"It's like deja vu all over again."

At least that's what a certain baseball star of the past is fond of saying. And here's how you do it:

Step 1 - Team starts to lose big cup final.
Step 2 - Indomitable captain rallies team with amazing goal.
Step 3 - With score tied 3-3, go to penalties.
Step 4 - Bring big silver trophy back to Merseyside.

Poor Marlon was unlucky to miss a chance to win and any chance of going to Germany, both thanks to a late injury. Cisse, too, may be in jeopardy - you can bet Raymond Domenech was frantically calling the Kop all night, since he's supposed to announce the France squad on Sunday. (If you ask TDH, an injury to El Abuelo is the best thing that could happen to France, his opening goal notwithstanding, except perhaps for Swansong falling down a well.)

TDH was watching Harewood, Sissoko, Cisse and Gerrard limping around and thinking, "Just shoot the poor things!" Fortunately, the Whammers' complete muppetry from the penalty spot quickly put the game out of its misery. Note to Alan Pardew: next time, practice. Wait a second, there won't be a next time - when will the Whammers ever get an own goal, a goal from a cross, and a goal from a keeper's mistake all in the same match again?

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Barcelona and Sevilla somehow contrived to give each other guards of honor as the two squads of champions took the pitch in Andalucia. Most of Barca's stars were resting for Wednesday's final against The Goon Show, but TDH was again struck by how pedestrian the second string of a big team can look. Like Chelski against the Magpies, it was hardly impressive. And yet, you'd think, if these players were first-stringers, they would have a chance at winning the league. Is it all in their heads?