Where were you on a hot May night in 2005?
Before the Cowboy invasion we had a decent owner, not much money to spend because we missed the boat at the beginning of the PL era. It would take us longer than we ever imagined to compete again at the top table of European football and even longer to compete on home soil.
We have been blessed with intermittent success on occasion such as Houlier’s amazing 5 trophy haul in 2001. We believed we were on our way back. Unfortunately not the case.
In 2004 a new Manager was appointed. We had finished the 03/04 season in 4th place. CL football would be back at the home of football. Rafa, who would in time become a legend was appointed on the back of huge success in Spain by dislodging the big fish, Farcalona and the King’s pets unreal Madrid. We had high hopes, massive expectations of the new dawn for our beloved Liverpool.
Our league campaign began with an acceptable away draw against Spuds. Not a bad start.
Next up was Shitty, long before they were cheats. A 2-1 home win for the Mighties. Things are looking fantastic. Wins, draws and losses made our league campaign inconsistent. Some great wins, some ludicrous losses to Bolton away and Birmingham at home, 2-0 reverse that was. Were we beginning to think Rafa doesn’t know a thing about English footy? Yep we were scratching our heads at times. But where he excelled was on the European stage. Rafa knew how to set us up in Europe with great success.
We had to navigate the qualifiers. A 2-0 away win and 1-0 reverse at home but we were through to the group stages. A bit of a mixed bag of results. The 1-0 reverse in Greece to that EPIC night at Anfield Road. Losing 1-0 at one point to winning 3-1. Gerrard’s strike is still in my head. It was then I realised we could do this, we could actually go all the way.
The season progressed, inconsistent league form, exiting the FA cup at the 3rd round. A runners up spot in the league cup, but we were still in Europe. Momentum was growing, expectations were increasing. Bayer Leverkusen were dispatched without worry.
Quarter final against the might from Turin. Home win for the Mighties 2-1 but they had the away goal.
We knew we had to score as we expected Juve to score. Tough game but 0-0 on the night. We believed since the Olympiacos game but now it was “What if?”
I was sat in a pub watching the semi final away at Chavs, yes they were Chavs back then.
Drab goaless draw, but we’re still in this. 2nd leg at the home of football. The noise was incredible. Chavs froze. They were terrified. Again I was sat in a pub getting ratted with me mates.
Garcia through on goal. Cech brings him down in the box. GOAL!!!!!!!! Questions were asked if it crossed the line. If it didn’t then it would have been a penalty.
The league season was over. We finished 5th behind the Blueshite. They were extatic.
The final.
I was in the same pub on Wavertree high street called Chequers. ( It’s flats now, damn shame). The pub was chocker like rammed to fook. The anticipation and belief was obvious. Our team that wasn’t the best team we ever put together was in the final of Europe’s elite competition for the first time in a long time.
The game kicked off……….
……..1-0 down………
……..2-0 down……
We can still do this, we believed.
……..3-0 down.
What the fook?
Half time and many left the pub. Plenty stayed. The noise from the crowd in Istanbul was immense.
You’ll never walk alone raptured around the entire stadium. What we witnessed was the most incredible comeback of all time.
3-1.
3-2,
3-3 in the space of 6 minutes.
Wow what a night. Not over yet though. Dudek pulling off exceptional saves, Carra with cramp putting his body on the line. We are getting proper ratted in the pub, big time. The noise was massive.
Penalties.
Carra tells Dudek to do a Grobalaar n do spaghetti legs. The shootout is over!!!!! Liverpool are crowned Champions of Europe for the first time since 1984. The pub went mental. One of my mates ripped a Liverpool flag off the wall and wrapped it around himself, the thieving bastard.
Once we eventually left to go home the street was full of people singing and cars tooting their horns.
What a night. I saved me mate from getting knocked down three times when he ventured into the street singing his drunken head off. I was a complete mess in work the following day. But it was worth it.
So lads, what were you doing on 25th May 2005?
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