Stubborn Hammers deny Liverpool at Anfield

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 0:0 West Ham

Stubborn Hammers denied Liverpool, keeping them at bay in an entertaining goalless draw at Anfield. Brendan Rodgers' men will see it as two points dropped rather than one point won in their challenge for European qualification. West Ham meanwhile can be happy after fighting on and coming out of this fast-paced clash with a point easing their relegation concerns. 

The guests' keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and defender James Collins deserved to share the man-of-the-match award for me with two brilliant, stubborn and solid performances all round by both men, keeping their side in the game throughout.

Anfield remembered the Hillsborough 96 before kick-off with a minute of silence. The home side settled into the game quickly after a sloppy start with fowls and giveaways.

Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge were all denied again and again by Jaaskelainen an the Hammers' back line in a high-pace and action-packed first half.

The second half continued in similar fashion, Sam Allardyce's men keeping the Reds out and eventually threatening to nick something out of this game with Kevin Nolan proving a regular threat and thorn in Liverpool's eyes.

Jack Collison came closest when he saw his header cleared off the line by Lucas Leiva with only a couple of minutes remaining.

Both sides battled on and blocked each other out till the final whistle, but the stats don't lie.

The Hammers had the more and harder work to do to hold on to the draw, frustrating the Reds, who remain in seventh, three points behind their local rivals Everton in sixth.

West Ham meanwhile drop to 12th on 37 points, six points clear of the drop zone and three points away from the magical survival line of 40 points.

They haven't won at Anfield in half a century! The gladder they can be with the point!

Liverpool v West Ham:

Liverpool: 25 Reina; 3 Jose Enrique, 5 Agger, 23 Carragher, 2 Johnson; 21 Lucas, 8 Gerrard; 10 Coutino, 14 Henderson (11 Assaidi - 71.), 19 Downing (15 Sturridge - 26.); 7 Suarez. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 Jones, 16 Coates, 30 Suso, 33 Shelvey, 37 Skrtel.

West Ham: 22 Jaaskelainen; 17 O'Brien (booked 85.), 19 Collins, 5 Tomkins (18 Pogatetz - 83.), 20 Demel; 32 O'Neil, 21 Diame; 7 Jarvis, 4 Nolan (14 Taylor - 62.), 12 Vaz Te (10 Collison - 62.); 9 Cole. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 13 Henderson, 11 Maiga, 29 Chamakh, 33 Potts.

1st & 2nd Half Stats:
Liverpool-West Ham
Attempts: 6-8 & 11-4
On target: 3-0 & 4-1
Offsides: 2-0 & 2-0
Corners: 6-1 & 7-1
Free kicks: 1-3 & 4-4
Possession: 84%-16% (16.), 66%-34% (HT), 75%-25% (57th min), 65%-35% (FT)

Sky Stats:
Tackles/Success: 18-28788.9%-86.2%
Passes/Success: 597-314/82.2%-64.6%
Crosses/Success: 21-15/9.5%-40%

Referee: Anthony Taylor
Man of the match: James Collins

2nd half Summary: Liverpool 0-0 West Ham

Sports - Football - Premier League - FT: Liverpool 0-0 West Ham

Liverpool v West Ham:

Liverpool: 25 Reina; 3 Jose Enrique, 5 Agger, 23 Carragher, 2 Johnson; 21 Lucas, 8 Gerrard; 10 Coutino, 14 Henderson (11 Assaidi - 71.), 19 Downing (15 Sturridge - 26.); 7 Suarez. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 Jones, 16 Coates, 30 Suso, 33 Shelvey, 37 Skrtel.

West Ham: 22 Jaaskelainen; 17 O'Brien (booked 85.), 19 Collins, 5 Tomkins (18 Pogatetz - 83.), 20 Demel; 32 O'Neil, 21 Diame; 7 Jarvis, 4 Nolan (14 Taylor - 62.), 12 Vaz Te (10 Collison - 62.); 9 Cole. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 13 Henderson, 11 Maiga, 29 Chamakh, 33 Potts.

2nd Half Stats:
Liverpool-West Ham
Attempts: 11-4
On target: 4-1
Offsides: 2-0
Corners: 7-1
Free kicks: 4-4
Possession: 75%-25% (57th min), 65%-35% (FT)

2nd Half Notes:

Liverpool kick off second half.

