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• Celebrities that support LFC Celebrities that support LFC

  • From: JpRambert
  • Description:

    Do you ever wonder if your favorite celebrity supports the Liverpool Football Club?

    I have done some thorough research and have come up with two lists that might surprise you! For the record, this is a factual blog and the following names were not taken out of thin air. The following information is very accurate, enjoy it and share it with your friends!

     

    Celebrities (past & present) that support the Liverpool Football Club

    Caroline Wozniacki - Danish Pro Tennis Player.

    It isn't much of a secret that the world number-one is a Liverpool supporter. She often tweets about the club and has a large fanbase of Reds from around the world. She recently wore a signed Liverpool shirt at the Qatar Open, a shirt which was reportedly sent by Steven Gerrard.

    

    

     

     

     

     

     

    
    

     

     

     

     

     

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Angelina Jolie - American Actress.

    When the Hollywood beauty isn't raiding tombs, she's cheering the Mighty Reds on to victory. She revealed that her baby son, Maddox, "only wants to play for Liverpool". She also revealed that she frequently watches the Reds.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Samuel L Jackson - American Actor and Film Producer.

    Samuel fell in love with the club after attending a Merseyside derby while shooting the movie 'The 51st State' in Liverpool. From an executive box, the star was seen waving his arms and singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' during the game. Jackson has also publicly expressed his distaste towards the people of Manchester.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Pope John Paul II - Polish Pope (deceased).

    John Paul was a keen supporter of the Liverpool Football Club. He followed the club even more when Jerzy Dudek was the number-one goalkeeper. For the record, John Paul also supported Cracovia, a Polish football team.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Liam Neeson - Irish Actor.

    Actor Liam and his two sons are big Liverpool fans. They attend games when they are able to. They were spotted at a Fulham v Liverpool game about 2 years ago after the tragic death of Liam's wife, Natasha Richardson, in a skiing accident.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Daniel Craig - English Actor and Film Producer.

    Daniel is a Liverpool fan and his idol is Steven Gerrard (yes, even James Bond can't resist) although nobody knows how long he has supported the club for. He has been spotted several times at Anfield.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Mike Myers - Canadian Actor and Comedian.

    Mike Myers is a passionate Liverpool fan who started following the club at a young age. He was influenced by his parents, who originated from the Old Swan area of Liverpool. The actor, known for his role as Austin Powers, admits that he was 'the odd one out' growing up in Canada.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    LeBron James - American Pro Basketball Player and Businessman.

    LeBron James recently obtained a minority share in the Liverpool Football Club in exchange for his global rights, a deal that was done with FSG. LeBron has revealed that he is excited in being part of one of the biggest sports clubs in the world at a recent press conference.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     Sheamus - Irish Pro Wrestler.

    Sheamus follows the club and recently visited Anfield and the LFC Museum. He was interviewed on the day as he spoke of his love for the club. He also went on to say that he would probably punch Gary Neville in the face if he saw him as he is a 'sour person'.

    

     

     

     

     

     

    Kim Cattrall - English Actress.

    Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall was born in Mossley Hill, Liverpool. Although she is quite busy with her various acting roles, she still finds the time to monitor the Reds' progress. In November 2010, she was Steven Gerrard's guest at Anfield when Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-0.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    

     

     

     

     

     

    Nelson Mandela - Former South African President.

    In 1994, Nelson revealed to John Barnes that he supported the Liverpool Football Club. John Barnes presented Nelson with a Liverpool shirt and had conducted a formal interview with him during the club's pre-season tour of the country.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Rafael Benitez - Spanish Football Manager.

    The former Liverpool Manager's love for the club isn't much of a secret. When he was viciously axed by the former owners, Rafa went to Inter Milan and once said that he didn't like the blue colours as it reminded him of Everton. Rafa has also been of tremendous help to the families of the Hillsborough victims along the years, also donating 96 thousand pounds when he left the club. Rafa received two standing ovations at the 2011 Hillsborough Memorial Service and was seen weeping in the crowd. Rafa will always be remembered for the right reasons at our club.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     Dr. Dre - American Record Producer, Rapper and Actor.

    Dr. Dre became a huge fan of Liverpool after becoming good friends with John Barnes after the ‘Anfield Rap’ was recorded in 1988. Dre even claimed that John Barnes was his favorite player at the time. He also admitted that he always looks out for the Reds and keeps track of the team whenever he can.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Sven Goran Eriksson - Swedish Football Manager.

    In June 2010, Sven confessed that he has been a lifelong Liverpool fan. Eriksson began following the Reds as a boy in Sweden. His father was also a Liverpool supporter and every Saturday, they would watch a Liverpool match on the television. It was the highlight of the week according to Sven. ''They have always been my team and nothing has changed.''

    

     

     

     

     

     

    Billy-Bob Thornton - American Actor and Musician.

    Billy-Bob is a big fan of the Liverpool Football Club, the city and the supporters. He revealed this in an interview with Empire magazine. He also met Gerry Marsden and saw Liverpool play Juventus at Anfield, an experience that he will never forget.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Snoop Dog - American Rapper and Entertainer.

    Snoop Dog wore a Liverpool shirt at a recent concert that he held in Liverpool, to the delight of 90% of the fans. When interviewed, he revealed that a few of his friends supported the club so he thought he would do the same.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Melanie C - English Singer-songwriter and Actress.

    Melanie Chisholm has been a passionate Liverpool FC supporter from a young age. She has even named her record label 'Red Girl Records' after the club.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Clive Owen - English Actor.

    Clive is an avid Liverpool fan. He attends as many games as he can and always makes sure that he is able to watch the games on television, no matter where he is.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Graeme Smith - South African Pro Cricketer.

    The captain of the South African cricket team has actually been a Red from the age of six, although the rest of his family support Manchester united. Graeme's all time hero is Kenny Dalglish, he has fond memories of watching videos of him as a youngster.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Stephen Graham - English Actor.

    Stephen is a die-hard Liverpool fan. He often tries to convert Hollywood's leading actors and writers into becoming fans of the club. Stephen even tried converting Leonardo Di Caprio, but Di Caprio had found football to be a bit boring for his taste.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Robbie Slater - Former Professional Football Player.

    The England-born Australian openly supports Liverpool although having won the Premiership with Blackburn in 1995. Slater also played for West Ham United, Southampton, Wolves and Lens.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Cameron Mooney - Australian Football Superstar.

    The former AFL (Australian Football League) player is an avid Liverpool fan. He has won 3 premierships and is now co-hosting a successful Australian sports program. 

    

     

     

     

     

    Robbie Farah - Australian Pro Rugby League Player.

    The Wests Tigers captain is a huge Liverpool FC fan and has followed the club since he was 13, partly due to his brothers supporting the club. His favourite games were the '01 FA Cup final, '05 Champions League final and the '06 FA Cup final amongst others. His favourite goal of all time was the Gerrard stunner against Olympiakos. Robbie went to a Liverpool v man united game and sung 'You'll Never Walk Alone' with the Kop and later stated that it was one of the best experiences of his entire life. He later met and shared a few drinks with Robbie Fowler, one of the all time Liverpool greats.

    

     

     

     

     

     

    Ding Junhui - Chinese Pro Snooker Player.

    Superstar snooker player, Ding Junhui, admits that he is a massive Liverpool fan. He is already China's most successful snooker player of all time.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Gerry Marsden - English Musician.

    This one is pretty obvious. Gerry is best known for being leader of the band Gerry and the Pacemakers.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    John Bishop - English Comedian and Actor.

    John is originally from Liverpool and is an ardent fan of the club. He also tries to follow the Reds as much as he can.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Adam Woodyatt - English Actor and Media Personality.

    More famously known as 'Ian Beale' in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, Adam is a passionate Liverpool fan and has a keen appreciation for sport in general.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Laura Davies - English Pro Golfer.

    Laura is considered to be the most accomplished English female golfer of modern times, boasting 78 professional wins worldwide. And yes, you guessed it; she is a big Liverpool fan.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Rosanna Davison - Irish Model, Columnist and Personality.

    Rosie was the winner of the 2003 Miss World contest. She is a Liverpool supporter, just like her father, Chris De Burgh.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Tommy Tiernan - Irish Comedian, Actor and Writer.

    Funny-man Tommy Tiernan is also a passionate Liverpool supporter. He spoke about his passion for the club in a recent interview.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Kirsty Gallacher - Scottish Television Presenter.

    Kirsty has supported the club since she was young. She was influenced by her father, who also happens to be a Liverpool supporter.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Football Players that support/grew up supporting Liverpool FC

    Xabi Alonso - Spanish, plays for Real Madrid.

    The former Liverpool midfielder recently revealed that he 'is and always will be' a Liverpool supporter. He loves the club so much that he wants to raise his son as a die-hard Liverpool supporter too. He has promised to return to Liverpool FC one day.

    

     

     

     

     

     

    
    

    Theo Walcott - English, plays for Arsenal.

    Theo has never hidden the fact that he's a massive Liverpool supporter. He started following the club as a youngster because of his father's support for the club. Who knows, he could very well join the club sooner rather than later.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Robbie Keane - Irish, plays for West Ham United.

    Robbie Keane joined Liverpool in July 2008. At his first press conference with the club, he revealed that he had been a Liverpool supporter all his life and that he always had the Liverpool shirt on his back when he was a youngster. He left the club 7 months later due to poor form and a disappointing run.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Kevin Nolan - English, plays for Newcastle United.

    Kevin was born in Toxteth, Liverpool and grew up supporting the  Liverpool Football Club. His two favorite players however, were Eric Cantona and Lee Sharpe of Manchester united.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Jari Litmanen - Finnish, currently a Free Agent.

    Jari grew up supporting Liverpool and was even signed by Gerard Houllier in 2001, but his days at the club were short lived due to constant injuries. Jari is arguably the best Finnish player of all time.

    

     

     

     

     

     

    Rio Ferdinand - English, plays for Manchester united.

    Rio grew up idolizing John Barnes. The Liverpool influence came about due to the majority of his friends supporting Liverpool. Rio once told MUTV, his club's official TV channel that ''As a kid, Liverpool was the team that were doing well, with the likes of John Barnes and John Aldridge, and United weren't really winning anything.''

    John O'Shea - Irish, plays for Manchester united.

    John supported Liverpool when he was growing up. He is admired at his current club, even though it is widely acknowledged amongst united fans that O'Shea grew up supporting Liverpool.

    Ole Gunnar Solksjaer - Norwegian, used to play for Manchester united.

    Ole grew up supporting Liverpool, but he jumped ship as he signed with Manchester united in July 1996.

     

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• "Dad? I want to support Man Un "Dad? I want to support Man United."

  • From: 8Leg
  • Description:

     Mid-September 2010. After finishing 7^th last season, I’m struggling to convince my two boys that Liverpool are the greatest club in the world. And now, under Hodgson’s guidance and the increasingly worrying Hicks/Gillett ownership, my job is getting more difficult. I arrive home from work one day, and my 9-year-old approaches me sheepishly.

    “Dad? I don’t want to support Liverpool anymore. I want to support Man United.”  Six words that any LFC-supporting father dreads.

    “Me too!” chips in my 7-year-old, helpfully.

    “Why?”  I reply calmly, struggling to hide the panic and anger bubbling up inside.

    “Everyone at school supports Man United, and I don’t want to be the odd-one-out.” It’s true. We live in Surrey, a few miles from Chelsea’s training ground, and about 15 miles from Stamford Bridge. Chelsea run the local soccer schools. And yet the kids support United.

    Unfortunately, my anger gets the better of me. “Well, you have a simple choice to make boys. Either you can support Man United, or you can have a Dad.” This sends them running to Mum, and you can imagine the trouble I’m in.

