Red letter day for Liverpool fans across Cork as they celebrate the Premiership coming to Anfield
‘I SAT DOWN WITH MY WIFE AND HAD A COUPLE OF BEERS. I CAN TELL YOU NOW, THEY HAVE NEVER TASTED SWEETER’
FOR so long the ‘nearly’ team of the English football in recent years, Liverpool finally claimed the coveted Premiership crown last Thursday evening for the first time– sending their legions of devoted fans across the Rebel county into ecstasy.
As the red wave of euphoria spread across Cork even those who do not follow Liverpool had to admit, albeit somewhat begrudgingly in some cases, that Liverpool were worthy champions.
Charles Anketell, treasurer of the Duhallow Reds Liverpool Supporters Club was among those to raise a glass to his Anfield heroes after Chelsea cemented the title for Liverpool with a 2-1 win over their closet rivals Manchester City.
“I sat down with my wife and had a couple of beers. I can tell you now, they have never tasted so sweet,” he grinned.
While Charles, a Liverpool fan for more than five-decades, recalled the all-conquering Liverpool teams of the 1980s he said winning the Premiership was “extra special”, particularly given how close they came to the claiming the title last season.
“I know from speaking to other fans they felt the same sense of elation that I did. I suppose there was also a sense of relief given that a lot of people were calling for the season to be cancelled due to the Covid lockdown. That would have been heartbreaking given how far ahead we were when the season was suspended in March,” said Charles.
“The reality was that with such a big lead we were never going to be caught. Now, no matter what other people might say, we can say that we won the title fair and square.”
Charles said that while the Covid-19 restrictions meant fans were not able to celebrate the win as they might have liked to, there would be plenty of time for that later on when things return to some kind of normality.
“The monkey is off our back after 30-years of waiting and we will find a way of celebrating it together. Even if it takes until August or September, by God will have some party,” he declared.
Asked what was the key to Liverpool’s success, Charles was in no doubt about who was the man responsible – reds boss Jurgen Klopp.
“He has is the gel that has bought the club together. He brought in good players and found a way of getting them to play for him. He is, without doubt, the best manager in the world right now.”
Charles has no doubt that this is just the start of a period of Liverpool dominance and while he said the team could improve in certain areas on the pitch, they are “streets ahead” of their rivals.
“Alex Ferguson said he did not think Jurgen had what it takes to win the Premiership. He has now - and I firmly believe that we can, and will, do it again,” he added.