After years of being the laughing stock when it came to domestic league success, Liverpool are back to leaving their foes in their wake…
CARDS on the table. I wrote this a week ago, before the parade, but we felt that wasn’t the week to talk about football, not until we know that everyone is alright.
So, I’ll start again.
I’m fascinated with Manchester United.
Granted, that’s an odd start. Don’t worry. I haven’t lost my marbles. I know what happened at Anfield last Sunday and will come back to it in due course. I’m just establishing context. Go with me here.
More than anything I’m fascinated by the manager and his startled reaction to the scattered debris around him. He’s already said that the job might be too much for him, for anyone even, and he’s a bit lost. You’ve got to admire that honesty.
I also admire how he’s pretty much told his players that they’re awful. Absolutely atrocious. Arguably the worst in their history. I mean, he’s right, but you seldom hear that from a manager. That might come up in his appraisal.
Just occasionally, the beautiful game carves out romantic endings that would shame the most saccharin of Hollywood musicals. Incredibly unlikely stories appear like a big screen rags to riches tale.
The Forest sides of the 1970s, Leicester City in 2016, Swansea and Watford’s consecutive promotions through the divisions in the early 80s and, of course, the greatest of them all – Istanbul 2005.
But you seldom hear of things going the other way. From riches to rags and certainly not in such a small timeframe.
There are a few, though. There’s Leeds United’s title defence of 1993 which saw them lose 14 of their 17 away games. They drew the other three and finished in 17th place. A spectacular drop, in which the side you had to beat just became a side that everyone beats.
But United’s slide has been simply incredible and though it often takes the force of a single personality to ignite a fire, it’s the mediocrity and blithe acceptance of the many which reduces empires to dust. United have been a disgrace to their fanbase for years now.
Oh, they’ve won a few cups but the title — the one thing they desperately need — is miles off.
Hang on. They’ve won a few cups but the title — the one thing they desperately needed — was miles off? That rings a bell. A large 30-odd year bell.
I never thought I’d see another Liverpool title win. Honestly, in terms of the title, I thought we were done.
The culture (at times), the fear of success and sometimes honest bad luck were too big a factor. Despite great players such as Gerrard, Fowler, Owen, Hyypia, Carragher, Suarez and Torres we never had the quality to get it over the line.
There was a level to match the United’s, Arsenal’s and Chelsea’s period of dominance, and we were never quite there. Capable of the odd run and big win, but nowhere near consistent enough to be taken seriously for the championship. Even when we came close, we never really came close.
In the early 2000s, Ray Stubbs – of BBC Football Focus fame – led a section of the show arguing that United’s stranglehold was unhealthy, and the game would suffer as a consequence.
He thought there was no chance that the rest of the division could catch up and the competitive era was all but over. United were pretty much default champions every single season. It felt like he had a point.
Oh, there’d be the odd rival, but they just had too much resilience to be toppled. Blackburn and Newcastle United came and went while Arsenal swapped punches for a while, but Ferguson was too strong.
Unlike the other clubs, he had the ability to build a team, tear it apart, sell his talisman/men and start again with equal success. Beckham and Keane went without barely any noticeable drop off. United just carried on regardless.
Liverpool won a few cups but the title — the one thing they desperately needed — was miles off.
The seasons 2002, 2009 and 2014 saw us go close, but those were just a puncher’s chance. The seasons were generally followed with poor ones. A League Cup in 2003, true, but Rafa’s bad season and then Rodgers’ swansong? All forgettable while the others galloped away.
And now?
Liverpool finished the season 42 points ahead of Manchester United this season. We doubled their tally. Unthinkable. Ray Stubbs would have struggled with that concept, though I think he’d rather enjoy it.
Obviously, we won the league in 2020, but this one somehow feels like it’s the first since 1990. It’s the first time we can come together and celebrate it as one.
When we clinched it back then I sat in my kitchen with bottles of lager and rang my mates. There was no let-off. No hugging. No hysteria. Just muffled shouts in the streets. I loved it, but I also felt a bit cheated.
Sunday was so much better. I’ll be honest, the club and I have drifted apart a bit this season and the booing thing really got me down, so the double Guard of Honour and the reaction to Trent (I’ll hate him next week, promise) have realigned things. The celebrations were fantastic. I just wish we’d have had them more often since 1990.
From the depths to the peaks, we’ve deserved this.
Our lows are still pretty high and it’s important to point out that my own personal low (Blackpool at Anfield 2010) is nothing compared to what Bury fans and a whole host of others went through, but success can be brief.
When Jürgen Klopp went, many of us wondered if we’d be back in the purgatory of transition seasons — we’ve had so many of them — but one man from Bergentheim had other ideas.
It’s the beginning of a new age. Arne Slot has won the title in one go and, as of next week, the only starters who have survived from Jürgen’s great team are Alisson Becker, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah. Two thirds of the forward line and the entire midfield have gone, and this still isn’t Arne’s side yet. This is the chance to start a new empire.
All empires end in ruin, but I’d rather be this side of it. This is the good bit.
But this is just the football side and that’s only a part of it. The greatest thing about the past month has been the people.
Liverpool fans have shown the world how to celebrate. With joy, without sneering (a few shit banners aside – sorry, but it’s not about the opposition). We’re doing this because we’ve waited for it, and we want to get it right. We’ve got it right.
Yes, I’m fascinated with Manchester United, but I’m profoundly in love with the club of my city. I adore the battle and fight for superiority and accept the transitory nature of the thing. I’m proud to be part of the soul of this club.
Looking back at this now and given what’s happened I’m prouder still. On Monday night, people rallied around and offered lifts and accommodation. That’s soul.
I hope you enjoy the success. Times change and this is ours.
How good did Alan Hansen look, though?
