AS much as I hate the Red Devils – just to clear that up for Mascherano, the kopite’s latest “world class” signing – that’s Man Utd, not Liverpool, I can only admire the passion embodied in the likes of Gary Neville.
Yes, he’s an annoying, horrible Manc, who hates scousers, but the passion he shows for the game and his club is exactly what I would want from any of my players.
The sheer ecstasy on his face as John O’Shea scored a smash and grab winner at Anfield summed up that feeling that exists only in football.
Passion and spontaneity are two of the greatest things to happen on a football field – and that was in abundance as the Mancs celebrated what could be a title-clinching victory against the kopites.
Seeing Gary Neville run over to the fans arms aloft, cheering and then throwing his shirt into the stand is exactly the sort of thing I would do if I scored a winner at the Kop end.
Not just his celebration but his admission to O’Shea that O’Shea had just realised one of Neville’s own lifelong ambitions – to score a last-minute winning goal infront of the Kop – showed how sweet victory was.
And this praise is coming from someone, who although admires Neville as the best full-back in England, hates him.
While the attention remains firmly focused on the title race and the battle to beat off relegation, the race for UEFA Cup slots is really hotting up in the top half of the table. Just three points separate several teams from sixth down to mid-table and wins by Blackburn and Tottenham really threw the race wide open.
For Everton I can’t really work out how we have crept into sixth place because we haven’t played well all season but keep grinding out results.
I would have fancied us to get into Europe if all our key players were fit but losing Cahill maybe just too difficult a loss to overcome. If there was ever a time for Beattie to kick start his Everton career this is it.
Come on Beattie so many Everton fans want you to succeed and now all we need is some goals.
Come on Barcelona complete an excellent week for all in British football and knock the kopites out of the Champions League – I’d like to see how the Anfield spin machine would cover up two crushing defeats in a matter of days.