    Once calm returns to the house, chastised, I try a different approach. “Well you can’t support Man United can you boys? Remember the first rule of football: You can only support the team your Dad supports, or your local team.”  I’d taken them to see Reading when they were in the Premier League, including the time they beat Liverpool. But they got bored when I took them to Championship games, and they’d lost interest.  “It’s got to be Liverpool or Reading.”

    “Reading? They’re rubbish”, declares my youngest.

    “Well it’s got to be Liverpool then”, I say, in a matter-of-fact kind of way.

    “Reading aren’t our only local team you know”, offers my eldest kindly. Unfortunately geography is one of his stronger subjects. “If I can’t support Man United, I want to support Chelsea.”

    “Fulham are closer”, I reply confidently, not sure if it’s true.

    “Fulham? They’re rubbish”, declares my youngest, again.

    I’m really panicking now. “OK, you can support Liverpool and either Arsenal or Tottenham for a bit, until Liverpool improve. They both play good football and are both only a bit further away than Chelsea.”

    “I’m going to support Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham” declares my youngest.

    “Then you’ll have a very successful season”, I mutter.

    “I’ll do you a deal”, offers my eldest. Always doing deals. “I’ll support Liverpool and Man United until the end of the season, and then decide.”

    With Liverpool still in the picture for both of them, I decide to leave it there for the time-being. Let them go on a journey of discovery - plenty of time to steer them back onto the righteous path before the end of the season. “Deal”, I agree.

    “But…” continues my eldest, “if Liverpool drop into the relegation zone, I’m supporting Man United”.

    “Relegation zone?!” I laugh. Never in my lifetime. Never. “Alright boys, no problem. You don’t have to support Liverpool if we drop into the relegation zone.”

    3^rd October 2010. Home to Blackpool, absolute banker – home win, 99 times out of 100. Even a draw will keep us out of the relegation zone, so absolutely no worries at all.

    Of course you know what happens. Total humiliation. The most humiliating defeat at Anfield since…. well, since Northampton won there 11 days earlier. My boys see the result, and I pray they won’t see the table.

    “Dad, Dad, Liverpool are in the relegation zone! You said we don’t have to support them if they’re in the relegation zone! Yeessss!!!”

    We don’t play again for two weeks, and they’re two of the worst weeks of my life. On top of everything else, Liverpool face administration and probable relegation if they can’t sell the club. I seriously wonder if the club I’ve loved for my whole life is dying before me.

    The week of 11^th to 15^th October I can’t sleep properly or focus on work. I sit at my desk clicking the refresh button on the live news feeds a hundred times a day. Finally on 15^th October, just an hour or two before the deadline, the LFC board burst out of the High Court declaring victory. The club can be sold to NESV. I should feel euphoric, but I’m broken, exhausted, and slump on my desk, numb with relief.

    Confident that Liverpool will climb back up the table, I explain to my boys how Liverpool will now be great again, and sit back and wait for the victories to roll in. But of course, they don’t. Week after week I pray for Liverpool victories, while at the same time a shameful part of me hopes we lose so that Hodgson will be sacked.

    For the first time I wonder if I’m being cruel, insisting my boys support Liverpool. Then I bump into a mate who has his son dressed in a Brentford shirt. Immediately, I know that encouraging them to support Liverpool is one of the greatest gifts I can ever give to them. I just need to bide my time.

    In mid-December we lose to Newcastle, and I tell my boys that Hodgson will be sacked the next day. Then we lose to Wolves at Anfield, and I tell my boys that Hodgson will definitely, definitely, be sacked the next day. They find my pain hilarious. Then on 5^th January we lose to Blackburn, and finally the axe falls.

    8^th January 2011. Liverpool announce that King Kenny will return as manager until the end of the season. Now, I’ve loved Kenny my whole life. Two years ago, in an interview for a business magazine, I told them Kenny Dalglish was my inspiration, because no-one has achieved so much as both a team player and a Manager. But I have my reservations. If he can still do it, why has he been out of management for so long? Anyway, I can’t let my boys know my concerns. This is too good a chance to miss.

    “Kenny Dalglish? He is such an old man”, offers my eldest generously.

    “Right”, I said. “Both of you wait there.”

    I went upstairs and fetched Kenny’s autobiography and my LFC history books. “Right. Guess how many league titles Kenny has won.” I didn’t wait for an answer. “Nine. Nine league titles. And, and three European Cups.” They sat there with their mouths open, catching flies.

    Finally my eldest spoke. “Yeah, he was a good player but that doesn’t make him a good manager, does it?”

    I smiled. “Well, he was Liverpool manager for five years. In his first season, he won the league title and the FA Cup. Not only that, but he also played 29 games that season, and scored the winning goal at Chelsea to win the title on the final day of the season.”

    “What? You can’t be a player and a Manager at the same time.”

    “Kenny could. And in those five years, he won the title three times. Then he went to Blackburn, and won the title for them too. Blackburn! So do you think he’s a good Manager?”

    “Yeah! Brilliant.”

    The next day, and Kenny’s first match is away at Old Trafford. I fear the worst. My boys cheer when United score just to wind me up, but I can tell they’re not sure who they want to win. Our performance overall is much improved so I feel quietly optimistic about the future.

    During the next few weeks, Liverpool gradually improve and we get some victories under our belt. I subliminally try to influence my boys by leaving Liverpool scarves and pennants around the house, and put a picture of Kenny in a frame next to the TV. I leave their Match Attax collection album open at the Liverpool page after they go to bed, and I tell them all the transfer rumours about the players that the new owners may be buying for us. They increasingly play as Liverpool on PES, and beg to stay up to watch the first-half of our televised evening games.

    Then at the end of January a set-back. They love Gerrard and Torres, and all of a sudden it seems Torres may be going to Chelsea. I quickly go into damage limitation mode, reminding them how bad Torres has been for a year or more. He goes, and I quietly remove their posters of him while they are out. I show them a video of new-signing Luis Suarez on YouTube, and they watch Carra stop Torres getting anywhere near our goal as Liverpool thrillingly beat Chelsea. Torres is forgotten, and Liverpool’s good form continues.

    6^th March 2011. Liverpool versus United, and a true test of their loyalties. They join me on the sofa at kick-off, each with a Liverpool scarf draped around their neck. I’m happy but nervous. Are we good enough yet to beat United? As the game progresses, my nerves ease. We’re playing well. Then, with his back to goal, Suarez takes his first giant step to becoming a Liverpool Legend. He suddenly spins between two defenders, beats a third, and rolls the ball under the on-rushing keeper. Kuyt taps it in, and me and my boys go wild. Before half-time it’s 2-0, and we’re all delighted. Half way through the second half, and a fantastic Suarez free-kick is parried into the path of Kuyt, who hammers it into the net.  The boys leap on me and I find myself twirling around the living room, one of them held high in each arm, their arms raised, fingertips touching the ceiling.

    “Kuyt’s got a hat-trick, Kuyt’s got a hat-trick – against Man United!” they scream in delight, and I know our journey is complete. For the first time in months I can hold my head up high and walk on, with hope in my heart.

     Support United, or have a Dad? Boys, You’ll NEVER Walk Alone.

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• An Open Letter to Kenny Dalgli An Open Letter to Kenny Dalglish... From my Wife

  • From: cookiedub1
  • Description:

     

    Dear Mr./Sir/King Kenny Dalglish

     

    I am writing to you to "fix it for me" to have my husband's heart & undivided attention back please. It's been missing since 8th January 2011, the date you were appointed caretaker manager at LFC. Granted, despite the dodgy tracksuits, you're not Jimmy Saville but I thought I'd give it a shot cause since this date the following changes have taken place;

    • My husband has regressed back to childhood and no longer talks, he now shouts excitedly punctuating every 2nd sentence with 'Dalglish'.
    • He has taken up five-a-side footy (at the age of 34) in the desperate belief his life long dream of training with you at Anfield will now come true (seriously!!)
    • He no longer sits down to watch LFC matches - he stands two inches away from the telly talking animatedly to the players and to you....you can hear him right? Well the neighbours 5 doors down can.
    • He religiously follows all levels of LFC football so every morning I awake to a story about you & LFC, the team, fixtures, injuries, statistics, antidotes, quotes, photos, trivia, the youth players etc..... and again each evening without fail. Without fail.
    • He mentions your name more than mine.... (that's a tough one to swallow I have to admit)
    • Since your return his dream of scoring the winning goal to lift the Premiership title for LFC has returned, so at night I endure the dreaming, the tossing & turning and the kicking - I have the bruises to prove it. 
    • He joined Twitter to follow you & all things LFC related. This wouldn't have been a big deal only I work in Social Media and spent the previous year trying to get him on Twitter with no success. One word got him on @kennethdalglish (he's @cookiedub1 in case you want to tell him to put on the 1986 kit he still has & join the team!)
    • And lastly when asked what his happiest memory was, he smiled broadly with emotion welling up in his eyes and proudly announced .......your appointment as caretaker manager of LFC ...... eh we were only recently married at the time!! 

    So Kenny I'm a realist there's probably no chance he's going to change, he's LFC to the core. It appears that at the altar he failed to mention there's another bird I'll be sharing him with for life - the Liver Bird. The only thing I ask is that you don't break his heart, you sign a permanent contract, get knighted and keep doing what you're doing because despite all of the above you've taken 20 years off him already & given me endless weekends away shopping in Liverpool!

    Your sincerely

    The Wife (@ginabo)

    http://ginabowes.posterous.com/dear-mrsirking-kenny-dalglish

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• An Open Letter to Fernando Tor An Open Letter to Fernando Torres

  • From: BrianDurand
  • Description:

    An Open Letter to Fernando Jose Torres Sanz

    It hardly seems like three and a half years since you were photographed with Rafa Benitez jointly holding aloft a ‘Liverpool FC –You’ll Never Walk Alone’ scarf with the Kop as a backdrop. That day Liverpool supporters all over the world were as proud and as pleased as punch. Kids raced out to get their new shirts with Torres 9 emblazoned on the back, and the older generation such as me looked forward to another in the line of famous LFC goal scorers.

    A new love affair had begun.

    Three days later we had our first glimpse of you in a Liverpool kit as you replaced fellow debutant Andre Voronin as a 63^rd minute substitute in the Friendly in Switzerland against Werder Bremen. The two friendly games played in Switzerland must have confirmed to you the size of the club that you had joined, the stands being full of Liverpool reds from their vast army of fans on the continent.

    But surely the scenes that greeted you and your new team-mates when you arrived in Hong Kong International Airport must have had an impression upon you. There were thousands of adoring Asian fans to greet the team, and the scenes were repeated everywhere you went on that short Far East tour. Believe me Fernando, this sort of worldwide appeal is reserved for special clubs. Liverpool, Barcelona and (dare I say) Manchester United. 

    Chelsea, for all their recent spending power simply do not compare.

    The memories from that first season will live long in our hearts as I trust they will in yours. The magical first goal at Anfield when you accepted Stevie’s pass and running half the length of the Main Stand, you cut in, twisted past two Chelsea defenders with a burst of pace and eased the ball into the far corner with expert precision.

    The love affair was consummated.

    More magical memories are etched in the mind. A couple in a drubbing of Derby, a hat-trick against a Reading team that tried in vain to kick you out of the game, consecutive home trebles against Boro and West Ham, magical solo goals at Derby and Marseille and a fabulous feint against the hapless Geordies.

    On top of that there was the wonderful goal in the San Siro, sealing one of the greatest nights in Liverpool’s illustrious history.

    And the goals and memories have gone on and on. Old Trafford in 2009, the annihilation of Real Madrid both witnessed the Torres celebration and the familiar smile.