47. Carragher cross from right blocked by Hammers, Liverpool corner, Johnson attempt saved. Home side start second half strong, looking to raise the stakes.

49. Henderson off Tomkins, LFC throw-in, Agger shot blocked by Collins, Liverpool appeal for hand ball, nothing given, pressure high on Hammers.

52. Liverpool counter Hammers free kick, Collins holds Suarez up again!

53. Gerrard cross from right, brilliant block, corner, comes to noting, goal kick.

55. Brilliant interception by Agger against Jarvis, Liverpool counter, Coutinho & Suarez teaming up great again, chance blocked, Gerrard smashes in rebound, great Hammers defending again, another chance blocked & denied!!!

57. Coutinho offside on the left again. 75%-25% possession in the second half! Liverpool hungry but Hammers keep on denying them any snacks or munch!!!

59. Coutinho goes down to easily in front of box, nothing given.

60. Suarez pass/chance across goal from right, goes just wide, goal kick.

61. West Ham preparing double change...

62. 4 Nolan off for 14 Taylor, 12 Vaz Te off for 10 Collison

62. Hammers free kick, Tomkins goes down in box, nothing given Liverpool counter, Suarez shot wide, opportunity wasted wide.

64. Cole header wide.

66. Suarez handball in buildup to Sturridge goal, disallowed for offside. End-to-end stuff. Both teams both giving as much as their getting!

68. Agger down injured, Hammers attack blocked, Liverpool probe Hammers again at the other end, attempt deflected out for a corner again, Collins heads it out, Suarez puts it wide again, not his afternoon.

70. Gerrard goes down in box against Tomkins, corner given! Lucky escape for Hammers! Coutinho corner, out by Sturridge.

71. Liverpool substitution, 14 Henderson off for 11 Assaidi.

72. Gerrard to Johnson, ball goes out for goal kick.

74. Suarez to Gerrard, chance goes high.

76. Taylor off Jarvis, loads of space in the Liverpool box, chance blocked.

78. Sturridge shot straight into Jaaskelainen.

79. Jarvis from left, Jose Enrique chests ball to Reina, all composed. Suarez on counter leads ball to Jaaskelainen.

80. Suarez blocked again, Tomkins goes down after challenge, takes ages to walk off the field, Pogatetz being prepared.

83. 5 Tomkins off, 18 Pogatetz on, Liverpool corner scrambled clear.

85. O'Brien booked for time-wasting.

86. West Ham corner, Collison's header brilliantly saved by Reina, actually, Lucas cleared it off the line! Gerrard follows on with a great overlapping break-run, Assaidi pits chance wide.

88. Taylor curls one wide.

Pressure's up & going for both sides, some tired legs out there, 5 minutes added on!

91. Liverpool free kick near half-way line, taken quickly, blocked well by Hammers' back line again.

92. Gerrard to Suarez in the box, Jaaskelainen denies the Ukrainian for a corner, sales past the goal, goal kick.

94. Agger blocked Demel, Jaaskelainen claims the ball.

95. Taylor chance blocked, Lucas breaks & is blocked too at the other end.

West Ham keep the ball on the side until the referee blows the full time whistle. Stubborn Hammers deny Liverpool, 0-0 is the result at Anfield. Brendan Rodgers' men will see it as two points dropped in their challenge for the top four, whilst the Hammers can be happy after fighting & coming out of the fast-paced clash with a point. Their keeper Jaaskelainen and defender Collins share the man-of-the-match award for me, brilliant stubborn and solid performance by both men kept their side in the game.

HT Summary: Liverpool 0-0 West Ham

Sports - Football - Premier League - HT: Liverpool 0-0 West Ham

Liverpool v West Ham:

Liverpool: 25 Reina; 3 Jose Enrique, 5 Agger, 23 Carragher, 2 Johnson; 21 Lucas, 8 Gerrard; 10 Coutino, 14 Henderson, 19 Downing (15 Sturridge - 26.); 7 Suarez. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 Jones, 11 Assaidi, 16 Coates, 30 Suso, 33 Shelvey, 37 Skrtel.

