This was a game that couldn't be missed despite our poor showings in the CL so far and the potential for a trouncing, seeing Rangers play at Anfield was a must do, one to say I was there and perhaps we could pull off a shock result.
Up and showered at 6.30 meet mate at 7.30 and got picked up by another mate who took us to Linwood for the bus. Everyone in good spirits, no bampots there or back and some known friendly faces to share a beer and banter with on route.
After a couple of pit stops we arrive in rainy Liverpool. Tickets had to be collected at Goodison so some decided to go there first and get their match tickets. Wrong move! It was pissing down and the collection around 2pm was an utter shambles. A huge queue, nowhere to shelter, soaked, zero crowd control meaning loads of queue jumping and a lot of soaking and angry fans with queue moving at a snails pace. Best part of two hours standing about isn't really acceptable. Upon almost reaching the front and getting in the tiny collection office a steward decided he'd act important and tell us to wait until HE decided which window to go to. I'm capable of seeing which window next becomes free and suggested his time may be better spent controlling the shambolic queue outside. He soon shut up
Ticket finally in hand, taxi back to the city for a beer or three. Went to a bar near the Cavern which was surprisingly dead. Quick beer and moved on to the concert Square are and it was bouncing around there with many familiar faces. Few beers, wee gin and a wee walk to a craft beer bar on Dale Street which was quiet but really good and a taxi to the stadium followed.
Rangers had sent out instructions on how to access the ground. We got a cab to the general area and were early. Spoke to a cop and he basically told us we could go a number of ways so we wandered about outside the stadium checking it out, popped in to the huge club shop (impressed and makes ours looked laughably crap) checked out the memorial, got a bite to eat off a snack van then joined yet another disorganised rabble of a queue to get in.
Seems there had been some sort of incident prior to our arrival and the queue was just chaotic. We noticed it seemed ti be moving at the left side so managed to push over that way and got in without much of a search etc not that we had anything to hide.
We got in and sat right behind the goal about half way up our section, very close to the home fans. View was fine and atmosphere in our section building nicely. Our fans were in good voice and as kick off approached some pyro and blue flags waved looked good despite the fine thar will no doubt follow! Charlie McCann was sitting behind us. Nice lad he was too.
Champions league anthem almost drowned out by crowd and the game started . It didn't take long to see the pattern of play become established. We were defensive and Liverpool had loads of the ball. Then Alexander-Arnold scored his terrific free kick early and I thought we were in for a pumping. Thankfully it didn't materialise as a combination of good goalkeeping by McGregor and also Goldson, King and Davies defending pretty well, we managed to keep the score down. Liverpool obviously got their second early in the second half which killed it though we did create a couple of chances late on where Matondo almost scored and Colak had a couple of chances but it wasn't to be.
As mentioned, I thought McGregor was very good. Goldson the pick of the overworked back line. Didn't think our fukl backs did much but were up against genuine pace and skill. Lundstram had a poor match, Davis quite quiet but again up against right good opposition. Tillmans inclusion surprised me and the occasion and opposition appeared to big for him at this stage. Kent was pretty quiet though did have the beating of his man on the odd occasion and Alfie actually put in a decent shift with almost zero service or support. The subs: Sakala chucked on v Liverpool yet not trusted with proper playing time v SPL opponents was a strange one then Matondo playing on the left for Kent with Kamara, Colak and Jack all coming on and the fresh legs and removal of a centre back at least got us up the park and pushed our opponents back and we should have scored towards the end. Matondo having one cleared off the line and Colak firing straight at the keeper and delaying when shooting may have been better with another but Liverpool were worthy winners.
The Gers fans continued their sing song whilst being held back with some good natured stuff aimed at Emma Dodds for example.
Finally we were let out and found the coach relatively easily but waited over an hour for stragglers who hadnt been to the match to return from the city.
The long journey in the dark then began and I just wanted to be home and I'm my bed!
For the third CL match in a row we got outplayed, failed to score and sit bottom of the group though I was shocked by the other result Ajax 1 Napoli 6 and realise what a difficult group we are in and the jump from Europa league to Champions league appears to be rather large.
Our fans were excellent and company good throughout but the performance wasn't great. We move on to the weekend where nothing but a win will be acceptable and wonder what the team selection will be.