    This was a team of great potential , registering wins at Chelsea, the Camp Nou, the Bernabou, Old Trafford.  On their day this team could beat anyone.

    Yet  all the while there was a cancer in the club. A cancer at the very top.

    The owners had lied. They had no doubt lied to you, and they had lied to us.

    There was to be no investment. There would only be spiralling debts. The chance for making the final step to glory was lost. The moment had passed.

    Don’t forget though Fernando that the fans put a lot of effort into removing the culprits. We marched. We stayed behind. But all the while we supported the team. Results became inconsistent but we supported the team. We supported you when you were injured. We supported you when the media started to question you. 

    The owners have been replaced of course and now FSG are at the helm. I understand that you are frustrated by the speed of progress. However we have previously witnessed false promises and a repeat would have been met with distrust. I firmly believe that John Henry and TomWerner’s approach is the correct one. They are taking time to assess things before making decisions, but they will make the right decisions. Their track record in North American sports tells us this.

    We have signed Luis Suarez, a quality player who will light up the Premier league. There is no better keeper than Pepe.  Stevie G, Raul and Lucas form a formidable midfield. We will reinforce the squad, using the money that would formerly have been swallowed up by interest payments.

    If you see the grass as greener at Chelsea, then make the move. It isn’t though. Not by a long chalk.

    You will not get the support at away games that you have become accustomed to. They are not as patient as us. (They booed Drogba, for goodness sake). There is no comparison in the atmosphere at special nights.

    Liverpool is a family club. Chelsea are not, they are a rich man's plaything.

    At times this season, you have cast a lonely furrow at the top of our attack. Under Hodgson the team was not set up to get the best out of you. We could see that. We understood. We wanted our Torres back. For that reason, above all others, Roy had to go.

    Now we have Kenny. Now we finally have our club back. The lads who made ‘The King and The Kid’ flag which has been on the Kop recently did not spend their hard-earned money just because they wanted to be on the television. I’ll bet they did that for their belief in Dalglish and their belief in you. You represent the heartbeat of this club, and that is why we are hurting.

    Once again, if you must go then there is nothing we can do, except wish you all the best.

    We realise that it is not fair to expect players to share our attachment to the football clubs we support. I am a Liverpool Football club supporter. It occupies an irrationally high proportion of my time and my thoughts.  I know it’s probably a bit sad, but that’s the way I am. I will support LFC whoever the owners are. I will support LFC whoever is manager. I will support them wherever our home ground is, whoever the board of directors are, whatever kit we wear, whatever league we are in, and of course, whoever the current players are.

    The one constant is the connection between the fan and the club. Everything else is a variable.

    The lads who made that flag will be sad this weekend. The kids with Torres posters on their wall will not understand. The older kids with Torres proudly emblazoned on their backs will be sad too. I am bl**dy sad for God’s sake.

    But I am also damn proud that I saw your hundred goals for Liverpool Football Club. I thank you sincerely for all the joy you have given me and my fellow Koppites. Thanks too for all the hours you put in on the training ground and in fighting back from injury.

    Thanks for that fabulous photo when you had your hands on the World cup but you remembered us and draped a Liverpool scarf around your neck. In a small way we felt part of that moment too.

    Great memories.  Proud memories.  How about making some more? Give it a thought...

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• Flagpole Corner - Anfield Flagpole Corner - Anfield

  • From: Rushian
  • Description:

    Flagpole Corner
    
    The year is 1906. It's 14 years since Everton were evicted by John Houlding from his Anfield ground for rent-dodging; an act which led to the formation of Liverpool Football Club. Behind one goal a rickety wooden terrace exists. It's unbefitting of a club which has just won its second League Championship and has a burgeoning support.

    The terrace is known as the Oakfield Road Embankment or Walton Breck Bank. The esteemed Mr Houlding decides to replace the exposed wooden terraces by constructing a huge new banking; a vast, roofless, sloped mound of soil and cinders surrounded by a white picket fence. The banking immediately evokes an image of a far off place in the mind of the Ernest Edwards,  then sports editor of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo.
    
    He christens it after a famous battle during the Boer War, which took place, on January 24th 1900 at Spion Kop, a hill in Natal, South Africa. More than 300 men lost their lives during a fierce battle whilst attempting to break the siege of Ladysmith. Most of the deceased were from the Lancashire Fusiliers,  and the majority of those from Liverpool and South Lancashire. The world's most famous football terrace, The Kop, is born.

    

    To commemorate the building of this new Kop in 1906, the topmast of Brunel’s giant Great Eastern six-masted iron steamer ship was erected on the outside corner of the Kop at the junction of Walton Breck Road with Kemlyn Road.
    
    
    
    The ship, which to this day remains one of the world's great modern wonders, had been broken up at Rock Ferry, Birkenhead between 1889 and 1891. LFC's club officials in search of a flagpole managed to buy it for 20 guineas from a scrap merchant, a reasonable price at the time.
    
    
    
    The mast was floated across the river Mersey to Garston and transported to Anfield by hauling it up Everton Valley on two wagons, pulled by a team of three horses. The mast still stands in the same spot at the corner of the Kop and the area where it stands is universally known as ‘Flagpole Corner’.

            

    The Great Eastern Flagpole next to the old Kop in the 80s and the new Kop in the 00s
    
    It's a place to meet and greet old friends; pass on spare tickets; arrange transport to the next game; a soapbox to hold forth on the manager's tactics. The flagpole has stood there for nearly 105 years and throughout has been a spiritual magnet for thousands of Reds.

    

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  • 2 years ago
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• Steven Gerrard History Steven Gerrard History

  • From: Vampiria
  • Description:
     

    Steven Gerrard was born on 30th May, 1980 in Whiston, Merseyside. The town is about 8 kms to the east of the city of Liverpool. He was brought up in neighbouring Huyton and spent his childhood there.
    
    Gerrard or Stevie G as he is called, is a natural central midfielder who can play in other positions with equal aplomb. He loves to make darting runs from the centre of the park into the striking area and his long range passing and shooting, coupled with his tackling ability makes him a player every manager would love to have in their side.
    
    Gerrard attended the Cardinal Heenan Catholic high school in West Derby, Liverpool. Unlike Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Jamie Carragher and other famous Liverpool players who were childhood Everton fans, Gerrard was a Kopite from the beginning and joined his beloved club as a trainee when he was a school boy. He rose through the ranks quickly and made his debut as a substitute for Norwegian Vegard Heggem against Blackburn on 30th November 1998. His first full debut came against Celta Vigo in the UEFA Cup and his performance that night was a definite indicator that the lad was destined for stardom.

     
            
     
     
        
                 
     
     
    Liverpool's Steven Gerrard prepares to take a throw during his debut in November 1998. Photograph: Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport/PA Photos

    It was the only time Steven Gerrard was ignored by the Kop. It was November 29 1998, a Blackburn Rovers side starting to flail desperately and vainly against relegation were already beaten and a teenager was running up and down the touchline waiting to come on.

                                           

     

    "All the subs were applauded when Gérard Houllier sent us to warm up," Gerrard recalled years later. "Well, nearly all. When I ran towards the Kop I could almost hear them saying: "Who's this skinny little tw*t?'" The 18-year-old came on for the final few moments as a substitute for Vegard Heggem, was shot through with nerves and remembers his contribution as consisting of one wildly over-hit cross that threatened the upper reaches of the Centenary Stand.

    Liverpool were in the middle of a deep low. The uneasy, unworkable alliance between Houllier and Roy Evans had come to its messy, predictable end. They had just lost at home to Derby, been easily eliminated from the League Cup by Tottenham and entered the weekend ninth in the Premier League. It was the twilight of the Spice Boys. The days of David James, Jason McAteer, Jamie Redknapp and Steve McManaman were almost done.

    And yet there was a new dawn about to break over Anfield. Michael Owen, who had been part of Gerrard's year at the Liverpool School of Excellence under Steve Heighway, was on the point of becoming BBC's Sports Personality of the Year at the age of 18. His first steps, however, were much more assured than those of the man who was to match and then surpass Owen's achievements at Anfield.

    Gerrard's first start was worse than his debut. Given all the arguments that have enveloped him over what position he should play, it was perhaps significant that Houllier asked him to patrol the right of midfield at White Hart Lane, facing David Ginola, who that season would be voted Footballer of the Year. Gerrard's recollections are even more downbeat. "Paul Ince was on at me, Ginola was taking the mickey. I was out of position and out of my depth." He hoped his parents would be out when Match of the Day came on.

    And yet nobody at Liverpool worried. Sir Alex Ferguson has said that Ryan Giggs is the only youngster he has ever dealt with whom he knew instantly would make it as a top-flight footballer. "And that is how we felt about Michael and Steven," said Heighway. "We knew from the age of 14 they were both going to make it. We took them both on an under-18 tour of Spain when they were 13 or 14, which I never did before or since. And their parents knew that I knew they were special. Sometimes you don't tell the parents because you don't want to affect their behaviour. But there was no danger with those two."

    ---

                                           

    ---

    Gerrard came to be revered on Merseyside in a way that Owen never was - partly because Owen's success with England made him a national sporting figure. Gerrard's triumphs have tended to be with a liver bird rather than a lion on his chest, particularly in the Champions League, which accounts for almost 30% of his 103 Liverpool goals.

    Gerrard can be modest, introverted and self-critical ,which might be why the high plateau of his football came when he was given the Liverpool captaincy at the age of 23. Gerrard as a Roy of the Rovers for the Sky Sports generation emerged only once Owen and Robbie Fowler, the big beasts of the Anfield dressing room, had gone. Both Alan Hansen and Jamie Carragher believe that in the modern history of Liverpool, he now stands alongside Kenny Dalglish as the club's greatest player.

    But given his hunger for the one trophy he has never won, Gerrard might remember not November 29 1998 but May 1 1990, when their 18th championship was paraded around Anfield to applause Hansen recalled as strangely muted and complacent. There was a nine-year-old boy on the Kop who would have looked down on that silverware and thought it a birthright. Eighteen years on Steven Gerrard is still waiting.

     

    ---

     

                   

     

    ---

     

    He has played a pivotal role in swelling the Liverpool trophy cabinet as follows:

    • European Super Cup, EUEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup in 2001
    • The League Cup in 2003
    • The FA Cup in 2006 against West Ham, scoring 2 goals in the Final
    • The European Super Cup in 2006, and
    • The jewel in the crown, an unlikely Champion’s League trophy in 2005.

    His achievements on the field have led to many accolades off it:

    • PFA Young Player of the Year in 2001
    • PFA Player of the Year in 2006 - the first Liverpool player since John Barnes to win this award
    • European midfielder of the Year
    • Premier League MVP twice
    • UEFA MVP in 2005
    • Nationwide England Player of the Year in 2007
    • Freeman of the Borough of Knowsley in 2006
    • Awarded MBE in 2007 New Year’s Honours List for services to sport

    ---

     

     CAPTAIN FANTASTIC ~ YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE ~

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• Why Kenny is making us dream Why Kenny is making us dream

  • From: KristianWalsh
  • Description:

    You'll have to excuse me if this column is a little disjointed. I keep stopping to pinch myself. It still feels like a dream.

    I've been going to watch Liverpool at Old Trafford for over a decade, but last Sunday was the first time I've ever regarded that place as the Theatre of Dreams.

    It's such a cringeworthy moniker. The only resemblance to a theatre it has is the silence throughout large segments of the 90 minutes; and as for dreams, I can't imagine a more nightmarish scenario than interrupting that silence for songs about Scousers every single time.

    But as Kenny Dalglish strode out of the Old Trafford tunnel adorned by a bench coat which seemed the perfect fit, there were almost 9,000 of us chanting his name loud enough to disrupt the deepest slumber.

    No one awakened though, because we were already awake. It was happening. It was real.

