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The views expressed are those of the individual contributors. They are not necessarily shared by the editorial staff at RAOTL, but probably are.

< Season 1997-98 Archive All last season's news, match reports and comments. From Strasbourg (a) to Derby County (a).

The 40th anniversary Shankly FlagDay has been scheduled for December 18th, when we entertain Coventry City. Stay posted for latest news. Also, can I mention that the prposed live Monday night SKY TV game with Sheff Wed at home has been put back 24 hours or so to the Sunday afternoon - the 5th December. This decision has absolutely nothing whatsover with LFC fearing a poor, pre-Xmas, Monday night, live game attendance against our favourite side to boycott. You'd be sued for suggesting any such thing. So why have they done it?

YCu will probably be surprised to hear that RAOTL remain unbeaten having won our second game last month against the Leeds fanzine 'We Are Leeds'. RAOTL travelled over to Harrogate and emerged winners by 10 goals to 1 (And theirs was NEVER a penalty). The evening's festivities were an honours even draw with each side downing about half a million pints each. A full report will be in the next RAOTL on sale at the pre-season games (and I'll be taking a few hundred to Oslo later this month). Here's a taster - RAOTL F.C. in their 'borrowed-from-Liverpool-FC-kit': we looked the dog's bollocks.

Newspaper stores from Germany - including direct quotesa from Herr Babbel - seem to confirm his absolute intention to join Liverpool, having rejected a move to Real Madrid. Read the full interview on Koptalk's news page <HERE> I suspect that as his Bosman deadline draws closer (he can sign a pre-contract agreement in 6 months) I suspect that Bayern will cash in and release him sometime before Christmas. Here's a taster of the interview with Kicker magazine:

You won't be surprised to hear that neither I - nor any of my intimate circle of friends, nor any of their families, their relatives nor their relatives' tennis partners - actually like the new away kit. I don't doubt that it looks great worn with jeans, on The Kop or in the bars of Ibiza: Reebok are the experts when it comes to flogging overpriced tee-shirts to Freemans catalogue after all - but this is the football shirt that the players of Liverpool FC are supposed to wear.

Just have a look at it. Green is there because it's Carlsberg's corporate colour. Adidas actually told us this in 1992 when they introduced the green-with-white-ribs shirt that I always picture Mark Walters stumbling about in (Yeuch!). The blue (FUCKING BLUE!) is there to represent ... guess who? ... Reebok. Check out their vile navy blue adverts all over Anfield and The Kop if you doubt me. And Liverpool ???? Well, is there any Liverpool there? Go on, have a look for the Liverbird? Spotted it yet? Here's a microscope.

If you have a serious psychological disorder - or an eight year old son - then they're on sale on July 8th. Priced at around £40.

More serious is the notion put forward at the end of last season that we'll wear this in ALL away games next year whether we need to change or not. As it clashes with no-one's kit (until Plymouth get promoted) we'll need only 2, not 3, kits. But does it also mean that we'll play at Goodison, in a derby, and not wear red?

Equally awful rumours are circulating that the 'new' home kit, not due out until summer 2000 (but would you bet against a Christmas unveiling?), will feature the diagonal stripe seen on the new away kit. Will it also have the Reebok blue in it. On our home shirt? I feel a meaty fax to old beans-on-toast Tommy Smith at The Echo coming on. (0151 472 2597 if you fancy it)

No suprises that,once again, Sky have shafted us all again. If you travel any distance to home games you're gonna be well pissed off. Here's our schedule up to Christmas:

Sorry that updates have taken so long but you wouldn't believe how busy I've been since then end of the season. RAOTL All Stars beat the lads from 'We Are Leeds' fanzine by 10 goals to 1 a few weeks back. Highlight of the day was a blistering hatrick from a young superstar wearing the famous number 7 shirt. Details to follow!

Anyway, the RAOTL site will be completely revamped this summer and we'll have a section enabling you to buy cheap Liverpool books on-line. Watch this space. (JMac)

Away first game at Hillsborough. (Conspiracy theory goes into overdrive). Then West Ham and Watford at home the following week. Away at Newcastle on Boxing Day, and finish up away at Bradford for the last game. Full fixtures on-line tomorrow

Well I said it and they went and won something - and the travelling Reds were completely underwhelmed. By my reckoning we were the first English side to win a treble this season: The Carlsberg Cup in Dublin, The Pirelli Cup a week or so later against Inter Milan and this ... singularly ugly trophy here tonight.

I was looking forward to this game for a while. I was pleased that Sunderland came up to the Premiership this summer. Peter Reid (despite being an ex-blue) is one of the lads and is a hard-working and honest manager and deserves all the success he's so far had. Well done, Cheetah. Also, the new ground: 'The Stadium of Light' (one hell of a misnomer) meant another notch on the rattle. Our crap season meant that this 200 mile trip, on a Tuesday night, for a meaningless friendly would be spectacularly underattended. Showing your face was, therefore, deemed vital.

Steve Kelly and I left around 4pm and belted it up the M62 and A1 listening to a variety of tapes: Bowie and 'The League of Gentlemen' being the most notable. It was getting late as we approached Sunderland so we decided to ignore the 'Stadium of Light' signposts (which would undoubtedly take us on a 15 mile detour around a new ring road) and instead made a beeline for the town centre. It was around 7pm when we dumped the car just outside the town centre and wandered through the eerily deserted streets towards the river. We stopped for a sharpener in a small pub alongside the Vaux brewery. It was comfortable and welcoming and the cold beer slipped easily down. We toyed with the idea of having another but the appearance of two local wags in shell suits with permed wigs and mussies put us right off. Outside we called Andy and Sue on the mobile only to hear raucous revelry coming from inside a hostelry that we were assured was directly adjacent to the ground. Better get there pronto, as they were getting the ale in for us.

We crossed the river and followed the fans (nearly said "crowd" then but they were very thin on the ground) and walked up over a small humped back bridge and, lo and behold, there it was ... 'The Stadium of Light'. Or was it MFI? In the middle of a tarmac car park, and surrounded by small industrial units lay ... well, we presumed it was the ground. It was long and grey and clad in ubiquitous aluminium and it looked very, very boring. We looked around and could see no sign of the 'adjacent alehouse' so we decided to go in. As we approached the turnstiles through the very sparse crowd we noticed there were cash turnstiles at the Liverpool enclosure. It was £15 to get in. Not ten feet away was a cash turnstile for Sunderland fans who would be sitting only a few feet away from us. They were paying a tenner.

Inside the consourse we chatted with a few friends and acquaintances, the boycott was discussed and then someone said that there was a picture of the new away kit, that was to be worn for the match, in that night's Echo. Shit! For 30p I could have seen it and saved myself 30 quid. Up on the in-house tv we could see the players warming up. They were wearing it ... it's not a bad kit - if you're a Coventry or Bolton fan. But on us ... it's just not Liverpool. Especially the navy blue shorts and thin blue stripe across the chest and socks. As is the rule these days: the kit is designed to be worn on the beach, in the pub or club or when pushing a trolley round Tescos. The main thrust of the design is how well it'll sell as a leisure item. Not how good a football shirt it actually is. So much for Reebok's much-hyped back to basics campaign of last summer. Their 'Paisley shirts are back in fashion' campaign has lasted less than a year. Well done, Reebok. Now just Fuck off will you?

Shortly before kick off we went up to the seats, as it was half empty we deicded to sit anywhere and I actually manged to stand for most of the match. Except that is during the national anthem. There was some sort of ceremony just before kick-off and the tannoy announcer asks everyone to stand for the national anthem. The Liverpool section promptly sits down and starts jeering, then bursts into YNWA. The Sunderland fans over in the Main Stand to our left are getting very irate with us. What the fuck's got into these idiots? Anyway, I glance around and have a look at 'The Stadium of Light' and, as is the case so often with these new grounds, you could be anywhere. It looks like Derby's Pride Park but it's just a bit bigger. Very disappointing.

Of the match - the less said the better. KHR lasts about ten minutes and goes off injured and Sunderland get an early goal with a well flighted curling effort that floats over Brad's head and into the top corner of the net. The 17 or 18,000 Makems go wild. It was all I could do to stifle a yawn. Steve and I chat about all sorts of stuff and I've got my eye on a very fit bird over in the Main Stand with a very large chest and a very tight, white tee-shirt. It was that sort of match. Anyway, we cobble together an attack of some ineptitude, and someone bumps into someone else and, blow me!, we've got a penalty. 1-1. And it stays that way through to half-time.

The second half was much like the first and the conversation turns to what time we'll throw in the towel and go home. Then Redknapp pops up in attack, and dribbles the ball around the keeper and into the net. As we're winning some of the younger travelling fans start to take the piss and are greeted with Sunderland youths chanting for Everton and ManU !! Tempers fray and several are ejected, mostly from the Liverpool side of the trenches. It's all I can do to tear my eyes away from the stadium clock. "I'll give it til 70 mins and then I'm going", I tell Steve. It was nearly 10 o'cock then, and I had to be in work at 8 the next morning. Steve nods; he's as enthralled as I am. Even he's looking at 'Miss Huge Tits 1999' now. Then down at the other end Sunderland grab an equaliser out of the blue following a left wing free-kick. "That's it, I'm not staying for any penalties", I say and jump up. Steve agrees and we hot foot it down the stairs and out the exit. Our feet has barely touched the car-park when we heard another roar. Not loud enough for it to be them - it had to be us. I phone JJP who's watching the game on Ceefax. "3-2 to us," he announces, "It was Ince". Bugger!

The journey home is remarkably only for the fact that I never crashed the car whilst laughing at the 'League of Gentlemen' tapes... "Hokey Cokey, Pig in a Pokey, jobseekers!". I wonder how long it'll be before monsieur Tactical Genius goes for his Restart training? I hope I'm wrong.

Well that's that for another year, and let's be honest it's a year we all want to forget as quickly as possible. Having said that we went out on a comparitively high note with a comfortable victory against a side who appeared to be only here to make up the numbers. This was not the competitive, combative Dons we've come to expect; perhaps it's something to do with Joe Kinnear being in hospital? Whatever, the easy victory was welcomed by the 40,000+inside Anfield as we tried to shut out the fact that 35 miles away the Mancs were sewing up another title. They only need another 5 or 6 to catch up don't they?

With a paucity of attacking options available I didn't expect us to score today, and unsurprisingly it was the midfield that chipped in with the lion's share of the attacking. Berger's opener in the first half was an absolute peach; latching on to a chipped through ball to blast home from just inside the box. In the second period we added to fine close range goals from Ince and KHR - the latter after a brilliant run from the infuriating Macca - and were never in any trouble whatsover. Macca predictably left the pitch with about ten minutes to go to a commendable standing ovation from all fours sides of the ground.

The last home game is always a bit special and the FlagDay atmosphere was most evident as the side made their 'lap of (dis)honour'. As they approached The Kop it was awash in colour and noise and YNWA reverberated around Anfield. God, if this team could only win something imagine what the support would be like? They don't really deserves us at all.

JJP adds " Oh well, thats it for another season. We end with a win against a Wimbledon side that reminded me so much of Liverpool. That is, they played with no commitment, no passion and for the first time ever at Anfield, no pride. Still, it allowed us to at least go home with a wry grin on our faces rather than the frustrated ‘Mr Angry’ looks. It allowed us to call in for the end of season bevy with the lads in ‘The Albert’ and have one final singsong before saying our goodbyes for the summer. The result didn’t matter one iota - it was most certainly a definite ‘end of season’ stuff. Anyway, Paddy scored a cracker and looked good KHR nicked a smart one while Ince got his third goal in three games at Anfield. And to cap it all we finished seventh! Let’s just forget it and move on."

Man of the match (& my player of the season) was Patrick Berger. Overall today - 6 out of 10.

Sheffield Wednesday gave Liverpool 7,000 tickets: the entire upper tier and lower tier (including the pens 3 and 4, where 96 perished - if you can believe that!). We always knew that the boycott wouldn't - or couldn't - be 100% successful without massive publicity and co-operation from the club; but to return almost 6,000 tickets unsold was a massive success for the boycott supporters. Local press reports on Merseyside say that Liverpool FC sold just 1200 tickets for the game - maybe, "sold" is too strong a word, sources close to the ticket office put the number sold over the counter at "under 300", the rest coming via postal applications and credit card sales. The official SWFC figures for "those passing through the turnstiles" were just 1,072. By my reckoning, at £16 a go, thats over £90,000 Sheffield Wednesday lost from the game. Perhaps this might affect their treatment of Liverpudlians on future visits.

Trevor Hicks, of the HFSG, claimed in the Liverpool Echo of Monday, May 10th, that the figure was nearer 2 or 3,000 and commented "The turn out was down but we feel that was because the game did not have any serious effect on the Premiership". Quite obviously, Mr Hicks doesn't know much about the supporters of Liverpool FC. This game - the last away trip of the season, traditionally well attended - and coming hot on the heels of two fine league results would have sold in excess of 5 or 6,000 easily. Our last away trip - to Blackburn with a following of 7,000 - was an indication of the type of support we can pull away from home - and that came during a woeful procession of league performances and immediately after two successive home defeats.

No, Mr Hicks, the pitiful turnout at Hillsborough was down to one thing - the boycott. Why you continue to play down and hamper the efforts of those who may have different opinions to you is beyond me.

Over in Liverpool the concert seemed to go extremely well. Great performances from Ian McNabb and the Great Pete Wylie, whose "Heart as Big As Liverpool" is the song of the year BY A MILE! Over the course of the day an estimated 5000 people visited St Georges Hall, which was bedecked in huge Liverpool flags and banners for the day. I'd love to tell you more but S.K. and I went and got pissed and just made it back for McNabb and Wylie and a load of free beers with some of the HJC folks. Well done all who attended.

Click here for an email sent to the Liverpool Echo protesting at their refusal to publicise the HJC, the boycott campaign or Saturday's rally at St George's Hall, Lime St. (John Mac)

Many of us, including yours truly, expected a hiding from the Mancs. I'm not ashamed to admit that I said I'd be delighted with a draw. Not only would it be a good result against a team unbeaten in months - but it also may well throw a large spanner into the spokes of their treble quest. Despite a couple of good results recently we are still a mediocre side in need of a major overhaul. The Mancs on the other hand have reached their first European Cup Final for 31 years, are on course for a domestic double, and have a squad rich in resources. Over the last 3 years they've become a real class act and are expected to rise to the occasion when necessary (Inter, Juve, The Arse in the semi). (Can I add that they are still a bunch of bloated, smug cunts).

We, on the other hand, have no attack, a dodgy defence and a midfield in need of a new engine. However, we also have the best supporters in the country - BY A MILE! The atmosphere whipped up inside Anfield was the best since PSG two years ago. The Kop looked and sounded spectacular and "You'll Never Walk Alone" was belted out loudly and proudly. Are you listening Mancs? We're still the best at some things.

The team responded to the support and the first 20 minutes belonged to us. We had the possession but the shortcomings in the team were evident and we had to graft extremely hard to prise any sort of an opening. United, although on the back foot, were playing within themselves and you felt that if they wanted to they could up the tempo and really come at us. But they didn't. Instead they relied on a cat and mouse approach hitting us on the break. Sure enough when Macca lost Beckham after a one-two with Irwin following a short free kick I feared the worst. Beckham's beaut of a cross curled and dipped into the danger area where Goofy Yorke nodded cleanly into the net. You can blame Brad, Song or Carragher for not cutting it out, but it was a hell of a ball. I only hope young master Redknapp spends the summer watching that on video and learns how to deliver a quality 'killer' ball into the box.

After such a promising start from The Reds it was a savage blow. I had hoped we'd keep it tight and come away with the nil-nil. Still The Kop responded and continued to roar the team on. It was a relief to get to half-time only one down. Beckham had whipped another killer cross in only to see Brad produce a great save low-down from Yorke's header. A lot of papers recently have given Beckham a good deal of positive propaganda, about how fatherhood has changed him and how grown up he's become; well, he's still an arrogant, simple-minded, illiterate tosser and his little gloating jog and gesture in front of the Kop following Yorke's goal made me want to smash the smarmy cunt's face in. If he'd been pelted with coins it'd been his own fault.

At half-time the lads met up for a chat and whilst we felt we were struggling to create clear cut chances we did also feel that we might just nick an equaliser as long as it remained 0-1. Stories were also circulating of set-to's in town and in Sefton Park with the Mancs. The Sefton Park ruck being a supposedly pre-arranged fight. I'll try and hunt out eye-witnesses ... so stay tuned.

We began the second half as we did the first. The Kop roaring on the team ("with a raw passion not seen in years" said one newspaper report) and The Reds piling forward towards the Kop end looking for a goal. It almost came following Matteo's run and cross down the Kemmy side which found Ince who shot high over the bar as he fell back. But then disaster struck: Song (who had been having a passionate, lively but erratic and unpredictable evening failed to cut out a high ball towards Blomqvist (??), as the ball bounce at chest height Carragher swung a high-kick to clear it - missed - and caught the Utd player in the chest. Elleray pointed to the spot, and all hell broke loose as Ince and Keane set to each other. Schmeichal felt the need to run 90 yards upfield to sort things out (or was he just getting away from the barrage of pound coins and oranges from The Kop?). Anyway, when the dust settled Irwin struck the kick to Brad's left and inside the post. At 0-2 down hopes sank and for 10 minutes Utd and their fans took the piss: "You're the worse Scouse team we've ever seen" they sang (At least we haven't been shite for 25 years) and added strangely "The Kop is full of Orange shit". !!!!! Perhaps they're a tad jealous of our growing relationship with Celtic. How else can you explain this bewildering, sectarian bollocks? (writes a fully paid-up Roman Catholic and Knight of St Columba - and Spion Kop season ticket holder of 25 years).

Then they did it. They just had to. Too fucking unimaginative and simple not to. The song that began as an expression of 'laughter in the face of defeat' but which they have - in typical United fashion - turned into a crowing, arrogant broadside: 'Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life'. The light-hearted, likeable song that they stole from Aston Villa and turned into a flesh-creeping, smarmy example of why everyone hates them and their overblown Michael Jackson of a football team. At that moment I just knew it - they'd live to regret that, they wouldn't win.

We needed a little help. I'm not talking about the sending off. Irwin had already been rightly booked for a crunching lunge on McManaman when he quite deliberately kicked the ball away after running it out play. Yeah! The greatest team in Europe time wasting when 2-0 up to 'the worst Scouse team they'd ever seen': Schmeichal had been doing it all night and was warned by Elleray to cut it out. It was clear he'd clamp down on any Manc trying to waste a few seconds. But that pig-shit thick Irwin, with his Cup Final place hanging in the balance, still chose to waste 10 seconds. And it wasn't, as Tommy rent-a-spotty-gob Docherty claimed on Five Live the next day that he just ran the ball out of play - he clearly kicks it away. Tough shit, beaky! Off you go, ta-ra and thanks for coming. No sympathy here.

That gave the team and the crowd a lift at just the right time. I don't think it affected the outcome in the way people think. After all aren't 10 men supposed to play better in these circumstances? Remember last season when a 10 man Liverpool outplayed United at Old Trafford and we sang "Ten men and you've got the ref!" to a silent and nervous Manc crowd. They knew it too.

