Stevie G!

Has there ever been a local born player with the ability to grab a game by the scruff of the neck and pull his side out of the shit as often and as well as Steven Gerrard? The man is an enigma, a legend and the SHIZNIT!

Istanbul 2005, Wembley 2006 spring to mind, and now last night will be right up there, not a big game, but the magnitude and importance of his display in the context of the season thus far cannot be ignored!

When he ran onto the pitch at half-time last night the entire mood around Anfield shifted, the dynamic of the game changed, 'Pool looked like a side capable of scoring goals, which was in complete contrast to their pathetic, rudderless first half display!

His first goal was scored through sheer determination not to give up on a 50/50 ball, which put the 'Keeper under pressure and instead of being brave and diving at the ball he tried to kick it. Straight into Gerrard's foot and into the back of the net, 1-1, relief.

His second was a penalty right out of the top drawer of penalty taking examples, just inside the post, centimetres off the ground. Consider the composure of the man, his side have been in a dismal run of form, languishing in the bottom half of the table. Most of the players don't look like they could score with rohypnol at a school disco, score tied at 1-1, 2 minutes remaining on the clock, in front of the opposition fans, the new owner watching his first home game and Stevie G buries it, absolutely buries it!
The penalty itself was sweet justice, I couldn't help but notice the irony, the player who conceded it shouldn't have even been on the field at that stage. How he avoided a straight red for that horror tackle on Ngog is beyond me, with 4 assistants and a referee watching! They really need to bring citing into football!

His third simply highlighted his pure class. Lucas won a 50/50 ball inside the opposition half, a miracle in itself, the ball broke for Stevie with no defenders in front of him, he took it in his stride and then deftly chipped the onrushing keep to complete a 14 minute hat-trick for arguably the greatest mid-fielder and Captain gracing the game today.

What a result, Anfield was bouncing, as was I on my couch! I rewound the PVR 3 times to watch the last 5 minutes of the game, a significant 5 minutes, a turning point in the mighty Reds' season, one could feel the mood and attitude change in the fans and players, the gloom lift across the red half of Liverpool, another joyous European night at Anfield. To see the new owner jumping out of his seat, fist pumping the air, put it all in perspective. If it meant that much to him imagine how the millions of 'Pool supporters around the globe felt at that time, and still do this morning!

Bring on the West London Scumski this weekend, Liverpool are back! My money is on a Torres blinder!

Believe and it will BE!

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!!