    Supporting Liverpool has a continuous dream-like quality, such is the inconceivable nature of this football club. Innumerable times, our fans have departed from a stadium open-mouthed at the events just witnessed.

    Moments such as Grobbelaar's legs in Rome, Dudek's hand in Istanbul and Steven Gerrard's right foot in Cardiff replay in our minds in slow motion; every millisecond is accentuated and analysed. There's a feeling of omnipresence as you remember the moment from every seat in the ground, from every possible angle. It just doesn't seem real.

    It felt like that standing at Old Trafford on Sunday. We had read the newspapers, listened to the radio and watched the rolling news channels, but until we saw Kenny on the touchline, it still didn't seem real.

    It's difficult to comprehend something people have wanted for 20 years in 24 hours.

    I haven't been waiting 20 years. I turned 4-years-old the day Kenny Dalglish left the position of manager at Liverpool Football Club. I went to my first game six months later. I was a child of the post-Dalglish era. Not anymore.

    It still felt special to me as Dalglish walked out on Sunday, though. It felt special because it felt special to all those who had seen him before - my granddad, the elder gentlemen on our coach and those I sit down with for a pre-match pint at Anfield.

    I don't need videos of Kenny's goal against Brugge in 1978, nor do I need a newspaper clipping of his chip against Chelsea in 1986. I know how important Kenny Dalglish was to this football club.

    The warmth which exuded from the anecdotes about his ability and demeanour were always enough to illustrate. The sparkle of reminiscence in my granddad's eyes as I was growing up was enough to tell me. The sparkle of tears in a few eyes on Sunday was enough to show me.

    Supporters I know, with shaven heads and steely exteriors, melted into a tearful, coarse cry of his name. Nine claps and then 'Dalglish' - it was the moment they'd waited for since they had a head full of hair. It was their thank you for everything he ever did for this football club and this city; for being our shining light in the club's darkest hour.

    It was Shankly who spoke of the holy trinity of the manager, players and supporters; it was from the moment he stood on the steps of St George's Hall after our FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal in 1971 that the bond between manager and support was truly created.

    The manager of Liverpool Football Club should always represent the city, the club and the supporters. There's more to the job than picking the team and training the players.

    As manager, you are ambassador to everything Liverpool. You become the third Liverbird, watching over the city with your head, chest and wings defiantly high.

    For the first time in a while, our support has been without a character we wanted to lead us into battle; a manager we were proud to call manager of our football club.

    We've been without somebody who embodies the club and the city; someone who is proud of the people he represents every time he sits in the dugout.

    For others - rightly or wrongly - it's been longer than six months. It's been 20 years.

    That's not to lambast Roy Hodgson. Sometimes in football, things don't work out - just look at Kenny at Celtic, for example. As supporters, we should thank him for his efforts and wish him well in the future.

    Unfortunately, Anfield was not a harmonious environment during the last month of his reign. No matter where you sat, there was an argument within earshot.

    At Old Trafford, there were no arguments amongst supporters about the team selection, player favouritism or whether we should support the team or support the battle to remove Hicks and Gillett.

    Liverpool Football Club - and its players, supporters and manager - is united once more. As Kenny looked to the away section from the dugout, a smile broke out across his face. He looked exactly how we felt.

    As he raised his arms to our support and the tearful clapping followed, his moist eyes scanned us in disbelief; he must have wondered if it was all a dream.

    We know how he felt.

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  • 2 years ago
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• Don't buy the Sun Don't buy the Sun

  • From: JimBoardman
  • Description:

    A surprising number of people seem unaware of the boycott of The Sun by supporters of Liverpool Football Club. Some don’t seem to know it is boycotted, others don’t know why. Some people rather disturbingly know why the boycott exists but still choose to buy it.

    If you choose to continue to buy The Sun after reading this article, and the articles it links to, then you ought to stop calling yourself a Liverpool supporter. Collect any shirts or scarves you have, and hand them in to a charity shop. In fact you can’t really call yourself a football supporter. The lies printed in The Sun that you will read about below were aimed at Liverpool supporters, people from Liverpool, people from the North of England, football supporters of any club. If you fall into any of those categories you certainly shouldn’t be buying, reading, or visiting the website of that newspaper. If you are a decent human being you will be steering clear of it from now on, even if you’ve not done so before.

    If you buy the paper regularly already, print off all of this information, and save your money tomorrow. Read these articles instead. If you still want to buy that paper the following day I would be surprised.

    The boycott of The Sun goes back to April 1989. At the time of writing that is almost 17 years ago. On April 15th 1989 a disaster took place which resulted in the deaths of ninety-six Liverpool supporters at Hillsborough, the home ground of Sheffield Wednesday, during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. Ninety-six people had their lives crushed out of them. Many more are said to have ended their own lives since as a consequence of that disaster. A lot of injustices came out of that disaster, far too many to list here. For more information visit the Hillsborough Justice Campaign website at http://www.contrast.org/hillsborough and please try to support them.

    This article concentrates on one piece of injustice that could so easily have been avoided. That could so easily have been made a little better, if not fixed, in the intervening years. Lies were printed as fact in a British newspaper, and that newspaper has still not made an unconditional apology for what it printed. Its editor of the time has never made an unconditional apology in all of that time.

    The headlines and sub-headlines on the front page of The Sun newspaper on the Wednesday following the disaster were as follows:

    “The Truth.
    Some fans picked pockets of victims
    Some fans urinated on the brave cops
    Some fans beat up PC giving kiss of life.”

    So just four days after their loved ones had died, four days after they had narrowly escaped death themselves, Liverpool supporters were confronted with those headlines. People actually believed those headlines. Those who were there did not believe the headlines of course, nor did those who knew people who had been there. Unfortunately though a lot of people did believe those headlines; people who were not Liverpool supporters, perhaps supporters of another team or people who did not follow football at all. The headlines sewed seeds in so many people’s minds that the 96 supporters died at the hands of their own kind. All lies, all proven to be lies, yet never put right by that publication.

    For more on the media coverage, visit http://www.contrast.org/hillsborough/history/media.shtm,
    http://football.guardian.co.uk and Wikipedia .

    The Wikipedia article says: “The story accompanying these headlines claimed that ‘drunken Liverpool fans viciously attacked rescue workers as they tried to revive victims’ and ‘police officers, firemen and ambulance crew were punched, kicked and urinated upon’. A quote, attributed to an unnamed policeman, claimed that a dead girl had been abused and that Liverpool fans ‘were openly urinating on us and the bodies of the dead’.”

    Read that last bit again, it really was printed in a national newspaper.

    Liverpool legend and the manager of the club at the time Kenny Dalglish was greatly affected by the tragedy. He attended numerous funerals and visited people in hospital, some of whom were in comas; he spent time with those that had lost their loved ones. In his autobiography he talks about the Disaster and recalls the media coverage:

    “The press coverage was difficult to comprehend, particularly the publication of pictures which added to people’s distress. There was one photograph of two girls right up against the Leppings Lane fence, their faces pressed into the wire. Nobody knows how they escaped. They used to come to Melwood every day, looking for autographs, and that photograph upset everyone there because we knew them. After seeing that I couldn’t look at the papers again.

    When the Sun came out with the story about Liverpool fans being drunk and unruly, underneath a headline ‘The Truth,’ the reaction on Merseyside was one of complete outrage. Newsagents stopped stocking the Sun. People wouldn’t mention its name. They were burning copies of it. Anyone representing the Sun was abused. Sun reporters and photographers would lie, telling people they worked for the Liverpool Post and Echo. There was a lot of harassment of them because of what had been written. The Star had gone a bit strong as well but they apologised the next day. They knew the story had no foundation. Kelvin MacKenzie, the Sun’s editor, even called me up.

    “How can we correct the situation?” he said.

    “You know that big headline – ‘The Truth’?” I replied. “All you have to do is put ‘We lied’ in the same size. Then you might be all right.”

    Mackenzie said: “I cannot do that.”

    “Well,” I replied, “I cannot help you then.”

    That was it. I put the phone down. Merseysiders were outraged by the Sun. A great many still are.

    There is no excuse for buying or reading The Sun. None whatsoever. If you read that newspaper, or worse still you buy that newspaper, after reading this article and those other articles that are linked to, then you are not fit to call yourself a Red. If you support another team, you should still be able to see why that newspaper should be boycotted. No matter what competitions they are running. Regardless of any “exclusives” they claim to have, even if it is the only paper left in the shop. Saying you bought it to get some tokens to help your daughter’s school to buy a new computer is not going to get you off the hook. It’s really simple:

    Don’t buy the Sun.

    The above was written in 2006, but still applies to this day. The original appears here: 

    http://www.anfieldroad.com/dont-buy-the-sun

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  • 2 years ago
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• Liverpool V Everton Match Repo Liverpool V Everton Match Report

  • From: theliverword
  • Description:

                     Liverpool 0-0 Everton Match Report

     

    Liverpool and Everton cancelled out each other in a rather forgettable 220^th Merseyside derby at Anfield. Chances were few and far between as Everton looked to stay above their neighbours in the league and finish above them for the second season in a row for the first time since 1937. Everton rarely threatened to win at Anfield for the first time in 14 years, although Everton had a goal disallowed when Distin headed past Reina in the second half. Liverpool’s best chances came from Sturridge and Gerrard but Liverpool had to settle for a point.

     

                               The Team

     

    Brendan Rodgers kept the same team that destroyed Newcastle last weekend with Reina once again keeping goal with a protection of Johnson, Agger, Carragher and Enrique the defence in front of him. Coutinho, Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson and Downing completed the midfield with Daniel Sturridge playing as the lone striker in attack with Suarez serving the second match of his 10 match ban.

     

                                 The Match

     

    Liverpool showed Everton appreciation of the support they’ve given the Hillsborough families over the years prior to kick-off when the Kop held up a mosaic that read “Thanks”.

     

    Jamie Carragher was making his last appearance in a Merseyside derby his 30^th in total and he would hope to make his last a win.

     

    Henderson’s raking ball to Sturridge followed by a similar pass by Gerrard showed Liverpool’s intent on utilising Sturridge’s pace. Gerrard looked really up for this derby match as he crashed into challenges, one of which resulted in him moving gingerly for a few minutes after clashing with Osman.

     

    Everton settled well and dominated possession and Fellaini almost scored but his stabbed effort from a Baines’ free-kick just missed the far post.

     

    Chances in the first half were at a premium but Gerrard saw a goal-bound effort superbly blocked by Jagielka before the Liverpool Captain curled a free-kick just wide. Then Jagielka produced a tremendous goal-saving tackle on Coutinho as the Brazilian was just about to pull the trigger.

     

    The second half started with Liverpool looking more threatening as Coutinho released Sturridge behind the Everton defence, but the striker could not get round Tim Howard in a one-on-one situation before eventually firing into the side-netting.

     

    Distin thought he had given the visitors the lead just before the hour mark when he headed a Baines’ corner past Reina, but his effort was disallowed.

     

    Coutinho then got his finish all wrong when he tried a delicate finish before Gerrard rounded Howard only to be denied by Distin’s goalline clearance.

     

    But the match petered out in the latter stages as Everton looked happy with the draw and Liverpool ran out of ideas.

     

                                                        Summary

     

    A very disappointing derby with few chances and Liverpool never created enough chances against a very organised Everton defence. Steven Gerrard was superb driving his team on but disappointingly not enough of his team-mates were in the same mood. Everton had the best of the first half but Jagielka made two superb blocks to deny Liverpool. Liverpool were better in the second half but Everton were disappointing in the way they settled for a draw in the second half as they tried to time waste at every opportunity. Everton must feel aggrieved that Distin’s effort was ruled out because there looked little wrong with the goal. Sturridge was poor today and looked like he didn’t like the physical treatment from the Everton defence. This derby won’t live long in the memory.