From that moment on it was all Liverpool. Berger and Thommo came on and we looked a different team. A cross across the area to an unmarked Leonhardsen led to our penalty. They are still claiming it wasn't a pen (well they would wouldn't they?) Any ref giving a decision their way e.g. Inter's blatant penalty refused in Milan is seen as "strong" and "magnificent"; any ref giving a decision against them is a "disgrace". Demento ranted and raved after the game and had to be restrained from "questioning" Elleray. I wonder if the cowardly FA will haul this cunt up before them and give him the rogering he richly deserves? Blomqvist's tackle on Leo was a dangerous challenge from behind - asking for trouble - and at least one tv replay suggested Elleray was right. Anyway, was it any worse then theirs? Carragher's challenge, admittedly high and unwise, is the kind of incident regularly seen on the pitch. "Dangerous play" it's called and is punishable by an indirect free-kick according to the laws of the game. Unless Elleray decided Carragher deliberately kicked Jesper in the chest which is just laughable. Anyhow - Redknapp belted the kick past the nazi and the roar from the 42,000 home supporters shook the ground. We had them in our sights now, our tails were up and the crowing Mancs fell silent: you could smell the fear.

Despite the onslaught, with Thompson and Berger outstanding and Macca finally beginning to turn it on, time looked to be running out. Then a great ball from Macca released Riedle in the area, Schmeichal rushed out to his feet but KHR turned to the side and the ball ran across the area towards the galloping Ince, despite the presence of the wooden Jap Stam (he makes Mr Ed look like Nureyev) he swiveled and knocked the ball into the back of the net. It's fair to say that The Kop exploded. People clambered over seats in delirium and relief to scream into the night sky. I went totally out of control for 30 seconds or so and saw stars before my eyes. I had roared myself hoarse and every shout of delight felt like a metal band tightening around my chest. There were about 3 or 4 minutes left - we knew Arsenal were winning 2-1 at White Hart Lane. Time to rub it in. "You lost the league on Merseyside!", "Who the fuck are Man United?" and most sweetly of all - "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" was rammed back down their fat Manc faces. We had stood all night, now we were standing on the seats - even on the backs of seats - flags were everywhere, all over Anfield and we poured out another passionate "You'll Never Walk Alone". The final whistle went to huge roars of delight. The Mancs tried to make the best of it and pretended not to care, consoling themselves with the fact that stopping them winning meant so much to us. But you knew they were fuming and that it really, really pissed them off to lose two points here, of all places. We continued, of course, to rub it in. Then George gave out the final scores : " Tottenham Hotspur one ..." , the rest was lost in a huge roar. "You're gonna win fuck all!" rang out into the Anfield air, along with "Bayern Munich" and all the 'four times' chants and songs. They'd been kept in by the police so all they could do was stand there and take it. The Main Stand did us proud, silver European cups were brandished at the Mancs as we wrang every last ounce of revenge out of the night's proceedings. It was just brilliant.

At half ten I stood sweating in the Albert, clutching a cold lager, watching Match of the Day, Demento's face when the equaliser went in was greeted with huge whoops of glee. The songs were still going strong when I left at 11:15.

Overall: 9 out of 10. I can't be churlish can I? Not brilliant football but it was a night of passion and spirit and pride. You should have been there. (JM)

"Let's get the smart arse stuff out of the way first. We went berserk and into a night of celebration just because we drew 2-2 with the Mancs - so okay, maybe it is 'our Cup Final.' It just shows how far we've fallen that we can give a standing ovation for making a draw at Anfield against ten men!

But what a night - like forty odd thousand others I went home drained. It was the best night of the season and JC almost got the nod which would have meant them putting new roof on the KOP. It was something else. I reckon it was better than the three all and even better in some ways than the two 2-0 wins. It all showed what Anfield can be like and would be like if we had something to go for. They talk about "playing for pride" but this was all about pride off the pitch as well and in such circumstances the KOP never fails. There was a young kid on the KOP wearing, would you believe a Manc shirt. He was very young, not old enough to know better and looked like he was with his Dad or Uncle. But like they say, you can't blame the kids. During the pre-match build up DJ George started to read out the Manc squad and so deafening was the noise that the youngster had to cover his ears up. From the first singing of YNWA to the last the KOP was in a state of frenzy - and even at two down the noise retained a level that would have done us proud at some of the better home fixtures this season. It was intensity at its best. You have to at least try to be honest and although we didn't play too badly in the first half we hardly looked like scoring whilst they were a goal up and hardly breaking sweat. Of course, we shall wait with interest to see what the FA dog turds do about Mr Beckham's latest incite to riot act. Someone hurled something in his direction and although we can never condone such behaviour [cough, cough] it's a pity it didn't hit the bleached haired Brylcreamed one. We'd have got the blame, but we could have always told the judge, "He started it your honour and I wish to refer to the recent case of Le Saux versus Fowler!" Strange that even going in one down didn't subdue anyone and during the interval there were still pockets on the KOP singing anti-Manc stuff and as always a warm welcome awaited the Danish Nazi Racist. Again, being totally honest, we hardly got a kick of the ball for long spells and for some reason they were given a penalty - haven't seen it, but this was not the penalty that got the papers and Demento going, this was the one they were given. And they talk about incite to riot what made the great Danish lump of rotten bacon run the entire length of the pitch to get involved in something that didn't concern him? Then he came back taunting the KOP. The bastard should be locked up. At two down I thought we'd had it. Monsieur Tactical Genius sends Paddy on for Song - at this time Song, again playing right back was probably our best player and I would still like to know why is he playing right back? Lifeline time as David Elleray gives us a penalty - this is the one that you have read about in your national newspaper. Now I know that there have been dodgy penalties given in the past and Manchester United have been given the odd one - like in the 1994 Cup Final when they were given not one, but two. One for a foul that took place just outside the penalty area - the Man United penalty area! They were given a dodgy one on the day that the French criminal made his return to the game - the same game when we were denied a couple of reasonably clear cut ones. The referee in the games mentioned was the very same Mr David Elleray. But suddenly he gives one against the Mancs and Demento is trying to stage a one-man pitch invasion - memo to the FA; more incite to riot lads; we are waiting! The press and the media circus go into overdrive, "Never a penalty" and the following morning Radio 5 [BBC are Liverpool fans - really, you could have fooled me!] hold a phone-in about it! I've said it before, I'll say it again, Europe is in a state of War and the BBC hold a bloody phone-in because Liverpool were given a penalty! Such is the state of things I half expect Tony Blair [Newcastle United] to call a state of emergency and ask for calm! Bill Clinton says we should stand firm again such atrocities and Slobodan Molosodamwhatsit calls it an affront to human rights! Jamie Redknapp gets hauled before the FA for taking it AND scoring whilst Anfield will be shut because the crowd almost incited a riot by cheering the goal. Hey, can we get back to the real world please. At 2-1 Monsieur Tactical Genius sends on David Thompson [shan't ask why he wasn't playing from the start either, the world is in enough trouble as it is] and suddenly Anfield is a cauldron of sound and Denis Irwin is having an early shower. Please refer to previous paragraph for the state of the nation regarding his dismissal because I'm not typing it again. The noise level increases as we get them on the ropes and with time running out it happens. The ball falls to Paul Ince and in one instant he becomes a player to be forever revered amongst KOPITES and moves himself into folklore. Ince scores, the KOP and the rest of Anfield [and I have it on good authority, ninety percent of the nation, plus Arsenal fans] go into orbit. Rarely have I seen such scenes. The three all, the Geordie 4-3's, Euro glory, Cup nights and Championships, no they were never like this. Those occasions were euphoria and delight in winning something whilst this was sheer hatred over-spilling into a frenzy of pure joy. I'm sure that I saw Paul Ince run past me in row 16 with half the team after him. Everyone in the ground - sad bastards from OT apart - was going mental. The Main Stand, bless 'em, were seen sharing drinks from their thermos flasks with complete strangers and blankets were being hurled high in the air [only joking lads, honest] whilst every single Red shared a moment of instant joy by going crazy. If JC had said "Good morning" to that header it would have been "Good night" to them. But I'm sure that if it had gone in it would have caused more than a few heart attacks inside Anfield. As it was a draw was celebrated like it was a glorious and great victory. All around Anfield the streets were full of happy smiling people. The singing continued long into the night and the pubs sold more beer than they could have dreamt of. Never have there been scenes like it and for just one moment in our sorry season we had something to be proud of. It's called a football team. "

A decent Bank holiday crowd of just over 4000 saw Niall Byrne's second half strike win the mini-derby for The Reds at Knowlsey Road, St Helens. A cock-up in the Everton defence between Simonsen and Regan allowed Byrne in to shoot past Simonsen for the winner. Substitute Miles nearly sewed the game up for Liverpool but was thwarted by a last ditch tackle by Dunne.

Dunne was earlier booked by clattering Ferri and causing the Reds' player to be substituted.

Liverpool: James, Navarro, Wright, Kippe, Traore, Maxwell, Ferri (N. Murphy 45 mins), Newby, Cassidy (Boardman 76), Byrne, Armstrong (Miles 60). Subs not used: Dunbavin & Jones. Attendance: 4026

RAOTL reader Kevin Nacey writes - "Taking my seat in The Anfield Road after a suitable number of liveners, watching the team warm up on a lovely sunny day, I thought "what a great day for a game". Even the sight of Kvarme and Staunton in our shirts could'nt diminish my good mood. I thought "I'm up for this today". Unfortunately, our wonderful team obviously were'nt, as they serve up a performance that was worse than inept. Spurs, without being brilliant, were quicker to the ball and showed much more urgency, and things were looking ominous. The expected goal duly arrived, JC donning the red nose and baggy trousers to knock the ball through Brad's legs for his 2nd og for Spurs of the season. Things duly got worse, as a free kick was swung in and as the Liverpool defence played their game of "Is That An Arse Or An Elbow?" Iversen sent a header, completely unchallenged, past Brad. 0-2, and we are making a distinctly average team look like Holland of 1974. Taricco's sending off was a turning point so the press would have you believe, couldnt see it myself at the time.(Funny how when an opposition player gets a red card against us its "controversial"). But for Brad it would have been 0-4 and game over at half time.

After a pleasant half time watching Barney & Phyllis bang penalties in (I thought in their time they were our least skilful defenders, they look like the Pele Twins compared to some of ours now), things started looking up as Gerrard came out for the 2nd half. We now get pace and commitment down the right, which pays off almost immediately as KHR wins a penalty. And it WAS a penalty, but a daft one as he was going nowhere when Walker knocked him over.(Funny how penalties are always controversial when WE get them?). Things are happening now, Redknapp is passing forwards, to our men, Ince has stopped pointing and shouting and is actually tackling people, and its generally all forward and lets win. Equaliser and winner duly arrive, while KHR takes a turn with the red nose and baggy kecks to fluff a chance my daughter would have buried. Decent second half performance, why cant they pile into people from the first minute? Why wait till the game is going away from us? Still, its a win and I'll have it. "

John P's turn now- "Okay, confession time - I don't think that I understand this game anymore. Let's be generous and say that the first forty-five minutes were a continuation of the garbage we've become accustomed to. In fairness that forty-five could have another twenty odd minutes added to it if you want. As Johnny Mac has mentioned previously even the fans are now going through the motions. This was Spurs we were playing and even those with a short memory can roll back the memory block and think about some great days and games against Spurs. One thing for sure, the first half of this one won't be in encapsulated in any time vault - other than everyone who watched it would want to forget it pretty quick. Get out all the usual words - passionless, no commitment, no idea - you name 'em because we all know 'em. Spurs haven't tried too hard, don't even feel the need to bring Ginola on, but so poor are we that they lead 2-0 and we were grateful it was only two. Shortly before the break Stephen Lodge, 'Wiggy' to his close friends sends off a Tottenham player - another foreigner with a name I can't remember, but he took a walk. So we're two down and against ten men - just like we were against Newcastle - same referee. KHR goes down, penalty - up steps Jamie boy - goal - 2-1 down now. Suddenly the crowd wakes up from their early summer slumber and starts to think we might turn it round. But a bit of credit first because Monsieur Tactical Genius has changed things around and took off Kvarme and brought on Stephen Gerrard. Okay, I said give our Monsieur Tactical Genius some credit, although you have to ask just why Kvarme was playing in the first place. Someone said it was because they wanted him to be in the shop window so that they could sell him. Now don't get me wrong, Kvarme is a decent bloke I'm sure, but if we want to sell him I don't think letting prospective buyers see him play is a good idea. Just give 'em a few stiff drinks, a few pills and grab their wallet. Anyway, things slowly, very, very slowly, start to get better and our Monsieur Tactical Genius comes up with another brainwave and sends on Song for Leo who to be fair hadn't had a bad game. But why is Rigo only sub? Although I can understand why he can't get a game in the centre of defence - the reason we bought him, I think, was because he was a central defender - after all we've so much quality in that part of the team Hansen would be lucky to get in. That is, today's version of Hansen. Within five minutes the game is swung round with Ince getting his head to a Macca cross - yes, Ince header, Macca cross - and then the Madrid Man whacks in a beaut and celebrates in style. You know turns round, half smiles, and runs back. I tell you Macca the FA will be investigating. So somehow, from a turgid first half, two down and the now almost compulsory jeers or derision as they leave the pitch at halftime, we've suddenly won and every man is a hero. Monsieur Tactical Genius talks of "fighting spirit" whilst we talk of him talking a load of boules. We got back into the game and eventually won for which we are eternally grateful. But fighting sprit and pride are required for the whole season, not twenty minutes. Being honest Spurs threw in the towel and didn't want to know after the sending off and I dread to think what would have happened if the ref. hadn't taken action."

John Mac adds "The corniest cliché in football is 'a game of two halves', but what makes these things clichés is that they come true often enough to become so. This game was another one to add to the list. In the first half all the old failings were well to the fore. Uncertainty in defence, lack of midfield imagination and bite and a totally blunt attack. The attacking problem I can put up with because there aren't any more attackers at the club at all ( I did bring this up last September if you care to check), although it would be nice to see one of the kids, Newby maybe, given a run out. For 45 minutes we were garbage. At half-time young eight year old Sean looked at me and said, "It'll be like Newcastle, 4-2!". As much as I wanted to play along I just couldn't see it happening. If you believe some of the press the game turned on the sending off - but that's crap. We had definitely come out for the second half looking hungrier. I had spent half time slagging off Macca and Ince in general and Redknapp in particular: "Just not good enough" or "Plainly not arsed" - I leave it to you to decide who these apply to, but here's a clue: one player comes under two categories.

Well the RAOTL curse struck again and a sustained period of Liverpool pressure saw Redknapp from the spot (why do the papers always call our penalties "controversial"? It was a clear pen even 100 yards away), Ince with a glancing header and Macca with a 15 yard drive across the goal saw us 3-2 up. As McManaman's shot flew past Walker I exploded with glee and turned to see my son screaming in delight, fists clenched and crouching . It was like looking in a mirror; I was so proud of him.

If anything the result showed spirit: something we'd clearly lacked this season. Looking forward to Wednesday - we're gonna need it. Overall - 7 out of 10. Song and Gerrard looked great, Leonhardsen again impressed with his workrate (like Cally on speed) and the defence again held firm(ish). Friedel again didn't let us down. "

Saturday's Football Echo continued it's disgraceful propaganda campaign over the boycott. Trevor Hicks' letter from last week's Anfield Review match programme was printed word-for-word in a highly prominent panel of Ric George's column, allowing Mr Hicks to - once again - deliberately mis-inform Liverpool supporters. Again can I stress that the HJC's boycott of Hillsborough is still on and I ask you all to support it. If you live locally try and attend the rally at St George's Plateau on Lime Street on Saturday May 8th (1pm).

Mr Hicks says "we are NOT calling for a boycott of (the) game" - excuse me, Mr Hicks, but you never did. The idea of a boycott stemmed from the supporters and fanzines in response to the disgraceful treatment of Liverpool fans by SY Police and the employees of SWFC - the match-day stewards. This insulting campaign of provocation was compounded by SWFC's intransigence over the memorial issue. They steadfastly refused to erect one as long as the threat of any legal action against them remained. This was, we are told, on the legal advice of their lawyers. Mr Hicks said to both RAOTL and TTW&R recently that the HFSG had given up on the memorial issue. SWFC were never, it seemed, going to budge.

It seems that as the threat of a boycott became ever more real, and as the massive support the boycott campaign had gathered over the last year or so became ever more apparent (particularly since the fans' own mosaic protest on The Kop in December) SWFC capitulated. How could it be that we - the fans - have shamed them into this about-face, when the families of 96 innocent people killed on their premises couldn't? Believe me, it's nothing to do with 'shame' or 'bridge building' - it's down to MONEY. I'm told they'll allocate us upwards of 5000 tickets - if the boycott is just 50% successful it will cost SWFC £50,000.

Mr Hicks and the HFSG have 'negotiated' all of this without the approval of the dozen or so disaffected families in the HJC and without the approval of many families within the HFSG who are opposed to this. This is, it seems, why the memorial will not bear the names of the 96. Mr Hicks says he met with SWFC along "with fans' representatives and representatives from the fanzines". Well, let me tell you that the "fan's representatives" were carefully chosen and have, it seems, been used to rubber stamp this arrangement. After all, what the hell do the fanzines have to do with approving a memorial or agreeing a 'truce'? We represent no-one. Approving a memorial and agreeing to 'bridge-building' is a matter for the ALL of the bereaved families and survivors, and for those fans slandered by the Sun and SY Police. Mr Hicks does not - and never did - represent all of these people, and yet he is, as far as The Liverpool Echo and Liverpool FC are concerned, the only one with a legitimate voice on these affairs.

I believe the HJC are meeting (or have recently met) with The Liverpool Echo. I shall try and keep you all informed of what goes on. Some good news - local away game coach suppliers Barnes Travel of County Rd, Walton are supporting the boycott by refusing to run coaches to Sheffield. Well done, Barnes Travel (JMac).

The reserves go from strength to strength it seems. They won away at Villa last night, unmarked Jon Newby heading in a Stig Inge Bjornebye corner on the half-hour, to win the game. David James was in goal and nearly cost us the victory, fumbling a low-cross from Aaron Lescott, but Steven Wright cleared from the line in front of a gaping net.

Stig's dead ball kicks were a feature of the game and caused Villa problems all evening. Next up - Preston away on Thursday at Deepdale. RAOTL should have a reporter there - me - so expect a report sometime next October. (joke)

Elsewhere - David James looks like being sent packing and with Brad's work permit not being renewed it looks like we'll need TWO keepers for next season.

The day began in a frightfully civilised manner with a couple of decent cappuccinos and The Daily Telegraph at Lime Street station at 9:30am. I was surprised to read in the Telegraph's Sports section that South Africa's World Cup bid for 2006 is as much criticism of their rivals' bids as it is a promotion of their own. English football, say the S.A., is plagued by hooliganism and they claim that fans at a recent Liverpool - Man Utd game stabbed each other to death. Just thought I'd mention it. Just in case anyone else was worried by the continued bad press we seem to getting these days. Oh, and whilst I'm on that subject - The Telegraph also proudly displayed their new cricket correspondent: our old adversary from The Times, Michael Henderson.