West Ham: 22 Jaaskelainen; 17 O'Brien, 19 Collins, 5 Tomkins, 20 Demel; 32 O'Neil, 21 Diame; 7 Jarvis, 4 Nolan, 12 Vaz Te; 9 Cole. 4-2-3-1
Subs: 13 Henderson, 10 Collison, 11 Maiga, 14 Taylor, 18 Pogatetz, 29 Chamakh, 33 Potts.

1st half Stats:
Liverpool -West Ham:
Attempts: 6-8
On target: 3-0
Offsides: 2-0
Corners: 6-1
Free kicks: 1-3
Possession: 84%-16% (16.), 66%-34% (HT)

Match Notes:

LFC remember the 96 before kick-off... Game switched to Sunday because of the Grand National at Aintree yesterday. West Ham haven't won at Anfield in half a century!

3. Sloppy start by the Reds, fowl & giveaway.

4. Fine Gerrard cross from the right, West Ham defending deep, Coutinho offside.

6. Home side settling in, taking over the game, dominating possession.

7. Coutinho finds space, right-foot shot saved by Jasskelainen.

9. Gerrard shot wide.

10. West Ham attempt wide.

16. Liverpool bossing the match, fine build-up & one-twos, but failing in the final third. Hammers holding the home side off well so far.

18. Vaz Te attempt wide.

19. Diame chance wide.

21. Sturridge warming up on the sideline for Liverpool. Downing looking uncomfortable.

23. Fine touch & turn shot by Suarez, chance goes wide.

24. Downing header into Jaaskelainen's gloves.

25. West Ham corner headed away by Carragher, Diame attacks and wriggled his way through LfC defence, chance goes high.

26. LFC substitution: 15 Sturridge on for injured 19 Downing.

27. Coutinho offside again.

27. Suarez & Courinho linking up in the box, great save from Jaaskelainen! Nolan heads ball back to the keeper, another threat covered well by the Hammers.

29. Sturridge fowl, West Ham free kick, abysmal, wide, waste.

32. Battle between the skippers, LFC error, Hammers chance, Reds counter, feisty stuff! Juicy match! Great competition!

36. West Ham appeal for a free kick against Carragher, nothing given, Agger error led to Hammers chance, another one messed and missed.

38. Liverpool corner, comes to nothing, Gerrard kicked ball out.

39. Perfectly times tackle by O'Brien on Suarez, the Uruguayan forward goes down dramatically as always, nothing given, rightly so.

40. Sturridge to Gerrard in the box, shot/cross across goal blocked for a Liverpool corner.

41. Great defending by the Hammers, frustrating Liverpool who concede a free kick.

42. Jarvis cross from the left into the box, Cole heads wide.

43. Positive spell for West Ham at the end of this half! Nolan header off throw-in goes high & wide, too strong.

45. Henderson shot deflected wide, Coutinho corner defended well by West Ham, 1 minute added on.

46. Suarez takes corner quickly Sturridge attempts saved & blocked brilliantly by Jaaskelainen & the Hammers' back line. Another corner for Liverpool, but the ref blows the whistle for half time! 0-0, no goals, but plenty of pace & action in the half, Hammers keeping the Reds out & threatening to nick something out of this game! Nice evenly balanced game at half time, plenty to play for & look forward to in the second half!

Week 5: Premier League Tops & Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

OMG!

Jonjo Shelvey's sending off should have been yellow for both players, Jonny Evans went in with both feet too! Steven Gerrard's and Rafael Da Silva's smackers in the second half made it all level at 1-1 after 51 minutes. Liverpool's penalty appeals were all in vain, the more aggrevated they were when United won their penalty appeal and made it 1-2 thanks to Robin Van Persie's successful conversion. What a joke! Antonio Valencia went down all too easily, Glen Johnson had hardly touched him! Pepe Reina was soooo close to save the spot kick too! Double argh! To make things worse for the home side, defenders Daniel Agger and Martin Kelly ended up injured, and they had to play 9 v 11 at the end! And what about RVP's tackle on Suso?! Call me bias, but the referee's inconsistency was shocking! Liverpool were on top, dominated and outplayed United for most of the match, the visitors were poor, even against ten/nine men!

WOW!

