For the third time this season, Liverpool left it late - very late - to score the winner in their match, this time in the 2nd leg of the 3rd qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League against Standard Liege. Having drawn a rather clueless game in Belgium, the Reds were expected to give a much better showing at Anfield, but it was the Belgian side that played brilliantly. They defended magnificently and took whatever opportunity they had to sneak in a counter attack.
The Anfield faithful, and the ones thousands of miles away, struggling to stay awake at 3 in the morning, ie. me, were left wondering if it could be one of those nights. A tiny slip, a stolen away goal and it could have spelled disaster for the Reds - both psychologically and financially. The windfall from qualifying for the group stages of the Champions League is too big to let slip.
It was in the dying minutes of the second half of extra time that Babbel crossed from the left, Kuyt somehow got his legs in front of the covering defender and the Dutchman scored the vital goal. Standard Liege had a couple of chances to equalise and steal the match from Liverpool but the Reds barely hung on for the win.
It was indeed a frustrating night that could have ended in disaster had Kuyt not come up with the winner. Time and time again, Liverpool failed to break down a resolute Belgian defence and they got more and more frustrated as ideas and time ran out. They say the mark of a true champion is to play below your best, yet still manage to carve out a victory from somewhere. They also say, champions play beautiful football. Occasionally, at least. It’s been three late winners so far. The results are great, but they way the team huffed and puffed throughout the match worries me. One day their luck will run out and the winner might not come at all.
And with news that Liverpool are to play PSV Einhoven, Marseille and Athletico Madrid in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League in three weeks time, they have got to step it up a notch or two. This surely looks like the group of death.
UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying round, 2nd leg:
Liverpool 1 - Standard Liege 0
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