Anthony McIntyre ⚽Although the English Premier League title was secured by Liverpool some weeks ago, today was when they received their crown.
We headed to the Thatch to watch the home game against Crystal Palace, themselves flushed with success just fresh from their FA Cup achievement. It was the usual firm for Liverpool games, Paddy, Jay, moi, Andrew and Ronan. Myself and Ronan got a lift over. Normally we walk to work up a thirst but with today's late April showers at the end of May, we were for taking no chances. Not that the three red wines I supped today would foil a thirst.
The game was nothing to write about on a postcard to a prisoner. So my friends behind bars, Nuala inter alia, may forgive me for no cards this week, at least none about soccer. Jurgen Klopp was at Anfield to watch the game and was rewarded with a typical early goal from the opposition. That happened so often during his reign as head coach that he must have thought business as usual.
Mo Salah, who had a pretty poor game overall, still managed to equalise in the second half after his side had been reduced to ten men due to an unfortunate Ryan Gravenberch sending off. At that point, trailing by a goal and now a man down, Liverpool's backs were against the wall. The likelihood that they would deny the fans that little bit extra seemed very real. Enter Salah. A deflected shot mattered little. Once it hit the back of the onion bag, the scoreboard said the rest. For a ten man side in the last game of the season, a draw would suffice.
When Liverpool ensured the title was theirs with a win over Spurs back in April, Cody Gakpo celebrated by removing his playing top to reveal a T-shirt inscribed I belong to Jesus. Today Allison Becker, the Holy Goalie as Virgil Van Djik ribs him, made a similar display although the wording was a bit different. According to reports, Gakpo was to be warned by the FA about his ostentatious religiosity. But it would be unfair to punish the Dutch international when Mo Salah after every goal visibly offers a silent prayer to his god. While we joked that Gakpo's goal shouldn't count as assists by Jesus are not permitted, it is a bit much to sanction a player for celebrating by invoking his preferred invisible man. Does it never occur to these Liverpool men of gods why the deities the other side are praying to don't respond. While there are probably as many gods are there are Liverpool supporters maybe they only support Liverpool.
A year ago. when Jurgen Klopp was departing the scene, there were few who thought this day would come around. I firmly believed I would never live to see another Liverpool championship winning side. But the Slot Machine, as Andrew terms it, came good, stepped up to the plate and got it across the line.
As ever, for me, it is about rewarding the fans in the most republican city on these islands. The players are rewarded more than enough, and, besides, I am tempted to think that multimillionaires should be declared an Organised Crime Group. Tears escaped my eyes when the team faced the fans in a shared rendition of YNWA, as Ronan patted me on the shoulder. Impossible at times like this not to think of the 97 fans unlawfully killed by South Yorkshire Police as they gathered to watch a game of soccer. Whether Ibrox, Hillsborough, Bradford or Heysel fans should always be able to walk on home after a football match.
It would be poignantly fitting if it was Title 97 but that is fantasy stuff. I'd have to live more than a few lifetimes to experience that. Title 20 is satisfying enough. The torch will soon pass to Ronan.
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