The two Red rival sides showed unity in remembering the Hillsborough victims and families, the fans holding up "The Truth", "Justice" and "96" mosaics on the three sides of Anfield for the first minute of the match whilst all players shook hands beforehand including Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra. So, both players and fans spared themselvbes from any kind of abuse or distasteful acts or chants. Great to see the legends of Sir Bobby Charlton and Ian Rush presenting a floral tribute before the match. YNWA!

TOP!

It was a good turnaround by Southampton against Aston Villa, the Saints came back in style, finally getting the result and win they deserved after good displays but disappointing results previously. Some wonderful stuff from and for the Saints, especially their number 7 Rickie Lambert.

Joleon Lescott put City ahead in a competitive encounter with an easy header off a corner, end-to-end stuff. Laurent Koscielny's unstoppable hammer shot levelled things for Arsenal, deservedly so. Goalkeeper Joe Hart made some superb stops! Centre backs took centre stage in this one, leaving City the more let down after losing the lead and not closing the game down! Arsenal kept the pressure up and game competitive, it was great to watch!

FLOP!

One chance, one goal, clinical by Demba Ba for Newcastle beating Norwich 1-0. Papiss Cisse's penalty miss was horrendous, high, off target, nowhere near! He was smiling, I couldn't see anything funny about that though !

In the first top-flight meeting between West Brom and Reading, Jobi McAnuff kept going down, which was very annoying to watch! The referee ignored him too thank god, including his tantrums!

HERO!

Spurs keeper Brad Friedel was definitely the busier! He made some brill saves! Spurs defence was weak on set pieces, Bobby Zamora making it 0-1 to QPR, after the home defence was asleep and left two players free! Sluggish performance by the home side! And own goal off a corner made it 1-1, Spurs fortunate to get back into the game. After Gareth Bale's shot came off the QPR keeper, off the post, Jermain Defoe turned the game around for Spurs with his 199th career goal! The two-minute turnaround was harsh on QPR!  Andre Villas-Boas' first home win was very lucky indeed! But QPR can and will be encouraged by their performance, but disappointed with the result.

ZERO!

Stoke threatened the Chelsea goal on more than one occasion even though they saw little possession. The home side's penalty appeals were ignored by ref and rightly so! It's a game not a drama show! I'm sick and tired of it and I know I'm not the only one! Ashley Cole came and scored out of nowhere to make it 1-0 and put a sickening end to a strong game for Stoke. The late two-footed scissor-challenge by David Luiz on Jonathan Walters added fuel onto the wound! It should have been a red card!

My Predictions => Actual Results
Swansea 2-0 Everton => 0-3
Chelsea 3-1 Stoke => 1-0
Southampton 1-2 Aston Villa => 4-1
West Brom 3-0 Reading => 1-0
West Ham 2-0 Sunderland => 1-1
Wigan 2-1 Fulham => 1-2
Liverpool 1-1 Man United => 1-2
Newcastle 2-0 Norwich => 1-0
Man City 3-0 Arsenal => 1-1
Tottenham 3-1 QPR => 2-1

Liverpool's worst run continues against United

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 1:2 Man United

Ten-man Liverpool let the game slip away as Robin van Persie's second half penalty handed Manchester United a 2-1 victory on an emotionally charged afternoon at Anfield. 

 

The two rival sides showed unity before the match in remembering the Hillsborough victims and families. The fans held up "The Truth", "Justice" and "96" mosaics on three sides of Anfield for the first minute of the match whilst all players shook hands before kick-off, including Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra. 

So, both the fans and the players spared themselves from any kind of abuse and distasteful acts or chants as they were renowned for in the past. But from kick-off, the two great rivals produced a typically competitive and contentious encounter. 

Liverpool dominated possession and play giving United hardly any look into the game. Even after being reduced to ten men, the home side did not give up or way that easily. 
The sending off incident was controversial when after Jonjo Shelvey and Jonny Evans both went for the ball, clattering into each other, the prior seeing red for it whilst the latter played the victim and got away. 

The 20-year old Liverpool midfielder showed his discontent with the decision to the referee and Sir Alex Ferguson on his way down the tunnel. 

The Reds held their heads up high and skipper Steven Gerrard volleyed them ahead second after the restart. But only five minutes later, Rafael Da Silva smashed in a spectacular equaliser with a sweet left-footed curler over Pepe Reina and in off the far post. 

