Before I delve into the painful events of Saturday’s fixture, I think I speak for everyone when I say that I really want to get back to ‘normality’, whatever that is anymore. On a selfish note, I want to get to the match and be there seeing my team. Not even win, I’d take a draw, just get me to a game. This past week has seemed particularly frustrating when it comes to COVID restrictions: not involving my selfish desire to get to the match…

Liverpool’s long-serving boss, Jurgen Klopp was the receiver of the worst news. The German was alerted that his mother had passed away. One of those moments where you realise footy actually isn’t everything, despite what Bill Shankly once famously said.  The restrictions deny Klopp access to his home country: that’s hard, isn’t it? The man can’t be with his grieving family. Things like this make me feel almost lucky, in a weird way. The things which I complain about recently revolve around things like missing my mates, missing the football and gigs. Comparing that to the devastation in the Klopp family, I’ll definitely count myself lucky more often.

So, after the loss to City I imagine the atmosphere amongst the contingent was odd. The Champions, who have been so used to running riot most weekends have been stopped in their tracks, and perhaps pushed back a tad, too. Back to back losses set up a game which would go on to be somewhat reflective of The Reds’ season thus far. As I mentioned, The Boss received the news which would undoubtedly affect him. I half expected to see assistant manager: Pep Lijnders on the side line at the King Power Stadium in Leicester on Saturday, where the out-of-sorts Reds took on the hungry foxes. I can only imagine that most Liverpool fans would have expected this too, as the manager is only human (seems crazy to think, after some of the unimaginable things he’s pulled off in his time: The Barcelona comeback for example). However, our manager arrived to The Midlands with his side and persisted with his task of getting us back on track. I think that in itself deserves crediting: losing a loved one is hard enough, but a mother. Well, that’s unimaginable. Whether this was Jurgen’s choice to manage the side or if he had to because of his contract, I don’t know. We can only hope that he chose to.

Amongst fellow Kopites, it was obvious that the emotions ahead of this fixture were mixed. The hope of getting a win was definitely felt, particularly when pictures started re-surfacing Twitter from the pasting of Leicester by Liverpool on Boxing Day, 2019. We’d done it at this ground when the odds were against us. Last time, I seem to recall that we were counted out before the game as our side had just played three or four physically demanding games in Qatar in the Club World Cup, whilst Leicester had just their domestic campaign to focus on. The outcome of the fixture would be different this time, though.

An hour before kick-off and the teams were in. The LFC faithful were to see new lad: Ozan Kabak, a Turkish centre-half. If you’re following the footy this season you’ll know that a great deal of the suffering for Liverpool has come from our £75million Dutch international, Virgil Van Dijk being injured after Jordan Pickford “left on one him”. Playing our two most consistent and hardworking midfielders at the back has certainly added to this problem. But this looked to be promising, one of our new boys starting, albeit alongside Jordan Henderson. A step in the right direction, you could say.

The game began and immediately Liverpool looked to be in control. I’ve learnt not to be fooled by this, though. So many of my formative years have been spent watching a Liverpool side have a plethora of possession and somehow end up not winning the game.

All too soon, James Milner (another of the most hardworking players) went down with a knock. Not another! To name a few, Liverpool now have: Fabinho, Gomez, Van Dijk, Jota, Milner and Keita all injured. Too many games? Nobody else seems to be dropping at the rate we are though…

The injury left Liverpool a substitute down, as Thiago was given 75 minutes, rather than what would have probably been 15 or 20. Still, Liverpool looked dominant and it seemed only a matter of time before their efforts would prove fruitful. Leicester did look dangerous on the flip side, though: Jamie Vardy (who’s always a pain against us) struck the crossbar on one occasion.

Half time came, and the game was still goalless.

In the second half, as expected, the game opened up further, with only 45 minutes to play, the foxes could turn the tables and go hunting in search of a goal against the champions. This lifted spirit of Leicester was to be momentarily crushed, after Liverpool scored a beautiful goal. This obviously won’t be mentioned much due to the events which followed, but Bobby Firmino found the ever-prolific Mo Salah with a pass straight from Ronaldinho’s textbook. The finish was good, too. No power needed: just an exquisitely placed finish from the Egyptian.

