By Tan Perng Yih
27th November 2011, that was the first time I watched a live Liverpool match at Anfield. I was lucky enough to purchase the ticket when it was on sale. My dream has finally come true – watching the red men playing in flesh at Anfield. As a kid growing up to be a Liverpool supporter, attending a live game at Anfield has always been my dream. Not many of you could understand how bloody excited I was. Being an overseas supporter is not easy at all (by not easy, I mean I can only support my beloved club from thousands miles away). And certainly not any easier if there were some closed minded fans saying we foreign supporters know no shit because we never been to Anfield.
It was a game against a Manchester City side full of talented and quality players and I expected a tough game. Anfield has always been known as a famous ground with great supporters on full voice and great history that other clubs can only dream of. But I don’t want to just experience the stunning Anfield atmosphere which obviously has been missing for some time now. What I want to do is, support the players who are wearing the red jersey. I want them to know how important the badge at the front of their kits is to us as supporters. I know them to know it should be as important for them as it is to us.
But to be completely honest, I was a little bit let down by the supporters during the game. Liverpool fans are known to be the loudest fans in the world and Anfield is widely famous for its astonishing fans with full voice that terrorize every opponent. The “This is Anfield” sign at the tunnel is a warning to every opponent who is playing at Anfield before they enter the pitch. The Kop are certainly in direct connection with it. The Kop is one of the reasons why every team comes to Anfield should be feared because we are the 11th man on the pitch and we will always get behind the team through thick and thin. But maybe it is not the case anymore. Anfield has been quiet for a while now and the giant Kop have been hibernating for some time now.
I remember vividly after Kompany scored the first goal for Manchester City, Anfield had gone completely silent and the away fans were chanting so loud. I couldn’t stand it so I decided to initiate the chanting and show the away fans this is Anfield! So I stood up by myself and sang “Liverpool, Liverpool” for approximately ten seconds. I had to sit back down and stop singing because it was awkward. Awkward as I was the only one singing and no one wanted to join me.
Can you imagine me as a foreign supporter who went to Anfield for the first time and chanting alone in the crowd like a maniac? I was heartbroken. I thought we all are one big red family and we should be there for each other and be counted when the team needs us the most.
I even thought that maybe I was not supposed to sing at a certain time of a game which probably explained why the rest did not join me chanting. What other reason could possibly explain why they did not join me? I also thought that maybe we were not allowed to sing if the opponent has scored. Everyone looked at me in a very awkward way and their facial expressions said it all. But no one! No one would have guessed what happened next! Which was Liverpool scored one right after I chanted and sat back. Charlie Adam’s shot took a deflection off Lescott and found the back of the net. Joe Hart was helpless.
And then the crowd were alive again. I was really proud of myself because I know I was there when the team needed me the most. I was there singing alone even just for ten seconds. But at the same time, I started to feel as if all these Liverpool fans were glory hunters that they only chant when the team scores. But I am sure this is not true.
I know it must be hard for us as fans to go to Anfield week in week out and witness such poor performance from the red men (but to be fair, I think we dominated the whole game and Lucas had a boss game).I understand the disappointment too. I understand how much you all have spent to get to the game every week. But does that not inspire you to make it all worthy by singing your lung out and show your support to your team? Isn’t that the reason why you go to every game? I feel the frustration as well because we have not won the league title for so long. I understand it even more because Liverpool have not won a single league title since the day I was born, yet I am still a Liverpool supporter and always proud to be one. It was not my choice to be a Liverpool supporter. But instead, I was chosen to be one and I am forever grateful that Liverpool is the club that I support until my last breath. There is no other better club out there for me to pour my heart on than Liverpool Football Club.
But I would like to urge everyone who goes to Anfield frequently, I know this article probably won’t affect anything or change your mind and it was not my intention to change your mind anyways. I just want the whole world to witness the greatness and prominence about Liverpool, Anfield and the Kop. We are the number one fans in the world sports. This is what we are about; support the team through thick and thin.
You will never walk alone. It is not just a saying. We live by it. We prove it by what we do.
Last but not least, I want to give a huge credit to all the Liverpool supporters who go to the away games. You lot are the best! Always passionate with full voice! I have huge respect for every single one of you! Which also makes me wonder why you all couldn’t do the same at home game? And I would like to apologize if I have offended any of you. And I know there must be a whole lot of you do not disagree with me. But it is just my opinion and please don’t take it personally. Also, I do not intend to cause any outburst with all of you.
In the meantime, here is a quick and short question to those who are calling for Kenny’s head. How many of you were begging and crying for Kenny to be the manager after Roy’s departure?
Follow me on Twitter: @champlaos11_LFC