09
Sept 02Last week's episode
Liverpool Red Diary - part IV
Joel RookwoodIt has to be said that any ground with a stand named after the legendary Bill Shankly is well worth a visit, but when there's a national football museum thrown in too, well, is there any wonder I passed the opportunity of a much needed lie in last Sunday, to pay a visit to Preston North End?
Preston's Deepdale is a ground steeped in tradition, with the talents of the likes of Tom Finney having graced Preston's fields in years gone by. The club is now in a respectable though modest position, but the adjacent museum houses an exhibition of football memorabilia unlikely to be equalled anywhere in the world. Included are artefacts such as the 1966 World Cup final ball, and the shirt worn by Bobby Moore that famous afternoon. Indeed every aspect of English football culture is well represented - the records, the history, the disasters, the heroics. If you ever happen to be in Preston - don't miss it. With a decent game of football thrown in it served as a great way to start the week.
Monday night saw the visit of Newcastle United to Liverpool, and the annual Toon army invasion. The Geordies were growing in number on the streets of Liverpool well before sunset, as Anfield prepared itself for another classic encounter. In last week's edition I predicted goals - it proved an accurate prophecy. The Albert pub was fairly quiet compared to most pre-match singing sessions, but Anfield was a cauldron. It was an electric atmosphere throughout, and an enthralling game.
Liverpool
were simply brilliant, particularly in midfield - and ran the first half,
creating chance after chance, which were somehow not converted. We could,
nay should, have been 5-0 up by half time. Ex-Newcastle midfield maestro
Didi Hamann, undoubtedly the best player on the park opened the scoring
in sublime fashion. He was predictably booed by the away support who branded
him 'greedy' - which he obviously is, as his five medals in his three
year Liverpool career serves to show. Owen doubled the lead soon after
from the penalty spot, marking the number ten's first of the season.
The reds should have added to their lead - countless times, but didn't. Surely though being 2-0 up at home with ten minutes to go, we were entitled to feel the points were safe? Newcastle's Gary Speed and Alan Shearer had other ideas, notching a goal each in a hectic last ten minutes to ensure the spoils were shared. Twice in two games we've led in the closing stages and not won the game. It's frustrating, but not worrying. We're still unbeaten, and defensive problems will be rectified. (That's called non-fickle, loyal support - Sunderland fans take note).
The following night saw what could be termed our 'works night out', with Liverpool Football Club's coaches putting our feet up after the summer coaching scheme had come to an end. After a huge meal, the various amusing events of the summer were discussed. I was devastated to lose the football quiz that followed, but had to bow to the superior knowledge of our chief executive, Rick Parry, whose football brain was pretty frightening. The night ended, as every good night in Liverpool must, with a singing session, as the guitar came out and the Beatles tunes were performed. Liverpudlians in our element.
By Wednesday morning I was starting to panic, as with the Valencia game only two weeks away, I still hadn't sorted out my travel to the Spanish coastal city. Spain is a notoriously difficult destination for independent football excursions, and organising this trip was proving no less complex. In the end I decided not to take any chances and booked along with a few of the Albert regulars to go on an organised package. I'm just desperate to get out there, and see the reds finally banish the pain of last season's cruel exit in Leverkusen.
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The weekend was uneventful with the dreaded internationals denying me my Saturday football. I refused to even watch the England game and instead cursed the Liverpool players on show for wanting anything to do with the game. If I was Michael Owen I'd retire from international football. It would make him a true legend at Liverpool. I must confess to having grudging respect for Beckham, Keane and Scholes for ignoring such futile friendlies. Club football does and always will rule.
England's pointless fixture against the Portuguese means another midweek encounter is to follow, with Premiership new boys Birmingham City the visitors. The Midlanders will be seeking to avenge two cup defeats in as many years, and will no doubt come with their first division mentality, whereby every game means a pre-match fight, as was clearly their view when we bested them at Anfield in the FA Cup last year. We simply have to win, and without conceding a goal.