Sadly, that’s about all that went well for The Reds in that second half. Keeping the lead for just 10 minutes, Liverpool conceded a controversial goal, VAR ruling that Firmino’s toe kept the Leicester player onside. It looked similar to the goal that Liverpool had disallowed in the Merseyside derby…

Nonetheless, after the game was levelled, Liverpool were flat. A performance which began in the style of champions was now carried out in the form of a bottom 3 side. A howler in our half, gifted Jamie Vardy a goal when Alisson and Kabak collided in bizarre fashion. It was pretty much dead and buried from here, but Harvey Barnes put the final nail in the coffin with a cool finish past Alisson.

3-1, and the potential for Liverpool to fall to ninth. We still love them, though If there’s any time for Liverpool fans to get behind the team, it is now. The manager has done so much for us, giving fans young and old the best memories of their lives. I might never see a league title won again, and I’ll always remember the elation and celebrations of the summer.

That being said, the boys have to bounce back. At the time of writing this, Mo Salah has put out a promise to all reds that the players will do their bit to turn this season around. We’ve got to do our part. Get behind them.

Well. An interesting weekend of sport brings me to an unfamiliar position, writing about Liverpool’s second Premier League defeat in a row. In times like these it becomes obvious that Liverpool fans like myself have perhaps taken for granted the plethora of victories which Klopp has given us over the past few seasons.

That being said, nobody likes losing. It’s not unusual to see displays of aggravated fans seething at their teams lack-lustre performances like those we saw against Brighton and Burnley. Various Tweets hit the nail on the head with those games: it felt like watching the exact same game twice, just with the opposition in varying kits… The reds persisted sternly with their somewhat unusual approach of relentlessly pumping the ball high into the opposition’s box and hoping for a super flick from Bobby Firmino and (when that failed) looking to the paper thin bench and calling on Divock Origi, who has most certainly tainted his legacy amongst some reds. I’m not one of those who feel like this, though. I think we’re forever in debt to that man: the moments he gave us are some of the best I’ve experienced in my footballing life. However, all good things must come to an end and perhaps it’s time for Big Divock to move on whilst he can still salvage the rest of his career (and maintain the love for him held by The Kopites.) In simplistic terms, Liverpool had been hit and miss. Dull performances in the Brighton and Burnley games seemingly ignored when the side put in remarkable shifts against both West Ham and Spurs. Perhaps the dips in form were inevitable, playing so many games with a squad already riddled with injuries.

The strange form of the Premier League Champions set up, perfectly, their ‘title clash’ with runaway league leaders, Manchester City. The boys from Manchester arrived on Merseyside with burning belief that they could scrap the poor records of recent years when they faced Liverpool away from home. With no fans in the stadium to drum up that feeling of hostility towards the Mancs, City were right to sense that they had a great opportunity to do away with their fellow North-West inhabitants.

On approach to the game, many wondered if we’d see the new central defenders bought in the January Transfer window in a bid to rescue our pursuit of those above us in the table. Neither Ozan Kabak nor Ben Davies featured in the starting line up (the right call in my mind, a baptism of fire could prove too much for the pair, who had not faced the likes of Man City as regularly as we have.) Of course, the leaving out of these two would spark debate amongst some online (not that everyone on Twitter is right for being annoyed, they aren’t the ones who make judgements on a daily basis after all.)

Emerging from the pre match build up, The Kopites would learn that the back line was to be centrally controlled by both Captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho: both world-class in their areas, but at centre half, perhaps not. Fab proved on numerous occasions that he was not only capable but actually a Premier League worthy centre back, providing he was playing alongside a natural defender… Oh, and that his vacant midfield role was occupied by Jordan Henderson. We’ve seen now that the pair can defend, but as a result of their position change, the midfield suffers. Far less crunching tackles are provided by the midfield, and far less dominance is shown by The Reds in the middle of the park. This would be highlighted against the league leaders.

