FAN SCENE: Night that Babel made his mark

Apr 11 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

Liverpool FC's Ryan Babel and Steven Gerrard

I COULD, if I wanted to, repeat a previous column today. Maybe the one following Roma in 2002, or Olympiakos in 2004. The obvious ones to repeat are the Chelsea games from 2005 and 2007, but I’m saving those for the end of the month.

It’s hard to find new words to describe yet another magnificent European night at Anfield. All the clichés could be trotted out, but that becomes tiresome.

Suffice to say Tuesday night was one of the best I have had at Anfield.

Arsenal came with a gameplan based on quick, flowing football and they played well. Really well, in parts. But Liverpool under Rafa Benitez know how to handle these games.

At times our response wasn’t pretty, but after Sami’s equaliser we started to play.

It was a night for some of the less heralded names to make their mark. Stevie had one of those rare off-nights, but the dynamism of Mascherano and Alonso made up for that. Sami outshone Jamie, and Dirk Kuyt played a blinder (again).

The best bit, though, was the introduction of Ryan Babel in what was a nervy ending to the game. Walcott’s run for Arsenal’s second goal was brilliant enough to deserve a win for the Gunners, but up stepped Ryan.

This was the game that hopefully has given the young Dutchman the confidence to really express himself in a Liverpool shirt. His run leading to the penalty was incisive and direct, but his goal was wonderful.

Tuesday sees the 19th Anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, and though I will be unable to make it to the service this year, my thoughts, as well as the thoughts of all Liverpool fans and many thousands of football supporters around the world will be with the families of those who died.