The 10:30 to Preston was packed solid and so when we arrived we decided against getting the connecting service to Blackburn and went over the road for a quick pint. Consequently, the train we got (20 minutes after the sardine express) was a clean and virtually empty inter-city service direct to Blackburn. It didn't stop at the local stations which explains my absence from the Bamber Bridge Working Mens Club. We opted for the Golden Cup up the hill from Ewood on the Darwen Road and eventually settled into the quiet bar of a nearby hotel when t'Golden Cup became a solid, sweating, heaving queue for bar service. It was a pleasant enough walk back down the hill and we discussed the team news we'd just heard: James out, Friedle in. I originally misheard, and thought that Riedle was going to go in goal. I was actually heartened by the prospect. The good news continued: Babb out! For who? Who cares? Phil Babb wasn't playing.

We'd also been talking about the support. Blackburn had gone onto general sale several days before the game. That's virtually unheard of. It seemed that people were voting with their feet. Only 36,000 for Leicester on Wednesday and we expected a lot of empty seats at Ewood. At 3pm Steve Kelly and I stood at the very front and looked up the stand behind us. We had been allocated the usual visitor's enclosure - and it was full - and we had also completely filled the entire top tier of the stand, as well as having hundreds more in the main stand. "This team doesn't deserve support like this" I said. There was a great showing from the Justice Campaign too, almost everyone wore a yellow sticker and the 'Boycott Hillsborough' banner was paraded along the front of the stand on several occasions to great applause.

On the pitch - we started brightly and it soon became clear that in our six man midfield (aimed it seems at tightening the defensive side of things up) that Leonhardsen had been given a commission to rove and destroy. He seemed to be everywhere, up and down the field, breaking things up, winning the ball and starting attacks with simple balls to players in space. It was probably his finest display since joining the club. Davey Thommo playing wide on the right and supported by Song was also impressive, whilst Friedle gave off an air of assurance: doing the simple things cleanly and well. Despite the promising signs we were creating little in the way of clear-cut scoring opportunities until a ridiculous back-pass put their keeper, Filan, in trouble; he fumbled it (made a decent save actually) and Macca pounced on the loose ball to force home. Fortuitous - Yes, but what the hell. Then ten minutes later, our confidence growing, Jamie Redknapp smashed home a right foot belter from 25 yards to make it 2-0. The thousands of travelling Reds shook the ground with their celebrations and I decided it was then safe to go for a pee. I had just reached the concourse when I glanced up at the close-circuit tv to see Leonhardsen slide the ball past the keeper to make it three. The stand shook again as the Liverpudlians celebrated. I couldn't believe it: not only were we 3-0 up but the scorers were the three players to have come in for most stick from us here at RAOTL over the last few months. Could it be a sign? Just in case it is - Berger, Riedle, Thommo, Carragher and Song you're all crap!

We expected Rovers to come out fighting in the second half, and they did seem a great deal more determined. It also seeemd that we were sitting back on our lead somewhat. "This'll end up 3-3", said Steve Kelly with his usual Leonard Cohen-esque pessimism. On the hour Rovers did pull one back after a poor clearance let Duff volley home from about 15 yards. Brad had no chance despite what John Pearman might tell you. "3-3, just wait and see.", Steve K said. I gave him a withering glance and a slap round his birthday napper. Rovers threatened just once after that from a free-kick that Brad saved well and Carragher helped clear into touch. Ten minutes from time Sean Dundee replaced KHR and gave us all a laugh trying to run after the ball. I presume the guy has the aerial presence of John Charles as on the deck he moves like someone manouvering a double-decker bus into a three-point turn in a narrow alley. That's a bit unfair on the guy - he's had little chance to impress and maybe given 45 mins we'll see a little of the real Sean Dundee ... as we surely can't have paid 2 million quid for this?

The game petered out and after a prolongued chorus of "Going down and your boss is a Manc" we left to skip happily back up the hill to t'Golden Cup for a prolonged sing-song and several pints. On the packed, noisy train back to Preston we enjoyed a fine chorus of the 'Sloop John B' European Cup song. It doesn't take much to keep us happy you know.

Overall - 7 out of 10. Golden stars for Leo, Thommo and Carragher. Silver stars for Brad and Song. Okay, and Jamie Redknapp as well.

At least this wasn't as bad as Villa. In fact in the first half I thought we'd win this. Leicester, under Martin O'Neill, will always fight and they're well organised with a couple of decent players. Fortunately for us, one of them, Heskey was injured and their attack was led by two aged ex-blues: Cottee and the laughable overweight figure of Ian Marshall. I thought to myself "There's absolutely no way they'd score against us".

It became apparent though that (defensive frailty apart) our big problem this season has been the inability of the midfield to open up defences and inject imagination and creativity into our play. In short, if you took away the pretty 30 yard crossfield balls and little midfield triangles, what do Ince, McManaman and Redknapp contribute? Where are the incisive 10 or 15 yard passes into the strikers on the edge of - or inside - the box? Or a decent free-kick or corner? Where's a run to the by-line and the 'ball-begging-to-be-buried-in-the-net' cross? Now with Fowler and Owen both absent there were some thinking we'd struggle to score again all season, particularly with the continued absence of Berger and Heggem. For all their faults at least they tend to have a crack when given the opportunity.

And that was the story of the first hour of this game. We had the majority of the ball but created absolutely nothing. Riedle was a dejected figure alone up front having to fight for high long balls pumped up aimlessly in his general direction. Our one real chance came in the 3rd minute when Leonhardsen fed Macca with a simple short pass about six yards out. Fourteen million quid of Real Madrid's money side-footed it lazily over the bar. I tell you, David Moores would have buried that one. It was all too reminiscent of Saturday's miss against Villa. He looks lazy and uninterested. It's an indicator of our predicament that we have to play him.

At half-time O'Neill obviously told his side that we were going to, or could, offer nothing. Leicester came out and played a bit but were no real threat either. Until the 89th minute that is when the ball was pumped up the middle and Carragher and Marshall set off after it. Marshall outpaced Carragher and drilled a decent enough shot at James' right hand side, just inside the post. There was no real sting in it but James fell on it like a sack of cabbages - or rather didn't fall on it - and the net billowed. Hundreds of exasperated, irate souls leapt up from their seats and headed for the exits. I just stood and glared at the pitch and let forth a volley of expletives at no-one in particular. A minute or so later the final whistle signalled a barrage of boos.

It was a shit-awful night all round as elsewhere in the football world Clydebank lost 2-1 at home to Greenock Morton. And then it began to rain.

In order to provide a focal point for those choosing to boycott the Hillsborough game on May 8th the Hillsborough Justice Campaign have organised a 'rally' at St George's Hall Plateau starting at 1pm on Saturday May 8th.

There'll be speakers connected with the Justice campaign as well as a number of local bands - including the current RAOTL fave Pete Wylie. Other groups to appear are Ian McNabb, Up & Running, Deadline and 'The Weight'. There are other acts, the list is as yet unfinalised, and we'll be printing details as soon as we get them so watch this space. Contact the HJC for details.

Despite Trevor Hicks' comments in the Villa match programme I would like to remind anyone out there who is unsure about the status of the boycott: the boycott is still very definitely ON. This is despite yesterday's unhelpful comments by Mr Hicks (aided worryingly in this instance by Liverpool FC) and a disgraceful silence on the affair by those cowards at The Liverpool Echo. (Notable exceptions being Mike Chapple who wrote an excellent piece in the Football Echo, and Chris Bascombe - nobly fighting the corner from the pages of 'The Kop') For a local paper that touts itself as 'speaking up for the people of Merseyside' the Echo should hang it's head in shame on this issue. Since when has Trevor Hicks - a man lest we forget who has recently chosen to talk to The Sun - held the moral high ground on the boycott issue? Neither he, the HFSG nor Liverpool FC hold a monopoly on opinions on this - though the press would lead you to believe otherwise. Subsequently, a whole swathe of Liverpool support is being alienated by this disgraceful censorship of their views. There is no doubt in my mind that Trevor Hicks and this conspiracy (which is what it is) are encouraging people to attend the game at Hillsborough. These are people who if given the information that a boycott actually exists, and is being supported by thousands of fans, would more than likely, I believe, choose not to attend this game.

Of course there are others having full knowledge of the boycott issues who still intend to go to Hillsborough. There are those, some of them bereaved and injured on that day, who need to go to pay their respects to their loved ones in the place where they actually died, or are going to exorcise their own personal demons. Of course I fully respect their wishes. But then there's the others - those who don't want to 'miss a game', those who think that as the boycott won't be supported 100% (and it won't) then it's a waste of time, or those who are going out of some misguided sense of respect for the 96. Can I say to you: "Please think again". There's been a phrase thrown around recently regarding attending this match - and that's "freedom of choice". You can't argue with that can you? Well just as Trevor Hicks chose to talk to The Sun, and just as he chooses to see SWFC's 10 years-too-late memorial as being sufficient to call a boycott off, I'm choosing not to go to watch a football match in the very stand where nearly 100 of my fellow Reds perished. I'm choosing NOT to give SWFC £20 of my hard-earned cash. I'm choosing not to give South Yorks Police the opportunity to humiliate and intimidate me or my fellow supporters again. And I'm not alone. (John Mac)

JJP's report first : " A few words on Saturday - see you Wednesday for more torment. Has anyone got a ferry timetable - Dover to Calais? - JJP

The question has been asked countless times the one that starts off "Just how bad has it got to get?" It can be asked again after this one, this was the pits. Anfield was full of emotion and was ready to back the team to the hilt. Just a bit of effort, a bit of commitment, a bit a class and the roof would have been lifted. But no, no, what we got was something that is hard to put into words; this wasàwell, the pits. Questions have got to be asked about Gerard's team selection because if this team had been sent out by either Roy Evans [or even Graeme Souness] and given this performance the letters page in the Football Echo would have been full to overflowing. Rigobert Song came to Anfield as a possible answer to our central defence problem that every man and his dog in world knows about - he's played right back in the last two games. Stig reappeared at left back and Dominic Matteo who has played okay in that slot in the last couple of games found himself in midfield. It was all "Ducks out of water" stuff. Even playing towards the emotion filled KOP the team gave one of the most inept forty-five minutes seen at Anfield during the now long running decline. It bordered on pathetic at times and went overboard for the rest. The second half saw Houllier change things around and Matteo went back to left back and the man to salvage the sinking ship was none other that Oyvind Leonhardsen. Did it get any better, no it didn't. It probably got worse. With the clock running down and less than ten minutes left Houllier reverted to the Roy Evans Encyclopaedia of Substitutions and sent on Sean Dundee who most of the crowd had never seen, in fact, most of the team had probably never seen him either. Of course, it made no difference and the fact that to accommodate his change Houllier, again in true Roy style, took off Song [right back remember] and Dundee played somewhere but not quite sure where. I mention Song because he was the only player seemingly capable of slinging over a cross.

Anfield emptied pretty quickly once the players had come and taken their well-deserved bow. How hard they had worked and so much effort had been put in. You felt like throwing pound coins on to the pitch to supplement their income because of the commitment shown. The only thing most of this lot should be shown is the door and that includes Monsieur Tactical Genius himself. "

JMac ... Not a lot I can add to that. The first 45 minutes were as mind-numbingly boring and awful as I imagined watching Wigan or Bury must've been years ago when I talked footy with my woollyback mates and we were winning things. You know, I used to remember getting really involved during the game - passionate, angry, frustrated and elated: often all during the same 90 minutes. This one was like listening to the wife explain the new colour scheme for the kitchen or listening in to her talking to her mother on the phone. "Lord God, Just get me out of here!", my brain screamed after an hour of this ... this ... er ... well, 'match' is the wrong word. A football match implies that two teams are taking part. This fixture had just halfof one - Aston Villa, because let's face it they were crap too. A shadow of the team we tonked last November, and yet they cantered through this fixture. I can't really recall Bosnich having a save to make and it took us til well into the 2nd half to force a corner. Can you believe that?

Okay - so the injuries to Berger, Gerrard, Owen and Heggem didn't help; but neither did some bewildering team selections. Apparently Davey Thompson was injured too (at least I hope he was) and Danny Murphy has, I believe, been told he has to stay at Crewe for the rest of the season (Can someone out there shed any light on the heinous crime he must've done to piss Houllier off?). However, I still can't believe I saw Babb and Bjornebye in a Liverpool defence again or that Leonhardsen managed to get onto the pitch in a Red shirt. These selections aside - the attitude of some of the senior players was an absolute disgrace, and I'll name names. Macca - just Fuck Off to Spain now will you, you obviously don't give a flying fuck anymore. Ince, ditto. Jamie Redknapp, despite looking busy, still can't pass or take free-kicks to a sufficiently high standard. Shape up or ship out, lover boy. Fowler, had a stinker but I couldn't and won't blame him: he's had a ton of shit on his plate recently. James didn't have much to do but still doesn't inspire confidence. And the substitution of Song (our best performer, playing out of position as right-back) by Sean Dundee - who also went to a right-back/wing-back role for the last few minutes - was staggering. A goal down at home and we bring on a centre forward and play him in defence against a team that couldn't muster an attack for the last half-hour.

Away from matters on the pitch - The Kop mosaic was fabulous and congratulations to Andy for his hard work on that score. As the Kop raised the cards and YNWA filled the air, the Villa fans burst into spontaneous applause which spread round the ground. The TV pictures on 'Match of the Day' showed just how good it looked. Also, the sight of so many flowers on Anfield Road at the memorial was moving and memorable. I was particularly moved by the huge bouquet laid by Mark Bosnich and Paul Merson prior to kick-off behind The Kop goal. Villa manager, John Gregory, said that it was Bosnich and Merson's idea and the whole team chipped in. Nice to see the players caring. Well done.

Thursday April 15th at 2:30pm - Memorial Service at Anfield for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough Disaster. Please attend if at all possible. If you can't make it then bring along some floral tributes at Saturday's game with Aston Villa.

Liverpool are to play Sunderland in a friendly at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday, May 18th. The game is, apparently, a celebration of 100 years of the Football League.

The reserves had a fairly comfortable win over Leeds at Anfield last night in front of a disappointing crowd (estimated at around 700). Jimmy Traore - who had a very good game according to RAOTL's reporter - scored a fabulous diving header to put the Reds 2-1 up, after Jon Newby had equalised for Liverpool following David Wetherall's opener for Leeds. What was most astonishing was that Traore scored from a cross from Stig Bjornebye! (Is this the comeback?). Three minutes later Jamie Cassidy seemed to sew the game up with a third goal for the Reds, however Leeds replied with a penalty from Andy Wright to make the final score 3-2.

Traore and Newby were Liverpool's outstanding players whilst Sean Dundee seems resigned to leaving the club if last night's disinterested showing is anything to go by. I would have though that with Fowler's ban imminent and St Michael injured then Sean would have been out to impress. It appears that this is not the case.

The Liverpool Echo's headline tonight had me quivering in my boots: "REDS TO PLAY NEW YORK". As part of the official twinning of Liverpool and New York City a friendly is being arranged between The Reds and "a top American football team" to take place at Shea Stadium out in Queens. Although only at a very tentative stage the game has been pencilled in for late 1999 or early on in the new year. What could be better - the cheap transatlantic flights are available from around November to March. So stay tuned for what could be the biggest piss-up we've ever had here at RAOTL.

When was the last time we came away pleasantly surprised at a Liverpool away performance? It was probably the nil-nil at Arsenal back in January when we'd have settled for the draw before the game; ended up getting the draw, but returned disappointed because, with a bit of luck, we could have sneaked all 3 points. Let's face it: Leeds were on a roll - their best since the halcyon days of 1972-3 - with 7 consecutive wins and looking for a modern-day club record. We, on the other hand hadn't kept a clean sheet since that January trip to Highbury. To make matters worse Song was away on international duty, Eggy Veggy Heggy was still injured after Campbell's derby game assault and Staunton, too, was on the sick list. Add to that the appearance of Phil Babb alongside Carragher, and the sight of Stig on the bench ... well, we feared the worst.

The recent good weather that had seen shorts and shirtsleeves at the derby game had vanished, and it was a cold but bright evening when we pulled off the motorway at about 5:30. After a quick couple of pints in 'The Drysalters' we set out up to Elland Road. Those of you exiles who are veterans of trips here back in the 70's won't recognise the area much at all these days. The industrial estate that crowded close round has all but vanished, and the ground is now stranded amidst vast flat car parks. There is still , however, the crowded, sweaty 'Peacock' pub opposite the away end; and a rather fine (damn fine, actually) chippy (and obligatory 50 yard queue) opposite the programme shop. Also vastly different to the days of Bremner, Giles, Jones, Reaney and Clarke is the atmosphere. A trip to Leeds is one of the friendliest jaunts of the season. What binds us together these days is mutual respect and a shared memory of a decade and a half when we were both the giants of the English game, regularly locking horns in titanic battles. The Charity Shield in 1974 saw us play each other at Wembley: Leeds as Champions and The Reds as Cup Winners - oh, and the Mancs had been relegated to the 2nd division - Happy times! What also helps brings us both together is a shared loathing of that ... certain football team. I shan't comment on this - but when they assailed Paul Ince with a chant of "You're just a shit, scum bastard!" I was sorely tempted to join in.

Once again, RAOTL sellers were in place at the turnstiles when I arrived and JJP gave me his usual greeting of "Whatever, it is don't put it in my sodding bag". Nevertheless I stuffed a folder full of photos, press clippings and suchlike onto him (the deadline for issue 32 was but 2 days hence). I said my "Hellos" to the assembled group. Alan Diamond was finishing off what appeared to be a 7 course packed lunch and was sitting back waiting for the port to be passed. I stuck a 'Hillsborough Boycott' sticker on his yellow kagoule whilst he showed me the pornographic additions that his 6 year old son, Greg, had made to a copy of the Manc Evening News. Young Greg has only ever been to two games: Barnsley and ManU away last season - both of which ended in (near) riots. As he has a ticket assured for the Mancs visit on May 5th, I have taken the trouble of getting my cricket box and crash helmet out of the wardrobe in readiness.

About 45 minutes before kick-off dark, ominous, 'wicked-witch-of-the-west' clouds rolled over and the heavens opened. I swear the sky went from bright blue to purple then black in the space of about 90 seconds. I legged it to the turnstiles leaving JJP to the rain. (Sorry John) At the entrance I was searched by one of the most charming and friendly stewards I've encountered all season. (In fact, later on we saw several of them sporting the yellow 'Justice' and 'Boycott' stickers).

After all the usual Sky/Live TV, football-in-the-90s, embarassing pre-match rigmarole the teams appear - Fowler's name is chanted loud and lustily. Steve Kelly and I speculate about any possible goal celebrations. "He should lie down and do that Gazza dentist chair thing and pretend to drink a bucket of lager", I say, "then if the FA say anything he can tell them to 'Fuck off' , after all the Premier League's sponsored by a brewery so what can they object to?". Steve nods in agreement (I think) but wisely says nothing. After about ten minutes of the first half it began to dawn on me that we weren't going to be taken to the cleaners. Hasselbank and Kewell were either having very off days or were being easily contained by, what was in effect, a makeshift Liverpool defence. Steven Gerrard, in particular, was having a cracker of a game at right-back. Then just as things were looking rosy - St Michael chases a through ball and then pulls up sharply and falls to the ground. The sharp intake of breath from the 3,000 or so Reds is audible. Owen rolls around in obvious pain; even the Leeds defenders go to his aid. After a stoppage of 4 or 5 minutes Michael climbs to his feet and walks off to the touchline where he receives further treatment from Mark Leather. We wonder whether he'll be alright to continue, but with Fowler's ban due to start the bench are taking no chances and he's replaced with Riedle. We restricted Leeds to just one real chance in the first half when Hasselbank had an effort cleared off the line just before half-time. At half time we chat about Macca - one minute racing back to tackle, the next standing idley about on the halfway line brushing the hair out of his eyes, leaving Gerrard exposed as two Leeds players bear down on him down the flank. Redknapp is coming in for some stick too - Why? Oh why? Oh why (in 'Points of View' fashion) does he have to take every free-kick and almost every corner? Particularly as he produces bugger all from them?

