GREETINGS from Barcelona. Where the sun is shining, and the weather is sweet, yeah.
Football aside, we’ve had a lovely time of tapas, sangria and cerveza. The city was hospitable and we were very open to hospitality. Between rooftop bars, beaches and tavernas, we’ve sampled it all. What a city it is. Everything you could want in one place. Perfect.
Some Liverpool supporters chose to enjoy themselves in a different way. Videos of locals being pushed into fountains are as frustrating as they are embarrassing. People are desperate to have a go at people from the city so I wish we didn’t give any further ammunition.
We sing about “conquering all of Europe” but this shouldn’t be taken literally.
There seems to be an attitude in England, which Liverpool is part of whether we like it or not, of going abroad and “conquering”. Find an area and take over. Maybe we are all guilty of fuelling that mentality. We travel like no other set of fans but occasionally the “take over” mentality can spill over into hostility. And then police respond with their own.
It’s not hard to get right. The vast majority manage it. For everything you might have seen on social media there are bars round the corner full of songs, laughter and ultimately respect. Liverpool enjoying Spain and Spain enjoying Liverpool. As I say, it’s not hard. There is so much of both to enjoy.
On the pitch, unfortunately, Barcelona were anything but hospitable. Ruthless in front of goal and miserly at the back. Liverpool had plenty of the ball but none of the goals. We arrived with so much promise but leave with just regret and disappointment. What ifs and maybes.
For all the positives, it now feels more likely than not that this season will end without a trophy. We all hope for a miracle on Monday or Tuesday, and it is possible. But more likely not.
I’m not giving up. What’s the point in that? But I’m not ignoring the probabilities either. That Barcelona and Manchester City prove to have too much, even for this great side. That we are beaten to the line.
Tonight we fly home and reintroduce ourselves to our partners and then text friends asking what time the bus leaves for Newcastle. A season which felt like it would never end at one point now feels it is ending too soon. A week or so and it could be over. Should be over. Just over a week and our fate will be clear. We’ll have the summer to celebrate or regret.
But no point feeling sorry for ourselves yet. Tomorrow the hangover will be gone and the sun tan and memories of singing in bars and believing another famous night was ahead of us will remain.
This team has taken us on some amazing journeys. No point stopping just yet.
Make them work for it. All of them. The bastards.
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“Liverpool have lost which is an unusual feeling.”
“I don’t know whether we’re still in this.”
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— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) May 1, 2019
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Can’t help but agree. Looks likely we’ll end up with nothing, but what a glorious ride it will have been.
Up the reds. Come on Leicester!!
“I’m not giving up. What’s the point in that? But I’m not ignoring the probabilities either. That Barcelona and Manchester City prove to have too much, even for this great side. That we are beaten to the line.”
I agree with you John.
“Make them work for it. All of them. The bastards.”
Leaping from a team that was maybe just Top 20 in Europe and fading further back when Klopp took over and leaping to the top 5 (top 3?) is incredible.
We are back competing for the only 2 trophies that really matter for Liverpool. If Klopp hadtaken us to 3rd place and CL QF exits past 2 seasons that would have been considered great progress.
This team is going to get better, the season is far from over. We fight to the end, the players serve that from us.
So much of last night was incredible to watch. Barca Looked rattled.Suarez at his most cynical against a club and players he pretends to have an affinity for (twat). Klopp has brought the Dortmund fear factor to Anfield. We just have to do a better job of keeping players than Dortmund did. FSG time to really show us how much it means to you.
Trying to beat a financially corrupt City and a Barca who have everything going for them. Not easy but we seem to be the only game in town at the moment, taking them on and that is a massive achievement in itself. Toe to toe. This is more than just football. Like it was in the 80s.
Great post Paul, my sentiments exactly. Well said.
Gibbo, may I point you to a fellow scribe…..https://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2019/05/liverpool-taste-of-losing/#comment-72748
I’m sure it’ll perk you up.
If nothing else gets you going before the second leg, maybe this will…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7usNaYC5mXA
Yup. A trophyless season but progress. Let’s hope that our owners don’t think it’s job done and continue to invest (without selling) that would be a statement
It’s not over until it’s over and it’s still not over yet, any of it… but I agree regarding the requirement by our owners to continue the progress on development and to retain our best players.
Hi Gibbo, I am somewhat not feeling your sentiments regarding hospitality and reciprocating of this. I feel the game against Barca left a very sour taste due to their antics and shithousery (ultimately this is UEFA’s problem for promising to clamp down on this stuff and then not doing it when pulling up the likes of Barca and Real, yet they [UEFA] bang on about respect… Yeah right!!!).
So sorry, I hope it is a fecking miserable experience for the Barca Team, all their players and their supporters. Normally I wouldn’t be proud of us winning by such tactics, even against the likes of Man Utd, but on Tuesday I hope we give Barca a taste of their own medicine and ramp this up ten fold.
Agree J, Saurez was appalling and should get the full treatment. They were all over the ref the whole match.
Barcelona is not over by a country mile. Odds or no odds. I want us to unleash hell on them on and off the field. Any by the end of it all, Sturridge to come in and knock off Suarez two front teeth and bite him for the finishing touch.