mcgillianaire: (LFC Liverbird)
Last night I watched what was probably the game of the season and surprisingly, it didn't involve either Real Madrid, Barcelona or both, even though they were also in action together. It's not easy picking one game out of half a dozen humdingers, Arsenal featuring in at least three of them. But last night was special because I watched it in a pub packed with fans from both sides not far from where the game was actually played. And it was a study of contrasts, as one side went into the ascendency followed immediately by the other. The game ebbed and flowed until Spurs came back from a two-goal deficit to secure a draw against the mighty Arsenal. A bad result for both teams but perhaps more damaging for Arsenal as they seek to end their six-year silverware drought. There's a better chance Spurs will qualify for next season's European Cup. And most hope they do.

Meanwhile, Liverpool remain rooted to sixth which will probably deny them any European football next season for the first time since 1999/00. That's thanks to Birmingham City winning the League Cup and only one of the top five clubs making the final of the FA Cup. However there is an outside chance we could sneak through to the Europa League, if Manchester City win the FA Cup but get pipped to fourth place in the league by Spurs and we finish sixth. That would be harsh on Stoke City who have qualified for their first ever FA Cup Final in their 148 year-old history. And if we don't watch out, the Blue Shite are just 2 points behind us. COME ON YOU REDS!

In the other half of the table, the bottom eight clubs are separated by a mere six points. There may only be five or six games left this season, but it's all to play for! A fitting finale to an exciting Premier League campaign!
mcgillianaire: (Liverpool FC)


The BBC, Guardian, Times, Telegraph, Mirror, LFC.tv and Liverpool Echo. And that's just the ones I've uncovered. At least one journalist at each of these media outlets that's blogging the volcanic ash-induced journey over land from Liverpool to Madrid. It started a few hours ago at Runcorn Railway Station and will end about 24h later in the Spanish capital tomorrow, leaving us just over 24h to prepare for our Europa League S/F first-leg tie with Atlético on Thursday night. Thank goodness for this country's obsession with The Beautiful Game!

FUN SNIPPETS SO FAR:
--"Kevin [Gallacher] pleaded with me to bring out the wine gums, which were soon snaffled up!" -BBC Five Live's Ian Dennis
--"Five Live's Ian Dennis is going mad with the wine gums. The flash, BBC git. I bet they're on expenses as well." -Guardian's Andy Hunter
--"It wasn't Daniel Ayala who was sent out for Wine Gums, but BBC Radio 5 Live's Ian Dennis. The honey-voiced broadcaster has just passed a bag of taxpayer-funded Maynard's around, marking a dramatic shift in his fortunes on this trip." -The Telegraph's Rory Smith

--"This might not be so bad after all. On second thoughts, the man from the Times has declined a pork sandwich due to the presence of apple sauce and is now picking the spring onions out of a cheese butty instead." -Guardian's Andy Hunter
--"Most worrying of all, however, is the constant complaining from my predecessor, who now works for The Times. Those who know Tony Barrett will know he doesn’t eat anything green, so the cheese and spring onion sandwich he was handed was greeted with the kind of look that Edvard Munch based his painting of The Scream on. He isn’t happy – best get him a muffin." -Liverpool Echo's Dominic King

--"Controversy rages in the press carriage after it is revealed that a correspondent in today's Liverpool Echo has called a bottle of lemonade 'a bottle of pop'. As Liverpool natives know full well such phrases are only ever used by those from the city's hinterlands. Suggestions that this will be a long trip were clearly well founded..." -The Times' Tony Barrett

--"Just found out that Philipp Degen is on the train with the rest of the Liverpool squad. It must be a nice change for the Swiss defender not to be the only passenger in the team." -The Times' Tony Barrett

--"There are two certainties about travelling in Britain that never cease to amaze. One is the hordes who feel compelled to congregate around Easyjet boarding gates regardless of whether they are in A, B, C or D. The other is the continued inability of passengers to use the locks on Virgin Pendolino train toilets. And so it was this intrepid explorer's turn to press Open and..." -The Guardian's Andy Hunter

--"The Liverpool squad were bussed into Runcorn station from their Melwood training ground and herded straight into the first-class lounge. It all went a little Shaun of the Dead from there, as a crowd of roughly 50 supporters, trainspotters and professional autograph hunters pressed up against the windows for a look at Steven Gerrard and co reading Hotline magazine. "Please give the Liverpool team room to board the train," pleaded the PA announcer. Surely a first in the Premier League era." -The Guardian's Andy Hunter

--"Just arrived at the office in time to get a taxi to Runcorn station. Matt C already having a presenter's strop because I've not brought any playing cards. Also, just realised I forgot to feed the cat." -LFC.tv's Jimmy Rice (The Red's official website)

--"Found the cafe on the train - but really wish I hadn't. Six quid for a chicken sandwich and pringles. What a joke." -LFC.tv's Craig Jones
--"And just a minute after he spent six quid we were told anything from the cafe is free if you say you're from Liverpool FC. Ha ha..."

--"The realisation is now dawning that there will be no escape from this epic rail journey. Airports in the UK remain closed and Liverpool will have to go into Europe via the back door that is the channel tunnel, which is quite apt seeing as they entered the Europa League via a similar route, although not through a tunnel obviously..." -The Times' Tony Barrett

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