United took over the last 20 minuted and when Antonio Valencia raced clear 50 yards into the area after Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson collided, the Ecuadorian made the most of the latter's comeback challenge, the referee pointing to the spot. 

It was clear, luck/justice/goals/points were not on Liverpool's side that afternoon. From the spot, RVP drilled home the winner even though Reina was oh so close. It was a much more encouraging display by the Reds, hopefully the results will and must follow, eventually!

Liverpool Goals: 45:49min Steven Gerrard (8).

Man United Goals: 50:29min Rafael Da Silva (2), 80:11min Robin van Persie (20).

Liverpool: 25 Reina (bkd 77.); 2 Johnson, 5 Agger (23 Carragher - 80.), 37 Skrtel, 34 Kelly; 33 Shelvey (s.o. 39.), 24 Allen, 8 Gerrard; 31 Sterling (14 Henderson - 66.), 7 Suarez, 29 Borini (30 Suso - HT). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Jones, 3 Jose Enrique, 4 Sahin, 11 Assaidi.

Man United: 13 Lindegaard; 3 Evra, 6 Evans, 5 Ferdinand, 2 da Silva (19 Welbeck - 89.); 11 Giggs, 16 Carrick; 17 Nani (22 Scholes - HT, bkd 58.), 26 Kagawi (14 Hernandez - 81.), 7 Valenica; 20 van Persie (bkd 84.). 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 De Gea, 8 Anderson, 23 Cleverly, 28 Buttner.

Sky Stats: Liverpool-Man United
Attempts: 14-8
On target: 6-3
Offsides: 0-1
Corners: 7-3
Free kicks: 7-14
1st half Possession: 63.1%-36.9%
2nd half Possession: 41.2%-58.8%
Possession: 52%-48%
Passes: 459 - 420
Passing Success: 84.7%-85%
Tackles: 23 - 29
Tackling Success: 69.6%-72.4%

Referee: Mark Halsey
Man of the Match: Steven Gerrard

Week 4: Premier League Tops & Flops

Sports - Football - Premier League - Picks of the Weekend

OMG!



Finally, over two decades late, the liars have come out and the Hillsborough victims have been recognised! Football and fans held together, it was great to see every team's thoughts and condolences - forget about a couple of chanting idiots! Football together forever! YNWA! Please show Rio and Anton Ferdinand, John Terry and Ashley Cole what it's all about and maybe they'll wake up, appreciate life and the game, forget their little stupid issues and handbags, grow up and shake hands!!! See what Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra will do next weekend! Please walk on with your head held high and don't slip over old stones that should have been thrown away and resolved ages ago!

WOW!

Arsenal crises? Where? They absolutely swept away newly promoted Southampton who had impressed with their display against United the previous week! The Gunners' buildup impressed, the goals were from formal to gobsmacking and there could have been more! After beating Liverpool at Anfield and this comfortable home win, Arsenal will feel more than confident heading to the champions' City ground next week.

TOP!

Tottenham, United and Arsenal all impressed with their performances. Whilst Spurs climbed up into the top half of the table thanks to a comfortable win at Reading, easing pressure on manager Andre Villas-Boas, the latter two jumped up into the top three with two thrashes against Wigan and Soutampton respectively and ten goals between the two, heating up the title race by closing the gap to league leaders Chelsea who only drew at QPR.

FLOP!

Southampton and Liverpool are till waiting for their first win. Brendan Rodgers' men were condemned to their worst league start in over a centurs after having to settle for just a point at the Stadium of Light which takes their total to two points out of four games so far. It was a much better display for the Reds than against the Gunners last week, but once again, they will rue the missed chances and with United next on the list, they will have to learn to convert, FAST!

HERO!

Suarez saved a point for Liverpool after gleefully smashing in Titus Bramble's deflection off Raheem Sterling's cross from the right. Dimitar Berbatov impressed for Fulham. The Bulgarian striker worked hard for his new team and proved his quality with a couple of goals for the Cottagers, the opener being a curling beauty into the top corner.

ZERO!

Red cards, bookings, penalties underlined inconsistencies by the officials once again this week, Suarez' yellow and Danny Welbeck's penalty being just one example! Both players have and are adding to their reputation of drama queens, but referees should be professional enough to take on and decide about every situation individually by what happens right in front of them rather then going by their thoughts and prejudices!