     

                          

    

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  • 2 weeks ago
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• Hindsight, Liverpool and our f Hindsight, Liverpool and our future.

  • From: cravenz
  • Description:

    It is an absolutely wonderful thing is it not? We are going through our brightest patch of the season, not only on the pitch, but as a club on the whole. The positivity we see is infectious and at times, exhilarating. This positivity is spreading through the whole fan base, coursing through the players and there is now a real belief that we can challenge; and maybe, just maybe, teams will start to fear us again.
    
    The King is right. When the club and everyone associated with the club, including the fans, pull in the same direction, there will only be one result, the direction we are pulling for. Sometimes, I feel, in this current green patch, what we feel is almost like stuff made for dreams. It is some romance. Think about it.
    
    Hindsight, as brilliant as it may be, may make you wonder about what could have happened had something been done differently and one of the things thrown up into the air is whether Kenny should have been installed as manager at the beginning of this season. But how often does hindsight help you solve a problem unless it is a recurring event?
    
    What we are seeing right now, the momentum, the love, the fantasy, the way everything has been pieced together, is only something this wonderfully historic club has been able to build up to. We went through our darkest times in recent years, many promises were broken and at times, the fans were left wondering what was becoming of their beloved club. I've been there and I'm sure many of you have been. But let me bring you back to that question when I said, think about it. The timing of everything has been wonderful and how often have we mentioned the woeful timing of a player who recently departed us?
    
    Had Kenny come in prior, he would have worked under the previous owners. I'm not saying that it would not have been a similar outcome as we are seeing now. We just wouldn't know. But to me, everything just seems that much sweeter the way it has panned out. Sure, we have not won a trophy, we have not won a league championship just yet and under the King, we have just 4 wins out of a possible 6 games so far. But the large disparity in change that we see at LFC now, again, is almost night and day. From a state of utter despair, we look almost euphoric at times now.
    
    Our new owners swooped in at a time when the value of LFC was at a down low and depending on how you look at it, it was a real swindle of epic proportions. We are a great club with true tradition and a global fan base. It was the best deal that the then NESV, now FSG, could have gotten. They took us out of the hands of wretched owners whose time here best be forgotten and slowly, the cogs started turning.
    
    We had Roy who really perhaps, was here at the wrong time and we went through some truly horrific performances on the field and fault should be shared by everyone. But when it all seemed to work against us, yet again, we had the King installed into the hot seat. There were questions over his legendary status should he not succeed with the club, but again, think about it. If he had taken the club earlier on, it would have been under different pressures and personally, there was more chance of it failing then. Now, the timing of the King's return, there really was nothing much to lose. He believed and he knew, he would answer the call to LFC. It was a match made in heaven. I believe that he will bring back the good times to LFC and he already has. It made the motivation and the mood change that much more to have a club legend that many respected to be back at the helm. It really wouldn't have been that sweet had it happened earlier. At least, that is what I believe.
    
    Heck, we could be 6 losses out of 6 matches, but how's hindsight helpful there? We live in the here and now; and that's the real point. We focus on what we can change, what we can do and that is why we look towards the future. LFC is going through a transition, but it some ways, it looks as if we are going back to our grass roots. We look like we are trying to instill that old boot room mentality and to keep things within the club. We are going back to our glory days, a time when there was more respect, integrity and in the words of the King and even our new owners, "no one player is bigger than the club".
    
    Things at the moment, couldn't be better at this club. We have owners who now understand the fans, who are willing to learn and understand a model of success that the fans believe in, and who look as if they would do anything to bring success back to this club.
    
    As a club, we never really did things the easy way. Just think of the two recent trophies we won, the FA Cup and the Champions League. We took it to the absolute brink. We don't know easy. We do it hard. We are LFC, we are built and associated to a working class city and that is how it is, we fight to achieve and achieve we will. I may never have grown up in the glory days. I was born in 1984 and I never really followed LFC more closely than in the last 5 years. Prior to which I just watched and followed the team. I won't go into what drew me to LFC, but suffice to say, it was the club, its tradition and its fans.
    
    So often of late we have bemoaned the timing of a particular players departure, but perhaps, it was just meant to be. It could have and I put it across, that it galvanised the team even more than ever. It was all in the timing. It is easy to look back now and say this, but that is the way it is. You look back, take the positives and move on. I digress.
    
    Make no mistake. Hindsight is wonderful at times, but when it bears no good to the future, it is better left behind and concentration on the here and now will be a more fruitful event. Kenny has turned our club a whole 180 degrees, we are all in it together now. Times may get hard, but we know, we know we have what it takes to achieve, we just have to believe. Our club needs us, as its fans, as its 12th man, to be with it through thick and thin and right now, we are the future of LFC. Turn back the clocks and I would have it no other way. I've learnt to accept the cards that life has dealt me and I think LFC right now, is headed in the right direction. The stars are slowly aligning and I truly believe that we are not far from greatness again. I may be wrong, but I don't think I am wrong in thinking that we have a chance to make it back to the top. We do. We just need to take it.
    
    Our future is in our hands, the clubs. The many phrases I've taken away of late are: "no player is bigger than the club", "keep the faith" and "you'll never walk alone". I hope and pray, one day, I can come back to look at this and say, this, this truly was the club's turning point. I believe in this club and my love and affection for LFC is right up there. I'm proud. I'm proud to be a fan of the best club in world football and to be amongst all of you as fans of this historic club. And long may it continue.
    
    We now have a club where everything seems to be aligned. Is there anything else missing? Perhaps, but if there isn't. It is our time. We are coming back. We are LFC. There is no easy way for us.

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• The Fossa Dei Leoni sing You The Fossa Dei Leoni sing You

  • From: Rushian
  • Description:

    Many of you will have heard the fans of AC Milan on the Curva Sud sing You'll Never Walk Alone. It's a more original take on the song than that of other fans who have faithfully echoed our rendition (e.g. at German, Dutch and Scottish grounds). The Milan fans have adapted the song and arranged their own version, turning it into a drum-fuelled, staccato chant. It's uniquely Italian. Uniquely Milanese.
    
    Around the start of the 2000s the now dissolved ultras group Fossa Dei Leoni even produced a CD called ‘Da Liverpool a San Siro la leggenda continua’ (From Liverpool to San Siro the legend lives on) which included live chants recorded at Anfield and at the San Siro. You could buy this from the Red All Over The Land fanzine, who had established good links with the Milanese supporter groups.
    
    But it's another version of YNWA sang by the Fossa Dei Leoni that I want to talk about. It remains one of my most enduring (and emotional) memories in football. I was watching BBC's Sportsnight four days after Hillsborough. Numb to the bone as everyone was, I think it was my desperate attempt to find some football and to find some meaning to it all.
    
    The programme was to throw up something so special it counteracted the absolute vile published by The S*n that very morning, a bile-inducing tissue of lies that saw us rushing to burn copies in the street or throw up in the nearest gutter.
    
    Milan were playing Real Madrid in the second leg of the European Cup that night, having drawn 1-1 away. This was the great Milan, Sacchi's masterpiece (and as he later admitted, modelled on Paisley's European Cup winning team) with the beautiful Dutch trio of Rijkaard, Van Basten and Gullit spearheading Baresi and Maldini's magnificent defence.
    
    The mood on the TV show was perfunctory - football hardly seemed to matter, the presenter and commentators were on autopilot. I sat there, desperately clinging onto my latest crutch measuring 40% by volume, staring blankly at my black and white portable screen.
    
    The game kicked off and not long in the referee blew his whistle and picked up the ball. It was a signal for a minute's silence. I, like many others I'm sure, was confused. I watched on as the the San Siro fell silent. A respectful applause rippled across the stadium. Then slowly, but surely, a very moving and note perfect rendition of YNWA started to rise from the Curva Sud gaining in intensity as the minute went on.

    I burst into tears. Tears which have been repeated when I've thought of that moment since. It remains to this day the quintessential act of solidarity by one group of fans to another. The game continued and Milan ran Madrid ragged, winning 5-0 in one of the greatest performances in the history of the competition and football itself. Their players and fans ascended to legendary status that night.
    
    Because of that perfect act of kindness by the Milan fans in 1989 they have always had the utmost repsect by Liverpool fans (especially of my age). Of all the many things said and done by football fans all over the world after Hillsborough it remains for me the most moving, and unexpected moment.
    
    This is how the Milan fans remember the day:
    
    There is an English song we sing which is the anthem of Liverpool, a song from the 60s with a chorus that goes:
    
    Walk on walk on
    with hope in your heart
    and you'll never walk alone
    you'll never walk alone
    
    One of us had the record with these words, but for them (Liverpool) there is nobody who leads with the microphone, the words seem to come like a shout from afar. So we have tried to learn the words using a printed sheet because many said 'welcome' instead of 'walk on' and also what the words actually meant. We succeeded in learning the song and it made us famous in all Europe because we sang it when the Liverpool fans died at Sheffield and we played Real Madrid in the Semi final of the Champions cup won 5-0.
    
    We had prepared a banner with Sheffield You'll Never Walk Alone. There was the minute's silence and we were ready to unfurl the banner and sing the song but instead the Swedish referee started the game immediately. We unfurl the banner but the moment seemed lost, but then the referee stopped play and began the messed up silence. At that moment I didn't even have a microphone, we started as they (Liverpool) do with the song. I have the video at home and every so often I look at it again, my hair stands up, all the players and crowd applaud and the referee looks towards me because it is so well known, this song, and the chorus rises 'you'll never walk alone' and it was shown so many times on the English TV networks, and I received many letters from English fans. You are true friends and we are always your friends.
    
    Armed Lions!
    We are marching
    We are the Lion's cave
    the lions, lions, lions, lions
    We are the lion's cave
    Blood! Violence!
    The Lion's cave!
    Milan! Milan! Milan!

    (translated from the original article on the Milan Mania forum by matty of the ynwa.tv website)

    The 25th May 2005 saw the meeting in Istanbul of two great clubs and two great sets of fans for the first time in a competitive match. It smelt, felt and tasted like THE classic fixture, THE gran clasico of European football in the run up to the final. The rest is history. The greatest final of all time. Two years later on the 23rd May 2007 Milan would gain revenge in Athens. What was striking about both games though was the respect between the two sets of fans, a respect enshrined in our history since 1989 and that simple, perfect gesture by the fans on the Curva Sud.

    Fossa Dei Leona we salute you.

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• We've just signed a colossus.. We've just signed a colossus...

  • From: KristianWalsh
  • Description:

    Come in and walk around him.

     

    

     

    Forget about the cringeworthy rewritings of the Torres song.
    Forget about the inevitable photoshopping people are going to partake in.
    Forget about the melodrama and tears if you're over 16 years of age.
    Forget, even, about Fernando Torres next Sunday when he walks out at Stamford Bridge as one of of them as opposed to one of us.

    This lad is our new number 9. He's one who wants to play for Liverpool Football Club. For Kenny. For us.
    
    Support him from the word go. He has the potential to be an absolute monster. Our monster.
    
    His new strike partner isn't bad, either. It's a duo no defence will want to mess with. Tenacious and pugnacious. Defenders will be breathless at the full-time whistle - as breathless as us supporters.
    
    The reds are coming up the hill, boys.

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• Beyond Istanbul: Rafa's legacy Beyond Istanbul: Rafa's legacy

  • From: JimmyRiceEditor
  • Description:

    Ask a Kopite to name Rafael Benitez's crowning achievement at Liverpool Football Club and more often than not the reply will be delivered along with a quizzical and sarcastic expression that Scousers could trademark.

    Our fifth European Cup, they'll tell you; As if you needed to ask, they might add.

