“WE’RE Liverpool. We’ll never be on defensive!” – Kenny Dalglish, interview for Sky before the Manchester City semi-final at Anfield.
When I heard King Kenny saying those words on the night which would become the best night at Anfield last season (along with the Man Utd match in the FA Cup and the drubbing Chelsea in May), something clicked inside me.
Despite being an LFC fan for all my life, I couldn’t fully understand that philosophy, that mentality of the great Reds sides of the 70’s and 80’s. I heard a lot about “the Liverpool Way“, saw lots of classic games, but still couldn’t say I really was able to fully understand it.
The Liverpool Way wasn’t, isn’t, and never will be about keeping the ball, tiki-taka, total football or whatever you want to label it as. It is about winning things and giving it all on the pitch. I heard and read lots of criticism of Dalglish last term; about his “wrong priorities” of putting cups higher than the league etc. Do you really believe all that nonsense? Kenny was the first to say that the next game is the most important one and I shall never believe that it wasn’t what he meant – whatever they say. He is a winner, one of the dying breed of the true Liverpool Way; he just didn’t know what it meant not to try and win every game.
There’s no such thing in football as priorities. You never know what will happen in the game, that’s why we love it so much. I’m not quite sure that prioritising the Premier League, for example, and giving up on other competitions is fair to the fans. Me, as a fan, I’d be really disappointed if the manager would come and say that the priority is the EPL and in the cups ‘we’ll just play the second-string side and see where it takes us’ – like AVB did last term with Chelsea. Di Matteo did otherwise and landed two cups (one on penalties, one on ref’s awful moment of blindness with Andy’s goal).
Last season the Reds gave us the best night for past six years winning the Carling Cup. I loved it when we outplayed Barcelona, destroyed the Mancs in their own backyard and humiliated Real Madrid, but winning things was something we lacked. And that’s what LFC is about. Winning. That creates emotions, feelings, passion and memories. I’ll remember for a long time Dirk’s hat-trick against Man Utd, Jerzy’s saves from Shevchenko, and Carra’s heroics on that night in Istanbul. But the thing I’ll never forget and many of those who are yet to be born will know are the titles that Liverpool won – “the name’s on the trophy. That’s all that matters.”
[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]
That’s the first thing that Brendan Rodgers should understand. That LFC isn’t about tactics, statistics, ball possession or anything like that. You can’t be a success here with a 190-page dossier. You may at Swansea or somewhere else, but not here. To be successful here, to be remembered here you have to implement something that you may call passion or spirit; I’ll call it the Liverpool Way. Winning and giving it all.
I heard this summer during Euros Alan Shearer saying that giving 100% isn’t good enough, it has to be basic. He went on to add that he would find 11 men who’d work their socks off in Newcastle city centre. I tend to agree with him in a way but not completely. If everyone were to give their 100% every game, which is impossible, the score would be 0-0 each time.
So, Brendan, forget about dossiers, tiki-taka’s and Swansea. You’re at a proper football club now. The club that lives and breathes its fans, who live and breathe the club. The club that plays the Liverpool Way. And wins the championship in May.
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook
Let’s respect the author and his opinion. But the author should respect Brendan Rogers. In my opinion he’ll give lfc a strong identity in terms of the way we play. Off the pitch he is the media darling. We can’t forget lfc history but embracing modern thinking may mean selling anfield naming rights. Are fans up for such a thing if it brings success by enabling the raising of valuable funding. The giving up on the Liverpool way will cause many tears but there is a remedy : WINNING !!!
I agree with all of you claiming this is a rubish article. You tend to forget that Liverpool Way is Pass & Moves, a tactic brought from the streets by the great Shankley. A tactic where every Liverpool trophies are on the shelve now. It was about constant passing & moving throughout the game. King Kenny couldn’t bring it up on his 2nd term because he left the game so so long already. In there there were few elements missing, which sometimes he just blame it on luck. This is why Brendan Rodgers is brought in. Someone who understands how the games work now. Implementing new model, the tiki-taka, is his style of play he prefers simply I put it that way. But why he believes that this is the correct way moving forward & correct way for Liverpool is because it’s attacking football, quality use of the ball going forward, defense like a champion with high line defensive line. Very similar to the pass & moves. Winning mentality. It’s a way to success. YNWA
Give Brendan time to show what his made of before u write kak like this. Ofcourse any logical person would know about man management _ motivation, etc
And as hard ad it was for me to accept “Andy’s goal” wasn’t a goal at the time I’ve long since realised it wasnt a goal…. You should have too, get your head out your ass and see what’s right in front of you. Put the laptop away, take a deep breath, take a shower and
think of another career path.
hahaha can see why everyones saying .. lets all laugh at liverpool.. love it !!!
Why are you posting on a Liverpool website let me guess you’re another sad Manure fan completly obsessed with Liverpool what a cliche.
br himself said our priority is d league cos he blives top four is achieveable. winnin games alone brings u dat remember my dear writer, think of something good to write cos for dis, u aren’t right.
Best article by far
Liverpool way got KK a sack.
The moment European cup change format to champion league,all the teams have lost their ways,winning trophy is not important anymore,whereas finishing fourth is a priority.
Football have change,my friend,money rules.
Greetings to everyone!
I’m really grateful for all of your comments, especially the negative ones, you’ve really educated me a lot in terms of football! 🙂
The season is upon us and hopefully this isn’t the last time we discuss the best football club in the world and their victories.
YNWA!
P.S. And I still wouldn’t exchange League Cup or FA Cup for fourth place. If Steven Gerrard says medals are more important than top4, who am I to say that’s rubbish? 🙂
Well done lad!
Very graciously accepted *applauds*
Now that my friend, is also The Liverpool Way!
YNWA