Fields Of Anfield Road

Hopefully the Fields Of Anfield Road will be rocking on Tueday night. Incredible to think that we are playing Chelsea for the third time in four years in the Champions League semi-final. It goes without saying that I hope we have the same outcome as in the previous two semi-finals.

Much has been made of playing the second leg at home. I'm not sure that will be a massive issue. The "expert pundits" used to say that not conceding at home in the first leg was the most important. So a 0-0 draw even is not a disaster. I just think that taking too much notice of the "experts" just complicates the issue.

"Score an away goal and you're nearly there" they say. Not always. Arsenal scored two and they still went out! Although not an Arsenal fan I do like their style of football but I completely go off them whenever I hear Wenger being interviewed after a game they have lost. His myopic vision is legendary but his reluctance to give any credit to the opposition makes me switch him off.

Apart from the first 25 minutes in the second leg, Liverpool were the better side. Sure, Arsenal can keep possession well but their obsession with what I call five-a-side football is not that productive at times. In the second half they hardly threatened Reina at all. Their equalising second goal came right against the run of play and I think at that stage it would have been harsh if the scores stayed like that and Liverpool went out.

Anyhow, as a Liverpool fan I'm not too bothered because we must be doing something right. In Europe at least. Give Rafa the time and the right level of investment and I think we will progress further. It took Ferguson five years to make his mark so Rafa is already ahead of schedule. Apart from big money signings for the first team it was important that we underpinned the club with an improved scouting system and a chance of a better crop of yougsters coming through. Slowly but surely these things are falling into place. The reserves won the Reserve League and seem to have some good yougsters knocking on the door. Insua, Nemeth, Plessis, Brouwer, Spearing are just a few to show promise.

Anyhow, role on Tuesday and bring on Chelsea. Obviously not an easy game but a winnable game all the same. The Fields Of Anfield Road will certainly be rocking and the night hopefully will again be a special one. The Kop on these nights is an incredible experience and one to cherish. We've had many "it was great to be there nights", let's hope Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and the rest of the boys are on song and we make it another.

YNWA

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