The game was played out in similar fashion to many of those this season. The lack of spectators seeming to play a part once again in the proceedings. This was highlighted by Neville and Carragher on Sky Sports early on when Ederson’s unconvincing clearance was nearly capitalised on by The Champions… Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

Despite what some clueless accounts will tell you on social media, Liverpool were actually alright in that first half. Not appearing to be out of their depth against the side who’ve won their last 10+ games. Players like Trent got stick for not producing, but it was a clear improvement from the Brighton game just days before. It seemed apparent that Curtis Jones was the man for us: he ran the middle of that pitch as best he could, in the absence of his two colleagues who found themselves lumbered with the task of keeping Foden and Co. out. It eventually became obvious that this was a waiting game for City, who would aim to pounce at the curtain raiser of mistakes from Liverpool: Sterling being “brought down” in the box by Fabinho being that mistake. Ilkay Gundogan had other ideas, though and blasted the penalty kick into my friend’s garden in Devizes, Wiltshire (mad, but true- so he says. @ashton_ynwa for the video…) With that, came half time: and it seemed that the second half was all to play for.

Inevitably, Alisson is the one who received a great deal of stick from people online for the second half, but this slander highlights people who only watch football highlights. Yes, Alisson lost his concentration on two occasions, but the entire process was started by the entire team early on the second half. Just four minutes into the half, a hungry Gundogan would seize his opportunity of redeeming his penalty miss. He tapped in an open goal and City led.

This could’ve been the point where The Reds buried their heads in the sand, but that would come later. An inspiring fightback came in the form of a Mo Salah penalty about fifteen minutes into the second half (he’s good, isn’t he?!) One-One.

Liverpool’s comeback was short lived, but I can’t help but wonder once more, what the result would’ve gone on to be had there been a rocking 50,000 fans in the stadium. Nonetheless, both Gundogan and Sterling would go on to score goals which were gifted to them by Liverpool. At this point I felt like we’d been unlucky, and that we had given away a lead for free. This emotion, like the comeback, lived a short life. Phil Foden put to bed any glimpse of hope for the Premier League champions. What a player. The young man from Stockport showed his class with a terrific finish, which concluded City’s monumental victory.

Obviously games like this hurt, a lot. But it’s been highlighted now that the only way that Liverpool can go is back up. No excuses, just results now. Leicester are next and in a way I think this is the perfect way to introduce at least one of the new central defenders. We’ve just conceded four: what’s the point in aiming to be defensively perfect now? This side need time: time for the new boys to get started, and time for our big hitters to get back.

Make no mistake about it, Liverpool will be back. When? Well, let’s see.

Where to start with this one? Since November of 2019 all that any commentator manages to regurgitate about the Saints seems to be about ‘that’ nine-nil loss. Well, until now. The last time they were beaten in such fashion was at home to Leicester City’s rampant foxes. The loss of that winter followed Hasenhuttl’s Saints everywhere, and rightly so in some people’s eyes. A loss of such stature should be spoken about: as each game, no matter the outcome, feels better than being harshly battered in front of the faithful at St. Mary’s. From the never-ending mentions of the loss arose a simply fantastic twitter account, with the name ‘has the 9-0 been mentioned’, where the user would very simply tweet ‘yes’ or ‘no’ depending on if the commentators decided to mention THAT game. This account took a hilarious turn last night as the boys from the South were manipulated in such devastating fashion into the same position in which Leicester had put them in just over a year before… The account is now named: ‘Have EITHER of the 9-0’s been mentioned’ (check it if you’re in doubt!) What a hilarious way to shake off the hurt being felt by these fans.

Southampton’s previous fixture came on Saturday evening, where they faced an in-form Aston Villa at St. Mary’s. The game wasn’t to be without controversy and the Saints found themselves denied of a penalty from a situation where the ball most definitely struck full-back Matty Cash’s hand, preventing almost a certain goal. As a neutral for the game, it seemed obvious that this was to be penalised and a spot kick would be awarded for the Saints, yet VAR ignored it. Feeling hard done-by, the Saints plodded on to what felt like was their impending doom. As if by some sort of footballing script, ross Barkley delivered the blow to Southampton and the Saints faced a harder task in the second half. They battled and worked, but to no prevail. It was late on that Danny Ings found the back of the net, again met by controversy. VAR ruling out this time for, would you believe, the corner of his sleeve being offside. This is no VAR debate, but you’ve got to ask: is that clear or obvious? Perhaps the harsh nature of this game on the Saints set them up for what was next.

