Liverpool look to make history

Liverpool are hoping to repeat their FA Cup success

The Uefa Cup Final will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC Five Live and BBC Sport Online: Kick-off 1945 BST, Wednesday 16 May.

Liverpool head into their ninth European final on Wednseday night looking to complete a unique cup treble.

Having beaten Birmingham in the Worthington Cup and come from behind to beat Arsenal in last Saturday's FA Cup final, history is theirs for the making.

No other British side has reached three major cup finals in one season, let alone win them all.

Alaves may not have the same rich pedigree as the Merseyside club, but on this season's form they will present a stiff test at Dortmund's Westfalenstadion.

Alaves are a good side - just look at their record in the Uefa Cup

  Gerard Houllier

The Spanish side are based in the town of Vitoria-Gasteiz and take their name from the province of Alava, which is one of the three Basque provinces.

Manager Gerard Houllier has researched each of Liverpool's opponents on the way to the final with great care - and his reports tell him to beware.

"Alaves are a good side - just look at their record in the Uefa Cup," he said.

"We know them well. We've done our homework, and I have great faith in my players."

Although Alaves were in the Spanish Fourth Division only 11 years ago - and this represents their first European campaign in their 80-year history - they have beaten high-quality sides to reach the final.

They put out highly-fancied Kaiserslauten 9-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals after pulling off an even more impressive result in the fourth round against Inter Milan.

No matter who starts, everyone will be hoping they score goals

  Michael Owen

Trailing 3-1 with 20 minutes to go of the home leg, they fought back to draw 3-3 and then shocked their illustrious opponents by winning 2-0 in the San Siro.

Alaves also have a piece of history on their side.

Experienced Norwegian defender Dan Eggen scored the Brondby goal that knocked Liverpool out of the Uefa Cup in 1995.

Their danger men are strikers Javi Moreno and Jordi Cruyff.

Cruyff, son of Dutch great Johan, is familiar to British fans from his somewhat unsuccessful spell at Liverpool's arch-rivals Manchester United.

Moreno, top scorer in Spain's Primera Liga, has forced his way into the national side with his Uefa exploits.

Both sides are built around a solid defence and like to counter-attack with pace.

These tactics saw Liverpool through tough ties against Porto, Roma and Barcelona - and fleet-footed striker Michael Owen, scorer of the two late goals that won the FA Cup, will again be a key man.

Whilst Owen is not certain to start - he is competing with fellow England internationals Robbie Fowler and Emile Heskey for one of the two strikers' berths - his weekend goals make him an excellent bet.

This could be the beginning of a new era for us

  Gerard Houllier

"No matter who starts, everyone will be hoping they score goals," said Owen, underlining the strong team ethic that exists at the club.

In midfield, the passing skills of veteran Gary McAllister and the youthful running and goal-scoring abilities of Steven Gerrard could be pivotal.

If Houllier's men can add the Uefa Cup to the four European Cups and two Uefa's they have already won, the club can once again boast of being among the European elite.

"This is a huge game for us," confirmed Houllier. "We are a developing team and we need to keep the progress going. We know the weight of the past.

"The club built its reputation on the domination it had in Europe in the late 1970s and early 1980s. "But this could be the beginning of a new era for us."