This coming Sunday is arguably(depending on you're viewpoint) the biggest game in English football. The English games most decorated sides battle again, always eagerly anticipated and nerve racking in equal measure. Why is that? If I was born a Scouser the Merseyside Derby would be the biggest game much like for a Mancunian would be against City. If you're reading this most likely just as myself, you are regarded as a OTT, Woolyback(WOOL) etc...to many outside the two cities that is what we are actually are. Why is then a lad from Ireland would find these games described above?
Like me, when you were in Primary and Secondary school the rivalry between two set of fans was one which grew due to the success of Manchester United and coinciding of Liverpool's drop from grace. Apart from a few false dawns we were on a whole not on their radar in title challenges. "Come back to me when you win 18 league titles" was the cry and I would admit it myself I said it along with the now comical "Next year is our year".
When you are 10,11,12 years of age, the optimism you had clouded judgement somewhat and in my view the comment above stemmed from 2 generations of Liverpool supporters never seeing them win a League title. The fact that Liverpool were not winning these games against United on a whole was harder to bare. Just like it was for United supporters back in the 70's-80's, where they actually had the one off wins in Cup Finals, league games to treasure despite never on Liverpool's radar throughout that period. Which brings us to Sunday, a lot of useless information above but you get the point we are coming on too.
This weekend both set of fans find themselves in opposite world, even noted by Wayne Rooney in which he summed a lot of what it means supporting either club: "To see Manchester City doing well, and particularly Liverpool, is really difficult." case in point, "particularly Liverpool, is really difficult". Both clubs need each other as much as the other in my honest opinion. Yes, we like to see United the position they are in at the moment but these games whether it be League or Cup(unfortunately not in the Champions League, although a Semi-Final in 2002 was within reach until we balls it up away in Leverkusen), they what make football, football.
Old Trafford, a bogey ground recently for Liverpool especially since we last won there 5 years ago this week. The magical day which wobbled United for a couple of games until Federico Macheda popped up and ruined our chances in a few games in the run-in that season. The defeats since have been heartbreaking like any other, 2-1, 3-2, 2-1,2-1 scorelines in the League aligned with the two 1-0 defeats in the FA & League Cups at the home of the current champions makes dull reading for Red-men everywhere. In a season of breaking "hoodoo's" can another be annexed, in a season where just about anything has happened??
Liverpool travel to Old Trafford as favourites for the first time in 20+ years, an unusual position we as a supporters have seen. On form yes, but our record at Old Trafford should be taken into context despite Moyes's struggles in a one off game United like they have done at home to Arsenal earlier this season produced a performance in a one off game and come out the other side as the victors. As one United supporter said to me, "as long as we beat you at Old Trafford" a role reversal as it was usually myself saying it to them. A unique position that Rodgers men find themselves in, Sunday could be special or one of those days at Old Trafford. We know the key areas where each side could exploit each other's weaknesses, 73 goals this season from a Liverpool point of view gives us confidence that we can do the business, press United's midfield will be key as we seen recently in their defeat to Olympiakos albeit away from home United could not cope.
It's not if but when Liverpool do that will United be able to cope with that and the tempo of our attack who knows. What I am sure of its going to nerve racking and eagerly anticipating like every other game against them, ask to me make a prediction. A clean sheet and a 1-0 would do fine for the tricky Reds.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Sunday, March 2, 2014
It's On Like Donkey Kong
As the dying embers of the game petered out at St. Mary's, Steven Gerrard converted the penalty which capped off a 3-0 away to Southampton for the tricky reds. The travelling support bellowed out songs like it was 1980's again, the Redmen are coming down the road and they believe it. Not in five long years has there been this type of moment in a season for Liverpool Football Club. Unlike at Fulham on that late Saturday evening when Yossi Benayoun scored the late winner, this time there is enough games to make up a 4 point gap, "Now your going to believe us, we're gonna win the league" was sung with gusto amongst the red masses behind the goal.
Fast track back to two weeks ago again at Craven Cottage, the supporters for the first time seen the players believed we could do it with the late penalty. Why not believe? Since the turn of the year and the back to back defeats at Chelsea and City, the form guide speaks for itself. Undefeated, 8 wins in the preceding 10 games. As each game goes by we're been told, they will fall away eventually. Well in the first week of March Liverpool sit hot on the heels of the leaders, bang in form and have a front 3/4 that are obliterating defences and a manager who some are afraid to admit could be the real deal.
Enough has been said but Gerrard's post match interview at the end gave credence to a set of players, management and more importantly supporters that this is truly possible. The impossible dream back in August 2012 when the Northern Irishman took the reigns that he could end the 24 year-long wait for what is become an obsession for Liverpool.
On the back of what I would regard probably Liverpool's most professional and important win of the season yesterday, the two week gap to United away wets at the hunger for what is too come. The ride continues for Liverpool supporters, where it ends who knows but this season will go down in the annals as one to live in the memory. Whether that it is a memory when Liverpool get number 19 or not is remained to be seen, primary target of top four is well and truly in our own hands.
Roll on Sunday 16th March, when we enter a football ground where our record is not great but on the back of the uneasiness of their season this could be one of those days we look back on with absolute joy or regret. One thing that unlike most(bar a couple of) Liverpool sides in the Premier League era, Brendan Rodgers red-men travel to Old Trafford not in trepidation but brimming with confidence with the belief in any game against any side we can score goals. This will be the same.
Which United side turns up doesn't matter who knows, they have a lot too worry about in terms of our two strikers who have 1 goal less than what the whole United side have managed in the league this season. Key for Liverpool like at Southampton is keep the individual mistakes to a minimum and keep Joe Allen in the side in that midfield alongside Stevie & Hendo this could be special. Sing it again "Now your gonna believe us...." because it is on like donkey kong!!!!
Fast track back to two weeks ago again at Craven Cottage, the supporters for the first time seen the players believed we could do it with the late penalty. Why not believe? Since the turn of the year and the back to back defeats at Chelsea and City, the form guide speaks for itself. Undefeated, 8 wins in the preceding 10 games. As each game goes by we're been told, they will fall away eventually. Well in the first week of March Liverpool sit hot on the heels of the leaders, bang in form and have a front 3/4 that are obliterating defences and a manager who some are afraid to admit could be the real deal.
Enough has been said but Gerrard's post match interview at the end gave credence to a set of players, management and more importantly supporters that this is truly possible. The impossible dream back in August 2012 when the Northern Irishman took the reigns that he could end the 24 year-long wait for what is become an obsession for Liverpool.
On the back of what I would regard probably Liverpool's most professional and important win of the season yesterday, the two week gap to United away wets at the hunger for what is too come. The ride continues for Liverpool supporters, where it ends who knows but this season will go down in the annals as one to live in the memory. Whether that it is a memory when Liverpool get number 19 or not is remained to be seen, primary target of top four is well and truly in our own hands.
Roll on Sunday 16th March, when we enter a football ground where our record is not great but on the back of the uneasiness of their season this could be one of those days we look back on with absolute joy or regret. One thing that unlike most(bar a couple of) Liverpool sides in the Premier League era, Brendan Rodgers red-men travel to Old Trafford not in trepidation but brimming with confidence with the belief in any game against any side we can score goals. This will be the same.
Which United side turns up doesn't matter who knows, they have a lot too worry about in terms of our two strikers who have 1 goal less than what the whole United side have managed in the league this season. Key for Liverpool like at Southampton is keep the individual mistakes to a minimum and keep Joe Allen in the side in that midfield alongside Stevie & Hendo this could be special. Sing it again "Now your gonna believe us...." because it is on like donkey kong!!!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)