Tuesday, February 2^nd. Manchester United faced Southampton at the Theatre of dreams, or Colosseum of nightmares if you were one of the travelling players. Southampton’s deadline day of the January transfer window saw them bring in Liverpool prospect: Tukumi Minamino on loan. Although he was not to be involved in the match, you’d have thought his arrival may have boosted the squad’s morale…

It didn’t take a fortune teller to predict the victors of the game, especially once Alex Jankewitz gruesomely connected his boot with Scott McTominay’s rectus femoris in a challenge which can only be described as rash. Within 90 seconds the Saints, or rather: sinners, were down to 10 men. Not good. It took united under 20 minutes to seize the initiative and punish the boys from St. Mary’s. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the young English full-back a somewhat unlikely goal scorer… This was most definitely a sign of what was to come. Just minutes later Marcus Rashford (MBE) netted to make it two, and so on…

The big questions for me are: is it bad luck which plagues the Saints? Do they just let their poor form get the better of them? It feels as if a collection of these and a myriad of various factors such as a lack of squad depth make up the reason they lost in such humiliating fashion on two occasions. Once more, it felt as though Southampton were unlucky with decisions, replays showing the penalty given to United late on perhaps shouldn’t have been. Nine-nil. That’s some loss, even for a team that’s experienced it before. As well as this: Jan Bednarek was sent off as a result of the penalty and-although the outcome of the game wouldn’t have been impacted- Southampton could have maintained one of their key players for their upcoming league fixtures, which still are coming thick and fast.

It’s undeniable that this season is like no other. The first to be played without fans in attendance from the beginning. Inevitably, this has impacted the clubs involved and we’ve seen some peculiar outcomes, like Aston Villa’s early thrashing of Liverpool in a game which ended 7-2. Not only have the results been nothing short of mad, but the league table is mind-boggling compared to that of this time last year. It’s tight at the top, and in the middle, but not so much with the bottom 3…

Just weeks ago United found themselves clear at the top of the table, then a few draws and an unexplainable loss to those at the foot of the table saw them drop, and they were ridiculed by rival fans. Yet, now they find themselves equal on points with the modern giants, their city sharers: Manchester City. Liverpool and even Leicester are still in contention, too. A matter of a couple of wins could change it all at the top, especially with Liverpool taking on City at the weekend. It’s all to play for.

As for the Saints, where do they go from here? Well, they have the benefit of hindsight. Last time they were smacked about like this, they bounced back and found their footing. Undoubtedly, they’ll be able to do so once more, and the club should be credited for continuing to believe in their manager, who is essentially doing the best he can… A perfect opportunity awaits them now, their next game comes against an out-of-sorts Newcastle side, and a win could really pile the pressure on Steve Bruce’s job. Keep an eye on that game.

As I’ve previously mentioned, music can be linked with any memory that a person holds. For me, driving across the county with my Dad (on our way to my youth football fixtures) listening to The Doors, Metallica and The Beatles will stick with me forever. I must have been six or seven years old when we started listening to heavy bands like that together, what a way to introduce your son to music. Six or seven and yet I can recall those days as if they were yesterday (and in better detail, too, my short-term memory isn’t great as it is.) I loved car journeys. Each trip to footy or to town meant a few songs would be played. I thought-for years-that nothing could top the thrill of thrashing guitars and harsh vocals pumping through the speakers of the little Ford Fiesta (what a car, by the way). I was, until I grew up just a bit, oblivious to the enthralling world of live music.

