As the world continues to reel in from what can be best described as pulling off a ‘rising like the phoenix’ act at the very last minute, Anfielders were in for the biggest treat of the year as local heroes heralded Liverpool into the semi-finals of the Europa League 2016.
Riddled with a sense of pride and sweet disbelief, the game witnessed one of the greatest comebacks on the footballing field, as Dejan Lovren delivered a coup de grâce by heading in a last minute goal to help his team go one up against Dortmund during the quarter-finals at Anfield.
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After a streak of miserable home games for the local lads, the crowd at Anfield required a much-needed boost, which the men in red delivered with great élan! The game had everything that a Liverpool fan had hoped for and in fact, managed to surpass everybody’s expectations!
The one-sided first half managed to give many a Liverpool fan the heebie-jeebies, but the drama-filled second half left the same with truck-loads of goosebumps!
Riding high on their 4-1 defeat of Stoke City a few days earlier, the Kopites had reason to believe they could pull off another such act to delight their home crowd. But where the belief steadily faded at the half time mark, as the German side scored three goals against Liverpool but the lads in red managed to pull their team out of the trenches during an over-the-top, excitement-filled second half!
As most of us are aware, it isn’t over till it’s over, and Liverpool managed to cement belief in the very adage by qualifying through the skin of their teeth whilst generating great excitement for their millions of fans!
The nail-biter saw the local team trailing 1-3 during the second half, where many wondered if Liverpool had to witness yet another defeat at their home ground; a feeling that no Scouser wanted to harbour at this stage of the season.
Also read: 5 of Liverpool’s greatest European comebacks
The air was thick with anticipation as the pressure steadily mounted during the second half. The Kopites simply had to deliver to help their supporters keep the faith. Klopp, all too familiar with the German side, did his bit during half-time to boost his team’s confidence, which seemed to have worked like magic on his playing IX.
For a team that had been crying out for a passionate leader for quite a long time, Klopp has time and again managed to be their much-needed messiah! What else could explain this phenomenon of conceding three goals, and then coming back to score four within 45 minutes, with the last one coming in at the very last minute?
Just goes to show how a little nudge from a positive leader can inspire any team to forge against all odds and end up victorious.
Memories of 2005
But then, to many Liverpool supporters, this type of last minute adrenaline-fueled game play is not uncommon. It is a gentle reminder of how the club has always managed to keep their fans on the edge of their seats before making them jump for joy.
One cannot stop drawing parallels to the 2005 Champions League final, where many Liverpool supporters decided to hang their heads down and head back home only to turn around and rejoice over their club’s miraculous victory.
The players might be different but the game is the same. Back then, it was a team managed by Benitez consisting of players that did not back away from accepting a challenge; and now, glimpses of the same are evident, where Klopp has managed to inspire his young team to never settle for a moral defeat even if it looks impossible to stage a comeback.
It was Gerrard then, it is Lovren now; the players have to keep a firm head and take requisite chances in order to go for gold. And it is mandatory at this point to hand out a firm shake of the hand to James Milner for doing a fine job of captaining his side to victory. He managed to keep the team together whilst leaving no room for Henderson’s presence to be missed!
Although it would be unfair to compare him with the likes of Steven Gerrard, it is safe to assume that the team will do well if the midfielder continues to captain the side the same way. Milner taking charge proved to pay off in more ways than one; he managed to bring to the table a certain drive, which often lacks with Henderson at the helm, and since a competitive captain can make all the difference, Milner looks poised to deliver.
The team, however, still harbours some of their previous flaws, but should hopefully be a matter of time before they turn the corner on the many issues that hound their current game. A strong defence is the need of the hour, which will keep them together and support the goal scorers escort the team to more such stupendous victories.
A fresh look at their player placement and strategies can also help the team put forth a confident game play. Looks like the long-term bets that Brendan Rodgers envisioned are taking form and paying off under Klopp’s reign.
However, more work is needed on the central defence with both Sakho and Lovren needing improvements. Although the latter did manage to squeeze his team into the semis at the last minute, work needs to be done on keeping the game together, especially during the end bits when Liverpool inadvertently manage to concede goals. There should be no room for complacency and the team should work towards starting and ending a game on a strong note.
The game against Bournemouth saw a different team altogether. Their confidence seems to have skyrocketed since their win at home and taking risks looks like the team’s new found penchant. Continuing the same way will surely put them back on the radar, and push them towards finishing each game on a high note.
Let's just say at this point that it is safe to assume Liverpool will continue playing down to the wire, only to shock everybody by edging out their competition at the very last minute. It is this very tendency of the Merseyside club that makes them delightfully unpredictable and a force to reckon on the football field.
Praises for Klopp will continue to pour in, as Liverpool has finally found the right leader to usher them back to greatness. For over six months now, feelings of hope have been consistent, with both their fans and the players agreeing that Klopp has managed to weave his magic into the fabric at Anfield, by successfully reinstating belief in Liverpool’s rise to the top once again.
And this simply marks the beginning of an era, which will witness the enigmatic German change up the pace at Anfield by wielding his raw energy, with a never-give-up spirit to boot.
The focus now shifts to the semi-finals of the Europa League where Liverpool will be pitted against Spanish club Villarreal. One can only hope to see yet another theatrical performance with Klopp and his players composing yet another masterpiece on the football field!
Go reds go!
