My Sofia shame... I never touched him! Aug 9 2005
By Mark Lawrenson, Daily Post
IT MAY be a bit late to say it, but I never touched him your honour.
The last time Liverpool played CSKA Sofia, I became the first Liverpool player to be sent off in Europe, supposedly for retaliation.
At the time I thought the guy I went in to tackle had been shot, but his histrionics were good enough to convince the referee.
Bob Paisley was absolutely furious with the decision, but when we tried to get footage of the game so we could appeal, the Bulgarian FA turned us down flat. That meant I had a three-game ban and a harsh lesson.
In those days it really was a different world and a step into the unknown because we knew little about life behind the Iron Curtain and even less about the team we would be playing.
That was not too unusual because Bob Paisley preferred to concentrate on us with the knowledge that should be good enough.
Nowadays you have no worries about Rafael Benitez leaving any stones unturned for his Liverpool team, while politically and in footballing terms, it is not the same situation.
Certainly our cynicism that they would go to any lengths to cheat us out of the tie, even doping our food, is not going to happen now. Back then, CSKA were an army team with the best players forbidden from moving on. Nowadays if anyone shows any ability, they are quick to move on to Italy, Germany or Spain.
All in all then, Liverpool should be good enough over the two legs to get through to the group stage.
