Good Luck To The Red Men!

Can we make it six in Athens tomorrow night? With the support of the fans and Rafaology behind the team, there’s probably little the side can’t achieve in a one-off cup game. Rafa’s already thinking beyond Athens and next season’s premiership race, but in taking an arguably stronger and more experienced squad to Athens compared to the 2005 final in Istanbul, at least we shouldn’t be 3 down at half time.  I’m relishing the clash between Gatusso and Gerrard already.  To get in the mood, and showing why LFC fans are the best in the world, have a look at the LFC flags we’ll be seeing tomorrow evening. Go on you Red Men!

Wow Festival 2007

The Writing on the Wall Festival 2007, a programme of events that celebrates writing, diversity, tolerance and humour through controversy, inquiry and debate, gets into full swing in Liverpool this week. Among this year’s highlights: Maozzam Begg, who was detained at Gauntanamo Bay for three years, will be talking to Mirror journalist Brian Reade tonight, May 14, at Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre, 34 Princes Road, L8 1TH – entry £4/£2 on the door; History Day, Tuesday, May 15, including talks, walks, drinks and discussion (full details here); Pulp Idol, an event in which unpublished writers get a chance to shine (heats Tuesday to Thursday, with final on Friday May 18th, at Hemingways, 52 Duke Street, L1 5AA); Louis de Bernieres, author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, delivers poetry and accompanies an array of instruments (Thursday, 17th May at Blackburne House, Blackburne Place, off Hope Street – tickets £10/£8 from the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall box office); Hillsborough Screening with Jimmy McGovern, the Hillsborough scriptwriter, and Professor Phil Scraton to discuss notions of ‘truth’ as they relate to the disaster (Thurs, May 17th at 7.30pm, the Lighthouse, Oakfield Road, Anfield L4 OUF. Tickets from the Lighthouse box office on 0151 476 2342). There’s much else besides. Visit the Wow Website.

“Some teams make headlines others make history”

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho cut a forlorn figure after Liverpool FC defeated a side on which the Portuguese has lavished over £600 million in three years, over £30 million on Andrei Shevchenko alone. That’s a monumental sum for such mediocre returns. Not only are Chelsea  lagging Manchester United in the league, having spent nearly half a billion pounds more on the team, but their football hardly sets the world alight, despite the obvious talent available. Mourinho’s strange posturing in recent weeks, met with seemingly wry amusement – and some bewilderment - by a sanguine Rafa Benitez, now looks even sillier than it did before Chelsea crashed out of Europe’s major football prize in the unparalleled roar of Anfield. Much as Mourinho achieved at Porto, his ’special’ talents haven’t extended to the Premier League or the European stage; Benitez’s tactics were better last night, and Alex Ferguson has wrung wonders from his dazzling youngsters. How Jose would love to manage a team with Liverpool’s pedigree, fanbase and spirit. It’s at least good to know that money only gets you so far. ”Jose, Special 1 My Arse” read one Liverpool banner last night. Meanwhile, Liverpool Football Club has written another chapter in its august history and a May 23rd Champions League Final against AC Milan, beaten finalists in 2005, or, more tantalizingly, arch-rivals Manchester United, beckons after yet another glorious European night at Anfield. If Liverpool face AC Milan, seeking revenge for 2005’s nail-biting defeat on penalties, I’m sure a sixth star, representing another European Cup, will adorn Liverpool FC official merchandise. United will be a different prospect, not least for the security services in Athens, inevitably and sadly. Stevie G, Carra et al will have to put in an Olympian performance in Greece, not least to ensure bragging rights go to the right end of the M62. I don’t think it’s beyond a team that has extraordinary belief from its scouse heart to its Iberian wings. What a prospect. (pic c liverpoolfc.tv)