We've not sold out this game and there's about 350 empty seats in a block to one side of our 'end' that's empty. The back 3 rows in our block are also empty (uppertier) so S.K. and I move up to the rear (No, Grame Le Saux gags please ,,, What do you mean, Grame Le Saux gags? He should spit it out then!). At the back we can stand and sing in comfort. And sing we do. The atmosphere was great and the singing was the best, certainly since Newcastle at Christmas and possibly since Newcastle away in the league. I'm enjoying myself immensely and every so often JJP turns round to look at me and then shakes his head. As the second half continues it's clear that only one team is going to score - and it's not Leeds. Riedle goes very close with a header after a great move; similarly Fowler with an attempted overhead kick that was blocked by Radebe (easily Leeds' best player). In the last ten minutes I'm convinced we're going to snatch it: Berger, Gerrard and Matteo are all raiding at will and Leeds look knackered. One last chance from a Redknapp free-kick wide on the right is wasted as the ball sails over the area never once dipping below 25 feet, before bouncing out into touch on the opposite flank.

And that was that. Goodbyes are exchanged and I drop Steve off in Bootle before getting home at 12:30. Up for work in 6 hours and - believe me - I need my beauty sleep.

Overall - 7 out of 10 (8 for effort). Gerrard, Matteo, Carragher, Berger and Fowler all performed well. Who knows - maybe when Eggy returns he can fill the right wing role, leaving Gerrard with the full back slot? After all it seems my Matteo prediction is coming true.

Being as I live only about fifteen miles away from Nottingham it was great having a lay in on the morning of an away match. I could even go out on Easter Sunday night and not worry about how much I had to swallow because recovery time would be extended. I didn't have to leave for the game until midday - in fact I could have hung around at home until half one and still made it with time to spare. But I have a fanzine to sell so at midday I was chauffeured to Nottingham and I couldn't wait. Long time since we beat Forest at this place. In fact the last time we won here Cloughie was still reasonably sober - yes that long ago - and Robin Hood was still a major threat to the rich. But this Forest team was nothing, maybe the worst team the Premier has seen - even worse than the blueshite. So beating them wasn't going to be a problem, after all they've only one home win to their credit this season and even the likes of Everton have chalked up wins at the City Ground. Everything was just right, it was a nice enough day, we had just beaten the blueshite and Forest are on the downers of downers. It was the sort of day when everything went right, parked up without a problem, and we were so close to the ground that Stig could have hit us with one of his well-placed crosses had he been playing. We even managed to strike up a friendly accord with the local bizzies and the stewards, the Forest fans seemed friendly as well, something of a change. Our support was far bigger than we deserved because of our form but I reckoned half of them had had to go with their dads because they were aged between about five and ten - all getting the chance to see their heroes for the first time. In some ways it was a bit like a pre-season affair when the young 'uns all get a rare chance to watch a game, and this was probably a nice Easter treat, far much better to get some fresh air, watch some footy than eat all that chocolate. We even sold loads of fanzines, so I was happy ... well reasonably happy. Then the game got underway.

From the off it was easy to see just why Forest are where they are. To say they were pitiful would be giving them the benefit of the doubt; to say they were fucking rubbish would be nearer the truth. They, along with Everton, have the worst goalscoring record in the division, but they still worried our defence and even though they only came into our half occasionally you could see a goal coming sooner or later. At the back, they made us look solid: I do not jest. But today Robbie and Michael were not at their best. Robbie playing under the mounting pressure of inciting Evertonians to think about running onto Anfield and as we know they normally do not need an excuse, they just do it - see Saturday, one jerk was on the pitch inside a minute and I wonder, is this a new Premiership best for a moron to invade the pitch following a goal! Statto will find out for us. Whilst little Michael looked like his Ma had told him not to talk to that naughty Jamie Carragher boy because he might get into trouble. What I am trying to say is, we missed a hat full of chances even though Jamie Redknapp scored a belter.

One up at halftime and surely more to come and the first away win the Prem. since our trip to the other Riverside - Middlesbrough. But somehow we contrived to let Forest back in the game, and considering how bad Forest are and were that took some bloody doing. Eventually it happened, they scored and our defence was at fault. The easy day out was going Easter Egg shaped. This might come as a bit of a surprise to anyone who knows me, but I was getting a bit angry at events on the pitch, you know shouting things like what the "fuck is going on" and that. Suddenly, our tactical genius has a brainstorm and decides to send on KHR in place of the boy McManaman who was having a rare off day. In fact on one occasion I saw him point his finger and run his hand through his hair after one misdirected pass. It should go down well with the locals of Madrid when he gets there. Anyway with a three man attack we suddenly took control of the game again and should have scored a few times before Michael finally found the back of the net to make it 2-1. Good goal as well. Now, I thought, we'll take them apart and we'll score three or four MORE!

Cue the tactical genius and end of brainstorm. Bring off Robbie [didn't want him upsetting the locals by scoring and celebrating by doing an impression of a scab did we?] On comes young Gerrard and we adopt the idea of what we have we hold. I swear that in those final ten minutes we hardly made a forward move. Everything went back and we tried to shut up shop. Well shut up shop these days we can't do, our defence is more a case of 'Open all hours' and we employ a few comedians to play the leading roles as well. "Two minutes of time to be added" shouts the bloke on the loudspeaker [good idea that, letting people know] and I said to my mate, "We'll blow it!" As we counted down the seconds, yes, seconds, they get a free kick just where Pierre Wentaway likes them. You don't need telling what happened.

The thing is, why did Houllier want to shut up shop, or who made such a stupid decision, because that's what it was - totally stupid. We then sat back and tried to defend, the one thing we haven't been able to do for years, we tried to do. We couldn't do it against the blueshite on Saturday, but got away with it, but this was against Nottingham Forest who are known locally "Forest lost." They haven't got an attack, they haven't got a defence, so why did we decide to defend? To be quite frank, if Houllier or Houllier and Thompson made the decision, then they should come out and publicly apologise to the fans. Whoever decided to defend against the worst team in the history of the Premiership when goals and points were there to be grabbed, then they should hang their head in shame.

The highlight of the afternoon was when we heard that Everton had lost [again] and that just about sums up this team of ours. And if Johnny Mac wonders [he was on holiday again visiting the in-laws] I wasn't a happy Easter bunny. (JJP)

John Mac adds "... I decided to spend the £25 that profiteering Forest charged for a seat ( even Chelsea only charged £23) , on ale on Saturday night celebrating the blues being 3 points nearer the Nationwide. Wise decision, it seems."

After 6 weeks without a home game - and only one game in all of March - there was a strange, start-of-season feel to this derby game. This was heightened by the warm Spring sunshine that saw many of the crowd in shorts and shirtsleeves for the first time since last Autumn (or New Year's Day if you're a Geordie). In the weeks since Derby away I'd been getting strange phone calls from lads quite obviously at a loose end and driven to distraction with no footy about: JJP called about three times a day and hummed and mumbled and tried, in vain, to drag the tiniest morsel of interesting football news from me. There wasn't any. Each night I sat here looking at this screen and tried to fabricate an interesting article from the crumbs available on the back pages of The Liverpool Echo. It was like darkest July. Lee Hemmings even rang me up to tell me he'd forgotten what I looked like.

I got into The Kop at 2.50 on Saturday, just in time for a rousing YNWA. The Kop was extremely lively and noisy and looked great with some brilliant flags, including last season's favourite: "Agent Johnson - mission accomplished". Maybe this time, lads. Just as the support from The Kop was reaching crescendo (it was the best since Newcastle in December), the players were ushered into the centre-circle for a minute's silence, this being the last home game before next Thursday's (the 15th) anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. The 60 seconds were observed impeccably, but the Evertonians' show of respect was marred just two or three minutes later. Dacourt's shot - after just 40 seconds - takes a lucky deflection and loops up wickedly over James and into the Kop end goal. The away enclosure goes nuts and the obligatory bluenose tosspot invades the pitch and dances across the turf. They just can't keep off it can they? They scored a late goal away at Bristol in The Cup this year and dozens of them invaded the pitch ... at Bristol City !!! Like a mindless mongrel dog, show them a patch of grass and they have to scamper over it with their tongues hanging limply from the side of their mouths and slobbering like one of Pavlov's. The knobheads.

The Kop seemed to take this setback personally - deeply personally. The support over the next 10 or 15 minutes is phenomenal. Everton are clinging to a kind of dogs-of-war mentality but have neither the players nor the guile to get away with it. Gemmill and Barmby are both booked for crude challenges. This fires the crowd up even more. We go close a few times - Ince is 'fouled' in the box but no foul is given and Song heads wide. Shortly afterwards though, Materazzi bundles Ince over in the box and Elleray really can't avoid giving us a penalty this time. Robbie steps up and tucks it away accurately into the bottom right hand corner. His celebrations have been widely and hysterically reported over the last few days. He runs over in front of the dim-witted bluenose contingent, dives to the floor and coke-snorts the white line of the pitch markings. Obviously we couldn't see it from The Kop but it looked quite funny on the tele. After two seasons of smackhead taunts it appears the Goodison faithful can dish the stick out but can't take it (as if we didn't know it). Apparently several complaints are made to police and Robbie has now been charged by a feeble F.A. with "incitement" or something. Fucking ridiculous. Where was all this righteous indignation when Beckham taunted the home support at Chelsea? Or when the Brylcream kid and young Steptoe Neville ran 40 yards to the Liverpool fans at O.T. to make 'wanking' gestures at us after Solksjaer's goal in the cup? (I just muttered "Fucking Manc, in-bred, child-molesting twats" and thought no more of it). What about Gazza's 'dentist chair' mime in Euro 96? (Oh sorry, that was drink wasn't it - not drugs?). Never mind that Robbie had put up with two years of this: that's conveniently pushed aside and forgotten. Graham Le Saux sneaks up behind Robbie and, like the coward he is, punches him the back of the head, but is forgiven - even exonerated - because the poor little precious poof had to put up with some dreadful taunting.

You know, up here in Merseyside we're often accused of not being able to take a joke when we remark about all the blatant 'Scousism' that exists out there in football-land. We've had years of 'Sign On', hubcaps, granny-robbing and car-robbing jokes - even though the actual FACTS show that, say, Manchester (just to give one example) has greater unemployment, more car thefts, more drug-related crime and greater social problems including illiteracy ("Misery City" The Telegraph called it) . Recently we've had to put up with a campaign waged by The Times and Sunday Times aimed at projecting the worst possible image of the football club, us the fans and the city itself. (Did anyone see Monday's Telegraph where UNESCO ranked Liverpool's waterfront up there with The Taj Mahal?). It all helps to create an atmosphere for Scouse-baiting by the ill-educated and uncreative who populate the away enclosure at Anfield. Mostly we just shrug it off and laugh at the opposition's feeble lack of imagination (e.g. Harry Enfield 'Calm Down' gags that stopped being funny almost ten years ago - especially when proffered by idiots from places with no discernible identifiable accent or characteristics :- the true social no-marks of England).

You can laugh most of it off ... but then you have to put up with the victimisation of Fowler (Scouse, working-class) and the beatification Of Beckham and Le Saux (lovely southern - or middle-class - boys) and it gets you thinking. Just watch over the next two months and see if any other player or club is criticised is the manner that Robbie's been criticised over the last 6 or 7 weeks. Don't hold your breath though.

Anyway, back to the game. Five minutes later Macca volleys from the right-hand side of the area forcing Myrhe to push the ball over. From Berger's corner, Macca flicks the ball on at the near-post (can you believe this from Liverpool?) and Robbie nods home his second. Yippee! His celebrations are less animated this time, but still the away enclosure is surrounded by yellow-jacketed stewards and coppers. They're obviously getting a bit narky in there.

The second half saw almost total control from The Reds. Owen went close on two occasions, Song almost scored, Gerard and Fowler had good attempts on goal, and Berger had a magnificent effort saved by Myhre. Paddy, who'd had an impressive game for the Czech Republic in midweek in Glasgow, was a constant thorn down the left. He proceeded to cap his display with a blistering 25 yard volley, which flew low into the bottom right-hand corner, for the third goal. 3-1 up and with 15 minutes to go and we thought we could indulge in a spot of piss-taking (Heaven forbid! I fully expect a summons to drop through the door any day now). "They're going down!" bellow The Kop, "the blue shite are going down"... just as Jeffers pulls a goal back. Shit! I was just enjoying myself there.

Self-doubt began to creep into the Reds' game and Everton pile the ball up into the air and try and force an error in the hope of snatching an undeserved equaliser. They nearly get it too. James races off his line when he had no intentions of getting the ball (I mean that, he had no 'intention' ) and as the fat little Cadamarteri shot at an open goal Stephen Gerard appears from nowhere to clear the ball. Young Gerard then leapt into the air in delight, celebrating as if he'd scored himself.

Elleray adds on about 7 minutes, but we hold on and the final whistle is greeted with huge cheers of relief. Then the piss-taking begins again. Evertonians respond in the usual manner and there's a bit of argy-bargy on Annie Road, in town that night and, most disgracefully of all, Patrik Berger's car is pelted with bottles and glasses by gobshite bluenoses outside The Royal Oak on County Road about an hour after the game. Paddy had to reverse at speed to get himself and his wife away from serious injury. Fucking bluenose bastards - I shall laugh my over-large cock off when you fuckers are playing at Grimsby, Fulham, Swindon and Stockport next year. The Liverpool Echo disgracefully refuses to run the Berger car attack story, but it is alluded to on the Monday night on Radio Merseyside.

Meanwhile, in The Albert we're all having a well-deserved sing-song and the cold bottles of Becks are going down beautifully. Much the same way as Everton will in May.

Overall: 7 out of 10. Star performers: Berger, Fowler, Heggem (until brutally hacked by Campbell - what a joke he is) and Song. And The Kop were great today. (JMac)

" Bloody hell, a win against the blues, a pitch invasion [well one ran on] after forty seconds and Robbie in hot water again. It all happens doesn't it. Forty seconds into the game I'm already thinking here we go again. They come to Anfield and we wrap up the points for them to stay in the Premier, I could see it and sense it. I was right behind Jameo when they scored and it wasn't his fault - this time. But it was there only shot for about forty minutes as we piled it on and that nice man David Elleray gave us a penalty - add him to the Clive Thomas list lads.Robbie scores and then blows his mind. Well, what can you say. I'm saying nothing, it was a goal, they've spent eighteen months rumour spreading and all that, so who gives a toss. Just don't tell us it could have sparked a pitch invasion lads, please. It caused bad feeling in the Everton end did it, well that lot have been causing me bad feeling for best part of forty years. I still haven't forgiven them for selling Dave Hickson to us you know. Soon made it 2-1 didn't he, Robbie that is, this time no weird snorts, just normal, "I've scored, stuff you" stuff. Then they hit the post with their second shot. Second half was a bit different, we dominated but they had a couple of chances, but then Paddy scored a beaut. Did I love it and I wanted to celebrate those last ten minutes like never before. But not with our lot. Somehow we let them score and then the nerve ends jangled - and how. Whatever was on that white line of Robbie's I could have done with some.

I'm sure that Elleray had his OT watch on by mistake because it seemed to be forever coming that final whistle. Gerrard [Steven, not Houllier] saved us with two goaline clearances but I would have bet had one of them gone in then we'd still be trying to get that lot off the pitch. Now that's what causes Evertonians to run on a pitch, when they score against us.

Anyone near the Royal Oak on County Road on Saturday night. Saint Paddy made the mistake of driving past in his car only to be greeted with a few well flighted missiles. Amongst all the "Fowler incites Evertonians" crap, this went unnoticed in the press. So I suppose if Robbie hadn't have upset them, they would have shouted "Well played sir, better team won on the day, enjoy your night out and God bless Peter Johnson as well." (JJP)

Transmedia Productions phoned us up on Friday afternoon and asked if we'd help them in a programme they're making about Kevin Keegan. So here goes ...

" Channel 5 are making a documentary profiling the career of Kevin Keegan. We are looking for contributors for the programme who may have any kind of funny stories about Keegan during his time at Liverpool. If you feel you have a suitable story please call either Pete or Charlotte on 0171 494 3195. "

Tickets for the Bridgford Lower Stand on sale to ALL season ticket holders on production of voucher 43. Priced at £25 or £12 (kids). On sale from Friday March 19th (tomorrow) until Friday March 26th. General sale from the following Monday should any remain.

Barnes' coaches go from all the usual stops - price is £10.00. Tel. Barnes on (0151) 523 8363. Don't forget it's Easter monday, a bank holiday, so the train service will be crap.

PS. I've just seen Monica Lewinsky on the tele. She was in Manchester signing books. She was wearing a Man Utd scarf !!! I think that's the cover of issue 32 sorted then.

By the way - anyone confused by our last issue? It was issue 31 - though the cover said issue 30. Those responsible have been shot. And if I was the sick type I might make something out of the following ... it seems that Rod Hull (of 'emu' fame) died yesterday when he fell off the roof trying to fix the tv aerial "... to improve the picture as he watched last night's Manchester United football match ...".

RAOTL had a reporter at the game and we'll have his eye-witness account on-line tomorrow. Gerard Houllier took the chance to rest Owen and Fowler and give several of the fringe team members a run-out. Berger, Gerrard and Davey Thommo impressed and Djimi Traore was given a game (well, 30 mins). In front of a crowd of 3,600 in the Stade de la Liberation Patrik Berger gave The Reds a 18th minute lead with a lobbed goal. A minute later non-professional, 4th division Bouolgne equalised with a (guess what?) header from Benoit Lastavel. A minute from time the testimonial boy, Dufasse, won the game with a deflected free-kick.

Liverpool: James (Friedel 46), Kvarme, Song (Ferri 46), Babb (Traore 57), Matteo (Bjornebye 46), Thompson (Leonhardsen 46), Redknapp (Souness 46 ... no, only joking), Gerrard, McManaman, Berger, Riedle.

The number of phone calls and e-mails we've had over the last two or three weeks regarding visits to New York has been quite remarkable. A number of you have been heading over the Atlantic for the Lewis-Hollifield fight and also the St Patrick's Day celebrations. Can I take the opportunity or reminding anyone heading over there in the next two months that live Liverpool games are now shown at Clancy's Bar at 52nd and 2nd. (Tel. (212) 755-8383). Check the Setanta satellite/cable schedule for details or phone the New York Reds hotline on (212) 971-1959. RAOTL will be available at Clancy's when the Reds' games are shown (next game is probably Leeds away on April 12th (Easter Monday) screened at 2:45pm EST and possibly on tape delay at 7pm that evening - phone Clancy's or the NYC Reds for confirmation).

And afterwards get down to Molly's at 287 3rd Ave (Between 22nd and 23rd Streets). Molly's is on (212) 889-3361 and is NYC's finest bar. Tell Carmel that Johnny Mac and Sean Woods sent you.