    Certain events or figures in history become so mythical in our perception that they can be referred to in just a single word: Watergate, Woodstock, Elvis.

    On May 25 2005, Benitez masterminded a sporting comeback that saw the word Istanbul added to this list - if only in the minds of football fans.

    What occurred in the Ataturk would arguably have been the high point of any Liverpool manager's reign, a remarkable achievement which re-established the club as a European power and a global brand.

    But there is a case to suggest that one aspect of the Benitez legacy could yet prove just as significant in the club's future. Namely the revolution he instigated and oversaw at The Academy in the summer of 2009.

    Of course it is still too early to judge, but anyone who has witnessed the work being done by Pep Segura, Rodolfo Borrell and Frank McParland (all three appointed by Benitez) over in Kirkby cannot fail to have been impressed.

    Watching the U18s dispatch a talented Crystal Palace side (who themselves dismantled Arsenal's class of 2011) in the Youth Cup two weeks ago was a joy for advocates of pass and move football.

    Refer to the CVs of Segura and Borrell and the jigsaw pieces start to fit together. The pair, during their time at Barcelona, helped nurture technically gifted players like Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Bojan Krkic, Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi - all of whom revel in playing the kind of dynamic football which, albeit in a raw, unrefined form, is now being executed at The Academy.

    The likes of Suso, Raheem Sterling and Conor Coady have so far hogged the headlines, but earlier this season a total of 25 Academy hopefuls received international youth call-ups. Two years ago you could have counted the number of LFC youngsters asked to represent their country on one hand. With fingers to spare.

    Credit too has to go to the likes of McParland for moderating expectations and for ensuring media coverage is both cautious and fairly apportioned.

    Too often in the past we've allowed ourselves to get too excited too soon. Two examples that come to mind are Lauri Dalla Valle and Astrit Ajdarevic, both of whom left the club after failing to live up to their early hype.

    These days nobody is allowed to get carried away. Even if there is a decent case for doing so.

    One thing is for sure, though: if some of the players now shining at youth level go on to become the next Steven Gerrards and Jamie Carraghers, it'll not only be those still employed by the club who take the credit.

    Follow me on Twitter @JimmyRiceWriter

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• Kenny Smiles Kenny Smiles

  • From: RACE
  • Description:

    After every goal, every pass, every save, every foul, every move... on the pitch, I wait for the camera to zoom in on the King's face, so I can see his genuine expressions, and interpret every move he makes.

    Kenny is not like any other coach I've ever seen sitting on the side of the pitch in his silk suit, staring at the players with a dull and bland face, chewing gum in the most obnoxious way there is, having the same reaction to everything going on in the match, or blasting out with anger and rage.

    Kenny reminds me of a kid, going with his dad to watch his first LFC match at Anfield. The kid sits there gazing at every move, not blinking so he wouldn't miss out on any pass, his heart beats fast with every Liverpool attack, feels so relieved after the Red's goalkeeper saves a definite goal, and loses his mind after an LFC goal. You can see innocence, passion, love, and commitment in the kid's eyes. He can't think of a place more secure than Anfield, he can't think of a view more overwhelming than the Kop, and he can't think of anyone he loves more than the Reds. This is our King Kenny, every match is a first for him. You can see love and thrill in his eyes, and you can read the match off his face. After today's first goal, he didn't celebrate like a coach or a fan; he celebrated like it was his own shot, his first goal for Liverpool after 20 years. Jumping, smiling wide, screaming, facing no one but the fans, and in a away or another telling them I know how it feels, you can trust me. I'm one of you. 

    Seeing Kenny happy gives me a feeling of relief... Yes, everything is going to be fine.  

    Even at the end of the match, when everyone was suffering from rapid heartbeats, Kenny shakes David Moyes's hand and smiles at him. He smiles at Anfield... at ease Reds we're getting there. 

    Hold on to your dreams and you'll never walk alone.

    God Bless our King... Our hope!

     

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• How Kenny Reunited LFC How Kenny Reunited LFC

  • From: PaulRogers
  • Description:

    The Pig and Whistle pub on Chapel Street is a lively venue on a Saturday night.
    
    In the tiny front bar, the Karaoke blasts out from the speakers while a gang of women dance and screech and drink like it's New Years Eve all over again. On this particular Saturday night, it looks like 30 female guests destined for a wedding reception at the Racquets Club next door had somehow lost their partners, taken the wrong turning and ended up dancing in here or smoking on the steps outside.
    
    On any other night, it would have been fun to join in – particularly for the lads amongst us - but tonight, sat in the cramped back room of the bar is myself, Claire Rourke and five other members of LFC's television and website production team. Everyone's got a drink in their hand but we're knackered not drunk. It's ten past ten at night and no can quite believe the day we've just had.

    Rewind 12 hours and all of us were gearing up for a very different sort of day. With most staff on day off ahead of the Manchester United game on Sunday, it was left to a skeleton crew to cover a pretty routine FA Youth Cup 4^th Round tie against Crystal Palace live on the official website – with delayed coverage planned for LFC TV later that night.
    
    Claire Rourke was going to present the show from Anfield, with John Aldridge joining Steve Hunter on the gantry for live commentary. Me? I was on a day off, listening to Beady Eye's new single 'The Roller' on repeat, and having just promised to take my two little girls to Anfield for the game - £6 for an adult and two kids was too good to miss.

    That was the plan anyway.
    
    Then I got the call. Roy had gone, Kenny was coming in for the rest of the season and we had to put a statement out at 11am.
    
    What followed was the an absolutely ridiculous 45 minutes of phone calls, text message and emails as staff were rushed into the office from all over the place. Prior engagements went out the window, people too ill to come in on Friday were dragged in regardless and in the space on 25 minutes, a pre-planned show about the Youth Cup turned into a live and unscripted broadcast from the side of the pitch at Anfield as former players, journalists and club staff were all pushed towards Claire Rourke to offer their opinions on the most dramatic story at Anfield since the takeover. With no disrespect to the youngsters, there was only story in town on Saturday and it didn't involve the most talented Youth Team since Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen broke West Ham's hearts in 1996.

    Simply getting the show on TV was difficult enough – technically – never mind editorially as the live broadcast was for the website only. Once it emerged Kenny Dalglish was making an incredible return to the managerial hot seat – albeit until the end of the season – there was no way we couldn't broadcast it on TV. So, while feeds were being switched, staff were being rushed into work – some destined for the production office, others off to Anfield and two to Manchester later that night to conduct the first sit down interview with the boss, the schedule was being broken up and phone calls were being made to ensure the website,  Facebook and Twitter were updated correctly, SMS messages were sent and videos were worked on to usher in Kenny and say goodbye to Roy, it was impossible to actually stop and really take in what was happening.
    
    The 11.30am show started with the presenter, the producer and the guests all still trying to get their heads around the news and, you know what, they way they pulled it off – the cameraman shooting an interview directly into the sun so you could hardly see Tony Barrett's face aside – was brilliant. It was proper TV.
    
    I would love to have seen the faces on some of the viewers sat at home watching the channel blissfully unaware of what had happened 20 minutes before and thinking their luck was in when they programme they were watching suddenly cut to the build-up to the Youth Cup and then, bizarrely, announced not only had Roy Hodgson left the club, but he'd been replaced by a certain Mr Dalglish. With no disrespect to Roy Hodgson, who was a good man and tried his best for the club, if Carlsberg did announcements, they couldn't have bettered this one.

    The actual Youth Cup game – exciting as it was – actually gave us some breathing space when it kicked off. An idea to broadcast a two-hour phone-in immediately after the final whistle about Roy's departure was considered then dismissed as it was decided most fans would miss it. We decided on a 7.30pm start time, running until 10.00pm – which would make it our longest ever live studio show (Or was the takeover show longer?) Start time sorted, crew just about scraped together - with many working double shifts – all we needed now were guests.

    Our LFC TV regulars had taken advantage of a Saturday without Liverpool in action and had made other plans – many even leaving the country – so getting guests wasn't exactly straightforward. Tony Barrett of The Times and LFC TV commentator John Bradley were never in doubt but the former players proved more difficult. In the end, we settled on Ian St John, no stranger to expressing strong opinions on a phone-in show, former FA Cup winning captain Mark Wright and Tony as the three guests who would kick off the show.

    And what a show it turned out to be. Despite the relatively short notice of a change to our previously advertised schedule, the phones never stopped ringing.
    
    Over 10,000 of you voted in the poll asking if you thought LFC had make the right decision to part with Roy (92% said Yes), and all three guests were as entertaining as ever. Ian St John did his best to start a row with everyone, the first caller came on and immediately set about the previous regime and then we had one of the best callers ever on LFC TV – Susan from Kirby – who claimed Kenny's appointment would reunite the club and bring everyone together again.

    Listen to her call here: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/video/Features/Susan-from-Kirk-23693.php3

    It was a theme that cropped up countless times throughout the next two and a half hours as, for the first time in over a year, we actually broadcast a live phone-in show when it seemed like almost everyone agreed with what each other was saying  – guests and fans alike.

    Susan's call – hailed on almost every fan message board where supporters were discussing the show – cropped up in the back room of the Pig and Whistle, as everyone spoke with relief that the most difficult of times on the pitch was finally over. Fans and staff - certainly ones having to deal with constant fan anger over poor results and even poorer performances on TV and the website – could finally look forward to football matches again.
    
    

    Kenny was back and already, in just a few hours, he'd done what Susan had said he'd do, he'd started to reunite the club. Everyone you spoke to was excited about the prospect of the trip to Manchester United. 24 hours earlier, we'd been dreading it.
    
    My Twitter feed, filled with the followed and followers alike, was unrecognisable. Everyone seemed positive, the sniping and arguing was absent, the digs and dissections of quotes were nowhere to be seen – it was as if the LFC Twitter world and forums everywhere were loved up on Prosaic.
    
    Every text you got was the same as the last – 'Get in! Kenny's back. Can't wait until 2moro!'

    When tomorrow finally came, it felt as good as we'd hoped it would. Obviously the result didn't go our way – neither did the crucial decisions – but I don't think I'll ever forget standing in our end and seeing Kenny Dalglish emerge from the tunnel in a Liverpool tracksuit and knowing that, 20 years after he last led us out here, he was our manager again. The chant – 'Dalglish! Dalglish!' – was unbelievable.

    What was more unbelievable was the fact that every single Liverpool supporter inside Old Trafford was singing off the same hymn sheet again.
    
    Every single Liverpool supporter willed the team on, supported the players who needed a lift and, of course, sung the managers name with immense pride. For the first 90 minutes in a long time, Liverpool supporters were totally united.
    
    In just over 24 hours – many of them not even spent in this country – Kenny Dalglish had done what Susan had said he would do: he'd reunited Liverpool Football Club.

    In the Pig and Whistle, last Saturday night, we drank to that.

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• Today in Liverpool FC History: Today in Liverpool FC History: April 29

  • From: renzoreg
  • Description:

    Today in 1901, Liverpool Football Club beat hosts West Bromwich Albion 0-1 to secure their first League title. It was a remarkable achievement for LFC, who were in 8th place in the middle of February, seemingly out of the title race.

    The Reds' march to the title began on February 23 with a win at Sunderland 0-1, that lifted Liverpool to 7th place. It was the start of a 12-match unbeaten run to end the season, including wins over Notts County, Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle, and a draw against Bury, all of whom, along with Sunderland, were challenging for title.

    The match against West Brom was Liverpool's last of the season. The Reds were sitting in 2nd place, even on points with first-place Sunderland, who had completed their season five days earlier, so even a draw would win the title for the Merseysiders. West Brom on the other hand were in last place, already assured of relegation, so few people expected them to put up much of a fight.

