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