The Bhoys made us proud tonight, they showed 100% from start to finish and every player put in a superb performance. We showed that we can cmopete with the best, as Liverpool were the favourites to win the competition. We also proved many wrong that the recent tough schedule we were forced to play was not too much for us. This was the final of the big four and it was the best performance of the four.
Celtic made one change from Sunday's CIS defeat: Paul Lambert came in for the injured Chris Sutton.
The game started off at a frantic pace, Liverpool were doing gerat closing down the Celtic players and putting them under pressure. Johan Mjallby was in the thick of the first pieces of action, he was booked for a foul on Owen and then made a great clearance from 2 yards out.
There were plenty of chances in the first half, Alan Thompson saw his shot rising over the bar, Smicer had a great long range shot and Henrik Larsson came close with a free-kick. Another long range shot, this time by Liverpool's Stephen Gerrard was brilliantly saved by Rab Douglas.
John Hartson missed two great headed chances before Momo Sylla was unlucky with a weak finish from a mazy run.
Celtic's goal came just before half-time when Larsson was held back from the Liverpool defence, the resulting free-kick was smashed through the gap in the Liverpool wall by Alan Thompson. The Celtic supporters all over the ground were seen in jubilant mood, and Celts lead 1-0 at half-time.
In the second half, Liverpool threw everything they had at Celtic, but nothing seemed to happen for them. The Celtic defence were solid as a rock and Liverpool could just not have the piece of fortune they needed.
Big Bad John Hartson, who missed a penalty on Sunday, turned the hero when he smashed home a superb strike in the 81st minute. It was party time now and we now face either Lazio, Porto or Malaga/Boavista in the semis!
Celtic:
Douglas - 9
Mjallby - 9
Valgaeren - 8
Balde - 9
Thompson - 9
Lennon - 9
Lambert - 8 (McNamara 73) - 7
Petrov - 8
Sylla - 8 (Smith 86) - 7
Larsson - 9
Hartson - 9
Celtic-Mad Man of the Match: JOHAN MJALLBY