Many are writing about a dilemma facing Liverpool FC this week: do we throw the game on Sunday and stop United from winning the title which finally sees them take our hallowed record, or do we try to win it, to restore pride, to remain in desperate hope of fourth place? As far as I’m concerned, the very question is a disgrace. Anybody who wants Liverpool to lose a game is not a fan of the club.
United have long been the dominant force in English football; the fact that they still haven’t won more league titles than us (despite our failure to finish top for two decades) is only testament to how good we used to be. If we beat or draw with Chelsea on Sunday, as I hope we can, then Ferguson’s boys will be favourites to win the race yet again. And if they do take number 19, they’ll deserve it, no arguments. Yes, they’ve had some luck over the years, they’ve had some decisions go their way – but they’ve also been the best team around for as long as I can remember (I wasn’t born in time to see our ‘legendary’ teams). As this season has shown, they remain far more likely to take number 19 before we do anyway, no matter how much optimism last season had instilled in us. I don’t think I’m being defeatist so much as I’m being realistic about it – and as Liverpool fans we have to focus on what’s best for the future of our great club, not what’s best for the past.
Imagine asking Carragher to put a little less effort in. Tell Reina not to command his area so much. Tell Kuyt not to run quite as far this time. It’s a joke. What if we lose to Chelsea and then they go and muck it up on the final day? What if it turns out that our rivals for fourth all completely bottle it and leave us with an opportunity to steal in at the last? Anybody who would still place United’s destiny above Liverpool’s in terms of importance is past being a fan: they’ve become a United anti-fan, nothing else. I think we’ve all had our moments; when Robben (a man I hate, incidentally) scored that stunner at Old Trafford a few weeks back, I was running around the living room. But I celebrated far more for Gerrard’s brace against lowly Burnley on Sunday – and that’s how we have to be, if we aren’t going to lose sight of what’s really important here: L F C.
You’ll Never Walk Alone
Very good article. Excellent poinf of view. Good Job John.
You’re a genuine blogger and a genuine Liverpool Football CLub’s fan.
I find very interesting your arguments.
For me it’s a question of pride, passion.
In moment of troubles We must preserve our strenght & pride playing with the only purpose to get three points: the title race does not make any difference for us.
In addition, I want just to remind the behaviour of the cheater, Didier Drogba, during last CL campaign: his continuously dives & cheats get Chelsea to semi-final.
I will never forget it.
We are Liverpool Football CLub: No favours to anyone, especially for Chelsea.
Liverpool is a value, a winning mentality, and any proper fan of the Club knows well that the pride of Liverpool Football is the most important thing.
Absolutely spot on mate! Couldn’t agree more, Im only 20 myself so I didnt see the Liverpool team of the 80’s either. We can’t keep relying on United not winning it, wev’e just got to focus on getting back to being the best ourselves! I don’t care if theyv’e won more titles than us, the only fans who really care about such statistics are superficial and not real fans.
Great post. Puts into perspective. I’ll be gutted if Man Utd win #19 before us - but as you said, what’s best for LFC is most important thing.
Good article, Man u winning the 19th is fine as it will spur us on to catch and surpass them. This season is just a blip and we’ll become stronger because of it.
Great article and sure Sunderland can easily get a point off united so we need to concentrate on ourselves first……….to be honest we will have a better idea of the 4th situation by sunday as other teams play on sat……YNWA
this is exactly 100% how i feel. makes me feel a bit queasy that people even for a second, considered hoping that we lose to chelsea
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by FowlersGod: http://www.allthingsred.co.uk/?p=85...
Great article and I agree about Gerrard’s goal - brilliant! I still hold the faint hope that Liverpool can get into the final four with big finish to the year. That is more exciting as is the sale of the club rather than worrying about Manu. YNWA
Spot on! we must try to win against Chelsea ! this is Liverpool FC we are talking about!
Who cares about Man u and their title hopes.
YNWA
Great article indeed. Very true about anti man utd thing. I’ve found my friends that become more anti utd than lfc fans itself. Disgrace. Actually, carra said on his autobiography that we’ll very happy if utd lose, but that is that. Nothing compare to liverpool win. That’s passion we used to have. However, if utd get 19 titles, hopefully we will more motivated to do so. Not just stuck in our history.
Quality article, I dont think anyone want’s to see UTD win #19 but it is evidently going to happen and at this rate long before us, who know maybe once were behind and chasing it can encourage us more
I just hope we beat Chelsea this Sunday and Darren Bent will crush United..!!
Well said mate! Frankly speaking, I think ManU overtook us a long time ago. We should play our best against Chelsea. I would never want liverpool to lose a match. May the best team win.
Dunno what the debate is all about! Chelsea will play us off the park and u all know it. Found that hard to say but it’s true..we are garbage and if this is all we have going for us the odd shall we shan’t we let teams beat us to take glory..omg were screwed. Massive changes needed for us to have that privelage.
Fascinating post.
What you are basically saying is that instead of being the childish school bully, jealous of other people’s success, Liverpool need to step up to the plate. That it acts as yet another incentive for us to rectify things and quickly.
If you dong mind, I shall quote your article in my blog post tonight on liddellpool.blogspot.com and continue the debate, as it’s not so clearcut for me (who does remember the days of yore!)
Well put
I DON’T want Liverpool to lose. NEVER.
I’m a Liverpool supporter, so my job is supporting Liverpool at home and away for their winning, success and glory. Who the **** is Man United?! I DON’T, like REALLY, DON’T care… Let’s give our support for Liverpool and hoping Sunderland to beat Man United!
YNWA
unbelievable crap from a so called liverpool fan shanks must be turning in his grave
Good article. Well written. The most important thing is the club. It has always been that way & always will be. So what if the Manc’s win the league again. They have been the best team for years. It’s taken so long for someone to challenge their dominance, just like it was for LFC in the 80’s. They’re always change & it’s good for everyone. We will return to the glory days but it’s not going to happen over night.
Losing the Yanks is the best thing to happen to the club in a long time. Hopefully a new owner will provide the finances for a proper title challenge & retain the services of our long-serving players, improve the academy & help the club back to greatness.
Throw a game..??? Never. It would be an absolute disgrace for the team to do something like that. I know they will give 110% in every game.
Walk On, Walk On.
here we go again, fussing over Man utd. Our club has won nothing and we want Chelsea to take the title. Blue is the colour. Chelsea tried to take S.Gerrard lets give them him and a trophy. Our club is a disgrace whoever wins the prem. grow up or we will walk alone.
one of the most honest comments i have read all weekend. the fans who want us to lose to chelsea just so that manu dont win the bpl are just a bunch of ppl who have forgotten what it is to have pride in their club. I have been a fan since the 70’s and i will still be one when i am cremated with my fav jersey on. YNWA.
Those who have been around during the glory days like me will remember the desperation of Man U back then. They were totally out of our league and I remember well the sorry look of SAF when his team in the first years were hopeless and fruitless. He then went on the say he wanted to knock Liverpool off the perch. Must admit he did well since then and are almost there now. BUT NEVER in the hearts and minds of a true RED fan will we want to see that happen no matter how inevitable. The game against Chelsea is not about RED pride cos we lost it by losing the previous 10 games anyway. To me and the old timers its really about throwing a spanner in Man U’s works and denying them the satisfaction of ever saying they did it with our help. In Steveie G’s heart of hearts, he will never lose a minute of sleep over that back pass and so won’t a true RED.