At the end of a storm lies a golden sky

Even though Liverpool were bounced from the FA Cup last Saturday, they rebounded with a 2-0 victory over Inter Milan (Internazionale) in the opening match of the final 16 of the 2008 UEFA Champions League.


The Champions League is a soccer superleague with all the elite clubs from various European leagues. They play a series of home and home matches (or "fixtures") over the course of the year to determine the champion. The games are carried live on ESPN2 in the USA, but they're in the middle of the day on weekdays, so working stiffs need to record them at a regular time. This works better when you don't check the final score online before you head home from work.

Inter is currently leading the Italian Serie A League by 11 points and Liverpool is in fifth place in the EPL, which wouldn't even be good enough to qualify for the Champions League if the season ended today. Their only hope for salvaging their season is to do well in the Champions League.

I usually cheer against all the "red" teams in the EPL (Liverpool, ManU, Arsenal) , but cheer for all English teams in the Champions League, because I know their players. Tomorrow Arsenal plays another Milan team (defending Champions League champs AC Milan) in another England vs. Italy tilt.  The return of the Champions League means always having something to watch on TV when you get home from work.