By Boris Mellor
January 14 2016
I could have called this my life between the goal posts, but more of that later. When my next door neighbour at the Emirates informed me he couldn’t make the Liverpool match as he was going skiing I didn’t realise that I would be seeing as much snow as he would, but on the slopes of Anfield rather than the French Alps. Anyway at a ton for a brace of tickets it was not to be passed up.
Noble Trojan booked the car and at 12 noon Wednesday we set off to the dulcet tones of Heart radio. After a brief break and a mandatory wander around Liverpool ring roads the Iphone safely brought us to rest in China Town at 5 pm. I say China Town, but Hamlet is probably more apposite, or ghost town as we were the first two punters in a massive dining room. This is where Life on Mars begins, the next punters in, and sitting rather too closely not to be heard, were rather noisy and rude, and one was demanding chips because there just aren’t enough chip shops in Liverpool. I hadn’t heard this routine since the late 1960s in the Chinese near the Bank of Friendship, sadly no longer there, no the restaurant, not the Bank, pay attention at the back.
We then set off for the ground and only two U turns later we were circling the stadium looking for parking, NT said he wasn’t bothered where we parked as it was a hired car, but I pointed out that a set of wheels were essential for a safe return, so we settled for off road parking at only a tenner and a mere five minutes walk from the ground, a fatal mistake as it proved (well not that fatal).
Approaching the ground was quite bizarre as the stadium was dominated by a new stand being built behind the existing stand opposite the Kop End. When this and another new stand are completed the stadium capacity will increase from 45,000 to 58,000+. But for now the stadium is little different from the one I remember in the 70s but without standing, well Arsenal fans stood all match.
A cheery steward welcomed us to Anfield NT thanked her but courteously pointed out we would win.
They don’t cater for full sized people at Anfield, but that was not a problem for me as I managed to slide my silth like profile through the automated turnstile easily enough. It would never work at the Emirates.
In the crowded circulating area Arsenal fans were singing about Tottenham as we struggled through the throng to our seats.
Life on Mars continues
Our seats were right behind the goal, it was just like old Highbury, no gap between the seats and the pitch, and the pitch is one of the smallest in the Premiership. No great running track around it either, why they did that at Emirates I will never know a real passion killer. I loved the close proximity to the action, and it all helped the atmosphere. My Emirates neighbour had told me the seats were an unrestricted view, if you call watching the entire match through goal nets unrestricted it was. Any closer and I would have been standing next to Cech, actually he could have done with some help as our midfield left the defence and goal rather exposed.
It was pouring with rain but Arsenal fans were enjoying themselves singing about the lack of atmosphere, and other imagined wrongs, when only 10 minutes in we conceded, Cech parried and the rebound was lashed in beyond his reach, I almost ducked.
It wasn’t that much of a surprise as our midfield was being overrun and the defence already on its backfoot.
Cue Liverpool fans sing “You're not singing anymore” but we chant the team on, then 4 minutes later Ramsey equalises, loud cheering as we all sing “Youre not singing anymore”.
Five minutes later Liverpool go ahead again, cue “You're not singing anymore”.
Six minutes later Giroud equalises cue Arsenal fans sing “You're not singing anymore”. And then the final insult a chant of “Is this Emirates?” Followed by variants of
"Steve Gerrard, Gerrard,
"He slipped on his f****** a**e
"And gave it to Demba Ba,
"Steve Gerrard, Gerrard"
We are getting wetter and wetter but HT is 2-2, not bad considering how pants we had been.
So far I had been visible on TV for their two goals something I could do without, but then on 55 minutes a miracle, a fantasic run by Bellerin, followed by fancy footwork by Campbell and Giroud gets the ball in the net with some help from Mingolet. We are ahead at last.
Arsenal are defending well, but going rather deep but with 5 minutes to go Liverpool are really piling it on. I am beginning to believe we can do it but on 90 minutes Liverpool equalise. Massive roar followed by Liverpool fans singing “You're not singing anymore”. And they are right. The snow is now pouring down but not one of the Arsenal fans leaves. Three three, I would have taken it before the match but now it almost feels like defeat, the team clearly feel it. Only 3 come over to thank us, Giroud, Ramsey and BFG, a few wave half heartedly as they go into the warm. Meanwhile no sign of big time bumpty bump Charlie self appointed hero from last week’s cup match. He did nothing in that match, and nothing in this, well apart from gifting a goal.
What a pleasure to watch football at a ground where fans don’t sing that silly always cheating song.
So what was the near fatal mistake at the car park? No all the wheels were there, please no crude stereotyping, no it took nearly an hour to get out of the car park as the exit was next to a major bus stand ferrying thousands of happy scousers home. I am sure it wasn't there when we drove in. It was five to eleven when we finally pulled out but it took only three half and hours to tear down motorway.
Expensive but a good day out.
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Quote:Merlion96
The consolation is that it is not another Brian Mellor's late goal that won the match for them.
Quote:Padre PioQuote:Merlion96
The consolation is that it is not another Brian Mellor's late goal that won the match for them.
Never to be seen again