Record-breaking Liverpool into Club World Championship final

15 Dec 2005 Deportivo Saprissa 0-3 Liverpool - Club World Championship

Liverpool:
Reina
Josemi, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore
Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Riise
Crouch, Cisse

Liverpool dominated the semi-final against Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa, taking an early lead as Cisse knocked the ball down for Crouch who steered in a first-time shot. Gerrard made it 2-0 with a glorious volley after Riise placed a perfect cross right onto his boot. A defensive mistake from the Costa Rican side allowed Crouch to slot his second beyond Saprissa 'keeper Jose Porras.

Liverpool's 11th consecutive clean sheet means the class of 2005 have now replaced Kenny Dalglish's 1987 side in the club's record books as the meanest defence ever.

Liverpool will play South American champions Sao Paulo in the final this Sunday. (10:20GMT)

Match Reaction:

Crouch: "It was nice to get a couple of goals today. Hopefully now I can go on a good run. I always knew the goals would come and that it would just be a matter of time. Djibril Cisse set me up nicely for the first one and then I got a bit of a lucky break for the second."

Rafa: "I think it is a very good achievement. Pepe Reina made some important saves and all the team worked hard for each other. The players deserve to go into the history books of a club like Liverpool I am proud of my team."

Gerrard: "We feel unbeatable at the moment. The whole team is proud to have broken a record. The whole back four and the goalkeeper have been superb and everyone has worked hard all over the pitch.
It's always nice to break records but the most important thing is to win and keep on improving. We don't want to break records, we want to win trophies and we really believe we can beat Sao Paolo in the final on Sunday."