Milan and Liverpool slip up

Tomasson starts
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti made just one change to the side that lost 3-1 to PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday. Jon Dahl Tomasson came in to partner Andriy Shevchenko in attack, with Massimo Ambrosini, scorer of Milan's crucial late goal at the Philips Stadion, making way. As usual in Serie A, Milan lined up in a 4-3-1-2 formation with Kaká playing just behind Shevchenko and Tomasson. Argentinian forward Hernán Crespo was among the substitutes as he works his way back to full fitness.

Inzaghi sharp
Milan failed to find their rhythm in the first half and fell behind to David Trezeguet's 28th-minute header, but they improved considerably after the break, with substitutes Serginho and Filippo Inzaghi impressing in particular. The Brazilian winger was excellent down the left while Inzaghi looked very sharp and was Milan's most dangerous forward.

'Good fitness'
Victory makes Juve firm favourites to win the title with three games to play, but Ancelotti refused to rule his team out of contention. "I don't think Juve were superior to us and I also don't think we are tired - we fought for the whole second half and this is a clear sign of good fitness," he said. "We lost a game without deserving to, a draw would have been right. One thing is certain, we must win all our matches now. We did all we could, maybe even more. We are sorry but serene."

Alonso back
Liverpool's poor recent Premiership form continued as Rafael Benítez's side fell to a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal. Xabi Alonso, suspended for Tuesday's 1-0 semi-final win against Chelsea FC, returned at the expense of Igor Bišcan in an otherwise unchanged lineup, with captain Steven Gerrard pushed forward in support of Milan Baroš.

Gerrard scores
First-half goals from Robert Pires and José Antonio Reyes put Arsenal two up at the break as a jaded Liverpool struggled to contain the Premiership's second-placed team. Liverpool improved with the introduction of Djibril Cissé and winger Harry Kewell in the second half and Gerrard scored from a deflected free-kick six minutes after the restart, but Arsenal made sure of the points when Cesc Fabregas tapped in in the final minute.

'Disappointing'
Liverpool have won just once in six Premiership outings, and this result ensured Everton FC clinched the fourth Champions League qualifying berth at the expense of their city rivals. "It's disappointing that we can't finish fourth now but we have to analyse the season and look at where we can improve for next year," Benítez said.

'Heads down'
"I thought we started well against Arsenal and played well for the first 15 minutes. Then, when they scored, our heads went down for 30 minutes and they scored another. In the second half we played with a higher tempo, got a goal back and had a couple of opportunities to score again.

'Be positive'
"We have to be positive about the way we played at stages in the game and look to the future with confidence. We need to look to the next game [against Aston Villa FC] and try and prepare the team for the [Champions League] final."