The image of Mr. Marr, above, epitomises everything I love about live music. The feeling of being completely in the moment, forgetting life’s problems: relationship issues, fall outs, exams, stress. This feeling is gripped to the notion of a gig. It really is a liberating feeling to be witnessing your favourite artist(s) grace a stage before your very eyes. I speak, of course, purely from a spectator’s point of view. Imagine the feeling for those on stage. Small, garage bands moving hundreds of bodies in an array of beautiful chaos as the bass thuds through your entire body. Must be quality, that. It often seems to be a debate online: whether small gigs (as in gigs in a small venue) are better than bigger, arena gigs. To an extent I agree. A perfect example of a small venue is Sound Knowledge Record Store, Marlborough. Often, the team there organise small gigs with well-known bands/ artists. A few notable artists that I’ve seen there are: The Vaccines, Tom Grennan and The Amazons. The cosiness of the venue seems to make the sheer volume of Rock’n’Roll guitars all the more intimidating. On the contrary, artists that play arenas do so for a reason. They’re quality acts and are followed for a reason. My only real, personal experience of an arena gig came just a few weeks ago, February 28. The 1975 (a band who receive wildly mixed reviews) at Manchester Arena. That show didn’t disappoint one bit. A visual-based set, revolving around political and societal messages. Breath-taking. Not to mention two hours of quality tracks. It was some gig.

Speaking of the feeling that artists must get from performing to a crowd, look at that smile. A man clearly affiliated with his crowd. Make no mistake with the possessive word ‘his’. Performers are always coming out with possessive words to do with performance. With good reason, too. Performing, having your songs recited must be special. I think this is why they feel so affiliated with audiences, they’ve worked to get to a point that feels like the top, and then a crowd takes them higher. What a feeling that must be. The concert that the photo above is from was-apparently- lively, to say the least. Whilst my favoured music definitely centres around rock and indie rock, I can only imagine that concerts of artists who make other types of music are equally as captivating. The reason that gigs are special is because they centre around your taste. They send your heart racing because you enjoy the culture and the music.

Being a young man, there are few things that I regret (right now, anyway). One thing I do regret, though, is not going to that Courteeners gig at Heaton Park last year. My older sister often says that it’s up there with the best shows she’s seen (and she’s basically a connoisseur at this point). As pictures go, the one that I’ve included here is as good as any you’ll see. What a band, going strong after so many years. God bless the band, I think they say. What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to? Have you ever thought about it, really?

There is one gig I think of when I think of the best. The Amazons at The o2 Academy. Bristol, in November of 2019. What a gig that was. The most exciting Sunday night I’ve ever had, and I doubt I’ll have too many on that level. The crowd were in lead singer Matt Thomson’s palms of his hands from start to finish. This was my second time seeing the band, after a semi-acoustic set in Marlborough. I was drawn to them after hearing a track from the first record on FIFA some years ago. Support acts of The Mysterines and Demob Happy increased the temperature early on with unforgettably loud bass guitars and aggressive guitar riffs. They have both ended up as bands who i really enjoy, too. But that night belonged to the boys from Reading. Covering bands like Led Zeppelin and Rage Against the Machine is extremely brave, yet they did it with ease. In the words of my Dad, they’re an extremely ‘tight band’. This couldn’t be more true. You can just sense the fact that they’re friends off stage. Since ‘Future Dust’ was released (an album that I cannot recommend enough) I have made a bold claim about The Amazons. I’ve said for months that they’re the best active band right now, and I meant it. Their set for the tour connoted a hellish nightmare that was accompanied by unfriendly riffs from lead-guitarist Chris. they just have the ability to send crowds wild.

Don’t you just think those who play guitar with ease look cool? There’s no other way of describing it, just cool. I-for one- have never listened to Courtney Barnett. Yet, in the image above she’s convinced me-through oozing confidence- that she’s a bonafide superstar. It looks cool. To so many, this piece of writing will be the least interesting thing they have ever read in their life, I hope this isn’t the case for most. Music is such a special thing, particularly during these uncertain times. Live music is one hundred times more powerful than recorded music, I reckon anyway.

This is most definitely a subject I could write about for days, and no doubt I’ll be back for more in weeks and months to come. So many people have sent me their favourite images from gigs they’ve attended, unfortunately I couldn’t include so many of them due to a disagreement between my laptop and my phone.

The very last thing I aim to do, here, is bombard anybody with stats or guilt-trip anyone when speaking of the notorious COVID-19 (unless you’ve been rinsing shops of their products, none of us need that). It feels almost impossible to write without mentioning this virus. 22 March 2020, the date that The Reds could have (and deep down, you know we would have) won number 19. Our nineteenth top-flight league title. Did your parents ever tell you about Sod’s law? Mine too.

