Sven goran ericsson autobiography of a fleas

To celebrate the launch of Denzel Washington’s new action thriller, The Equalizer, we’ve rifled through the archives to pick out five memorable draws in the modern era.

Liverpool 3-3 Milan (AET) (Liverpool win on penalties)

‘Maybe Milan are favourites, but we have confidence’ was Liverpool’s manager Rafa Benitez honest assessment of his team’s chances prior to the Champions League final on 25th May 2005 in the Ataturk Stadium, Istanbul. That the Reds were there at all was a huge surprise. Despite struggling domestically in Benitez’s first season in charge, they brushed aside some of Europe’s elite teams on the way to their sixth final in the competition. And it was six mad minutes in the match that will be remembered among not only Liverpool fans, but football fans worldwide, for many years to come. Milan romped to a 3-nil lead by half time. Kaka was imperious, Crespo clinical. ‘I was walking off the pitch thinking whats going on? We haven’t got started.’ Was Steven Gerrard’s view on the first 45, ‘theres going to be a stage in the game where we come alive and play’. And it was Gerrard’s pure determination for his boyhood team to avoid embarrassment, plus contribution from Didi Hamann, Vladimir Smicer, Xabi Alonso, Jamie Carragher & Jerzy Dudek that inspired one of the greatest comebacks in football history. 

West Brom 5-5 Man Utd

Regardless of the impending result, 19th May 2013 would always have lived long in the memories of Manchester United supporters, as it was the final time – his 1,500th game in charge – that Sir Alex Ferguson would walk his team out. As West Brom scored three late goals in the space of five minutes to tie the match, it was unlikely the end that the Scot would have wanted to signal the finish of a marvellous managerial career. United raced to a 3-0 lead thanks to Shinji Kaga

Any man with a sliver of sensitivity would know when he wasn't wanted - so why does he keep annoying us? I'm not talking about Sven Goran Eriksson - at least, not at this precise moment - but a strange chap called Malcolm Glazer who wants to buy Manchester United and won't take "sod off" for an answer.

How on earth did they allow our game to get in such a state that anyone can roll up and buy one of our biggest clubs against the wishes of almost all concerned? OK, if it's a Russian with an endless supply of money maybe we can stretch a point but not if it's a weird American trying to cobble together a homemade mortgage that could destroy the club. At least Roman Abramovich is an unashamed football nut.

Glazer doesn't know anything about the game and neither does he even know the whereabouts of Old Trafford, much less what goes on there. Yet, despite a series of knock-backs, the latest of which came on Friday, Glazer, the owner of the American football club Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is ploughing on persistently in his bid and last week was the subject of a House of Commons move to block his plans and a demonstration by United supporters that included death threats. Under Premier League rules, they'll probably have to hire an agent to arrange the contract.

Unfortunately, the bottom line is that the amount of money being offered is likely to tempt shareholders, most prominent among whom are the Irishmen J P McManus and John Magnier, who have also been threatened. Let's just hope, true sportsmen that they are, they'll send Glazer away with a flea in his Buccaneers.

Meanwhile Eriksson, that other gent whose welcome has expired, is absorbing flak like a wartime bomber after delivering another load of tactically inept, limp-legged frustration to 40,000 trusting citizens at Villa Park on Wednesday.

I've been in close attendance at the lynchings of many an England manager in the past 30 or so years - and been

FRANCE

While Thierry Henry was one of the French strikers who failed to score at the last World Cup and thus returned home in shame in the four years since he has elevated himself to one of the dominant strikers in Europe.

Henry’s goals at club level saw him take Arsenal to their first ever Champions League final. While he left Paris disappointed he’ll be looking to leave Germany a happier man.

Another inclusion to watch is Olympique Marseille’s Franck Ribery. While the Tournament will see the curtain come down on the career of Zinedine Zidane, the leading player in Ligue 1, who was dubbed “Scarface” during his time in Turkey, is already being hailed as the heir to the throne. Should the 23 year old shine at the World Cup then Manchester United will not be the only suitor for his services.

GERMANY

German captain Michael Ballack was booed in his last match for German champions Bayern Munich prior to his mega-pound move to London club Chelsea. However, it is unlikely the jeers will return as club loyalties are put to one side and Ballack leads out the German side on home soil. Crowned German footballer of the year three times, the goalscoring midfielder is viewed as the only player of world class in the German squad and one of the best headers of the ball in the world. Should the home side want to prove their doubters wrong he will need to fire on all cylinders.

SPAIN

Valencia striker David Villa is likely to share the burden of target man for the  Spaniards with Atletico Madrid talisman Fernando Torres. Possessed of a good touch and a keen eye for goal his exploits at Real Zaragoza attracted Valencia and he duly found the back of the net 24 times for in la Liga this season.

Should he reproduce his club form,