THERE ARE PLACES I'LL REMEMBER, IN MY LIFE....

Before we leave Fabpool, there's a Georgian district on the eastern edge of the city centre we want to visit. Here stands the mighty Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, the largest in the UK. Sitting on St. James Mount it dominates the horizon.

It is. in fact, a modern structure, taking 74 years to build and only completed in 1978. It's the 5th largest cathedral in the world, the world's longest at 189 metres, and up in the belfry, the Bartlett Bells are the heaviest and highest ringing peal on the planet; the cathedral even has its own constabulary force and was designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, the man most renowned for designing the famous (and ubiquitous) red telephone box.

The Earl Of Derby, Frederick Arthur Stanley's tomb - touch the hidden mouse for luck

Just up the road also stands Liverpool's Catholic Cathedral, colloquially know as "Paddy's Wigwam". One look at it and it's not hard to work out why!!!

Paddy's Wigwam

The Hope Street Suitcases sculpture is located near the old Liverpool Institute, and stands as a quaint reminder of the importance of immigration and travel to Liverpool. Each of the concrete suitcases bears the name of notable individuals and institutions linked with the local area (Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, Charles Dickens, Arthur Askey).

Another superlambanana

The Hope Street Quarter is one of Liverpool's hippest areas, full of great restaurants, so we try 92 Degrees Coffee House (cnr Hope and Myrtle Sts) and - BINGO - the coffee is FAB!!

The Queen's baker - should've tried it

Not far away stands the 13.5 metre high Chinese Arch, the tallest in the world outside mainland China. Constructed of marble and wood, it features 188 male and 12 female hand painted dragons, and is a symbol of eternal friendship between two of the world's great seafaring cities, Liverpool and its sister city Shanghai.

Chinese Freemasons??

 

Street lampost

Nearby is St. Luke's Church. Irreparably damaged during the 1941 Liverpool Blitz, the ruins stand untouched, a poignant and stark memorial to those who perished in WWII.

Liverpool, a European Capital Of Culture, is a genuinely dignified city, and we could have spent much more time here. There are tours aplenty that tie in with its fabulous musical heritage, but we don't need to do them. One doesn't need to see Penny Lane, the gates of Strawberry Fields or 251 Menlove Avenue (where John Lennon grew up) to be reminded of just how great and life changing the Beatles and the whole Merseybeat sound was, the music still speaks for itself. And here's a twist - nobody would dispute the Fab Four's importance and impact on Liverpool and the world, but how ironic that the two songs that identify the city to the world, "Ferry 'Cross The Mersey" and "You'll Never Walk Alone", were recorded by Gerry & The Pacemakers....go figure.

Life goes on day after day

Hearts torn in every way

So ferry 'cross the Mersey

'cause this land's the place I love

and here I'll stay.

People they rush everywhere

Each with their own secret care

So ferry 'cross the Mersey

and always take me there

The place I love

People around every corner

They seem to smile and say

We don't care what your name is boy

We'll never turn you away.

So I'll continue to say

Here I always will stay

So ferry 'cross the Mersey

'cause this land's the place I love

and here I'll stay

and here I'll stay

Here I'll stay.

It's time for the LegsyBoys to move on.....

WALK ON, WALK ON, WITH HOPE IN YOUR HEART.....

....and you'll neeee-vaa walk alone. When it comes to football (as in the world game) I have been a lifelong Liverpool supporter, and Buzzy and Aimee follow suit (natch!).

For my birthday they have given me tickets to tonight's Europa League game against Turkish club Besiktas, to be played at the mighty citadel Anfield. Anyone with a passing interest in the game will know that to gain casual access to a match featuring any of the 'Big 6' English clubs is akin to winning Lotto - it's been a lifelong ambition to attend a game (much better than winning the lottery), and now Buzzy and I are in our mini cab heading for the field of dreams!

We walk in through the Paisley Gateway at the Kop end and pop into the amazing merchandise store, which makes an AFL club's almost pale into significance, and pick up a match memento and programme; then it's into the stadium where we find our seats.

We are right on the half way line and 7 rows back - unbelievable - and watch as both teams warm up.

With 5 minutes to go the stadium is filled with 40,002 fanatical Liverpool supporters and 4,000 equally rabid Besiktas fans. The Kop is a sea of swirling scarves, banners and flags, and the singing of the club theme song "You'll Never Walk Alone" is one of the greatest thrills we have ever experienced - Buzzy sings along whilst I try to swallow the apple sized lump in my throat. And then it's kick-off...........

 

The pace is frantic, new sensation Jordan Ibe patrols the wing in front of us, Emre Can is everywhere, Skrtel's a rock in defence, there's Coutinho, Allen, Lallana, acting captain Henderson (Gerrard is injured), one footed Sakho, Moreno, Simone Mignolet safe in goals, and the mercurial Daniel Sturridge up front.

Sakho uses the left foot - there's a surprise!

Martin Skrtel

Lallana uses his head

Jordan Ibe - young gun

Emre Can

Daniel Sturridge (Liam's boy)

Coutinho wrong foots the defence

Liam's boy again

Mignolet - another clean sheet

Moreno on the attack

Henderson - acting skipper

Allen threads the needle to Moreno

A....

.....great....

....save - dang!

 

Supermario and 'the moment'...

GOLLLLLLL!!!!!

Hugs and kisses all round

A 'streaker' invades the pitch, although he's not so stupid as to have ditched his kit given it's about 2C - he's carrying a banner which nobody can read and he ultimately gets  'escorted' from the ground.

At half time it's a stalemate. The Besiktas fans are fantastic, they haven't stopped singing and chanting.

Besiktas fans in full cry

Time for a change and with 30 minutes to go Brendan Rodgers brings on wonder boy Raheem Sterling and the ace up the sleeve - SUPERMARIO Balotelli.

Sterling breaks through - Supermario in support

Then the moment - 85 minutes gone and Ibe is brought down - PENALTY! 

Ibe (centre right) is brought down - Penalty!

There's only one man to take it, and SUPERMARIO steps up to coolly slot it in the left corner - it's 1-0 and the northern end of the ground goes quiet as the red army chant 'you're not singing anymore' at the crestfallen Besiktas supporters.

Supermario composes himself.....

.....the keeper commits...

.....shoot Supermario, shoot...

GOLLLLLLLLL!!!

Hugs and kisses for everyone!

As time-on starts, the Kop erupts into 'walk on walk on' and the dream is complete. Buzzy and I join the exodus onto Anfield Road and joyously make our way back to the hotel.

My boy, me, Liverpool, Anfield, win...........dreams do come true.

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone