Last gasp Luis shows Reds are now hard to beat

THE narrative behind Liverpool’s clash with Chelsea at Anfield had been penned long before the day itself. It had little to do with two teams desperately battling for points, which might serve to make their lacklustre season seem a little bit more respectable.

It was, of course, all about Rafa’s return to the club where he achieved unimaginable success and remains adored to this day by all but a handful of its fans.

The spectacle at Anfield before kick-off was more than a little strange. There must’ve been very occasions in football when a manager has been lauded so heavily by opposing fans whilst being jeered or largely ignored by supporters of his own club.

The reception from Liverpool fans for Benitez was magnificent, and rightly so. The Kop was in full voice for the Spaniard, whose stubborn determination and adherence to his own principles delivered LFC’s fifth European Cup, almost provided a sixth and came within a whisker of realising the fans’ dream of a 19th top flight title.

So, an emotional day for Rafa, and a big day too for his opposite number, Brendan Rodgers. The Northern Irishman has faced a very difficult job in his first year on Merseyside. Dealing with a club with the size and reputation of Liverpool is tough for any manager. To be charged with managing fans’ expectations and improving the side, whilst simultaneously having to cut large chunks out of the wage bill is harder still.

To do all this as a relatively inexperienced manager, without a CV of past achievements to fall back on, well let’s just say that he’s not done a bad job all things considered – in my opinion at least.

In the end, a highly eventful match culminated in a grand-stand finish from the home side, who equalised at the death to earn a 2-2 draw. The emotion in Suarez’s celebration said it all; the Reds had kept going to the last and finally gotten the reward that their play had so richly deserved.

A point, a draw, the third in a row and for the third game running it was a point that could and should have been three. However, given that Liverpool trailed until the 96th minute, it is a point which will be very welcome to Brendan Rodgers, the players and, of course, the fans; a further indication that Liverpool are becoming harder and harder to beat.

There is little to play for on Merseyside now, bar bragging rights. Reds fans must content themselves with a fight for sixth with Everton, at the end of what has been a frustrating but relatively decent transitional year.

The summer beckons, and with it the promise of bringing in better personnel, improving both in quality and in weight of numbers what is, without question, a very thin squad. Brendan Rodgers has had his settling-in period and, for the most part, the fans have been patient; next season though, his team must deliver.

You can catch up with Neil on Twitter @Neil1980 and on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/
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