The season's remaining FlagDays are as follows: Everton (h) April 3rd, ManU (h) May5th and Wimbledon (h) May 16th. The Wimbledon FlagDay will be the now traditional 'end-of-season FlagDay' and will have as it's theme the 15th anniversary celebrations of the European Cup victory in Rome in 1984, when - of course - we did The Treble. I fully expect to see the usual compliment of replica European Cups on display; as well as the fine collection of Roma Red and Yellow (Giallorossi) silk flags. Of course, should you want to practice this on May 5th, then I think it would be perfectly acceptable.

Tonight's reserve mini-derby game was postponed at short notice to allow a full squad to travel to France for the Boulogne training sessions and friendly tomorrow night ( One of our reporters is heading there by shuttle and we'll have a report on-line by Friday). Programmes for all home Reserve team games (8 pages) available - send a 75p (incl. p&p) postal order to RAOTL at PO Box 296, Loughborough, Leics, LE11 4LQ

There reserve team fixture list has now been distorted out of all recognition from the original schedule, so here are the fixtures that are definite as far as we know:

JJP's report: " Can anyone remember when we would go to places like Derby and not have to worry too much about the outcome? Haven't things changed now. We went to the inappropriately named Pride Park - inappropriately named because it's surrounds are nothing to be proud of - and as we made our way to our seats we almost knew what was going to happen. Sure enough it did. We went a goal down with virtually all the defence just standing around wondering what they should be doing and Jameo standing around wondering what he should be doing and a Derby forward - that legendary world class striker somebody Burton leaping unchallenged to head the ball into our net. It's getting boring, tedious and tiring to say our defence was shit, but it was and we were one down. It was then a case of huff and puff stuff but we caused Derby some problems and should have scored on at least one occasion, if not more, before a penalty from Robbie levelled it up. In the old days we would have took over, after all Derby were nothing more than average but these days a team nothing more than average will have a field day against our defence. A free kick, repeat the facts surrounding their first goal only this time the scorer was Wanchope - a legend in Derby he is. It's getting boring, tedious and tiring to say our defence was shit, but it was and we were 2-1 down.

For some reason Robbie was doing his best to get himself sent off, maybe he was still reeling from oversleeping last weekend or maybe he was missing his pal, but he walked a tightline and after being booked earlier in the game he was still giving the referee verbals at halftime. On came KHR after the break - Michael Owen was injured - and we thought he might be able to do something. But then Derby had a free kick and our defence was squarer than square and the ball was knocked through the gaping hole and that famous Costa Rica star - or wherever he's from could have sat down and had a rest before he netted so adrift was our defence. It's getting boring, tedious and tiring to say our defence was shit, but it was and we were 3-1 down. Not content with that we nearly contrived to give them another only this time they hit the post before Matteo made the goal line clearance of the season with everyone else everywhere but where they should have been. Mind you, one place they shouldn't have been is on the pitch wearing red shirts. Robbie cuts it back to 3-2 and we thought we'd go for it. But that was us the fans thinking. The team, well maybe they did try but it was nothing special. Although there was one moment that will live on in the memory. We put together a series of decent passes, opened up the Derby defence and got the ball out wide to Stig. Our Norwegian ace looked up and saw a host of red shirts awaiting the pinpoint cross that has made him what he is today and that's what they got. A pinpoint cross from Stig straight to some Derby fan in row twenty something, something he is now famous for at Liverpool. It was an acute embarrassment as was the laughter from the home fans. Overall it was shite again. But we expect that now. But it is all so disappointing because we thought that Gerard was supposed to be a tactical genius and that Thommo was going to break hearts, ego's and heads. Well nothing appears to be happening to change anything. Same old players, same old drivel, same old shite. We haven't got any class at the back and we haven't got any options, but we've sold McAteer who might have given us a bit of bite in midfield even though he's not really good enough and we've sold Steve Harkness who again wasn't really good enough but he's better than Stig. David Thompson appears to have joined Danny Murphy [on loan now until the end of the season] on the 'not wanted' list but surely they would have done no worse than this overpaid bunch of no-marks. Our forward line got no service, our midfield was overrun and It's gettingboring, tedious and tiring to say our defence was shit, but it was and we were beaten yet again. In the words of the Man City fans last season "We're shit, and we're sick of it." (JJP)

Well, just where do you start? We were a complete and total shambles, apart from a 15 minute period in the second half when we pulled the score back to 3-2 and went looking for an equaliser. However, this team lacks the class and guile to create real chances and Derby coped with the threat without really stretching themselves, before we (both) eventually ran out of steam. Owen's electrifying burst that won the penalty, Berger's dribble that was ended with a shameful hacking on the edge of the box just as he was about to let fly (and should have seen the defender sent off) and Matteo's run and cross for the 2nd goal - and that's about all we did in this match. We created absolutely nothing, seeming to rely on Eggy on the right and Stig (I know, I know) on the left to create something - anything - with their crosses. Redknapp and Berger created little and were more concerned in dropping ever more deep in an attempt to plug up a defence which was embarrassingly awful. Song, looked tactically lost - totally unsure of where and how he should be playing; forever, reacting to the play and chasing attackers rather than stepping in and breaking up attacks and passing moves. Matteo performed admirably but could not stem the tide alone and when pushed into the middle of the park in the second half became easily our best player. His energetic bursts down the left, his solid tackling and general sense of purpose just may have ensured the left-back / wing back spot for him when Carragher returns alongside Song in the centre. To be fair, Stig tried and never hid; always offering himself for the ball. Unfortunately, he is just crap and his crossing and general passing were shite. At one point - at 3-2 - as we piled forward for an equaliser, the ball was played wide on the left and Stig touched it once, KHR and Fowler were in the box and the whole away end rose to it's feet in anticipation , he rolled it forward and sliced the cross high into the Derby fans behind the goal. It was symbolic of the entire afternoon.

But he wasn't the worst. I said way back in September that Phil Babb should never pull on a Liverpool shirt again. I'd like to repeat that now but MUCH, MUCH LOUDER !!! It's plain that he just doesn't want the ball and can't play with it at all. During the second half James threw the ball out wide to Stig about 20 yards out. Stuck for long-ball options he plays it diagonally inside to an unmarked Phil Babb about 10 yards away. "Turn!" shout a thousand Scouse voices in unison. But Babb botlles it and just plays it straight back to Stig who, with no options now open, lofts it forward where we lose it to Derby and are put back on the defensive again. It reminded me of Ince's similar shit-pass-for-no-reason that put Staunton in trouble at Villa Park and let Villa back into the game with their first goal. Babb just creates panic in all around him. Surely Grame Souness must need a quick, tall ... er ... Irish international? And David James must learn that he's allowed to move his feet, and adjust his position, whenever crosses come into his area. He stands rooted to the spot watching the ball sail over and then leaps to one side in reaction to the header. Anything placed decently well enough will beat him. As it did here, twice.

One final word for Matteo's magnificent goaline clearance. It was, well, magnificent. No real mention on tv or the papers though; in stark contrast to the media's fawning over Berg's inferior effort, versus Inter, for ManU last week. From my seat high above the goal I was convinced were were 4-1 down. And yet another infuriating display from a referee: or is that just me?

Overall, 2 out of 10. Matteo and Gerrard stood out. Fowler tried (and scored 2) whilst generally having a stinker. Pride Park is a tip in the middle of a field. Lager was £2 a pint and about 2º by volume - but cold and wet, the toilets were flooded and stank, the pre-match and half-time 'entertainment' is crass and unimaginative and designed to appeal to the under-10s (that said, young Master Red Boy (aged 8) alongside me thought it was garbage); but the steak pies were alright.

One incident stands out - and at the end of the season I might return to it and make some general state-of-the-season address around it : About ten minutes to go and a gang of lads gets up in the row in front to leave, obviously disgusted at the events on the pitch. As they are filing past us, Stig or Babb or someone plays an awful ball. "Oh for fucks sake! That's shite!", shouts someone. One of the leaving lads turns and addresses us all - "Just get behind yer team will yer! Support them!!" he yells.

"Is that why you're going ten minutes early then?" says Steve Kelly sitting alongside me. (JMac)

It's Friday night and you have a choice between going into town and getting hammered or going down to Anfield to watch the reserves play - no contest is it, you get on the bus and go down to Anfield. Reserve football offers so much as you get the chance to see the latest of Gerard's new signings for "the day after tomorrow" [Gerard's own words] which on this night would be Djimi Traore and to see if Leo has started to show the Anfield faithful just why Royston shelled out over four million to swell Wimbledon's coffers. There was the added attraction tonight of seeing Sean Dundee - another Roy purchase who hasn't exactly set Anfield alight with scintillating stuff but then again he has been injured and like we said, he was one of Roy's signings and not many of them have set Anfield alight have they?

Forest Reserves haven't been doing too bad in the Pontins but when you glanced at the team programme [ available from RAOTL - see advert - and is a bloody good read, well according to the Editor it is] you tended to think that this was more a first team, even Big Ron, Mr. Bojangles himself, was here. It seemed like a first team anyway, not that they're any good, but the AWOL man himself was even playing, dear old Pierre Van Hoodywinks or whatever his name is. Of course, he was in just so that Gerard could have a look at him to see if he is worth buying, well that's what some of the sages were saying. Touch of the shop windows and all that. Still about 1500 turned up, paid their three quid, or got in with their ISC membership cards or bunked in whilst nobody was looking. Anyway we did see what Traore was like and as someone said, he is big and when he stops growing he will be very big. And he did alright. We did spot Sean Dundee as well as he raced around Anfield but the questions about him remain. The main one being why did Roy sign him? And then there was Leo. We left still wondering what possessed Roy to give Wimbledon four million.

And the game - well it ended 0-0, so draw your own conclusions so we went into town and got hammered.

Liverpool: Friedel, Navarro, Cassidy (Kippe 58), Kvarme, Traore, Ferri, Gerrard, Leonhardsen, Riedle, Thompson, Dundee (Gudnason 81).

Tickets for the home derby game (April 3rd) are on sale to those holding ticket stubs from the West Ham home match last month. This applies to all stubs except those from the away end or those issued on a guest/complimentary basis (of which we, at RAOTL, have four - shit!). Tickets issued on a like-for-like basis wherever possible.

HELP THE PRIVATE PROSECUTIONS ~ JOIN THE HILLSBOROUGH FAMILIES IN FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE

On 15^th April 1989, 95 men, women and children were killed at the FA Cup Semi - Final at the Hillsborough football stadium in Sheffield as a result of severe overcrowding in the Leppings Lane terrace which had been allocated to the supporters of Liverpool Football Club. Many hundreds more fans suffered physical and psychological injuries as a result of the crush and a 96^th victim died as a result of his injuries in 1993.

Since 1989, the Hillsborough Family Support Group - which represents the majority of bereaved families - has fought without respite to find out the full truth of what happened to our loved ones that day. From the shambles of the original Inquest verdict to the whitewash of the Government appointed investigation of new evidence by Lord Justice Stuart - Smith, we believe that the political and judicial system has failed miserably in providing satisfactory answers to the unresolved issues surrounding the disaster.

After ten years of campaigning, the HFSG still does not accept that those primarily responsible for the tragedy have ever been made to be fully accountable for their actions and we are consequently now undertaking private criminal prosecutions against the two most senior police officers on duty that day.

We believe that too many lies have been told by too many people in order to conceal the facts about Hillsborough and indeed to re - write the intelligent conclusions made by Lord Justice Taylor after his thorough examination of the facts. We consider that in taking this action we are representing not only ourselves as bereaved families but also the interests of all those who suffered as a result of the disaster, of all football fans who were its potential victims and of anybody else who may not even like football, but who believes in the concept of justice.

In order to become an associate member of the Hillsborough Family Support Group send the annual subscription fee of £5 to the address stated below ( cheques or money orders made payable to the HFSG). We will provide all members with a brief history of the campaign so far, a quarterly newsletter of progress. More importantly you will be helping us to fund the private prosecutions and to hopefully bring our ten year long campaign for justice to a successful conclusion.

Spare vouchers (No. 41) ending in 6, 7, 8, 9 & 0. Prices are £21 (adults) and £11 kids. Usual selling arrangements.

Liverpool Reserves have re-arranged a home game versus Nottingham Forest at ANFIELD (not St Helens) this Friday evening at 7pm. Might be a good chance to check out Traore and Song playing together in the heart of the defence, as well as Espen Johnsen in goal. Or you may just take the opportunity to hurl hysterical abuse at Oyvind Leonhardsen. You pays your £3 and you takes your choice.

The 'consistency' I was harping on about in my last match report has now arrived. At Chelsea we were consistently crap. And since the 88th minute at OT in the Cup we have been consistently and utterly garbage. On the train down to London we joked about getting thrashed at Stamford Bridge. At times like this, though, you just never know. Maybe we could just do it. In the days running up to Villa away we all felt we'd get hammered, and we went on and produced one of our best displays in a couple of seasons. Could Matteo and Kvarme really cope with Zola, Flo and that young Danish bugger who looked great when they played Oxford in the cup? Of course they could. Monsieur Houllier will have whipped them up into a frenzy with some Bill Shankly psychology, and Thommo will have gone round kicking the remaining arses. With that Liverbird rampant and proud on their chests, the mighty Reds would surely go out and give the overpaid fancy dans of Old London Town one hell of a beating. (Somebody stop me please, I'm rambling).

In retrospect, a 2-1 defeat by a team playing so well as Chelsea, and given our selection problems, doesn't look that bad. Would we have settled for that given the 3-0,4-0 & 4-1 scorelines that were being bandied about as the train neared Euston? If we'd only known how close we actually came to being walloped by a Chelsea team that was fast, inventive and direct ... well, much faster, slightly more inventive and much more direct than we were. They knew the centre of our defence was putty and hit Flo with the early ball over the top whenever the opportunity arose. We responded in due fashion: any time the ball rose above waist height we had kittens. This was most evident in the penalty incident. Even allowing for the fact that I thought Babb was pushed (he must have been, musn't he???), when the ball came over from the dwarfish Bilbo Baggins - and there were three Liverpool defenders in attendance, plus James - I thought "Oh Shit!". My lack of confidence was repaid as 60 seconds later we were a goal down.

Twenty five minutes later another decent cross (that's all it was - 'decent', this wasn't Rivelino looking up and lofting a pinpoint centre onto Pele's head) to the far post finds Goldbaek completely unmarked, 6 yards out, and he volleyed cleanly and easily into the net. Matteo, Kvarme and Babb all stood round looking at one another as if someone had let off a pew-rattling fart in church. "Don't look at me - it wasn't me", they seemed to be saying. Well, whoever did it - we absolutely stank.

No-one, other than Fowler who worked his bollocks off, came out of this with any credit. Owen looked isolated and, at times, lost - despite scoring an excellent goal. Ince was ineffectual and Redknapp, again, just stank the place out. I won't say anything about the defence as I'll leave that to JJP. An hour into this game and I'd completely lost interest and went and stood at the back and talked to a young copper who supported Charlton. Five minutes from time Steve K found me and we decided to get out of there and try and gain some consolation in a few beers before the long journey home. Six visits to London this year and six defeats - has it ever been so embarrassing? (JMac)

JJP's report: " Another Saturday and another defeat and another performance that left a lot to be desired. Collectively the defending was of joke proportions but, as they say, nothing new in that. At times the play of Babb, Kvarme and Stig was woeful although Matteo did okay and one tackle in the second half was brilliant and saved us from probably going three down. Considering that the three others mentioned have all played for their countries yet the basic art of defending is apparently beyond them, it no longer gets you down you just shake your head in disbelief that players of this calibre are actually wearing the Liverpool shirt. Once again our best defender was that Robbie Fowler bloke - the one load's of people were calling a few choice names last season. Once again he worked his balls off and at times he was doing the job of two or three of those who are supposedly capable of playing there. When they scored the second goal the look on his face said it all.

There were times when our midfield just couldn't pass the ball anywhere - apart from to a blue shirt of the crowd and if Owen and Fowler got this sort of service in a restaurant they'd walk out. And unless someone in high places - like the manager's chair - doesn't do something soon with this load of waste of spaces, then they'll probably do the same to Liverpool; and who could blame them. We've got two of the most talented players in the game, two of the most gifted strikers in the game and they not only have to try and score the goals but they have create them as well as do the job of the back four or five or whatever the shambles is supposed to be. There was a time when we used to roll into London Town, sort out the local team, have a few beers and go home. Now it's almost total embarrassment as we enter grounds and hear the home support taking the urine. It isn't funny anymore and it's getting worse and we managed to go through the whole of 1998 without a win in the place. We never looked like winning this one or even salvaging something from it after Kvarme had gifted them number two which came after Babb had gifted them number one. The Chelsea fans were laughing at us and that's hard to take especially when Chelsea were pretty ordinary anyway. The daft thing about it all is that we were poor, we were a shambles in so many parts of the pitch and were hardly a threat, but this performance was actually an improvement on the last two. Says it all doesn't it? "(JJP)

I've had a bit of e-mail regarding the previous article. I wasn't trying to lay claim to the Boycott campaign - I was simply trying to put the record straight. As the HFSG and Trevor Hicks have never had anything to do with a proposed boycott, I found it difficult to quietly accept that they could appear to call it off. This was partly due to misleading comments in Monday night's Liverpool Echo, which read:

As I think you'll agree it seems to imply that the one comment (Trevor Hicks' statement) follows on directly from the claim that the boycott is over. Trevor Hicks denies saying that he said the boycott was over, but I've been told (I never heard it myself) that he later said as much on local radio on Monday afternoon. I await comments and verification or denial on this from any of you out there who may have heard the interviews he gave.

The Hillsborough Justice Campaign (HJC) responded to the news by issuing a press statement late on Monday night opposing the call to end the boycott and questioning Trevor Hicks' right to speak on behalf of all the bereaved families (the HJC is partly made up of disaffected families who, for whatever reasons - and both sides offer differing versions of 'the split'- left the HFSG to join the more pro-active HJC). Click HERE for the HJC press release.

Trevor and the HFSG have a right to say that the boycott would be futile and would never be supported 100%. They may be correct. We've said as much ourselves in past issues of RAOTL. But that's no reason why those of you with just and legitimate grievances, or deep feelings, should now attend the match. Follow the dictates of your heart and conscience. And don't be a hypocrite. If you feel you have to go to remember and respect someone - or all of those - who died, then do so. After all this is the tenth anniversary of the disaster and will be a very emotional time for all parties concerned.

However, if you feel you have to go simply to support 'the lads', in what is a meaningless football match, then I'd ask you to think again. Go if you must, but be aware that buying a ticket places money into the coffers of SWFC, money that may, one day, be used to defend possible (probable?) legal action taken by a survivor or bereaved relative in private prosecutions aginst those people who organised and staged that fateful game. Going to the game is tantamount to saying to SWFC that it's okay to snub the bereaved and the survivors for a decade and hide behind lawyers hoping we'd go away and forget about the disaster; that it's okay to treat Liverpool football fans like dirt; that it's okay simply to bolt seats onto the terraces of pens 3 & 4, paint the tunnel and apply to stage semi-finals just two years after almost 100 people - men, women and children - had the life crushed out of them whilst inside their football ground. Well, its not okay. They're never getting one penny of my money ever again.

