Wembley Door Kicked Open
Feature by Philip Hale
Updated Thursday, 26th January 2012
The history books will show that on Wednesday night Liverpool FC drew with Manchester City to progress to the final of the League Cup.
They will record the team sheets, goal scorers and the attendance. What they won’t capture is the alchemy that is Anfield, the communion between fans, manager and players that makes the club special.
Kenny Dalglish had publicly berated his players following the defeat to Bolton for not understanding what was expected at Liverpool. If that was the stick then Wednesday night was the carrot. After the game Steven Gerrard confirmed that the message had gotten through to the dressing room,
"People sign for this club to play in front of atmospheres like that. The lads are talking about it now, all the new signings.”
Those new signings, Henderson, Downing, Enrique and Adam had all played their part in a pulsating game where character was as important as talent. Another of those signings, Craig Bellamy, grabbed the starring role. The Welshman literally ran himself to a standstill in pursuit of his dream Wembley final.
Bellamy was exempt from the criticism following the surrender at the Reebok but there was never a danger of him resting on his laurels. His speed, closing down and tenacity kept the City defence from settling all evening. His composure in front of goal as he passed the ball into the net for the decisive second goal broke City keeper Joe Hart’s often single-handed resistance to Liverpool’s attacking threat.
That threat had been sustained all game despite City twice taking the lead on the night. The away goals rule gave the game a flavour of a European fixture as the pendulum swung one way and another. It was an education for some of the players, an experience of holding their nerve, balancing the need to score without recklessly abandoning the requirement not to concede more. Facing expensively assembled opposition and another inspired visiting keeper Dalglish’s men learned quickly on the job.
Downing, Adam and Henderson all played their roles either chasing back or moving the ball forward. Downing in particular showed a determination in his defensive duties that was important in preventing City ever getting real momentum. Likewise Gerrard and Kuyt were tireless in their closing down and their determination not to leave Bellamy isolated upfront.
The back four, despite conceding two goals, were resolute throughout with Skrtel in particular at the heart of the resistance. Enrique and Johnson both offered an attacking threat and it was Johnson who played the one two with Bellamy that resulted in the goal that ultimately put Liverpool through.
Watching from the touchline Dalglish must have felt a mixture of pride, joy and vindication. Since the Suarez verdict, and a subsequent or coincidental dropping of form, the voices questioning the manager have grown louder, the charges that he is out of touch, too old or tactically naive have been dusted down and trotted out. Wednesday night should push those words back down the throats of all those who uttered them.
Perhaps it’s to be expected of a press corps, who collectively showed their spineless laziness with the response to the FA’s kangeroo “trial” of Suarez, that they would only write the easiest narrative. Why would they recognize that the man they seek to categorize as a dinosaur has overseen victories at
Arsenal,
Chelsea and Man City this season, has restored defensive stability (the prerequisite of any successful team) and has his team playing attacking football that has been the hallmark of the club over the years?
He has also done much more than that, he has united a club that twelve months ago was in disarray. Dalglish was in tears last night. I am sure those tears were not because he thinks the League Cup is the height of his or the club’s ambition. No, I am sure it was because he looked around Anfield and saw the unity of players and fans, felt the ghosts of Shankly, Paisley and Fagan nodding approval. For those fans out there that don’t understand what the club means, that misinterpret the maxim that the club exists only to win trophies, soak up the feelings embodied in Dalglish at the final whistle.
The next time that you are tempted to agree with the garbage spouted in the press or to believe that a signing that doesn’t work out means the manager should be replaced remember what the club is truly about. It is not about winning but about trying your best to win and doing so with dignity. It is about being a vehicle for community pride. That was the message Dalglish sent the players on Saturday night.
That community now extends way beyond the city of Liverpool but those that choose to associate with it need to understand those values if they are to truly appreciate what they have attached themselves to. Kenny Dalglish articulates those values in his actions and his words, pay attention and respect and understand that it is a privilege to have him. Players will come and go, he will make mistakes in the transfer market and correct them, there will be many more nights like Wednesday with him in charge.When they come the fact that it is Dalglish that has delivered them will make them all the more glorious.
