Two good to be believed

May 21 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

TWENTY-FIVE years separate the playing careers of Phil Thompson and Steven Gerrard.

But the two Anfield legends have one unbreakable bond – they are Scousers who have raised the most famous club trophy in European football.

Tommo was the first, in 1981, and he firmly believes that the experience was intensified by his roots.

“Winning the European Cup is obviously the pinnacle of your career, but winning the European Cup and being a Scouser is even more special,” he explained.

“I know that Emlyn loved the occasions when he lifted the cup, but I was a fan who grew up to lift the European Cup, I was the first Scouser to lift it and that feeling is something you just can’t describe. It’s absolutely fantastic.

“To actually go up there and lift the biggest club trophy in the world, for the club you’ve supported all your life, is just a great feeling.

“Every year that somebody wins the European Cup, I think ‘I’ve done that’ and it’s a lovely warm feeling.

“Stevie can emulate Emlyn, but where he can make history is by becoming the only Scouser to lift it twice.

“Carra’s been smashing records all season, so I’m sure Stevie can and I’d love nothing better than to see him do it.”

Thompson spoke to Gerrard the day after his Istanbul heroics two years ago, and he remembers the conversation clearly.

“I can’t tell you the exact words I used because they’d make a few people blush,” he said “but it was along the lines of ‘Stevie, it feels great, doesn’t it?’

“He said ‘I’d heard you talk about it and I dreamed about what it would be like. It was even better than I’d dreamed. It was the ultimate high.’ ”

After waiting, working and dreaming for a lifetime of that ultimate high, however, there was one horrifying moment in Paris when Thompson thought he was going to miss out.

Liverpool had beaten Real Madrid 1-0, the celebrations had already started – and Thommo was planning just how he was going to raise the trophy and who he was going to show it off to first.