By Neil Jones
To quote the great Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter from British comedy classic Only Fools and Horses: “They done it. They only bloody done it!”
They’ve seen some things in this incredible stadium, but nothing quite like this.
Liverpool are in the Champions League final. Just let that sink in for a moment.
Jurgen Klopp prayed for a miracle and his players delivered. This was a night to rank alongside any in this club’s remarkable history. The greatest Anfield has ever seen? It must be.
Their 3-0 first-leg lead would be enough, we were told. There would be no repeat of Barca’s collapse against Roma last season, we thought. The lack of an away goal at Camp Nou had killed Liverpool, who lost Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah in the meantime.
Salah arrived wearing a T-shirt with the slogan ‘Never Give Up’ on its chest. His team-mates, to a man, produced the performance of their lifetime. Criticise this team? You couldn’t even try to. “I will remember it forever,” said Klopp. He looked drained in his post-match press conference, and no wonder. How could be calm on a night like this?
Divock Origi was Liverpool’s match-winner, firing into the roof of the Kop End net 11 minutes from time. The Belgian scored twice, sandwiching a brace from Gini Wijnaldum, who emerged from the bench at half-time to score twice in the space of three minutes.
Barcelona had threatened in the first-half, but they were swept under by a wave of emotion which poured down from the stands and engulfed the pitch. This was Anfield at its loudest, its most aggressive, its most inspirational.
It had to be seen – and heard – to be believed.
At the end, after the final blast of referee Cuneyt Cakir’s whistle, Liverpool’s players and staff lined up on the edge of the six-yard box while the Kop serenaded them. “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” they sang. It was spine-tingling. Even the Barcelona fans, dumbstruck, found time to applaud. True class.
This is what Klopp has created. This is what this club has become, a fusion of emotion and passion, quality and cunning. Winners.
They worried they would end this season trophyless, with nothing to show for a phenomenal campaign. Instead, they’re going to Madrid. Tottenham or Ajax await them on June 1. Do you think they’ll want to face this team?
All those knocks – Salah’s misfortune, Firmino’s injury, the loss of Andy Robertson here – were taken and brushed off. They rode their luck at times, with Alisson Becker immense in goal, but who could begrudge them this? This is what happens when a very special team believes in itself, and feeds off a very special atmosphere.
“For me, this club is big heart,” said Klopp. “Tonight it was crazy. It was special.”
Even Messi, the great Messi, had nothing. He threatened briefly but faded and faded. Suarez, taunted by the fans who once adored him, offered nothing. Philippe Coutinho was substituted. He walked away from this team. More fool him.
And so we move on. To Wolves. There’s still a Premier League title on the line, remember. Liverpool could be English champions by 6pm on Sunday.
Whatever happens this weekend, though, it’ll have to be pretty special to top this.
We may never see anything like this again.
- goal.com