Well, try and put that into words! The atmosphere at Anfield on Tuesday night was electric half an hour or more before kick off against Barcelona, and there was a feeling in the air – rarely uttered, but perceptible – that maybe, just maybe, Liverpool FC could pull off yet another footballing miracle.
It was telling, perhaps, that after Liverpool’s pulsating 3-2 win over Newcastle United on Saturday that Jurgen Klopp said we had ‘qualified for our final’.
It was easy to get carried away in the emotion of Divock Origi’s 86th minute winner following a titanic collision with the Magpies, and the manager confirmed it was something of a slip of the tongue by referencing Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg later in his interview.
It’s not been the best of weeks for Liverpool Football Club. We were sitting pretty after blasting Huddersfield Town 5-0 last Friday, and we watched on with glee as Manchester City faced a tough trip to Burnley on Sunday.
By approximately 4pm on Sunday April 28, we might just know the destination of the Premier League trophy.
The Manchester derby on Wednesday evening, our clash with Huddersfield Town on Friday and then Manchester City’s trip to Burnley on Sunday could well determine the location of the silverware.
With a two-nil lead from the first leg, it was always unlikely that Liverpool would face an upset in the second outing of their Champions League quarter final tie with FC Porto.
Admittedly, the Portuguese outfit did stick it on us early on during Wednesday’s game, but we rode out the storm and took what would surely be an unassailable lead when Sadio Mane slid home following Mo Salah’s dragged shot at goal.
There was a moment at Anfield on Sunday when Andy Robertson slipped when in possession and the ball found its way to a Chelsea attacker.
Memories of ’14 were evoked, but happily this time the danger was thwarted and everyone was able to sigh with relief; including Jurgen Klopp, who realising the irony of the situation was pictured smiling away on the touchline.
Two goals, a clean sheet and no new injuries: as Champions League quarter final first legs go, things couldn’t have been any better for Liverpool against Porto.
Once again we made life difficult for ourselves, but once again the Liverpool players showed the character and resolve to dig themselves out of a hole at Southampton.
It was another last gasp victory for Liverpool on Sunday, but who cares? The three points at this stage of the campaign is all that matters. Hugo Lloris’ weak parry, which ricocheted into the Spurs net off the shins of Toby Alderweireld, secured a 2-1 victory for the Reds in a game which had gone one way and then the other. In truth, we did fully deserve the victory no matter how scrappily it came.
The international break is welcomed on one hand by Premier League managers trying to juggle their various responsibilities, and loathed by others who fear for the health of their jet-setting stars. Liverpool rely on key figures from pretty much every continent on earth, and so Jurgen Klopp can be forgiven for saying a little prayer for the safe return of his squad after the internationals.