When the fixture list was released last summer, we all knew this weekend’s match against Chelsea would have a massive say in where the Premier League trophy was going to reside for the next 12 months. None of us, in our worst nightmares, would have anticipated the current scenario:
1. Win: We remain in the hunt for 4th and Champions’ League Football but virtually hand United their record breaking 19th title, gift-wrapped with a note saying “From Anfield, with Love”
2. Draw: No good to either really. Puts paid to our challenge for 4th and probably stops Chelsea’s title challenge
3. Lose: Definitely means Liverpool cannot qualify for the Champions’ League but has the upside of Chelsea remaining ahead of United going into the last round of fixtures.
This is quite a quandary but I have no reservations in saying that I support Liverpool and, above everything else, I want Liverpool to win. If this means that the title arrives in Old Trafford on the 9th May then so be it! Chelsea should have done the job against the other 18 teams in the league, most notably Man City who did the double over them but capitulated completely on both occasions against their neighbours.
Ultimately, we find ourselves in as much of a ‘No Win’ situation as it a ‘No Lose’ one. A positive result for us comes with the real prospect a very negative outcome. But should we lose can take some consolation in knowing we have played no part handing United the title and they will have to win it on their own. Most of you will remember a similar situation arising when Blackburn, then managed by Liverpool legend King Kenny Dalglish, arrived for the final fixture of the 1995 season. Many expected Liverpool to roll over making Rovers the champions at the expense of United. That did not happen. We beat them, and thankfully West Ham held out for a draw in the match of note making Blackburn the champions. With any luck, something we have been lacking all season, something similar will happen this weekend.
On Sunday, every red should forget what their head tells them about what the consequences of winning will have on the destination of the title and go with what their hearts tell them: Liverpool above all else, A Liverbird on our Chests!
YNWA
Julian
julian@empireofthekop.com