Remember also the insulting and provocative 'welcome' we recieved on our last two visits to Hillsborough by SYP and the stewards at Hillsborough (employees of SWFC) - these last two visits, remember, came in the wake of Jimmy McGovern's "Hillsborough" drama that brought fresh impetus to the publicity campaign for Justice, raised public awareness and indignation at the initial inquest result, and let to wide support for a fresh inquiry. The actions of SWFC and SYP on these two occasions could be interpreted as a deliberate and co-ordinated attempt to cause trouble. Why? Well they are two out of the three people (the FA are the other) who have most to lose if the inquiry verdict was overturned and they became the target of resulting legal actions. Disruption - or percieved disruption - by Liverpool supporters at Hillsborough (and wouldn't we all be breathylised too!) would serve to blacken our name and prejudice any future inquiry or court case. Bearing all this in mind, if you feel, for whatever reason, that it may be too painful, or that you want to protest about Reds' fans treatment there, or that you feel SWFC's offer of a memorial is a panic response to the idea of losing tens of thousands of pounds that a boycott would've cost them (not to mention bad publicity) - then don't go. After all what has brought about their change of heart after 10 years? It's not as if they never knew the depth of feeling. The HFSG (supported by officials at LFC) have been asking for a memorial for years. These appeals have always fallen on deaf ears. Until now.

Bear in mind that many of the bereaved, including Trevor Hicks, refuse to go to Hillsborough. So why should you?

If you're satisfied with the memorial and feel you can buy a ticket with a clear conscience, then much as I disagree with you, I respect your right to choose.

Radio Merseyside broadcast an interview with Trevor Hicks of the Hillsborough Families Support Group this morning in which Mr Hicks announced that it had been agreed with SWFC that a memorial to the 96 victims is to be erected at Hillsborough. It was described on Radio 5 as "... a plaque on the permiter wall ...". Radio 5 also said that this was something the HFSG had been campaigning for for years. Whilst the subject of a memorial may well have been on their agenda - it's certainly never been common knowledge. In fact, this was the first I'd heard of it. On the other hand I appreciate that the HFSG has been intensively involved in pursuing S. Yorks Police throught the courts. I'm sure you'd agree that successfully prosecuting the police officers responsible and overturning the laughable 'accidental death' verdicts takes priority. In this respect the HFSG could be forgiven for not publicly supporting the boycott campaign earlier. Trevor Hicks only became involved when asked by LFC to submit a message to the SWFC board of directors in the matchday programme at the Sheff Wed game at Anfield. The campaign for a memorial and the threat of a boycott was started 2 seasons ago by RAOTL and it was RAOTL who proposed and organised the 'Memorial' mosaic protest at the Sheff Wed game in December that brought this issue to a wider, national, audience. Since then the Boycott campaign has been taken up by numerous supporters' groups including the Hillsborough Justice Campaign. Not that we're attempting to claim the credit for this (relatively small) victory, but we won't allow any other single group claim this as their own 'victory'. It is OUR VICTORY - yours, mine, the HFSG, the HJC, and every other supporter, survivor or similarly involved person - and it should be perceived as such.

What this means for the proposed boycott, I don't know. But I'm certain the Justice campaign (HJC) will continue to press for a boycott.

It's a disgrace that it's taken the threat of an estimated financial loss of £100,000 for SWFC to agree to this. Does this mean that by going to the game and paying £15 it will be YOU who will, in effect, be paying for this memorial? Anyway, the only truly fitting and proper memorial would be to completely raze that end of Hillsborough. I find it insulting and disgusting that seats were simply bolted onto the terracing where 96 people died, and that the tunnel that lead so many of them to their deaths in still in use on a weekly basis. All around the country stands were demolished and new all-seater ones built. All over the country except for this one glaring and notable exception. Shameful? Certainly seems like it to me.

My personal advice is: Don't be a hypocrite, don't give SWFC any of your money - don't go to Hillsborough. (JMac)

"Consistency" - how many times has this word been uttered over the last few years by Reds' watchers? Almost as many times as JJP muttered "O Fucking Hell" on Saturday afternoon, that's how many. After several promising forward steps over the last few months we now seem to have taken a couple of large backward ones. Up to the 88th minute at OT we were on course to continue the remarkable progress made by Gerard since mid-December, since then it's been downhill - and downhill rapidly to such an extent that this was a performance as rank and inept as Charlton (both home and away). The only player to come out of it with any real credit was Song - as much for his enthusiasm as for anything else. Carraggher tried hard but created nothing (well, he was playing in 'The Guvnors' destructive role), Redknapp simply stank the place out and Stig, Macca and Staunton may well have not been on the park. Owen and Fowler, grafted in uninspired and predictable fashion, but it all had no spark or imagination. The midfield and Stig and Eggy on the flanks gave them no support. Berger flashed brilliantly for all of 2 or 3 minutes when he came on and then found himself dragged down into the mire. All in all it was a dreadful afternoon's entertainment. But for some awful finishing the Hammers would easily have won this one. (JMac)

Here's a report e-mailed to us this morning (Monday) ... " Well, where to start? Too many players out of form or not good enough.The sight of them retreating before a distinctly average team was nothing short of frightening. A bit of pace and they were like rabbits caught in headlights. Staunton is gone, completely, skinned time after time. Heggem is showing worrying signs of going like Kvarme - promising start then found out. I dont know what Redknapp was on, didnt he want to upset his Dad or something? It speaks volumes when I say that in my view our best players were Babb and Carragher, for their tackling and interceptions ie having to get the ball back all the time because we were consistently beaten to the loose ball, and when we had it were totally incapable of keeping it. Rigo as well was very good, his pace and sheer enthusiasm will be needed in the months to come. Just a comment on Macca, yes he was poor. But so where a lot of other people, he didnt deserve the booing he got when substituted (although somebody thinks this was mainly from the West Ham end). I'd have preferred to have booed the likes of Redknapp (I'd have liked to have thrown cabbages, hot bovril and gravel too as per Alan Partridge). Ged's team selection was questionable too. Did our defensive showing prove that JC is invaluable in defence now? Why no Davey Thompson, is he injured? At least he'd have driven us forward. That game was crying out for Danny Murphy as well, but it looks like we've lost him. Shame. Berger should have started as well, he did stir things up a bit when he came on. Still, at least we looked balanced ie Stig and Macca doing sod all on the left balanced by a non-existent right side (except when Rigo charged forward). A bit galling to see us totally outgunned in midfield as well, we were consistently a man short, well probably 3 short there as JC was the only performer in that area.

Next up, Chelsea away - no Rigo, no JC (banned?)......oh God!." (Kevin Nacey, Runcorn)

Liverpool '60s legend Alf Arrowsmith returns to Anfield on Saturday as a guest of RAOTL and LFC. Alf's marvellous achievements in the run-in to the 1964 league title win should never be overlooked, and it is with this contribution to the club's role of honour in mind that we decided to ask Alf to join us at the match.

Alf's finest hour? Probably the 3-0 thrashing of ManU at Anfield on April 4th 1964. Alf scored twice either side of half-time (Cally had put us on our way after 6 minutes) to virtually sew up the title with 5 matches to play. The title was actually sealed two games later in the famous 5-0 Anfield rout of Arsenal. We eventually finished 4 points clear of Utd at the top, so Alf's goals effectively won the league: our first of the modern era. Thanks Alf - the Kop's own Teddy Boy.

Champions 1963-64 :

Back: Milne, Byrne, Lawrence,Moran, Stevenson, Bob Paisley (Trainer)

Front: Reuben Bennett (Coach) , Callaghan, Hunt, St John, TV Williams (Chairman), Yeats (Captain), Alf Arrowsmith, Thompson, Shankly (Manager)

Alf2.bmp (211470 bytes)

Alf in action vs. Sunderland. Anfield Dec 1964

This game has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 10th at 7:45pm. Tickets are initially only available to those people holding the retained portion of the match ticket for the Middlesbro' game on Feb. 6th. There's no guarantee that you'll get one so apply asap. Ticket office details here: < Anfield Info >

Prices are as usual for home league games. Tickets on sale from Thursday Feb 18th until Friday Feb 26th, or for as long as supplies last. IMPORTANT NOTE: If the ManU-Chelsea game goes to a replay then this league game will be postponed.

Due to a dispute with the satellite tv company - Setanta - the New York City LFCSC will be temporarily moving home from O'Flanagans to Clancy's Bar at 978 2nd Ave, at 52nd Street. Clancy's is much easier to get to than O'Flanagans (which is up near 82nd St and miles from a subway) and is just 5 minutes walk from St Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Ave. It seems that Setanta have pulled the plug on live tv games at O'Flanagans "for financial reasons" (they were charging an exhorbitant $10 per person per game!) and as such the NYC Reds have little option but to move until they can sort things out

RAOTL will be available at Clancy's when the Reds' games are shown (next game is Chelsea away on the 27th screened at 10am). Any Liverpool fans visiting New York over the next couple of months can get the latest news on games screened live by calling the NYC Reds' Hotline on (212) 971-1959. Clancy's bar is on (212) 755-8383. And afterwards get down to Molly's at 287 3rd Ave (Between 22nd and 23rd Streets). Molly's is on (212) 889-3361 and is NYC's finest bar.

Liverpool FC are a lucky club, they have supporters all over the world. Very occasionally some of these supporters get the chance to watch their beloved team. Each and every time we play in London you find them hovering around the away end trying buy spare match tickets, prepared to pay inflated prices just so that they can go home to whatever part of the globe they live and tell their friends that they saw the mighty Reds whilst in England. Standing outside the away end at Charlton there were fans such as these, very few had tickets and many were asking. We had a spare cos Johnny Mac had to do as he was told for a change and a Liverpool fan from Sydney, Australia got his chance to watch his team. What memories he would be able to take back down under with him as the team he adores took Charlton apart.

If only it had happened like that. This had to be the worst Liverpool away display since Roy took his leave of us and maybe it was just worse than anything served up during the reign of the Grey Goose. It was pathetic at times and even more so when Gerard laid the blame firmly at the door of the referee. Blame had to be apportioned, but Gerard should have started in his own dressing room. There were a host of International footballers in there and the vast majority of them should have looked straight in the mirror and they would have known who was to blame for this shambles of a display. Gerard shouldn't fall into the old trap of blaming a referee, no matter how poor he may have been, when his team performs as abjectly as this. I had hoped that Coventry, insipid as it was, was a one off, it appears that might not be the case. Charlton were basically total rubbish for an hour, but they beat us. They were nothing special for the remaining half an hour, but they beat us. I think we had two shots on target in the ninety minutes, plus a couple that went wide. That was it. And we were playing Charlton. Everton even scored twice down here. Even the Anfield faithful, normally so noisy at away games sat in almost total silence. There were isolated incidents of abuse being shouted at McMoneyman - as some called him - but although the soon to be a Senor Macca was crap he wasn't on his own. Ince's performance left more that a bit to be desired and even Michael looked as if he couldn't be arsed. The defence was a joke, well most of them, JC was doing fairly well until he got the red card and Matteo did okay, but Staunton was as bad here, if not worse, than he was at Coventry. Stig managed to make a fool of himself on more than one occasion and for a change Heggem left his skills elsewhere. Redknapp did some good things but soon faded from the scene and if Gerard spoke the truth, Jamie could have joined Mr Carragher in the dressing room if the referee had spotted an off the ball set to. Not only was this display without passion and commitment it was undisciplined and shapeless.

After the Manc Cup game we said in RAOTL that the rest of the season would be a test of Gerard's motivation skills, he hasn't got off to a good start. Against Charlton the team displayed an air of "who gives a toss," something that we came to see quite often in recent years, but something that we hoped Gerard would get rid of. It was the same against Coventry and it is worrying. Europe might not mean much to the multi millionaires that now play for us, but it is important to the fans. It's also a pulling power when seeking new players but after this display we can put our passports and ISC cards away for a while, they won't be needed next season if this is all that we have to look forward to.

We haven't won in London this season and with the exception of the performance at Highbury, we haven't exactly performed either with each game seeming to be worse than the last one. Our next visit is to Chelsea and no doubt Aussie bed-sit land will again empty as Reds from down under once again try to catch a glimpse of their heroes. We'll be there as well, even Johnny Mac, but if we are as pitiful against the Rest of the World X1 as we were against a no mark Charlton side, we should stay at home and save ourselves the dosh. Two good points on a bad afternoon, nice one to those who gave Johnny Barnes a standing ovation when he came on for his new club and thanks to Charlton for their open support for the Justice Campaigns. Oh yeah, and well done to the steward outside the away end who gave out the yellow 'Justice - Hillsborough Boycott' stickers.

The great Danny Murphy is to join Crewe Alexandra on loan. Whether or not this spells the end of his Anfield career - I don't know. We can only hope it doesn't. Danny obviously has a great talent, and he's well-liked (adored?) by The Kop - so why has he no place in the squad? Rumours abound of temperamental problems and bust-ups with Houllier/Evans, Even more worrying are 'rumours' that Danny likes a few beers. I only hope that's all they are - rumours. And even if he does like a few pints the night before a game - well, it never did Terry McDermott any harm did it - or that Paul Merson or Gazza or Tony Adams or Neil Ruddock?

What's more likely is that the fabulous form showed by Davey Thompson has pushed Danny back a bit in the pecking order. If this has pushed his nose out of joint then let's hope he buckles down and fights for his place in the true Liverpool tradition. With Macca going and 'The Guvnor' (aka 'The Fraud') - hopefully - to follow, there are two places (at least) up for grabs; and Danny and Davey could just fit the bill. Stick with it Spud.

Chelsea is on sale on Wednesday (10th). Serial numbers ending in 1,2,3,4,5 - Spare voucher 40 required. Priced at £23.00 ... What a bargain! I'll have three please. Ticket Office details: <Click Here>

The highlight of this rather tame encounter came ten minutes from time when Riedle came on as a sub. There was an almighty kerfuffle over on the Kemmy side of The Kop as the 150 Monchengladbach fans began a ten minute diatribe against Borussia Dortmund - Riedle's old club. My German's not that good, but there was no mistaking the sustained chorus of "Shit! Shit! Shit!" at the end of one chant. They kept it up in The Albert too, where there was a 2 hour sing-song after the game. It was still going on when I threw in the towel (one of the Borussia fans had put it on my sunlounger) at 8:30 and meandered into town for a nightcap.

The 3-0 half time scoreline was as puzzling as it was welcome. Not because we didn't deserve it, but because we hadn't really played that well at all. What wasn't puzzling was just how crap Boro were. They were the worst team I've seen at Anfield since ... ooh ... erm ... Southampton last month. If they keep this sort of form up then they'll soon catch Everton up (or is that down?). The 'Boro cause is not helped by having a series of ageing, disinterested has-beens in the side: Gascoigne, Townsend and Pallister if you want me to name names. Townsend may just as well have not been on the pitch and Gascoigne was only interested in playing neat little triangles in midfield - trying to boost his Optima index by a few points, no doubt. Oh, and while I'm having a moan: if he's off the ale then he's definitely back on the Mars bars. Playing with your baggy shirt flapping outside of your shorts is fooling no-one, lardarse. The only salad he's ever seen was stuffed in his pitta bread with his kebabs. Ex-Manc (and wasn't he made to know it) Pallister was slow and clumsy and should have been booked well before he eventually got a yellow card late in the game. It was amazing how a series his late challenges on Owen and Fowler could go unpunished whilst Ince got booked (again) for his first real 'clatterer' in the first half.

For the record: the pick of the goals was Heggem's volley from Stig's deep left wing cross. McManaman had an anonymous outing - despite some press Reports (The Sunday Manc had him in their 'Team of the Week' !!) and if this is his idea of going out with a bang ...? Redknapp carried the midfield with a series of biting challenges (can't believe I've just written that) and overall was man of the match BY A MILE. Carragher also had a cracker and will look even better with a fit Song beside him I'm sure. Berger was missed on the left and let's hope he shakes of his injury soon because if Macca keeps up this sort of 'testimonial' form then that top-three spot will remain a dream.

Matteo's sending off was an absolute joke. From The Kop it looked debatable if contact was made at all. Even if it was, then it looked completely accidental and yet Beck went down like Manchester City.

One last thing - our new Kop clock? It was an hour slow. There's got to be a joke in there somewhere.

JJP's report: "I've got to be honest, my Mother always told me to be, but I got bored watching this game. And still being honest I thought Middlesbrough were as bad as Southampton and if we had stuck a bit of effort in we'd have got at least half a dozen. But I suppose I'll just have to settle for three points. After we went one up I thought we were going to turn it on but instead I think we turned it off and what followed was maybe alright without being anything special. When you think about it the only real highlight between the first and second goal was that Jamie Redknapp shot and if that had gone in...? Well, what a goal it would have been. Then we scored two in a minute and went off three up without trying too hard. Roll on the second half I thought.

Well the second half won't go down as the most memorable forty-five minutes in the history of Anfield but I suppose when you're coasting you're not going to get a lot. But a shot or two wouldn't have gone amiss. Having watched the goals on MOTD I think that Beck conned the Ref. into sending Dominic off but what bothered me was how it all occurred and that was because we were messing about tip-tapping here and there and then giving the ball away. It happened more than once and with our defence all over the shop at times anything could have happened and eventually did. Talking about our defence, and I must painful though it may be, Jameo has gone back to the cat on a hot tin roof form, Stan has - well someone tell me, Stig - as per usual which leaves J.C. and Matteo. Well after the sending off I thought Carragher was a star but those around him looked likely to cave in at anytime. Heggy was great going forward and I look forward to him playing in that role when the Senor takes his leave. But we still need two more quality men at the back and whilst I'm in a grumpy Sunday morning mood I thought that when we were three up, falling over at the back, the crowd bored rigid it would have been a good time for Gerard and Co to have given us a Song! It would have lifted the whole place and I reckon we'd have got a couple more. Like I said, I'm being honest and I got bored. Mind you, thinking about it, we won 3-1, didn't play well and I got bored - well that wouldn't have happened three months ago would it? Because we'd have probably lost. Ah well, I'm feeling better now. Roll on next Saturday. " JJP

Liverpool City Council are expected to approve - later this month - Liverpool FC's proposal to erect a set of Bob Paisley gates at Anfield. The ornamental gates would be the perfect compliment to The Shankly Gates on Anfield Road. We at RAOTL feel that this tribute to English football's most successful maneger ever is long overdue. The gate's design will include one special request from Bob's widow, Jessie - that prominence is given to Bob's three European Cup wins. And let's hope there's room also for Bob's six Championship wins and three League Cups and ...etc etc

The Liverpool Echo's feature said the gates would be built "... in the shadows of The Kop." Does this mean they're planned for the bottom end of the Main Stand Car Park, near Lake Street? Or is this just some lazy, clichéd journalese? (At 'The Echo'? ... surely not?) The gates should surely be installed on Anfield Road at the entrance to the Centenary car park, lending a pleasing symmetry to that end of the ground, doncha think?

Everton joke: Everton sharholders are asking Chilean dictator General Pinochet if he'd care to bid for Agent Johnson's shares. He's the ideal candidate apparently - having a long history of herding people into football stadiums and torturing them.

Everton joke #2: New club motto to reflect goal-scoring prowess ... "Nil-Nil Satis Nisi Optimum"

Over 120 Borussia Mönchengladbach fans fly into Liverpool tomorrow for their latest 'Friendship' trip to Anfield. They'll be largeing it up until Sunday so if you see any of them around town, Anfield or it's environs over the weekend say 'hello', buy them a beer and try not to mention the war. I did, but I think I got away with it.

