Yet another semi-final – well second this season anyway. The clash against rivals Everton, at Wembley not only makes it special but also paves the way for the current crop of Liverpool players to display a certain amount of passion in the face of adversity borne out of a mediocre league performance.
A few years ago semi-finals were easy come by for Liverpool – almost a formality sometimes, especially during Rafa Benitez’s years.
Think back, the Champions League clashes against Chelsea in 2005 and 2007, the FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea again – this time in 2006.
Over the years, Liverpool have managed to overcome whatever setbacks they face throughout the league season, to come up with the goods when a place in the final’s up for grabs. Just look at this year’s two legged tie, against Manchester City of all teams.
Could it just be the atmosphere? Maybe just the rich back up from the history of the club winning bags of trophies. The intensity has always almost trebled in players, ahead of a semi-final clash.
Of course the 2005 European Cup last four clash with Chelsea comes as a case in point. Having lost to Chelsea twice in the league, The Reds were desperate to overcome Jose Mourinho’s rampant Blues.
Nervy first leg draw set the clash up nicely to finalise at Anfield. Despite the threat of one Chelsea goal counting for two – given the away goals rule – Liverpool managed to put in perhaps the best performance of their season. Defensively anyway and this taking in to account the final showdown with AC Milan, which will always go down in history as perhaps the greatest European Cup final ever.
Two years later, it was even more impressive, given Chelsea’s first leg win thanks to a Joe Cole goal. But the scenes of joy and passionate pumping of fists from Daniel Agger and Boudewijn Zenden after the former levelled the tie at Anfield, still remains a fond memory in the minds of the Reds faithful.
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Of course there have been semi-final disappointments as well. The one against Chelsea in 2008, a last gasp John-Arne Riise own-goal at Anfield giving Chelsea the confidence to finish off the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Then there was the cruel last minute away goal from Diego Forlan when Liverpool nearly overturned a semi-final first leg defeat against Atletico Madrid in the Europa League a couple years ago.
Those games visibly lacked the moralisation and passion overflowing through every player donning a Liverpool shirt on the day. This year, it returned against Manchester City.
The first leg win at the Etihad Stadium was a nervous encounter but at Anfield, despite the 2-2 scoreline suggesting a close match, the truth was far from it. Liverpool were rampant – this from a team that has struggled to find a decent pass against teams like Swansea and Norwich City.
If it hadn’t been for City goalkeeper Joe Hart, Liverpool might have won it by a fair few goals. It was a flashback to the famous scenes at Anfield the last time a semi-final victory was witnessed – 2007 European Cup in a penalty shootout against who else but Chelsea.
The kind of drive and grit displayed by the players then – if even a hint of that is seen against Everton this Saturday at Wembley, then it’s an easy passage to yet another final in Liverpool’s glorious footballing heritage.
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