JAMIE CARRAGHER shrugged aside the shock of scoring an FA Cup final own goal to insist it was the experience of Istanbul which got Liverpool through the nail-biting Cardiff climax.
Liverpool's tough defender recalled his team's Champions League final comeback at the expense of AC Milan as he reflected on a comparable success against West Ham in Saturday's showpiece event at the Millennium Stadium.
"When it got to penalties it probably did count that we had been through this before in the Champions League final. Experience did come into it," he said.
"I had to get on with it after the own goal - that was the feeling in my mind. Okay, it happened - but afterwards there is nothing you can do about it.
"It caught my trailing leg as I tried to put it behind, but there's no point worrying about it."
Carragher admits the physical demands were similar to that Champions League final 12 months ago, adding: "A lot of the lads were struggling badly with cramp.
"In extra-time it was very similar to Istanbul, with people dropping like flies - we were that tired. We were trying to save our legs so that we were not going to get caught on the break by pace.
"But in the end we have a lot to thank Stevie for. I had said beforehand that he was the best in the world and people dismissed that as me being biased. But he just proved it out there - he's the best English player by a mile.
"It was a great final, which is good for the competition after the way some people have derided it. Being a defender, I would have rather it had been 1-0 - but it was great for everyone to watch."