They'll be up at Anfield on Friday afternoon and that night they'll be in town (Cavern Quarter, no doubt as the've taken over The Moat House, en masse, with the Norwegians). On Saturday morning they have a match versus the Merseyside ISC at the Botanic Gardens, Wavertree Rd. If you're in that neck of the woods get down there and say "Hi!". There might even be a beer around. Saturday afternoon's itinerary goes like this - and I'm quoting them here - "same as every year ... Albert, Match, Albert, Hotel, ..!?!?!?" .

The 'Friendship projekt' goes back a long way and has its roots in the great games we played v. Mönchengladbach in the 70s. A UEFA Cup final (3-2 aggregate to us) in '73 - our first European trophy, the 'Glory That Was Rome' in '77 (European Cup Final) and the following season's semi-final (4-2 to us on aggregate). Despite losing to us in all these high-profile games, the Friendship Fanprojekt is a measure of the cameraderie that grew up between the two sets of supporters. Even now, 20 years later Liverpool scarves and shirts are worn on 'Die Nordkurve' and YNWA sung at Borussia games. With Borussia currently lying very low in the Bundesliga, there's even talk amongst the 'Evergreens in Schwarz & Weiss' that one consolation will be greater opportunties to come over and watch Liverpool ( as German 2nd division games are played on Mondays !!).

We had our usual tribe of Reserve team aficionados placed discreetly around Knowsley Road (St Helens) to pass comment on the Reserves performance. At the end of the game all they could say was that our lot won. The team included the Madrid bound Macca - from Knowsley Road to the Bernabeau, now that's progress isn't it? and also Rigobert Song, Phil Babb, Steve Harkness, Ferri, Leo, Danny Murphy [who scored from the spot] and first team hopeful Stephen Gerrard.

About 1600 turned up, the gate probably being boosted by the fact that the team did appear in the Liverpool Echo. The Reserves are now about halfway in the table, but still have games in hand. In goal was the trialist Espen Johnsen from, er... Norway. He wasn't really tested and it is believed he will have another run out soon. Song was taken off with cramp and may be doubtful for Saturday.

The new reserves programmes are selling extremely well, too, and they make a very welcome change from the photocopied A4 team sheets of yore.

This is proving to be an important year for Shankly fans - this December sees the 40th anniversary of his arrival at Anfield. Bill was also recently inducted into the FIFA Hall of Fame, as one of just a handful of managers deemed worthy of such an honour. Check out our FlagDay page for news of the Spion Kop's own tribute to Shankly, planned for the home game nearest December 14th 1999.

RAOTL are also bringing out a special edition of the fanzine - a celebration of Bill's life and achievements. It will differ from the usual players' or journalists' tomes in that it will be a fans' tribute. YOUR tribute. This is where you come in: we need your contributions. What did Bill Shankly mean to you? Was he the greatest manager Liverpool - or England - has seen? Any personal memories of the man? Let us know. Send e-mails to the usual addresses (see our home page) or via the post (ditto).

A week is along time in politics but it seems an eternity in football. If the performance against the Mancs was so nearly the Lord Mayor's show, then this was without a doubt the left overs. This was definitely a case of 'back to the drawing board' or deja vu or square one - take your pick. When we get beat it is sometimes possible to search around and find something positive, but in this one I'd be hard pushed. Rigo Song looked useful but as someone said, "So did Stig when he made his debut here." That's not intended as any criticism of our new man, just not going to get carried away. If that was the high point, and it probably was, the low points were numerous, probably too numerous to mention. In fact were to start if a difficult thing in itself. David James was back to his 'Calamity' form - missed a couple of easy looking first half crosses and was definitely at fault for the first goal. Has Steve Staunton ever had a worst game in either of his Liverpool careers? He was so bad that he should have been taken off long before he was [about five minutes from the end]. Ironic, that when he went off the first thing his replacement Stephen Gerrard did was put in a tackle and win the win the ball, something that 'Stan' hadn't been capable of all afternoon. Stig was Stig, after putting together a couple of decent games, it was 'business as usual' one of our weaker Nordic players. Our other one, Veggy wasn't given the ball out wide so his chances of turning the fullback inside out were lost, especially when the full back was none other than Bugsy himself. Paddy probably had his worst game of the season as well and Redknapp and Ince were no better. Up front Fowler and Owen were chasing lost causes but not helped by Michael's ability to get caught offside four times in the first half no more than a couple of yards across the halfway line.

Last week at OT we gave Liverpool supporters full praise for a magnificent show of pride and passion and 'RAOTL' has dedicated the latest issue of the fanzine to the fans. Over 5,000 were at Highfield Road, many of them Day-Trippers and schoolkids getting a glimpse of their heroes and sitting in the 'home' Stands. The support for the team was there although dampened by the showing on the pitch. The singing of "We've only got one Song" is worthy of a mention but what was not acceptable was the booing of Steve McManaman. Fans are divided on the Macca saga and we now know that he's going and to where he is going. Personally I say good luck to him, and if the money that Real Madrid are offering him is being correctly reported then who can blame him? Fans are not happy and many think that he has messed the club around, but don't forget this is the same club that tried to sell him last season. Down the years he has had both praise and ridicule heaped upon him and when the team went through the "passionless" phase under Royston Macca took a lot of the blame. Whether he is right to go or not isn't the question, the thing is booing him is unacceptable and something that shouldn't be heard at Anfield, those who do it should check out the spare ticket situation at Goodison.

So there it is, the up and down life of the KOPITE, up one day, crashing to earth the next. We have said in the fanzine that following the defeat at OT the next few months will be a test and measure of Gerards motivation skills, things haven't got off to a very good start have they? (JJP)

"Liverpool's performance against Coventry was disappointing to say the least. After the recent run of victories, hope was again springing eternal from Anfield, the attitude of players and supporters was once again positive after the dark days of Cautious Roy. So what went wrong? Liverpool reminded everyone that a few decent performances can't gloss over the glaring inadequacies of the current team/squad. Lets start at the back, James everyone knows his faults and despite more positive hype in the media his shortcomings are as apparent as ever. In a game when the team as a whole was poor, you must be able to rely on your keeper, instead his judgement was again in question. He was a liability under Evans and remains so under Houllier. The Back 4 or 5 in the case, therein lies one the major problems, playing five at the back to compensate for inadeqaute central defenders and keeper, leaves the midfield short handed and thus has the knock on effect of producing a performance that creates few chances for the strikers.

Heggam is excellent and could play right back or right midfield in a 4-4-2 formation. Song demonstrated that he has talent and could well be a great player of the future, as for the others they are lacking in tactical awareness, ability and pace. Carragher was sadly missed. Midfield, Ince and Redknapp were very poor in this game, having only 3 players in midfield means that any width has to be given by the fullbacks and we all know that Bjornebye is a waster. Up front Fowler and Owen are far to often isolated, because of a lack of support from midfield, the balance is wrong.

Let get back to a more rigid 4-4-2 formation. Mcmanaman came on and scored, but he is history now and should be discarded completely, Houllier has to get the blend right now, as we don't another season of experimentation next year!!" REDSBOSS (via email)

Coventry City (a) on Saturday has sold out. That was 5,000 tickets sold in 5 days.

Next Saturday - Middlesbrough (h) - sees the visit of over 120 German Reds - the Borussia MGB fanprojekt. The fanprojekt is a supporter's organisation at Borussia and every season they try to visit Anfield en masse to watch their favourite 'other' side. They'll be playing a game versus the Merseyside ISC on the Saturday morning and then move on to Anfield in the afternoon. They'll pack out The Albert before and after the game so get in early!

For nearly 9,000 passionate Reds this was so nearly the day, so nearly - yet so far away. It was heartbreaking; well mine's broken anyway. I looked at my watch and saw that we had just a couple of minutes to go and I actually started believing that the prayer was going to answered but then the goal and then another. In three minutes the whole thing had gone totally wrong but I will say this now, I say a word against anyone of our team. We have for so long demanded so much more from the side, we've labelled them as 'The Spice Boys' and much more, but on the day this team stood up and gave everything and were just minutes away from giving us - the supporters - what we wanted more than almost anything. They had reduced the morons of OT to almost total silence; in fact a bus full of Trappist monks would have made more noise. Meanwhile our end was alive with sound as the fans showed what they thought of this show. The team showed everything and at the end of the game I was proud of what they did even though at the end of the day we have to say it just wasn't enough. We can debate it for as long as wewant, but in the end we lost and that's it.

We went to this shite hole of a footballing place full of it, we wanted it so bad and since the day the draw was made our fans have been up for it. We know that we haven't won there for nearly nine years and we know that our Cup record is not anything to boast about against the Mancs, but this was the day we believed the dream would be fulfilled. Okay, it wasn't but I will live for the rest of my life looking at the entire 'K' Stand full of Liverpool fans. When Owen got the goal the sight of this support going totally mental will stay with me. It might mean nothing in the long run to others but to me it will be something I will savour. A couple of minutes more to hang on and the memory would have been something else.

I'm trying to type this out just after arriving home, it's hard and I'm surprised that there are no tear stains on the paper because that's how I feel. You know that for the rest of the day and the day after they're going to be showing it on the box, you know that all them scumbag Mancs who wouldn't know OT if they saw it [no chance of that of course] will be gloating in our faces for as they can do without us resorting to chinning them. Demento will be lapping it up just like the no-marks were doing outside the shite hole as we left. So typing this is difficult and no matter how I try, it's not going to get any easier as I go on.

It would be easy to point the finger and say "If only we had a defence" but that would be unfair, we know we haven't had a defence for three years but at OT makeshift though it was, the defence did us proud for eighty-eight minutes under Alamo like conditions. Jameo has been slated in this fanzine, but he couldn't be faulted in this one, he was a hero on this afternoon. Nobody could criticise the work-rate of the likes of Redknapp, Ince, Berger and Fowler while Owen chased everything and if he had only controlled one ball - it could have been all over. Every player worked his balls off and I cannot say any more than that. We just ran out of legs.

Naturally I wanted these pages to be a celebration but instead it has be of a wake. At about a quarter to ten we had parked up and were outside the pigsty. As Reds arrived the mood was brilliant in the main with nearly everyone convinced they were going to witness a famous victory. Every little thing to bring good luck was in place and every little habit had been followed to precision to ensure this was to be the day. Of course, the doom-watch was out in force quoting chapter and verse about how long since we've won at this place and such like, but they will be pessimists forever. Gradually the forecourt filled up and there was the strange sight of Reds wanting to get into the ground as early as possible - nothing to do with the pubs being shut I suppose more a case of just wanting to scream and shout for Liverpool. If we lose on the pitch we have to be certain we don't lose off it. When I got inside I just looked across the entire away support and felt something inside me. This was no ordinary away support this was Liverpool away support at OT. The anthems boomed out and we even drowned the Manc Disco that performs prior to each and every game. Mind you, we do that with 3,000 of us so treble that number meant the sad bastards who play the stuff hadn't got a prayer. "Who the fuck are Man United?" rolled around the 'K' Stand and I had memories of the old scoreboard end when 10,000 of us would frighten these cowards to death. "Scouser Tommy" was sung more than once, getting better and louder each time and then just before the teams came out an emotional loud and proud "YNWA" and you could witness the strange sight of banners a plenty in OT. Certainly there were a few dozen and they were held proudly aloft as our song was sung. Of course you can't keep United fans out of a good old sing-a-long can you and they hit back with "If you all hate Scousers" - originality and wit, you can't beat them can you? However, that was drowned out by the singing of "Shit on the Cockney's" which baffles Mancs, especially those who will tell you that they ain't from London, they're from Dorset. When Michael scored it was mayhem, regardless of the result I won't forget that moment as said earlier. I grabbed hold of the bloke next to me who I had never seen before - or did he grab hold of me, can't remember? Air was punched by thousands of arms as we celebrated. But I suppose we knew that we would need one more because of our defence, because this was OT and because even with only three minutes gone we knew we would be here for an awful long time and we would age years and years if it was to remain 1-0.

In the old days one would have been enough, but this is now not then. As the game wore on the nerves got more frayed, the tension was touching an unbearable level that I've not experienced for many-a-year. When they scored I sat down, I was gutted beyond belief and I thought that was going to be my lowest point for a long time. A few minutes later I found out I was wrong. Despite the manic pleas to stay in our seats about thirty seconds before the final whistle I moved down the stair and got away just as full time was blown. I wanted to thank the team for their effort; their superb effort but I couldn't because I could not stand hearing those Gobshites taking the piss again. So I walked out and saw a mate of mine almost totally beside himself with sorrow and tears running down his face. I felt the same way and as I made my way back to the car I felt so empty and hearing some of those bits of shite gloating on radio talk-ins via their mobile phones made me want to do something, but that's the Manc way, not the Liverpool way. It was a long journey home and a quiet one as well.

This was no 'White Suit' performance, no 'Spice Boy' performance this was performance with pride. Some our fans blamed the Referee and maybe it wasn't a foul that led to him giving a free kick, I don't know because I haven't seen it. But excuses are not necessary; the team played with pride, passion and commitment. We only ever asked for that, we got it at OT, we got raw passion from the fans, and we rode our luck but just ran out of gas. This is one Liverpool fan who is proud of his team tonight.

Technical problems with the internet connection have meant we've not been able to update the site for well over a week. Sorry.

Last April, after Owen's sending off, it was "Ten men and you've got the ref". Well ManU went one better today (in more senses than this one) - this time they had the ref and eleven men, and yet still had to wait 88 minutes before breaching a makeshift and often overstretched Liverpool rearguard. Their victory was assured by the assistance of the twelfth man. The referee, Graham Poll, was an absolute disgrace. What Stam had to do to get booked ... well, heaven knows? Early in the second half Owen had teased the leaden Stam with a jinking run down on the touchline, then St Michael cut inside leaving the overrated Dutch ox floundering behind - until Stam lashed out and flattened Owen with a crude scythe from behind. It had to be a yellow card at the very least. As Owen trotted away Fowler congratulated him on getting Stam booked. Utterly amzingly - or not, when you come to think about it - the ref wagged an admonishing finger, and Stam was allowed to lumber away. To cap a display of blinding ineptitude he then punished Redknapp for a tackle about ten yards outside our area. Jamie had won the ball cleanly and was breaking away. There was just a minute ot two left and had we taken the ball away down the other end, we would surely be scrambling for replay tickets now. No - "Foul!", says Poll. The ball's floated in and ...

Blaming Poll would be wrong though. We had a plan, stuck to it and if we'd have had the legs we'd be celebrating a victory tonight. It wasn't to be. One of the drawbacks of playing to a strategy is that if (when?) it backfires you'd better have another one ready and some time left in order to get it into action. We didn't. Our stall was set out thus: Allow ManU the space directly in front of the midfield. Let them pass it around trying to create space and don't leave the spaces behind the defence for Cole and Yorke to run into. It meant compressing the play into our third of the field and defending in depth. The deficiencies (defensively) in our squad meant we had little option. ManU were forced to pump the ball high into the box where (for 88 minutes) we coped admirably. I though the makeshift defence played magnificently - Carragher, Harkness and Matteo played like lions and fought for every loose ball, dived in the way of every shot and never shirked a challenge. James was steady and impressive in goal and Heggem had Big Ears in his pocket for most of the game. Unfortunately this strategy meant that ManU always had the attacking momentum. Once they'd equalised it was easier for them to continue to pump the ball in, than it was for us to break it up and waste away the last 3 or 4 minutes. A series of substitions may have done the trick? Macca, maybe, for the tiring Fowler (who ran his legs off) or even Kvarme for Stig. Something to eat up those last seconds. But, no ... "Foul!", says Poll, The ball's floated in and ...

It transpires that Ince was carrying a bad knock which may go some way to explaining the little impact he had on this game. He was the weak link in the middle of the park and if hadn't been for Redknapp playing a blinder we well have been in trouble. I was glad to see Ince replaced twenty minutes from the end - but I was left wishing Houllier hadn't been so hard on Davey Thommo earlier in the week. Thommo is a natural replacement for Ince and may well have brought us a 2nd goal had he been on the bench. His absence meant we had McAteer instead. To his credit McAteer played quite well in the last quarter hour driving the ball forward away from our goal as we fought to hung on. But Thommo is a different class and would have countered the effect that the Ginger Manc twat, Scholes had (their 2nd half sub) with his fresh legs during the closing stages. (Thompson had been carpetted by Houllier after his reserve sending off last Monday and 'dropped' from the bench for today's game - I applaud Houllier's disciplinarian stance - even now following the defeat.)

We should have had this game safe before conceding the equaliser. To my mind we had 6 'good' to 'very good' scoring chances (Redknapp (x2), Fowler (x3), Berger) even tho' Manu were having all of the 'possession'. Sure, they had a few scrambles and deflections but ours were clear scoring opportunities. Their best chances were a shot against the post and a Keane deflection that sent James the wrong way and went narrowly wide. Our best two fell to Fowler - the shot from twelve yards after good work from Owen in the area dribbling the ball into his path (should have shot for the far post Robbie), and the near post effort that he fluffed following McAteer's cross - the nazi had lost it totally and was relieved to see it bounce behind him instead of billowing into the net. Owen came close to getting away once or twice but was checked by Stam (once, very suspiciously). Passes were hitting heels or misplaced behind the strikers. You felt that one really good ball over the top would do it. It just never came.

Houllier has said he's very proud of his players. So am I. He says he wasn't happy with the ref - neither am I. But he's not dwelling on it, preferring to praise his makeshift defence and the effort, commitment and heart of his team as a whole. Who'd have thought two months ago that we'd be saying that about this team. The support we had was magnificent (even if I say so myself). There were several silver European Cups on display (not sure if there were four or not!) including the Leather Bottle boys' original from last season, and a load of great flags (including the RAOTL one featured on our Valencia page). We made some great noise despite the best efforts of the United tannoy to drown us out. You think I'm kidding don't you? About 11.50 and the travelling Kop are making one hell of racket and the tannoy volume quite noticably increases. It's that obvious - that embarassing - that people start laughing at how fucking petty this self-styled 'World's Greatest Football Club' is. Then a minute or two before the players are due on the pitch, the crowd management begins with the Russ Abbott Man United sing-a-long of your favourite ManU tunes (as stolen from every other club in the league). 'Fred The Red' the ManU mascot (looking like a sunburnt Foghorn Leghorn) is gee-ing up the Irish, Cockneys, Norwegians, Welsh, part-timers, hangers-on etc in the main stand. They even played 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' !! ManU - you're just a load of tossers. And so are your 'top' boys who were sent scattering on Matt Busby Way at about half eleven by a mob of Liverpool fans about half your number. After they'd been steamed and legged - right outside their own ground - they began to regroup in small mobs and were overheard blubbering and bemoaning how embarrassing it all was. Yeah! Right! See you at Anfield in a couple of months, children. And, if you can, think up a few songs will you? We knew we had them rattled when all they could muster was "In your Liverpool slums" and "If you all hate Scousers clap your hands". In support of their own side, the displaced K-stand songmeisters conjured up an original and rousing chorus of "Alex Ferguson's red and white army". The Kopites hung their heads in shame and this marvellous display of Mancunian terpsichorean originality.