    West Brom, however, came to play and were somewhat unlucky to go down 1-0 in the first half after their goalkeeper parried a shot into the path of Liverpool's John Walker who slammed it home. Liverpool held the Baggies off in the second half to clinch the win and the title. It was the first of eighteen League titles for Liverpool.

  • Blog post
  • 2 years ago
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• Official blog: Liverpool FC in Official blog: Liverpool FC in Asia

  • From: LFC-On-Tour
  • Description:

     

    

    Liverpool FC are heading to Asia and this live blog will keep fans all over the world right up to date with all the news from our visits to China, Malaysia and Singapore. Our dedicated team of reporters will be providing updates around the clock as the Reds continue their pre-season preparations in front of some of their most fanatical fans. With updates from inside the Reds' camp and news and views from all three destinations on our Standard Chartered sponsored tour, make sure you log in every day.

    Wednesday 13 July 03:27 – Paul Rogers

    Right, final blog update of yesterday (or first update of today, if you prefer) and I’m about to go to bed – it’s been a long, long day! Up at 8am, off out with the community boys at 9am and then it hasn’t really stopped since then. The community events were great as ever – seeing what the club means to so many people – many much more disadvantaged than ourselves - is always amazing to see and it’s what makes LFC so special, I think. Had a quick chat with Kenny after tonight's Standard Chartered-sponsored cocktail drinks reception in a nearby hotel and then came back for a quick drink in the bar with the club's technical analyst from Melwood before doing the sensible (if boring) thing and returning to my room to type up today's community feature – see main website - and update the Tour site in English and Chinese. Anyway, enough of all that – here's some pictures of some very nice people I’ve met today (excuse the blur, it was taken on a phone)...

    

    

     

    

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    And finally, as I mentioned earlier, I haven’t just been given one panda today for my daughter, another one, beautifully wrapped and tied up with a bow, was left behind reception for me by a really nice lady I got chatting to yesterday outside the team hotel. So, Zita Leung, thank-you very much! Two pandas = two soon to be very happy daughters!

    

    

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Tuesday 12 July 22:06 - Paul Rogers

    It's a tough job...

    

    

     

     

      

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Tuesday 12 July 21:55 - Paul Eaton

    The playing squad have moved onto another city centre hotel for a special Gala drinks reception attended by invited guests of Standard Chartered. Led in by Kenny Dalglish and Jamie Carragher to a chorus of You'll Never Walk Alone, the players posed for a group photograph before splitting up to enjoy a selection of football-related activities with the excited crowd. As I write, Peter Gulacsi, Martin Hansen and Brad Jones are making up a three-man goalkeeping team - but so far they haven't managed to make too many saves. In another room there are some competitive table football games taking place - and Daniel Ayala has just scored a cracker! The players will stay here for another 30 minutes before returning to the hotel ahead of tomorrow night's friendly.

     Tuesday 12 July 20:14 - Paul Rogers

    Sat on the floor of my hotel room's balcony typing up a feature about a day spent with the four Community Department coaches the club have brought along on pre-season for the first time. Mark Chester, Mark Bygroves, Anthony Wright and Eddie Sullivan were the stars of the show and they're all great lads and a credit to the club. There's probably little chance of the feature getting published anytime soon however as in 45 minutes we need to leave the hotel – full suited up (in this heat!) to attend a Standard Chartered meet & greet cocktails reception with the players, who have just arrived back from training. Rushie and Phil Thompson are already there so will need to get away from the laptop and attempt (probably badly) to iron a shirt which has been scrunched up at the bottom of my suitcase for three days. Where's my wife when I need her?

    PS – Met some absolutely fantastic fans earlier outside the hotel (some of whom had flown for hours just to get a glimpse of their heroes today) and also had a special gift left behind reception for me after one fan read an earlier update to this blog. I'll upload some pictures later but, once again, I've got to say a massive thank-you to the lady in question.

    PPS – Quick special mention to Alberto Aqualani who was absolutely brilliant with the fans camped out in the lobby earlier – he stayed behind and signed autograph after autograph for everyone who asked. Good lad.

    Tuesday 12 July 16:55 - Paul Rogers

    Finally arrive back at the Liverpool hotel after seven hours spent with the LFC Community team and who should be waiting for me at the entrance to the foyer but a lovely young lady called Yuecheng Tong with a special present for my daughter Lila. Only one thing to say: Thanks!

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Tuesday 12 July 12:37 - Claire Rourke

    A massive thanks is due to one of the hotel staff who kindly agreed to escort us on a taxi ride into town to make sure we could get the best TV shots of Guangzhou to use in our tour documentary. We were asking so many questions about where to go, where we'd get a taxi from, how much it'd cost and whether we'd even be allowed to film on the streets in China, that it seems she felt concerned enough to come with us to make sure we got what we needed. We're now back in the hotel getting ready for a busy afternoon at a Standard Chartered sponsored event which several of the players and Kenny will be attending. Should be good. Before that, though, we're just off to see if we can grab Charlie Adam and John Flanagan for their latest video diaries. Stay tuned, they should be coming soon.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Tuesday 12 July 09:12 - Paul Eaton

    Our first full day in China began with an early breakfast call, during which a confused looking Eddie Sullivan from the community team arrived at our table to inform us he hadn't yet got to grips with the time difference. "My watch is still on UK time so I was up at 2am, thinking it was much later, got myself ready and then knocked on Mark Chester's door (another member of the community team). I told him we needed to go and get all the balls loaded into the van. Mark just looked at me and said 'Eddie, it's ten past two!" We're all tired anyway after a long couple of days, but we'll forgive the community lads if they have extra bags under their eyes today! The players are training in the hotel gym and pool this morning before going off in different directions for commercial activities in the afternoon. Then there will be another training session at the stadium in the early evening. Needless to say, it is once again very hot and very humid out here in Guangzhong.

    Tuesday 12 July 03:51 -Paul Rogers

    Always keen to give new local bands the chance to shine, here's LFC's first day in China soundtracked by The Strawhouses' 'Batteries'.

    
     

    Monday 11 July 22:53 - Paul Rogers

    Sat in the hotel bar trying to update lfctour.com and the official website in complete darkness save for a tiny tealight candle - with website editor Paul Eaton sat opposite me. Finally managed to grab some food in the downstairs restaurant about an hour ago (fried rice with chicken – nice) and now enjoying our first few beers of the trip. Claire, Mark, Craig and Paul Hayton are all upstairs editing video packages and sending clips back to England. The trip is going well so far – met loads of fans at the hotel and at training, all of whom are incredibly polite and very passionate about the Reds. Lots of the girls have been asking about the search for the panda – unfortunately the update is still the same: despite having been in China for 12 hours now, still not seen a single panda (real or otherwise)! Oh, and forgot to say, thumbs up to Daniel Agger for going out of his way to try and sign stuff for the fans in the hotel lobby when he returned from training a few hours ago. Good lad.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Monday 11 July 19:00 - Paul Eaton

    We've arrived at the Guangzhou stadium where the players are now training. It's very hot and humid. All of the players that have travelled as part of the squad have been involved in the session, which seems particularly active. The players have coped admirably with the conditions considering the lack of sleep over the past 24 hours. We've just had a chat with Phil Thompson who is here as club ambassador. He's just provided us with the first instalment of his Asia diary which will be online later today. 

    Monday 11 July 16:35 - Paul Rogers

    After a quick meet and greet signing session in the hotel featuring the entire squad and 50 lucky fans, LFC club photographer John Powell is attempting to bring some order to proceedings before he can take a group shot of everyone present. "I want you to shout 'Five times!'" Powell barks at the top of his voice. The people listen, order is restored and everyone smiles as they shout 'Five times!' "I think I like this county," laughs Powell as he presses down on his camera shutter.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Monday 11 July 15:10 – Paul Rogers

    Kenny Dalglish has just wrapped up the opening press conference in the Chateau Star River Hotel and batted away – in trademark Kenny-style - every single question about our transfer plans asked by the local media. Outside in the lobby Claire Rourke has been signing shirts and I even found myself recognised by two separate fans – obviously both readers of this blog - who wanted to know if I'd managed to find a panda for my daughter Lila yet. It turns out the second fan – a nice young lady – actually owns a toy shop in the centre of town and has promised to bring a panda (toy one, unfortunately) to the hotel on Tuesday. If it turns up, I'll let you know.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Monday 11 July 10:50 (Time in China from here on in) – Paul Rogers

    Joe Cole and Jamie Carragher prepare for landing.

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Sunday 10 July 20:35 – Paul Eaton

    Six hours after leaving Liverpool we've just landed in Kazakhstan to refuel. We've just eaten on the plane – us and the players got the choice of steak, chicken or pasta. The doc has advised everyone to sleep it off for the final six hours of the journey to combat jetlag. Meanwhile, Charlie Adam and John Flanagan have recorded their first tour diary videos – they'll be on LFCTV Online exclusively soon. Spirits seem high for such a long journey – much excitement about what will greet us in China with so many fans there.

    Sunday 10 July 20:20 – Paul Rogers

    It seems nothing fazes Charlie Adam. Fresh from recording his first video diary piece for LFCTV Online in our makeshift studio on the plane, our new signing has just been collared by the club's communications director who had some news for him: in Glen Johnson's absence, he was going to be needed to take part in the first ever Liverpool FC press conference on Chinese soil alongside Ian Ayre, Kenny Dalglish, Jamie Carragher and a whole host of officials from the Chinese FA and Sunray Cave, Liverpool's opponents on Wednesday. His simple response, 'No problem at all.' Cool as you like.

    Sunday 10 July 19:48 – Paul Rogers

    Just been chatting on the plane with my neighbour John Flanagan (he lives about 10 houses up from me), who has kindly agreed – albeit slightly nervously – to produce a daily video diary for LFCTV Online subscribers while we're in Asia. Flanagan was clearly still buzzing from signing a new contract last week and spoke of his hopes for the new season – although, he was quick to make clear, that despite emerging as one of the most promising local talents to come out of the Academy, he's taking nothing for granted in terms of how involved he will be next season. 'Hopefully I'll get a chance in the FA Cup,' was all he'd say when I asked him if he'd set himself any targets for the new season. Before he made his way back to his seat alongside Jack Robinson, he had a laugh about the fact that my two daughters have become his two biggest fans, regularly posting him letters, requests for autographs and signed pictures of their dog Dylan through his letterbox!

    Sunday 10 July 13:48 – Paul Eaton

    Just chatting to the LFC chef, Christian, on the bus to the plane. He's been recommending Chinese foods to us – but revealed the players won't get to try any. They'll stick to a strict diet of pasta, beef, chicken and fish. We land in China at 4:00 UK time (11:00 local time). Here we go...

    Sunday 10 July 12:00 – Paul Eaton

    The media team, minus head of content Paul Rogers for now (he has yet to arrive – God knows where he is), have checked in at John Lennon Airport with our mountain of equipment. Kit manager Graham Carter is also here with the squad's baggage but the players aren't around yet – they're making their way from Melwood ahead of the flight at 14:30. We've assigned the role of paperboy to LFC TV Online's Mark Volante – he's got all the Sunday's bar the News of the World. Our flight to Asia will stop for refuelling (the plane and us) in Kazakhstan.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Sunday 10 July 11:50 - Paul Rogers
     
    All ready to go and here's a pic just to prove that it isn't only Les Lawson's family that has a monopoly on LFC merchandise!

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Sunday 10 July 11:12 - Paul Rogers
     
    Just been handed a shopping list of presents the kids want while I'm in China. Smuggling a real panda back through Customs could be tricky...

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Sunday 10 July 08:30 - Paul Rogers

    Welcome to the blog - we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we intend to enjoy updating it. In just under four hours we need to be at the airport to check in to fly to China for what will be Liverpool's most exhaustive Far East tour ever. Three countries, two matches and lots of activities planned every day. Editorially, we'll be covering everything the players do - whether that's with pictures, video or text features.
    