Of course, the health of the population holds the utmost importance on this planet. You just can’t help the burning feeling of frustration that comes with not-quite holding that league title. Two wins, how frustrating is that, eh? There are aspirations that this season can be resumed, as if nothing happened. Whether this would be behind closed doors, or in front of full stadiums in some months to come remains to be unseen. I”l leave that with you: if footy is any good behind closed doors. It just seems wrong. Recently, my Dad and I found ourselves discussing the notion that this is an anti-Liverpool simulation. No jokes were had, but a full, serious conversation entailed surrounding our freakish misfortune (domestically, anyway, Europe has been our friend for most of the recent years). Whilst I aim to make light of an extremely dark situation it must be told that this whole scenario, whilst completely extraordinary, is to be taken seriously. Footy seems to be my life, these days, but without our health we can enjoy none of the things we take for granted. Boy, I want the matches back.

Admittedly, being a typical ‘spotty yoof’ I dismissed the idea that any of this would ever impact my otherwise ordinary life, but it has. The problem I find with contemporary society is something we pride ourselves on: our media. It’s fantastic (when used correctly, and trust me: a lot of the time it isn’t used correctly). We should be using our brilliant technology and media to report accurately, not exaggerate or leave unspoken about. My Dad often voices his disappointment with people, I had laughed it off until now. I mean, I don’t dislike anyone-really-but how can you justify neglecting others whilst shopping, whilst they try to buy essentials?

Being in Year 11 at school, the global situation greatly affects me. The most peculiar turn of events has seen me leave school in March. To many this probably sounds ideal for adolescents, as it could be a chance to get up to mischief and avoid school rules. This is not the case to anybody that I know, I don’t think. Potentially 6 months without education isn’t my idea of a great time, to be honest. I feel rusty going to school after 6 weeks off (for an average summer). Many conversations with classmates in the last week have brought me to certain conclusions. We, as a year group, have had the stress but none of the fun of year 11. Knowing people who have taken their GCSE’s, I know that the stress of exams is balanced by the rejuvenating sense of freedom during the traditional 3 month break before post-16 studies. Most of all, leaving school so soon leaves those who won’t be returning to school (to study at sixth form) without an opportunity to see the teachers and friends who have helped them throughout school life. Whilst these things are-of course- inescapable, it still feels odd. No doubt, across the country and the globe there will be students like myself left feeling low. Not to mention those who were supposed to sit A-level exams, this must be awful, too. At my school, we were allowed in on Friday 20th March for half an hour: to sign shirts, say brief goodbyes, and take photos. It was a good gesture from the school.

Leaving school is hard, for anybody. Normally, students who have completed their school life are met with a great summer, seeing their pals, attending festivals and concerts, playing sports and being outside just for the sake of it. This is a feeling we have most definitely taken for granted, and students this year face the notion of no summer. At this point I feel the urge to re-iterate one of my initial points: the health of everyone is the most important thing. Whilst I whinge about things I find important like summer holidays, I feel slightly guilty, for I understand the severity of people’s suffering at this time. It is times like this that I love to refer back to the master of lyrics, John Lennon. ‘Come Together’, this is the only way. Humanity seems to prevail time and time again, we just have to endure this period.

In times of crisis, of worry and of fear it’s important to remain calm. Going for walks may be the only way I stay sane. Playing footy in the garden, too. Going for walks is a big thing for people, put your earphones in, and listen to the album ‘What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?’ This has to be on your own, of course, to follow public advice. What I’m trying to say is don’t lose hope. Go for a walk, listen to that album, find a forest, a bridge or something. Just remember times you’ve had at that place. We’ll soon be back out in the sun with our friends. Reviewing this paragraph I have noticed that the idea of walking to a bridge is slightly random, yet I find that one of the best places to be is somewhere calm, this is a perfect example.

This piece has differed from others I have written in the past months, but i feel it’s important to shed light on the entirety of the situation of our planet right now. Talking to people you love, your family, your friends, boyfriends/girlfriends ETC, that’s going to help so many. In the coming week I will write about another topic that particularly interests me: skating, the clothing and culture that comes with it. Briefly, I would like to add the importance of this hobby, for it distracts so many from the endless bad news of today.

