convinced the Emirates can become the same for the man who took his Celtic goalie jersey.
Artur Boruc will play a vital role for the Hoops as they attempt to overturn a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at Parkhead and make the Champions League group stages.
Douglas knows exactly how it feels to be part of a Celtic side heading to the home of a Premier League giant. Totally written off, seen as mere cannon fodder.
That’s why keeping a clean sheet in the sensational 2003 UEFA Cup quarter-final triumph over Liverpool was all the sweeter.
Martin O’Neill’s Celtic had a point to prove after a 1-1 draw against the Reds in Glasgow had left their dream of going all the way to Seville hanging by a thread and how they made it as goals from Alan Thompson and John Hartson sickened the Scousers.
Two rounds earlier — after a narrow first leg Parkhead win — Celtic had also gone to Ewood Park and stuffed Blackburn Rovers 2-0.
They had been motivated by Rovers boss Graeme Souness’ ‘men against boys’ jibe in the aftermath of defeat in Glasgow, trying to use his side’s dominance to mask the result.
Gunners gaffer Arsene Wenger and his players haven’t fallen into the same trap of giving Celtic quotes to pin up in the away dressing room.
But Douglas, now back at Dundee, said: “The fact is everyone else down south will have dismissed Celtic’s chances.
“No doubt the English football writers have already done it. It will definitely be tie over as far as they are concerned.
“I’m also certain there will be snide comments about the standard of the SPL and how Celtic won’t be able to live with Arsenal at the Emirates.
“Fair enough, people down there can say what they want.
“But Celtic proved six years ago exactly what can happen — and I’d love to see Tony Mowbray’s side emulate us on Wednesday night.
“The current side has an even harder task because of last week’s defeat at Parkhead.
“But an early goal by Celtic, or just making sure they get the first one, will really put Arsenal under massive pressure. I’d be very interested to see how they handled that, as good a side as they are.
“I’m also sure at the other end Artur Boruc will produce another big performance. He’s done it before and he can do it again.
“I can never forget the Liverpool and Blackburn matches. Martin O’Neill’s team talks at Ewood Park and Anfield were brilliant.
“The players needed little extra motivation but Martin found precisely the right words in the dressing room for that added touch.
“I remember the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up as we ran out each time. Both Blackburn and Liverpool thought they had done enough. But we shocked them big style.
“The clean sheet at Anfield was particularly special for me, up there with anything else I’ve achieved in my career.
“We did Scottish football proud with magnificent performances. That was important to us — to make sure the people down there gave our game a bit more respect.
“First and foremost we wanted success for Celtic. But we also didn’t want anyone rubbishing our league as Micky Mouse.
“I’m sure it will be the same for the lads just now. That can be powerful motivation.
“Shaun Maloney and Aiden McGeady are tremendously talented boys. I saw that for myself in my time at Parkhead. I’m happy to see that both are in very good form.”
Douglas says beating Arsenal would rank every bit as highly as the wins over Blackburn and Liverpool. He said: “It would be a fantastic achievement for Celtic to get through.
“It was obviously a different era in 2003 and different players.
“But without a doubt Celtic qualifying on Wednesday night would be as good a result as they’ve managed in recent times.”
