Q&A: Lawro on the FA Cup final

Liverpool staged a dazzling fightback against Arsenal to take the 2001 FA Cup 2-1 in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

Ex-Liverpool star footie pundit Mark Lawrenson was poised to take your questions on the match in a BBC Sport Online forum.

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Arsenal may have dominated the match but the Gunners failed to kill the game off after taking the lead.

Two late strikes from a rejuvenated Michael Owen cost them dear.

All eyes were on the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff as fans basked in FA Cup final heat.

And BBC Sport's Mark Lawrenson joined the masses to contribute his verdict on the action.

BBC Sport Online gave you the chance to quiz the former Liverpool star on this year's FA Cup final affair.

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Tony from Sydney asks:

Am I the only person who thinks that Henchoz's handball was accidental, along with the linesman? Everything I have read suggests that Arsenal were denied a clear penalty, when ball to hand is not a penalty! What's your view on the matter?

Lawro: No, he's not the only person! At the time that it happened and since I totally agree with Tony that this was not a penalty. It was accidental if anything.

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Roland from England asks:

After Liverpool's performance on Saturday, do you think they are strong favourites to challenge Manchester United for the title next season?

Lawro: Because they won on Saturday, that's no indication they will win the league. They are getting stronger but I think they will need two or three more players before the start of next season, to seriously rival Man Utd. What is good about Liverpool at the moment: They have mastered the art of not playing particularly well some days and still winning, which Man Utd seem to have got down to a fine art.

The only problem with Liverpool is that they have lost seven games away in the Premier League this season and they can only afford to lose half of those next season. So, yes, they have improved, but they have to improve even more before they can pose a serious threat to Man Utd.

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Mark Elliott from England asks:

Do you rate Liverpool as a team? They just don't strike me as a good class side. You may argue three cup finals but if you look at Chelsea over the last few years: Loads of cup wins but not a class side. In my opinion, Liverpool will crash back down to earth next season.

Lawro: I don't think they'll crash back down as they'll sign even better players in the summer. If you look at Gerard Houllier he has always said that it will take two or three years before Liverpool are a class side. He even said after the game on Saturday that Arsenal were the better team in most departments and I think he's right.

Liverpool are getting there, they are having to build stability of the team from the back and once they are stable defensively the introduction of new players will be more productive and they will become a better team. Pound for pound at the moment, Arsenal are a better side.

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Ben from the UK asks:

How long do you think Robbie Fowler will put up with playing second, or even third fiddle to Michael Owen and Emile Heskey?

Lawro: Well, that depends on Robbie. He's obviously being extremely well remunerated for all that time sitting on the subs bench, it depends how badly he wants to be playing on a regular basis. I think everyone knows that if he turned round and made demands of Gerard Houllier, the club would let him go.

Robbie is in the fortunate position that he is able to decide whether he wants to stay at Liverpool and fight for a place, or leave and go to another club so that he can play more regular football.

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Simon from Grimsby asks:

What did you think of Steven Gerrard in the final? Why do you think he played so badly? I personally think he is overrated and shouldn't be picked for the Uefa Cup final squad, especially when you consider he was completely out-played by Vieira.

Lawro: Well, firstly Patrick Vieira is a world-class footballer, Steven Gerard is 20 years of age. He's an extremely promising young footballer who has been outstanding all season. This was a one-off game where he wasn't at his best. That happens in football, especially with young players.

Gerrard will be in the Uefa squad on Wednesday I'm sure of that and in that position in the England squad for many years to come if he keeps up his rate of improvement. Yes, he played badly on Saturday, but generally he has been one of the most consistent players for Liverpool all season.

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Andrew Bacon from the UK asks:

Now that Liverpool have won both domestic cups, don't you think that Gerard Houllier should be manager of the season, regardless of what happens on Wednesday?

Lawro: Well, I have to say, even if Liverpool win the Uefa Cup I think the manager of the season should be George Burley. All things considered; newly promoted team; could finish third in the Premier League, at worst fifth; lack of resources compared to Liverpool; lack of a number of plays and lack of the quality Liverpool have. George Burley has done a marvellous job and should be manager of the season, with Gerard Houllier a very, very close second.

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Madge Hockney from London asks:

Do you think that Liverpool have much chance of winning the treble on Wednesday. I didn't find their performance particularly inspiring on Saturday, leaving it so late was a bit risky and it seemed as though they took the only real chances they had. They'll have to buck up their ideas in Europe: One player cannot make up for the inadequacies of a whole team.

Lawro: The thing about Liverpool in Europe is that defensively they have been very very good. That's the way they'll play against Alaves on Wednesday. Alaves are a very attacking team and Liverpool counter-attacking, so the tempo will suit Liverpool.

It's about winning games in a cup competition and it doesn't really matter how you play, if you don't play well and still win, that's even better. That's how they played on Saturday and come 9.45 on Wednesday if Liverpool have won the game, no-one in their camp will care about how they played!

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Simon from the UK asks:

Although Liverpool's style of play seems to be successful for them, don't you think it's a little one-dimensional. Houllier instructs his team to stoke up the pressure by placing nine men behind the ball and trying to nick a goal on the counter-attack. Has Houllier got it tactically right? If they play like this in the Champions League, won't they get found out?

Lawro: Liverpool won't worry about that until next season. It's all about making yourself hard to beat and until Houllier took over, that is not something Liverpool were able to do. They may not be pleasing to the eye to watch but it takes time for a side to evolve.

With the players Liverpool have got, such as Owen, Heskey and Fowler who can win a game for the team and if the team are sorted out tactically and defensively I can understand how he is playing. By next year they will have new players and the style will change, but Houllier's philosophy is counter-attacking and that's how they'll play primarily in Europe.

As for the Champions League, If you look at some of the successful European sides such as Brian Clough's, they have won the European Cup by playing a counter-attacking game. You've got to chose the style of play to suit the players and that's what Houllier is doing.

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Tom from the UK asks:

Have Liverpool started the end of Arsenal's reign as the main challengers to Man Utd, or the second best team in England?

Lawro: A lot has been said about Arsenal after they lost the FA Cup on Saturday, but they haven't had a bad season at all. They are a couple of players short from really challenging Man Utd.

Liverpool are getting closer to both Arsenal and Man Utd, we'll also have Leeds in the equation next season and I can't believe that Chelsea won't have a better season next season than they did this year. Everybody is getting closer to Man Utd but they are still the team that everybody has to catch.

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Simon from the UK asks:

With the Wembley fiasco continuing and Liverpool having happy days in Cardiff, do you think they are praying for the situation to carry on so that they can win a few more trophies?

Lawro: Everyone who has been to the Millennium Stadium, not just on Saturday, but for the Worthington Cup final as well, including myself, will tell you it was a fantastic experience, it's a lovely stadium and Cardiff is a really nice city: Really accommodating and if Wembley is never in operation again, I certainly won't be complaining.

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Phil Kay in Surrey asks:

How did you celebrate Liverpool winning the FA Cup on Saturday? I had a £5 bet with a mate that you shaved your moustache off. How about it Lawro?

Lawro: It would take a lot more than a fiver for me to shave my moustache off! I've been offered four figure sums before today. I'm afraid it's here to stay!