Above all else, I urge everyone to keep going, keep smiling and wait for better days.

All These Places Had Their Moments.

Frankly, the iconic track by The Fab Four (that’s The Beatles to anyone who’s yet to be enlightened) sums up the greatest relationship of them all. Every football fan will tell you that part of their match day routine involves music. To me, music and footy are inseparable. All these places that Lennon speaks of in this track accompany memories of football matches; of journeys to the match.Each footballing memory can be paired with a song. Even the dullest of matches. The example I find myself recalling occurred at the beginning of the 18/19 Premier League season. My old man and I found ourselves banished to the heights of the re-developed Main Stand at Anfield. Wow, those seats were high. Half of the fairly dry match was spent with us fascinated (and slightly scared) at the fact we could nearly see Edge Lane. A fact rather unnecessary, here. The point I’m trying so desperately to make is that the match was rather drab. Just a necessary three points coming from a one-nil win. Salah getting the goal, I believe. This match was nothing to write home about, yet I remember it even now. The reason for this is the song that was submerged in my adolescent brain for the entirety of that day. Hometown one, by Courteeners. An excellent song-for anybody unfortunate enough not to have heard it-trapped with my memory of an otherwise ordinary game of footy.

Aside from my rather minor example of accompanying music with a day at the match, there are a myriad of other cases for much more extravagant days. The image that heads this very section of writing is taken from the Champions League final in Kiev, Ukraine. The 17/18 campaign saw the once-mighty champions of Europe (in Liverpool) re-kindle their fiery relationship with ‘Old Big Ears’. True underdogs of the competition found themselves slaying sides one-by-one in the competition. What a run of games that was, eh? The final would see the valiant side come unstuck when faced by the all-conquering, great Real Madrid side. Admittedly, the reds would have stood a far greater chance at winning should the opposing captain not purposely remove Mo Salah from the game. A three-one loss. Mocking coming from all directions: Manchester, London, and especially our neighbours located in Merseyside. Everyone who wasn’t at the final assumed that it was one of the worst days to be had. Of course, the match may have put a dampener on things, but it is said by so many reds that “nothing tops Kiev”. I’m not one of those lucky enough to say that I was there (though I desperately wished I was at the time) but it is said that Shevchenko Park was one of the greatest sections of Liverpool fans ever. The reason I feel this was so pertinent to the making of a great trip is simple. Music. People remember this, now, because of the live music. The sun shone. In the heading image Jamie Webster can be seen in the distance. A man so valuable to the fan-base of Liverpool Football Club. I feel this way as he is relatable to so many. An ordinary fella, coming from an ordinary job, living the dream. The one thing I hope to amount to is following the reds, in any way I can. It’s always been a hope of mine to get to the match more. Jamie Webster gets it. He’s a fan. He understands how important music is to all those faithful followers. The day at Shevchenko Park looks incredible, to me. Seeing it all over social media caused me great envy. But I could tell that the music was so important in the remembering of that day.

The 18/19 Champions League campaign saw us, again, challenging for Europe’s most prestigious trophy (much to the disappointment of the Mancs and Evertonians). I began to see banners of such great quality quoting John Lennon: “Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can.” how true to footy is that? What is a side if they never challenge for trophies? A pursuit of possessions, that’s what it’s about to so many. Yet again, Jamie Webster took to the stage, this time in Madrid when the reds reached the final after seeing off an impossible task in coming back from a three-nil first leg loss to Barcelona. This time was different, the fans enjoyed the songs, the atmosphere and then went on to enjoy an enthralling encounter with Tottenham- seeing us run out two-nil winners. What a night. It was immediately after the final that I began to see a song, yet again by The Beatles, attached to our win. In My Life, a classic. What a song to associate a cup win with. Music really is stuck to footy, isn’t it?

Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not.

