Liverpool FC : Tottenham Hotspurs

In the normal case, it is very difficult to get tickets for Liverpool FC in the normal way. For this you usually have to be a member, know a member, spend vast sums on event companies or pay on the black market - or be lucky and catch a EFL Cup home game.

The latter happened to us and so you could secure the tickets in the normal way of ordering. Even if this way was also nerve-wracking. The sale was fixed on a time and you first had to go through a 15-minute queue before you could choose your tickets. Then to find two seats next to each other proved to be not exactly easy, because seats were constantly occupied or free again. Ultimately, one managed but in the 30-minute deadline tickets for the game against the Tottenham Hotspurs to get hold of.

As a cultural preparation for the game, one visited the Liverpool Cathedral from whose tower one had a great view over Liverpool. After one had approved a small hop drink in the gastro area IN (!) the church it went off in the direction of stadium.
The foot march led us across the city up to the Rupert Lane Recreation Ground to the pub "The Mere Bank" where one inserted a small stopover. Since still time was available one paid then in advance still the Goodison Park a visit, where the local rival Everton FC his games.

Then it went across the Stanley Park to the stadium Anfield Road, which was already brightly lit due to the upcoming evening game. The area around the stadium was very well attended and there were numerous food stalls and pre-game show acts. At one of the stands, we again enjoyed a cheeseburger of the category "well" to then look around in the fan store, which was however hellishly crowded and accordingly quickly left again. As a special highlight, there was a somewhat dubious Jürgen Klopp scarf, where the manufacturer was probably of the opinion that he is from Belgium *g*

So we made our way to our seats, which brought us over numerous escalators almost to the roof. The view from these high stands to the rest of the stadium was quite impressive. Unfortunately, we saw only directly from above on the famous "Kop", but for a few shots it was still enough. A highlight from the Austrian point of view was provided by Kevin Wimmer, who was allowed to start on the side of the guests from the beginning. Shortly before the start of the game, the famous "You`ll Never Walk Alone" echoed through the stadium in a sea of held-up scarves - simply impressive.

The game was an open exchange of blows from the beginning with chances on both sides and already after 9 minutes cheers broke out in the stadium: Daniel Sturridge provided the 1:0 lead for Liverpool. It followed a game at a high level and with few interruptions that - even if no further goal was scored in the first half - was more than entertaining.

At the beginning of the second half, Liverpool tightened the pace again, which ended in the deserved 2:0 again by Daniel Sturridge. But Tottenham did not give up and gave everything to get back into the game. In the 76th minute, there was then a penalty for the visitors, which Vincent Jannsen confidently scored. A hot final phase was thus heralded.

Liverpool had several times the chance for the early decision, but failed again and again just in the conclusion. Since Tottenham was also dangerous again and again on the counterattack, there was really tension until the last second. Ultimately, however, it remained at the 2:1 victory of the home side which thus moved into the next round of the EFL Cup.

After the end of the game, there was a column of shuttle buses in front of the stadium, but we preferred - like many other fans - to start the way home to the city rather by foot. The way was then but further than thought, but there was after the Wahnsinns-Partie anyway still some to sum up ;-)