LIVERPOOL FC : WE’LL NEVER WALK ALONE
The most successful club in the history of English football. Maximum number of domestic titles and FA cups. A home to iconic players and magical moments. A stadium where the mass of 40,000 people become one to sing the legendary anthem. All this and one name – Liverpool Football Club.
When the other clubs were still inside the womb, this infant had quickly gobbled up all the trophies and grown up to achieve dizzying heights of success. As the years passed by, this young, vivacious kid slowly built on its reputation. Winning was a habit by now. It was unmatched, unconquered and unbeaten for a long, long time. Everything our idolized players like Robbie Flower and King Kenny touched, turned to gold. And then – the honeymoon period was over. The other clubs like Manchester United began their rise and soon the club, now like a not-so-fit middle-aged man, began to grow tired. The rise of our bitter rivals- Manchester United- was perfectly timed with the simultaneous decline of Liverpool. The trophies began to dry out and the soft prayers soon began to grow louder. The question which no one dared to ask out loud was finally being heard- Will the glory days ever return to Anfield?
The fans now began to keep a check on the Manchester United wins, more than the Liverpool losses. Each new trophy won by the arch-rivals was greeted with a collective increase of heart beat. Frowns appeared on the forehead, frustrated sighs were let out. As the Manchester magic continued rolling under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson, the fans could see the dreaded day coming, which till now they had believed didn’t even exist in time. The day when Liverpool might lose their throne. The day when our pride might just be given a blow. They day when the magical number 18 might just be outnumbered.
It is 2011. And the day is here. A lot sooner, than even the most pessimistic fans had ever expected. We have looked back at our glorious past, clinging on to the rope of being the “most successful club in history” for so long; we have kept our fingers crossed and our breath held for so long. But where do we look now?
The only option is – forward. When you start all over again, that’s the only way to go. We’ve just come out of a rather forgettable season- with Roy Hodgson’s reign bringing difficult times, with long-serving players like Stever Gerrard and Jamie Carragher being injured, with the most idolized player of recent times- Fernando Torres- being transferred to Chelsea in a shock move, with a time when we just couldn’t get out of the bottom-half of the table, and finally, Manchester United winning their all important 19th title.
It has been a quiet season at Anfield. But it might just be the calm before the storm. A certain Kenny Dalglish is back to Liverpool, bringing with him winds of change. From a position of the unthinkable bottom half finish, he injected life into the team and carried it to the 6th position. The gloomy faces of the fans, which matched the London skies, are beginning to break into a smile again. Each player, each staff is beginning to believe again- that at the end of the storm, there will indeed be a golden sky. The Anfield is abuzz with the “You’ll Never Walk Alone” anthem again. The new transfers like Luis Suarez and young home-grown talent like Flanagan and Spearing have already impressed the fans with their impressive performances and they still have a lot more to give.
The old wobbly man is gone, taking with him the excessive baggage of expectations and comparisons.
It’s a new start.
It’s a new birth.
It’s the reincarnation of the one club where nothing is impossible.
Glory days will return to Anfield- soon.
And we can only look forward with hope in our hearts and the faith- that we’ll never ever walk alone.