    This blog will be updated around the clock but that's not the only content we'll be generating; Charlie Adam and John Flanagan will both be doing a video diary for LFC TV Online, presenter Claire Rourke will be sending back daily TV packages and our Community team will be writing their own blog highlighting some of the good work they'll be doing off the pitch over in Asia. We'll also have regular updates from Liverpool legends Ian Rush and Phil Thompson - both of whom are travelling with the team today - and Our Man in Malaysia Sheldon Xavier is also writing a daily blog from a fans perspective in Kuala Lumpar (see http://alturl.com/28me7) and then there's the Asia Tour website, the first time we've ever produced a multi-language site dedicated solely to a pre-season tour, which will be updated with exclusive content every day over the next week or so (check it out here: http://www.lfctour.com/)
    
    Probably most important of all however is the fact that we're showing both games live on Club media - with the games available to watch live on LFC TV and also on the web for LFC TV Online subscribers. Travelling with the team from our department are myself, website editor Paul Eaton, LFC TV presenter / producer Claire Rourke, LFC TV Online producer Mark Volante and cameramen / editors Paul Hayton and Craig Jones. It's the biggest media team we've ever taken on a pre-season trip but then the Club have never been on a trip this event-packed before and then plan is to cover every single thing that happens out there. No pressure, then! Right, off to pack and try and see my two little daughters before leaving them for a week. As the whole travelling party - players, Community, Media, Commercial, Technical etc - from the Club have been issued with this season's new adidas training kit and trainers to wear on the tour, I thought it was only right to tell them I'd been signed up by Kenny to replace the injured Steven Gerrard and would be playing for the team in Asia. As they both idolise Liverpool, they have never been prouder of their dad - a real Liverpool FC footballer at last! 

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• YNWA - The beginning YNWA - The beginning

  • From: BrianDurand
  • Description:

    On 2^nd November 1963 Anfield was filling up nicely and an expectant crowd assembled on the Kop looked forward to the afternoon’s game against Leicester City. Shankly’s men were sitting in third place in the top division just two points behind Sheffield United and Manchester United,  having played a game less, and had won their last five league games (including a 2-1 derby victory over the old enemy).

    So it was that spirits were high for the visit of their bogey side Leicester City, who had knocked them out of the FA Cup at the semi final stage seven months earlier thanks to a Stringfellow goal which broke Kopites’ hearts. http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=43266

    However, Liverpool would eventually go on to win Shankly’s first championship in the spring, it would not be events on the pitch that wet November Saturday, which would have a lasting effect on the proud football club.

    As was the tradition in the early sixties, the public address system would run down the top ten singles in the 45 minutes prior to kick-off, in Anfield’s own version of The Chart Show. Unlike today, the ground would be pretty much filled by 2:30pm, as fans took up their favourite specs on the terraces. In order to amuse themselves as much as anything else, the pre-match period would be occupied by the singing for which the Kop was already becoming famous.

    That particular afternoon, as Bill Shankly and his men made their final preparations under the Main Stand, the chart rundown was going on as usual above them.

    Adam Faith, Chuck Berry, local lads The Searchers (Sugar and Spice), Shirley Bassey, Trini Lopez (If I had a Hammer), The Crystals, Roy Orbison and Brian Poole & The Tremeloes blasted out from the primitive speakers around the ground.

    Then at number two it was The Beatles singing She Loves You. This was a huge favourite, and the Kop sang  along with gusto. The mood was high as the teams were awaited. With the Kop now in full voice the speakers crackled as the Anfield DJ placed the stylus on the number one record.

    The new number one song in the United Kingdom was, of course, Gerry and the Pacemakers with “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. The Kop swayed and sang and an anthem was born.

    (for BBC Panorama footage of the Kop singing ‘She Loves You’ pre-match vArsenal see http://www.holymoly.com/football-news/ye-olde-football-video-liverpool-fans-full-voice-kop-singing-beatles-songs50770  - can you spot Stan Boardman on the Kop?)

    The song stayed at number one for four weeks before “She Loves You “replaced it. Soon Gerry’s song was dropping out of the top ten, but the Liverpool fans demanded that the DJ continued to play it and so the tradition of playing YNWA prior to kick-off at Anfield was launched. There has not been a home game in the 48 years since at which the famous anthem has not rang around Anfield. The name of the song now features on the club badge, on the Shankly Gates and is as much a part of LFC as the Liver Bird.

    As was the custom in those days, Leicester City beat Liverpool that day, with Gordon Banks outstanding in a 1-0 win.

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• A fashion statement that would A fashion statement that would change LFC forever.

  • From: BrianDurand
  • Description:

    On 25^th November 1964 Liverpool were due to play Belgian champions Anderlecht in their first ever European Cup campaign. They had successfully despatched of the Icelandic side Reykjavik in the first round with relative ease but this would be their first real test on the European stage.

    Bill Shankly was, for once, apprehensive at his team’s chances as he had watched the Belgium national side containing several of the Anderlecht squad, pass England off Wembley pitch a few weeks earlier. As he left Wembley that night he had turned to Joe Mercer and said “Blo0dy hell Joe, how do we stop them?”

    Tommy Smith would later describe Bill’s nervousness.

    "The only time I ever saw him with a lack of confidence, truthfully and honestly, was when I made my European debut against Anderlecht in 1964. Shanks was worried because he'd seen Belgium play England a few days earlier. They had drawn 3:3 and a lot of the Anderlecht side had played for their country at Wembley. They had some great players at the time. In the team meeting he read out the team and when he got past the wing back positions, where I had been playing in the reserves, and into the midfield I thought I'm not in the side at all. Then he got to number 10 and he said 'Tommy Smith'. He told me I was playing at the back and that I was to be Ron Yeats' right leg. Whether it confused the Belgians or not I don't know but for twenty minutes I was being marked by their number 4."

    It was a master stroke by Bill. It was the first time an English side had played with a back four. Later, history would credit Alf Ramsey with introducing it to England with his wingless wonders who won the 66 World Cup, but Liverpool fans know that it was on 25 November 1964 that saw the switch from two full backs, a centre half and two wing halves ahead of them, replaced by a flat four across the defence.

    It was not the only master stroke pulled off by Mr Shankly that cold November evening. As Ron Yeats led out the Liverpool team at 7:25 that night the roar of welcome was interspersed with gasps from the Anfield faithful. The traditional red shirts with white shorts and red/white socks had been replaced with the all red kit with which LFC would become synonymous during there years of domination.

    Shanks had thought of the change as he drove home from Melwood one day, and so he arranged to get a pair of red shorts. As Ian St john describes in his autobiography….

    "Bill thought the colour scheme would carry psychological impact — red for danger, red for power. He came into the dressing room one day and threw a pair of red shorts to Ronnie Yeats. 'Get into those shorts and let’s see how you look,' he said. 'Christ, Ronnie, you look awesome, terrifying. You look 7ft tall.' 'Why not go the whole hog, boss?' I suggested. 'Why not wear red socks? Let’s go out all in red.' Shankly approved and an iconic kit was born."

    The new look Liverpool FC, playing in a new formation, won 3-0 that night against the formidable Belgians and the reds had truly arrived in Europe. Bill Shankly always considered it one of the best performances by his side in all the years that he was at Anfield.

    The red kit was here to stay. Six months later those red kits were parading the FA Cup around Wembley to the strains of the new reds’ anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone.

    In time the new defensive system would also become the norm, not just for Liverpool but for every side in England.

    The innovations made by Bill Shankly and his backroom boys that night would have an everlasting effect on Liverpool Football Club. The REDS were born.

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• In Kenny We Must Trust In Kenny We Must Trust

  • From: TonyBarretTimes
  • Description:

    THERE isn’t a player who is linked with any club these days who isn’t first subjected to a seemingly endless scrutiny on message boards and radio phone-in shows. Amateur scouting has become as much a part of modern football as daft kick-off times and feigning injury and what’s more it is undoubtedly here to stay.

    People are now able to watch much more football than ever before thanks to satellite television and internet streams and the popularity of computer games that allow anyone to be the manager, in fantasy world at least, means that supporters can indulge themselves when it comes to assessing the relative merits of a potential transfer target.

    In the past week alone the media has linked Liverpool with – among others – Jordan Henderson, Phil Jones, Connor Wickham, Charlie Adam and Sylvain Marveux and all have been subjected to trial by forum. In a way, this is just a technologically fuelled advance on people debating transfer targets verbally in a pub but the one thing that hasn’t changed is that when you have a manager like Kenny Dalglish in charge he should be trusted to know better than anyone else what is best for his team.

    Towards the end of last season, Dalglish made a pertinent point which offered both an insight into the type of players Liverpool would be in the market for this summer and the importance of the club being single minded in their pursuit of these targets. 

    “If people want to see the best players and assets of football club wearing a red shirt, that’s what we want to try and provide,” the Liverpool manager said. “We want to get the highest quality of player in that we can. That’s what position we have been put into, and that’s what we will try to do. Who judges players? Whose opinion is it that matters? It’s the people that go after them. Some others might not think they are the highest quality, but it’s our opinion that matters most.”

    That Dalglish is adamant that only the views of himself, Damien Comolli and the club’s scouting department is all that matters when it comes to deciding whether or not a player is good enough for Liverpool should provide a major reassurance to everyone desperate to see the club regain its place among English football’s elite. The moment a manager falls prey to outside influences he ceases to be a manager. In that role, you cannot afford to be swayed by public opinion, this is Liverpool Football Club after all, not Pop Idol.

    Anyone wanting to understand how Dalglish will do things this summer could do a lot worse than seek out a book called The Secret Diary Of  A Liverpool Scout, a brilliant account of the work of the legendary Geoff Twentyman who worked with Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan. There may be those who believe that modern day scouting is a world apart from how it was done when Twentyman was recruiting some of the best players English football has seen but Dalglish knows better than anyone that the basics remain the same.

    He will be looking for the same things that Twentyman sought out, the kind of qualities that served Liverpool so well in the past and which can do so again in the future. If a player can pass and move, has a good temperament and a winning mentality then he has the starting points needed to become a Liverpool player. Of course, there are a multitude of such players currently plying their trade in football so then it comes down to the eye of the person scouting them and, according to those in the game, there are few better than Dalglish at spotting talent.

    We have been here before, of course. Go back to 1987 when Dalglish was working on putting together arguably the greatest ever Liverpool side. John Aldridge was the first signed and it might be hard to imagine now but at the time there were plenty who questioned whether an Oxford United player and someone who once played in the Liverpool Sunday League would be good enough for a title challenging team.

    The same went for John Barnes who aroused suspicion because he had been inconsistent at Watford and had not attracted bids from any of the top English clubs when Liverpool came in with a £900,000 offer for his services. The capture of Peter Beardsley for a then club record of £1.9 million prompted less doubt with the only real concern being that his signing would inevitably push Dalglish the player ever closer to retirement.

    When Ray Houghton and Nigel Spackman, two steady but far from spectacular players with Oxford and Chelsea respectively, were brought in there were those who wondered why Liverpool were not in the market for top stars. Dalglish saw things differently. In his eyes he had bought a quintet of stars and the world just did not know it yet. He was proven right in the most spectacular fashion as Liverpool swept all comers aside and romped to the league title playing some of the best football ever seen in this country.

    All that was down to Dalglish’s ability to spot a player and then to mould a team around his new signings and those already at the club. It is an art and he is an artist. That is why when we debate whether or not a transfer target is good enough for Liverpool – as we all do – there is one man who is better placed than any of us to decide that and that man is Kenny Dalglish.

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