Liverpool in class of their own and could be Invincible – how time flies from being on the brink of bankruptcy in 2010
I HAVE a suspicion we are watching the Invincibles 2.0 as Liverpool chase a first Premier League title. They are bang on course to emulate Arsenal’s epic unbeaten 2003-04 season. The irony for Manchester United in their decline is that it was mooted by Liverpool’s hierarchy during their dominance in the 70s and 80s that, […]
I HAVE a suspicion we are watching the Invincibles 2.0 as Liverpool chase a first Premier League title.
They are bang on course to emulate Arsenal’s epic unbeaten 2003-04 season.
The irony for Manchester United in their decline is that it was mooted by Liverpool’s hierarchy during their dominance in the 70s and 80s that, if that lot across the way got their act together, there would be trouble.
Yet now the exact opposite applies. There’s a view some Liverpool fans possess a sense of entitlement that is not the most endearing.
Often, good wishes toward the club’s success are replaced with a plastic grin of tolerance as certain parts of their fanbase aren’t the most gracious in success.
When Crystal Palace played Liverpool in the 2001 League Cup semi-final, we won the first leg 2-1.
Upon arrival for the second leg at Anfield, their manager Gerard Houllier wished our players good luck.
One of their executives then greeted me with a pendant and said: “This is what we give to small clubs when they visit.”
At our 2-0 FA Cup win at Anfield two years later, my directors were told to sit down and not celebrate goals as Liverpool’s board and fans didn’t like it.
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My thought was: “Have a bit of class.”
How time flies. In 2010 when John W Henry arrived to save the day from George Gillette and Tom Hicks’ disastrous ownership, the club’s future was in real jeopardy with RBS calling in debts. Bankruptcy beckoned.
Henry rode in with an American Moneyball mentality, but would undoubtedly have been shocked by the cost and lack of return on buys like Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing.
The unsuccessful rebooting of a legend in the dugout, in Kenny Dalglish, would have jarred until finding a bright young thing in Brendan Rodgers.
With Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling, they should have won the title in 2014 but fell short.
The title remained the entrancement for Liverpool fans, even with the Champions League miracle of 2005.
In 2015, a new breed of boss joined — with a mesmeric TV smile, infectious personality and impressive record at Borussia Dortmund.
KLOPP THE WINNER
Jurgen Klopp was brought in to win. Three straight final losses was superseded by last year’s Champions League triumph over Tottenham in Madrid.
Despite their amazing points tally of 97 last season, the Premier league title still evaded them. The yearning went on… until now.
Liverpool are on the brink of lift-off again. The title will be won at a canter and a world force unleashed again.
The club had the first commercial shirt sponsorship in 1979 when they dominated Europe.
It is eerily coincidental that they have just signed the biggest kit deal with Nike worth £80million a season.
Henry looks like a football messiah, with money from sales of Suarez and Philippe Coutinho
magnificently reinvested in Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson.
Liverpool have also grabbed bargains like Andy Robertson and old heads such as James Milner.
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Yes, this is a club for all seasons. The Premier League will have a new winner and an old legend re-emerges.
You can’t begrudge Liverpool fans this moment after 30 years of agony.
However, just one request — enjoy the well-earned success but a little bit of magnanimity from certain fans would be greatly appreciated.
*Simon Jordan’s Final Word is on talkSPORT every Sunday from 5-8pm.