My Predictions => Actual Results:
Norwich 0-0 West Ham => 0-0
Arsenal 6-1 Southampton => 6-1
Aston Villa 2-0 Swansea => 2-0
Fulham 3-0 West Brom => 3-0
Man United 4-0 Wigan => 4-0
QPR 0-0 Chelsea => 0-0
Stoke 1-1 Man City => 1-1
Sunderland 1-1 Liverpool => 1-1
Reading 1-3 Tottenham => 1-3
Everton 2-2 Newcastle => 2-2

No, I'm not that good in predictions! Just forgot to put in my scores this week! Ups, typical! ;-P

Football Focus: 20th Hillsborough Disaster Anniversary

In memory of the 96 lives that met a tragic, catastrophic end that changed the football world forever...

Premier League Match Report: Liverpool 4-0 Blackburn - Justice for the 96

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 4-0 Blackburn

Sonja Hodgson at Anfield

I was close to tears when "You'll Never Walk Alone" was echoing through Anfield, had goosebumps during the minute of silence and when the crowd cheered and fired on the Reds from kick-off, I was enchanted by the atmosphere.

On Wednesday the Hillsborough disaster will be 20 years ago. On the 15th April 1989, 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives. Services, open-to-all, will be held on Wednesday for friends, family and everyone in the football world to commemorate the loss. The victim's names are listed on the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield.

Yesterday's match, teams and fans were focused, themed and dedicated only to one thing: Justice for the 96. The Memorial was surrounded by fans before and after the match leaving their scarves, shirts, posters, cards and flowers.

And they got what they came for, a team and match showing heart, dedication, respect and honour. The Merseyside team started without their talisman captain Steven Gerrard, who lost his cousin in the disaster, and with Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio also sidelined, there was a sense of tension, worry and nervousness around the ground from kick-off - but not of long last. Only four minutes into the game, Fernando Torres scored a beauty. Jamie Carragher crossed the ball to the Spaniard from the halfway-line, for him to control it with the first touch and put a right-footed shot up and over Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson with the second.

The fans remained demanding and critical - understandable having seen Liverpool throw away a 1-0 lead against Chelsea on Wednesday. But the worries were unfounded this time.

It should have been 2-0 when Dirk Kuyt made a break after Blackburn lost possession sloppily and passed it to Javier Mascherano who had made a great support run from the halfway-line, but missed for none-other than Torres to put the rebound high and wide from five yards. How he could miss that after he had put in the first beauty puzzled the Kop.

Robinson also saved a point-blank Kuyt header for this time Yossi Benayoun to scoop the rebound over the bar wastefully. Finally and deservedly so, Torres headed in a second goal from a Xabi Alonso free kick. It looked like it accidentally came off the back of his head, but give him the benefit of the doubt a player of his quality deserves once and again.

Albert Riera wasted promising chances, but at half time Liverpool sat comfortably in the driver's seat. Blackburn made their first change after the break and completed their three just after the hour-mark, trying not to concede more goals or even scrape something back and out of the match. Christopher Samba slipped their first and only chance to have it saved by Pepe Reina, leaving Liverpool on top.

After Nabil El Zhar and Mascherano had missed half-chances inside Blackburn's box and Alonso's corner was met by a fine Riera-header which cleared off the line by Samba, it looked like the third goal just did not and would not want to come for Liverpool. But Daniel Agger fired in a belter showing everyone how it is done, putting it past Robinson's right with his left foot. And it was all given a sweet topping for the Kop when Lucas received Carragher's diagonal ball on the left side of the box and headed across the goal for David Ngog to get the last touch to make it 4-0.

This is just what the doctor ordered for Liverpool to regain confidence after their Champions League defeat against Chelsea and to face their London rivals in the second-leg clash on Tuesday with a chance.

This was an indescribable experience for me. The atmosphere, the fans, the game, just everything. The sunset along the Mersey the evening before was just as breath-and-word-taking; the lady in the bus on our way to the ground with the Everton-ringtone on her phone was just as brave, daring and courageous; just as Liverpool will have to be on Tuesday to make it to the Champions League semi-final.

Unlinked photographs taken by Sonja Hodgson