I find that amongst some people there is a misconception that adolescents, like myself, experience few worries or challenges when talking of mental health. This, of course, couldn’t be more wrong. I’m not trying to say it’s ignored, nor am I saying that this is anything to do with myself. The Arctic Monkeys album title: “Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not” is more than applicable when speaking of this matter, certain people get great satisfaction from labelling teenagers. Whilst I admit there are many people who let us down, there are also those who struggle, who feel they are moments away from certain implosion through a lack of ventilation. There is no real aim to writing this, of course, apart from my attempt at relieving stress that I can only assume is coming from exam pressure. This unnecessary paragraph makes me feel better, somehow. There is one link I am attempting to make, though. The common factor throughout life, embedded in both footy and mental health, is music. It’s constant. A way of remembering your greatest day following your team, or relieving stress. We all need music, don’t we?

A Certain Romance

Terrace fashion. The largest sub-culture remaining in the modern football world. I find that this interests me more and more as I grow up. A sort-of interdependence between the thrill of seeing your team and doing so wearing Stone Island dominates this topic. As humans we really do seek to belong, to fit in. So many find this basic pleasure in lapping up the fun on a Saturday with their pals; each and every member of the group covered in: Burberry, Stone Island, C.P. Company, ETC. Not to mention the iconic footwear of so many generations. “There is only one trainer”, says Bex in the under-rated classic ‘The Firm’. Of course that trainer he speaks of stands alone. Adidas Originals. Any of them: from the eye-catching city series trabs to the breath-taking Spezials: they stand alone as the Kings of Trainers.

Aside from an undoubted, added sense of swagger when wearing this gear, what’s the point in all this? So what people enjoy spending big and going the match? Well, funnily enough, getting about in nice clothing doesn’t tend to be the extent of so many groups activities when ‘going the match’. “Football Hooligans”: never a more ingrained phrase when thinking of English supporters. I never lived through the eighties, myself, but would love to hear more on the state of policing, violence and the rest at the footy. I can see, though, that this behaviour at the match often started when the ‘firms’ arrived. Typically lads in their groups, arranging meet-ups at different spots in the country (depending on where their team were that weekend). I find this to be a true shame. Loving the beautiful game myself, the only thing I care about is my team, to be quite frank I could live without the numerous people causing grief. However, as a growing lad I do appreciate the fashion, I can’t seem to get over how interesting it is. How can clothes do things to people? It’s remarkable. From a psychoanalytical standpoint I understand the ‘hooligan’ mentality to be down to ones’ Id, the basic human desires. We all seek the thrill that so many get from causing grief in their finery. And why do they get this thrill from doing this? Not a clue, myself, you’d have to speak to my elder sister who studies psychology. Something about endorphins, or something.

I suppose the real question is this: Will this ever stop? And to that I say no. So many are muggles to the world of football and fail to see that supporting a club, your club, is belonging to a family. Belonging to a tribe. People, no matter our opinions, will always seek the sense of belonging, it’s embedded in our nature.

“We’re Not English, We’re Scouse”

Simply, two words come to mind when I hear that quotation. Is right. Like every other aspect of life, the fashion in Liverpool-particularly amongst footie fans- is varied to the rest of the country. The terrace fashion seen at Anfield is a sight to behold. An array of independent, Scouse brands can be seen. MUD Clothing, Hat Scarf or a badge, and of course: Transalpino. For the past two years, since I discovered its existence, I have enjoyed pieces from Transalpino; breath-taking designs, often based on Eighties imagery. Bowie’s iconic figure on a tee. James’ spine chilling lyrics of:”If I hadn’t seen such riches, I could live with being poor”. You won’t find a brand more affiliated with a section of a country than Transalpino is with Liverpool and the North-West. As a Liverpool fan you find yourself feeling a refreshing sense of individuality. We’re not like other teams, and Liverpool is not like any other city. This is why I love the fact that Liverpool fans (and Everton, though I hate to give them credit) not only ignore, but totally neglect the rest of the country’s idea of what fans should wear.

To oppose everything I’ve said surrounding the correlation between violence and clothing: the scale, it seems anyway, is nowhere near that of the Eighties. What I’m trying to say with this all is: enjoy your team, celebrate your culture and enjoy fashion. Don’t be violent. Violence isn’t cool (unless you’re watching Darren Till in the UFC), then it’s cool.