Everton vs Birmingham. Early kick off. Early goal from Heskey. Early hope. Early despair for the Bluenoses.
Then Drunken Ferguson came on and spoiled the party for the Brums. I sat there hoping that Pennant would deliver another killer cross for Heskey to poke the ball into the net and restart the party. But alas! It was not to be.
At the end of the game, I told myself that one point gained for the Bluenoses would still suit us fine. Anyway, Liverpool will be playing Crystal Palace next. I still have fond memories of how Liverpool turned up at Selhurst Park one day and thumped them 9-0. It might be difficult to repeat the score, but at least, three points looked a nice certainty...
Until I saw the team sheet and was wondering to myself if the television network got it all wrong.
Ok. Garcia was injured, not rested, but Alonso is strangely missing. Perhaps he might be on the bench. No. He's not on the bench. Perhaps, not even on the team bus. Fine. Where's Riise? On the bench? Who have we got? Welsh and Potter. Sounds ok.... Hey... What? Pellegrino at left back? Then, what's Traore doing in the first eleven?
Then, it dawned on me.
Perhaps Benitez has a score to settle against Mourinho. Or did he signed a secret pact with David Moyes to give the Bluenoses a taste of the high life? Or is it that he prefers to see Stevie G all dressed up in a predominant blue kit with the words "Fly Emirates" struck across his chest? Or is it because he wanted to prove to all that he is as good a manager as Alan Curbishley in terms of amount spent per club capita?
At the end of the match, I sat on the couch feeling very indifferent. One week ago, I was punching my fist in the air when the referee blew the whistle at Stadio Delle Alphi. One week later, I was stunned into silence as I contemplated the prospect of another sad week for a Liverpool fan.
The dream of finishing fourth is now more or less ending. The Bluenoses will have a field day taunting us "Champions League? We're having a laugh!" (although in return, we should politely ask if Everton had won anything in Europe). Unless we defy the overwhelming odds by showing the West London Moneybags the exit door from Europe first, we will have to put up with watching our team play on Thursdays.
Then again, as this is a transitional season, I am already expecting very little from our patched up and luck-forsaken side. I mean I was predicting that we will be playing in the Inter-Toto cup tournament next season at the very start, so being in the UEFA Cup is fine by me.
However, I cannot help but wonder if Rafa's quote about "Premiership having the priority over the Champions League" was taken out of context.
On another note, it makes the Premiership more interesting, in terms of the relegation dogfight, since the title is heading for Stamford Bridge.
Player ratings:
Dudek(6): Had nothing much to do and was not really at fault for the goal AJ scored. I mean he is no Peter Schmeichel or Petr Cech, ain't he?
Finnan(6): Had a fair outing as the right back. Decent but not exceptional, especially his play further up the pitch.
Hyppia(6): Average.
Carragher (7): Performed better than the rest of his colleagues in defence. Should have been given the captaincy since he scowls less and yells more at his team mates.
Pellegrino (5): Good reading of the game? He has it. Pace? No. Being able to contain the guile of the young Soares or Andy Johnson? No. Then why is he at left back?
Welsh (6): Relatively young and has a lot of matches to play. However, he is no Alonso or Hamann.
Gerard (6): Pass the ball to a team mate. Team mate somehow cannot receive his pass? Scowl. Ref giving the decision to the team in red and blue? Scowl. Shot zipped to the right side of Kiraly's goal? Scowl. I have a nagging feeling that he will be meeting Mr. Abramovich very soon.
Traore (5): His forrays upfield may fool a few Championship defenders or two. His play as left winger may confuse a few reserve league players, but Crystal Palace still are a decent EPL side, relegation battlers or not.
Le Tellec (4): Passes went astray. Crosses meeting the heads or bodies of the Palace players. I give him an "A" for effort. Other than that, I think he really needs more games under his belt.
Baros (6): Did not make too much of an impact when he was on the field.
Morientes (7): His class shone brilliantly throughout the match. Easily the most likely contender to score for us on the pitch. But alas! Kiraly did a "David James against Chelski" on Saturday to us...
Subs:
Potter (6): Youth is his only advantage. Distinctly average.
Riise (6): Game opened up on the left when he came on, but hardly very inspiring stuff...
Ciise (6): Tried and tried and tried and tried to service his Spanish striking partner, but we all know that he is no Thierry Henry... Not at this moment anyway.