I hope the hangovers aren't too bad and anyone that had to go to work get on OK today!
Up and showered at 6.30 meet mate at 7.30 and got picked up by another mate who took us to Linwood for the bus. Everyone in good spirits, no bampots there or back and some known friendly faces to share a beer and banter with on route.
After a couple of pit stops we arrive in rainy Liverpool. Tickets had to be collected at Goodison so some decided to go there first and get their match tickets. Wrong move! It was pissing down and the collection around 2pm was an utter shambles. A huge queue, nowhere to shelter, soaked, zero crowd control meaning loads of queue jumping and a lot of soaking and angry fans with queue moving at a snails pace. Best part of two hours standing about isn't really acceptable. Upon almost reaching the front and getting in the tiny collection office a steward decided he'd act important and tell us to wait until HE decided which window to go to. I'm capable of seeing which window next becomes free and suggested his time may be better spent controlling the shambolic queue outside. He soon shut up
Ticket finally in hand, taxi back to the city for a beer or three. Went to a bar near the Cavern which was surprisingly dead. Quick beer and moved on to the concert Square are and it was bouncing around there with many familiar faces. Few beers, wee gin and a wee walk to a craft beer bar on Dale Street which was quiet but really good and a taxi to the stadium followed.
Rangers had sent out instructions on how to access the ground. We got a cab to the general area and were early. Spoke to a cop and he basically told us we could go a number of ways so we wandered about outside the stadium checking it out, popped in to the huge club shop (impressed and makes ours looked laughably crap) checked out the memorial, got a bite to eat off a snack van then joined yet another disorganised rabble of a queue to get in.
Seems there had been some sort of incident prior to our arrival and the queue was just chaotic. We noticed it seemed ti be moving at the left side so managed to push over that way and got in without much of a search etc not that we had anything to hide.
We got in and sat right behind the goal about half way up our section, very close to the home fans. View was fine and atmosphere in our section building nicely. Our fans were in good voice and as kick off approached some pyro and blue flags waved looked good despite the fine thar will no doubt follow! Charlie McCann was sitting behind us. Nice lad he was too.
Champions league anthem almost drowned out by crowd and the game started . It didn't take long to see the pattern of play become established. We were defensive and Liverpool had loads of the ball. Then Alexander-Arnold scored his terrific free kick early and I thought we were in for a pumping. Thankfully it didn't materialise as a combination of good goalkeeping by McGregor and also Goldson, King and Davies defending pretty well, we managed to keep the score down. Liverpool obviously got their second early in the second half which killed it though we did create a couple of chances late on where Matondo almost scored and Colak had a couple of chances but it wasn't to be.
As mentioned, I thought McGregor was very good. Goldson the pick of the overworked back line. Didn't think our fukl backs did much but were up against genuine pace and skill. Lundstram had a poor match, Davis quite quiet but again up against right good opposition. Tillmans inclusion surprised me and the occasion and opposition appeared to big for him at this stage. Kent was pretty quiet though did have the beating of his man on the odd occasion and Alfie actually put in a decent shift with almost zero service or support. The subs: Sakala chucked on v Liverpool yet not trusted with proper playing time v SPL opponents was a strange one then Matondo playing on the left for Kent with Kamara, Colak and Jack all coming on and the fresh legs and removal of a centre back at least got us up the park and pushed our opponents back and we should have scored towards the end. Matondo having one cleared off the line and Colak firing straight at the keeper and delaying when shooting may have been better with another but Liverpool were worthy winners.
The Gers fans continued their sing song whilst being held back with some good natured stuff aimed at Emma Dodds for example.
Finally we were let out and found the coach relatively easily but waited over an hour for stragglers who hadnt been to the match to return from the city.
The long journey in the dark then began and I just wanted to be home and I'm my bed!
For the third CL match in a row we got outplayed, failed to score and sit bottom of the group though I was shocked by the other result Ajax 1 Napoli 6 and realise what a difficult group we are in and the jump from Europa league to Champions league appears to be rather large.
Our fans were excellent and company good throughout but the performance wasn't great. We move on to the weekend where nothing but a win will be acceptable and wonder what the team selection will be.
I hope the hangovers aren't too bad and anyone that had to go to work get on OK today!
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