Liverpool wait on the cusp of greatness

Liverpool wait on the cusp of greatness

On Sunday, 11 players in red shirts will troop out onto the turf of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. They will not just be competing for the silver pot on offer; they will also be taking part in what could be the first act of a three-act revival drama. They are the players of Liverpool Football Club, not so long ago the most feared in England and even today regarded as having produced the greatest teams.

But empty years can seem like an eternity and Liverpool have had enough of them. They’ve won just two tournaments in the past decade the FA Cup and League Cup and haven’t won the League even once in the Nineties. This from a team that won the League 18 times (including 10 times in 15 years) and set new standards in footballing excellence and consistency.

This year could be very different. Liverpool are in the running for three trophies: The Worthington (League) Cup, whose final is on Sunday, the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup. Their league form has been patchy, but two results stand out: The 1-0 defeat of Manchester United at Old Trafford, the latter’s first defeat at home in almost two years, and a week later their 4-0 mauling of Arsenal at Highbury.

They now lie third in the Premiership, but their eyes are not on that trophy. They know it’ll take another couple of seasons, perhaps, before they possess the consistency needed to win the league. But they already possess the most important quality: Hunger. Starvation in terms of medals is not something Liverpool players (or even the fans) are used to and they’ve been kept out long enough from feasting at Top Table.

They also possess large amounts of patience, another helpful quality. Manager Gerard Houllier is in it for the long run; he doesn’t look at results today or tomorrow but over the next year or two. Since he took solo charge two seasons ago (for one miserable season he shared the managership with Roy Evans) he’s been working quietly and with minimum fuss, understating the wins and trying to eliminate the factors responsible for a draw.

It hasn’t been easy going all the time. To begin with, Houllier’s arrival was a departure from the trend of Liverpool appointing managers from within (a tradition dating back to the legendary Bill Shankly) and hardcore supporters let him know he wasn’t welcome. And the trophies weren’t anywhere in sight. It didn’t help that he brought in foreigners (more Frenchmen!) and waged war on the drinking culture prevalent among the club’s senior players.

But his bosses, players and, though grudgingly, fans, kept faith in him and the faith is beginning to pay off. The squad is a near-perfect balance of youth (Steven Gerrard, Owen, Emile heskey, Jamie Carragher) and experience (skipper Samii Hyppia, Robbie Fowler, new signing Jari Litmanen and Gary Mcallister). They have flair, they have fire, they have a fierce sense of pride in their club.

It’s a position very similar to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United 10-odd years ago. A string of poor results led to a growing clamour for his head and the word was that his future hinged on a cup-tie against Nottingham Forest in January 1990. Had United lost the match, Fergie would be out; however, they won the match, went on to win the trophy and the floodgates opened.

For Liverpool and Gerard Houllier, that pathbreaking match could well be at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.