As I was standing outside on the concourse waiting for friends just after the final whistle, a bloke walked past and I heard him say to his companion, "I bet that was great for the neutrals". Just who are these 'neutrals' in a Liverpool - ManU game then? One on side you've got ManU, Sky TV, Michael Henderson, Eamon 'Fatboy' Holmes, Joe 'Fathead' Royle and every Manc 'life-long supporter' from Orkney to Cornwall; on the other there's Liverpool FC, the BBC (eh, Fergie?) and the rest of the civilised world. What's there to be neutral about?

Back to Melwood on Monday, Redmen. You know what we expect now. And Kevin Keegan - let's see your boys do the business in round 5. I know you'd love it, Kev. Just love it!

Thinking caps on, boys and girls … when was the last time we scored 7 in the league? Well, we scored 7 against Rochdale in the cup en route to Wembley in 1996. Apart from that there’s only been 7 goals in friendlies in recent years: Yeovil in a testimonial in August 95; against Raufoss in Norway in August ’93 and Tranmere the season before. You have to go back to a gloriously sunny day in March ’91, at the Baseball Ground, Derby for our last seven goal league haul. So, Saturday’s result cannot be sniffed at - however, let’s not get carried away. We didn’t actually play that brilliantly. Sure, we played well - but the opposition was woeful and are surely on their way down. I, for one, won’t miss them and their tip of a ground that’s so far away they should be playing in France. Bye bye, Saints and Dave Jones you bluenose bastard.

A cold, bright winter’s day: bracing with a pleasant nip in the air. I'd had a few pre-match pints of Guiness and Anfield was packed with crowd of over 44,000. It was a perfect day for football. On the back of the recent good run of form people seemed genuinely optimistic. It was hoped the team felt similarly upbeat about the future (although Houllier had stressed that we had to keep concentrating and ensure there were no slip-ups).

Considering this wasn’t a big game the pre-match YNWA was belted out with surprising gusto. There just may be life in this Kop yet - we can but hope anyway. It didn't take long for it to become apparent that Southampton were just hopeless in every department - especially in goal. A corner was dropped right onto Fowler's toe about six yards out. Not even Andy Cole could miss from there. Ten minutes later a corner from Berger is met with a Mark Wright-type leap from Dominic Matteo and the header crashes into the roof of the net. At this point, I thought it safe to go to the bogs - that Guiness was working it's way through my bladder and I'd never make it to half-time. As I'm standing there, clouds of steam rising, I hear the tell-tale "Thump - thump" of seats banging shut as people leap to their feet - then a mighty roar. Oh Shit! And I bet it was Bjornebye from 40 yards or something. Shuffling down the row back to my seat I'm informed of Fowler's class goal, twisting and dummying then planting the ball firmly in the bottom corner. The half-ended with Ince blasting one off the post from about 25 yards. Jesus! A well-hit Ince effort - whatever next?

It takes just two minutes of the second half for Robbie to bag his hat-trick with a simple header that loops over Jones in the Saints' goal. At least it looks simple. The next goal (Carragher's) takes another five minutes and with half an hour to go - and 5 goals up - you start wondering ... We are then brought back to earth when Ostenstad hits a good angled shot across the goal and beyond James' reach into the bottom right-hand corner of The Kop goal, to give the Southampton travellers (about 1500 of them) something to cheer about. I think they sang something mildly self-deprecating and ironic but I'm buggered if I can remember it. Another five minutes pass and Fowler sends Babb clear on the left and his Mark Walters' style run and cross is turned home by Owen to make it 6-1. There's still nearly half-an-hour to go. ManU got 9 against Ipswich a few years back ... surely we can get another 3 against this shower? Ten minutes later Thompson comes on for Ince (who wasn't pleased to be taken off) and with his first touch makes it 7 after Berger's shot is fumbled by Jones. And then we basically take it easy for the last 20 minutes and I'm able to sit back and relax and notice that we've got a bloody clock at Anfield !!! In the Kemmy / Kop corner under the police control room. It's not bad either - not a digital one either (those annoying ones that stop at '90' whilst the game goes on for another ten minutes.) I'm kept busy for the last quarter hour checking that the clock is telling the right time (it is).

Too easy - this game - so it's hard to pick out stars. Fowler and Owen worked well together and Robbie's slowly regaining sharpness. Berger and Heggem also had fine games. Overall 7 out of 10. And to cap the evening off nicely: a couple of Guinesses in front of a roaring log fire in Shenanigans in town. Excellent.

Members of the New York Supportes Club - namely, Sean Woods and Simon Davis - presented a cheque for £400 to the Hillsborough Justice Campaign at their Oakfield Road shop prior to Saturday's game with Southampton. The money had been raised by members of the SC, which is based in O'Flanagans pub on Manhattan's upper east side. Click here for the NYCSC's press release: < Press Release >

Went on sale at 8:15am on Friday and completely sold out (8,500 I believe) that afternoon! The announcement of the sale (Voucher 58, any number, £16 and £20) was not made until Thursday evening: far too late for a lot of people (including yours truly) to get time off work on the Friday (Queuing times peaked at around 2 hours). How the hell could fans living outside the city be expected to apply for tickets? Why couldn't they have gone on sale on the Monday? I certainly hope that they've kept a couple of thousand back for postal applications or there'll be big trouble.

No complaints - I'd have settled for 0-0 before the game and despite the fact that Arsenal wouldn't have scored if we'd played on all night, I think most of us came home fairly happy with continuing the unbeaten run (5 games!!!!! Wow!) and not conceding a goal.

My day began with a brisk walk to the station at 7:35am and I was surprised to spot The Echo's Ric George on the dirty and overcowded train to Crewe. I had a peek to see if he was reading anything embarrassing - but he had his snout in the back pages of The Daily Express ( I had taken The Telegraph, of course). I managed to shake him off when we joined the Liverpool - Euston train at 9:10 and I settled down for a doze and several cans of Stella..

For those of you who've never been: Highbury is one of the easiest Londons grounds to get to on the tube. Particularly if you fancy spending a couple of hours in the pubs on Holloway Road. Highbury & Islington tube is just 2 stops on the northbound Victoria Line from Euston and it takes about 20 minutes to get from the concourse inside Euston Station to the bar in 'The Cock'. From here it's a 15 minutes walk to the Clock End and is so much easier than fighting through the crowds at Drayton Park or Arsenal stations. In the 'Flounder and Firkin' the main topic of conversation was FA Cup tickets. Almost no-one had one. Most thought (as I did) that it'd be Tuesday before they sold out, and had planned to go up first thing Monday morning. Anyway, with Steinlager (5% by vol.) at £1 a bottle (That's practically 'free' in London) we managed to find some solace. In fact, Lee and little Johnny really did touch lucky and found a boozer in Ealing the night before that sold Guiness for £1.01 a pint! ... I had just paid £2.45 in The Cock for the same.

Numerous Steinlagers later we ambled off up Holloway Rd and Drayton Park to Highbury. We passed the Liverpool coaches parked up in a line a couple of hundred yards long. We wondered how 'hard' you'd look going to ManU or Chelsea on board one of Happy Al's technicolour buses painted up like a set from 'Play School' - bright banana yellow with balloons and clowns all over them. No amount of leather jackets, Raybans and baseball caps will make you look tough on those things. We had quite a following at Arsenal: all of the away enclosure and about a thousand seats in the lower West Stand. We arrived around 2:55 but apparently there'd been dozens there since noon looking for tickets.

We'd been lucky and most of the travelling band had seats together near the front. We did quite a bit of singing in the first half as The Reds easily held the Arse at bay - the stewards and police were pleasantly tolerant and made no moves to restore 'order' when we were all up on our feet - and the seats - singing. In fact the only time they made any sort of foray towards us was when one lad hopped down the aisle to tell Petit: 'Fuck off, you French twat!", when he came over to take a (crap) corner. The Arsenal fans (a pretty gormless bunch at the best of times) were goading us with chants about their double and how crap we were. We responded with a little history lesson: "Where's your European Cups?" and "We won the treble in Rome" were given an airing - didn't like that did they? All they could come back with was "Sign On, sign On ... etc" . After we'd stopped laughing we sat back, looking smug, confident that we'd shown them up (London or not) as the brainless hicks they are. For the record we could've been two up in the first half. If Owen could only learn to shoot with his left foot properly (did it v. Forest tho' didn't he?) and if Steve Harkness's volley had been slightly less-well hit (blasted straight at the keeper) we would certainly have won this game. As an attacking force Arsenal were non-existent. In the second half we seemed content with the point and sat back. Surprisingly we defended stoutly and could've snatched it when Owen went down under a challenge from Keown late on. Having said that, it was probably just outside the box.

All in all - a valuable point. Six weeks ago we'd have lost this game. Stars for us: Carragher and Berger. Fowler had another 'out of sorts' game. Overall: 7 out of 10.

Sorry, sorry, sorry for the silence. Christmas, New Year and all that. Hope you all had a good one and that 1999 is a great year for all of us. Ticket news: No news about the FA Cup 4th round trip to the Theatre of Delusions yet. Arsenal is sold out BUT there are still a few left for Southampton on the 16th. Phone the credit card line on 0151 263 5727. Reserves report will be on-line tomorrow. (Playing Leicester City at St Helens tonight).

First of all my apologies for not making contact sooner but with so many things going on I decided to wait until the New Year was with us and having said that, may I take this opportunity of wishing everyone a Happy New Year and let us hope that, as Liverpool fans, we have a fair bit to celebrate.

As regular KOPITES will know we have been trying to find ways of improving the atmosphere on the KOP and several ideas have been put forward. Things such as 'Singing Sections,' a KOP Band and Flags that remain on the KOP and are unfurled each home game. We put such things to the club at a recent meeting and the club has no problems with the basic ideas although we had to agree that the actual mechanics of having a 'Singing Section' are not easy. The main problem would be getting people to move but the idea will be discussed again. You cannot just tell people that they are moving!

The idea of a KOP Band has gone down well and the club have spoken to the local Samba Band that have already played at Anfield on a couple of occasions and the Band are willing to get involved on two fronts. One being that the Samba Band would be happy to train people to a reasonable standard so that they could 'lead' the crowd into creating a better atmosphere. The other being that they would like to 'learn' to play along to Liverpool songs/chants. Again there has to be a degree of understanding and it would not be a case of allowing everyone to take drums and instruments into the KOP because the thoughts of everyone has to be considered. The idea would be that the 'drummers' would be located at the front and would be [probably] allowed to walk up and down the front of the KOP getting the fans 'going.' The drums could be stored at Anfield and may even be the property of the club but we all agreed on one thing and that is that we would not want anything along the lines of the Sheffield Wednesday Band who basically stick to 'The Great Escape' and get more criticism than praise - despite what they may say. So what we are looking for initially are a couple of volunteers who would be willing to meet up with the Samba Band and undergo a little tuition and eventually become the KOP drummers. So if you are interested, or know anyone who might just be interested, then get in touch with me on either of the RAOTL 'e' mail addresses.

KOP Flag Days are already legendary and it is a bit of a laugh now that other clubs are trying to follow suit. But the other clubs are trying to manufacture their Flag Days whilst we prefer them to be spontaneous. However, it is getting harder to organise them and we really do want people to get involved. What we want to suggest is that after a future game, probably in February, we get together and have a short meeting to discuss future Flag Days starting with the three that we intend to have this season against the Mancs, Everton and the end of season one against Wimbledon. The first two take no organising because we shall advertise them in the usual way but the one against Wimbledon should be a real end of season party affair celebrating [or mourning] the fifth anniversary of the closing of the old KOP. I should point out that Flag Days are not just the property of the KOP and we would dearly like to see the Main Stand and the Centenary Stand getting involved. The Anny is already beginning to take off. So get your idea down, everything will be considered and the club is supportive.

They don't want to take over; they want to take part. 'E' mail me your thoughts and your intentions. If you are not available to attend a meeting after a game but still want to be involved then we'll do it via this system and the Internet. I'll take your 'e' mails whilst John Mackin will look after the Internet info. It will not be a committee it will be a group of like-minded people working towards one goal.

Next December [1999] will see the fortieth anniversary of Bill Shankly taking over as club manager and we intend to honour that day with the mother and father of all Flag Days. This will be done with the full backing of the club and they will be involved in the arrangements for that day. But it will not just be a Flag Day. We want to turn it into the biggest party that the KOP [even the city of Liverpool] has seen in years. In fact it will probably be a Shankly Festival weekend more than a Shankly Day. Amongst the things that are being considered are holding Shankly party's in the town and the pubs around the ground, a match between teams representing Liverpool and Cardiff City [our opponents on that day forty years ago], getting a number of former players involved - those who had been signed by Shanks -and getting them to Anfield on the day. We intend to involve the local Radio Stations and also the National TV, plus the local and national press. The club for their part will be getting in touch with several other footballing people inviting them to take part. We want a festival and a party, I'm sure you'll want to be part of it. The millennium? Forget it, this is going to be the thing! This will not be easy to organise and time is already moving on. If you want to be involved I ask you to understand that it will need a commitment although a fair amount of work can be done via this system and the Internet. So if you want to help, please get in touch. I promise you all that this will be something special and something that will make you proud to be part of. You will not have to attend regular meetings, we'll do that on your behalf, but as the day draws near then you may be asked to attend such things. In the weeks leading up to the event then we will be asking for a fair amount of your time. RAOTL will be asking TTWAR to join up with us and also the KOP newspaper. In the meantime, tell me if you want to get involved and start forwarding your ideas. I promise to update anyone who gets in touch with a regular newsletter via this system or the post if the contact is that way.

On paper this may have looked like a potential giant-killing. When the 'live' tv game was chosen we were going through a very sticky patch and ITV leapt at this tie in the hope of seeing us bounced out by a side with a good giant-killing pedigree. Well, sorry ITV but this was like a home game for us. We even easily outsang the Port Vale fans and we weren't even trying. Full marks to PVFC for giving us the decent end of the ground: stanchions apart this was one of the best away ends we've been in all season and much better than the Bullens Rd at Goodison, or East Stand Enclosure at Filbert Street.

The game ...well, they were terrified of St Michael's pace and he took full advantage. Despite their childish howlings it was obviously a penalty when he was bundled over by a third-rate defender much too slow to get out of his way. Is it Owen's fault that he's too quick for defenders to cope? The keeper did well on the pen and got a hand to it - from our end it wasn't clear if it went in or not. Well not until Owen turned away and we twigged that the Vale fans weren't celebrating. For the rest of the half we were all over them and it was no surprise when Berger nodded a free-kick back across the area for Ince to head home from close range. "You can stick your Robbie Williams Up Your Arse!" we sang as half-time approached. Sure enough, as the whistle went 'Let Me Entertain You' came blaring over the tannoy. Deliberate or not - it was funny either way. During the break I drank the worst cup of tea I've had in a long while and watched the medics attend to a Scouser called 'Dave' who flaked out in the tea queue and woke up not knowing where he was - knew he was at the match though. Hope the head's better mate.

Second half arrived and Vale were a bit more adventurous but could create nothing. And nothing much happened until Fowler came on for the tireless Riedle and proceeded to blast two good chances into the side netting. For the last quarter hour he linked up well with Owen and we looked certain to score again. Sure enough after some magic from Michael out on the left, the low cross found Robbie about 15 yards out and the shot was a blur as it hit the back of the net. And that was that.

We listened to the draw as the coaches sat in the car park and the general mood was one of delight: imagine 10,000 of us at OT. I bet we make some noise. Lets see if the cowards try and jump us on the forecourt after this one. Don't think so.

Despite a pretty average first 20 minutes or so, we'd have to put this match down as the performance of the season so far. Even better than the 4-1 at Newcastle. Why? Well, for a start this Newcastle side were much better than the one we faced back in September. Also we came back from 2 goals down - which speaks volumes for this side's spirit compared with that of last season ... last month? Also, whereas in September we played brilliant counter-attacking football, carving Newcastle open like a laser; this time we were a Red flood, awesome and unstoppable. We just kept coming and coming and coming. It was Viagra football.

As sure as eggs is eggs Ruud Gullit was sulking after the match, putting on his little boy lost look (a million mums coo and bill) and cryptically commenting that "Liverpool don't need any favours". In case you missed it he was referring to Hamman's sending off on the half hour - ostensibly for two bookable offences but I prefer to see it as the ref's (Steven Lodge's) belated realistion that the first tackle on McMannaman was a sending off offence in itself. Indeed it was - a dreadfully crude lunge from the rear across Macca's ankle that finished his involvement in the game. He should have gone then and Lodge knew he'd made a mistake. Hamman was lucky to stay on the field for the extra ten minutes. So shut it, Gullit. At 1-0, Newcastle believed they had the game won and began to hold what they'd got. Shearer became more and more anonymous and drifted into midfield. Their second goal was a fluke really. We were in control, then a long clearance from Given saw Babb and Carragher collide with each other leaving Andersson clear on goal. He rounded James and despite Babb's acrobatic attempts at a block the ball bobbled into the net. At 2-0 Gullit decided to close up the shop. Druncan had gone off and Shearer was, to all intents, playing central midfield. Then something happened that we haven't seen in a long while - a tactical substitution that won us the game. Gerrard came off (he came on a a sub for Macca) and on came Davey Thompson. Gerrard had been subject to some thuggish attentions from Stuart (shithouse) Pearce, including one forearm smash that should have seen him sent off. 'Psycho' (who's so tough when facing 18 yr old kids) stayed on and was made to pay as Heggem ran his arse off for the rest of the game.

Thommo's arrival, and the introduction of McAteer for Babb, which allowed Heggem to play on the right wing changed the game totally. All of a sudden we were running at Newcastle from all over the field. Notably Heggem's heroic efforts on the right flank which destroyed the Geordie defence. Berger and Stig did similar on the left whilst Owen and Riedle buzzed like busy, buzzing things in and around the area. Thompson and Redknapp ruled the center of the park. Redknapp was fantastic tackling like Souness and spraying the ball over the park. If he could only grow a mussie and start ironing his underpants ... Thompson picked up every - I mean EVERY - loose ball and some that he had no right to collect as well. He seemed to know exactly what he wanted to do when he had the ball, and exactly where he was going. He drove the side forward showing an energy and tenacity that shamed the sidelined 'Guvnor'. Up front though, Owen was on fire but Riedle stole the show leading the attack with the heart of a Lion. He could show Shearer (who seems to have thrown in the towel) a thing ot two about spirit and courage. He was an inspiration. At 2-1 down I thought we could win it. At 2-2 I knew it. The good news is that even at 4-2 up we went looking for more, confidence has been injected back into the side and with the upcoming arrival of Kippe and Song ... well, maybe ... just maybe.

Overall: 10 out of 10. Man of the match. Riedle just edges it ahead of Heggem, Thompson and Redknapp. Only just. Everyone played a blinder. It was a privilege to be there. The Kop too, were sensational and the noise produced in the second half was just awesome. (See < Kop FlagDay page > )

JJP's comments ... "Don't wake me, I'm having a lovely dream. A dream about a football team playing in Red in front of a baying, booming KOP with pride, passion and commitment. Coming back when all seemed lost to win a mini classic. The KOP singing 'Scouser Tommy' and 'YNWA' and singing both so loud that the hairs on the back of neck stood up. In this dream the team in Red are attacking in waves, Red waves, and for half an hour every single one of them wore the Liverbird proudly on his chest. It's been a long time since I saw something like this.

I'm sure I saw Ian Callaghan and Peter Thompson going down the wings while 'Sir' Roger and the Saint ripped the heart out of the opposing defence. