Oh what a night* - The Four Seasons

I was resisting blogging about this - out of respect to me mates who are Arsenal fans. But i failed...

No disrespect to those aforementioned mates. But this has to be one of the many wonderful magical "Great European Nights at Anfield" that are talked about and will be talked about for a long time to come.

As one of the British tabloids put it:-

"CHALK another one up on the “Great European nights at Anfield” tribute board.

There is no better place to be in the world when Liverpool pull off a victory like this.

The walls shake, the roof rattles and the ears are strained to exploding point."

It had everything - drama, high stakes (both teams are playing for their last chance at silverware this season - altho the London team's manager seemed to think otherwise), controversy, blunders (Arsenal's first goal - Reina's near post??? Adebayor's miss in the 2nd half), sublime skills of the highest order (Torres' goal, Walcott's super run), nail-biting moments (only the bravest dared to look on as Stevie G ran to kick the ball on the spot)...

These are moments Liverpool fans live for! Perhaps it is the sad reflection that we are doing so badly domestically that we have to look for European Nights. But who can deny the magic - even if u're not a fan?

The rollercoaster of emotions was simply madness. Arsenal dominating the game and this Abou guy finishes like an accomplished striker! Then good old Hyppia heads us back into the game. Torres' wonder strike was surely the kind of goals that wins us such games. But the visitors had other ideas. After a horrible mis-kick - in fact, he kicked the air - by Gerrard, Walcott completed an amazing run and had 3 players in the penalty box to choose from. Adebayor made no mistake this time.

I returned back to me criminal law books. With less than 7 mins left, surely Arsenal has done enuf to... wait! A penalty was given!!!! Who cares if there was any real contact or foul or not. It was given. I was up on me feet, law books aside, teeth biting on me nails nervously. Who was gonna take it? Kuyt? Torres? It was Gerrard. Was he gonna cap off a woeful display (he even admitted that it was his worst performance in a L'pool jersey) wif an unforgettable crucial miss? No. Perhaps the script was written oredi. It was after all, at the Kop end. And it was an European Night at Anfield.

Having seen Arsenal snatch last minute - even last second - goals, i couldn't resume my seat and stood like a nervous wreck for the remaining of the normal time and the anguishingly long 3 minutes added time.

The Reds triumphed. The Londoners were devastated. The crowd applauded both sides. Rafa beamed while Wenger frowned. Strains of 'You'll never walk alone' can be heard and tears run down my face.

Oh what a night!

Arsene Wenger's note to himself - replace Senderos and put a taller player at the far post for corners!!!


Someone at UEFA.com dun know how to count - 4+2=5????

*Also known as 'December, 1963', it hit the UK charts in 1976.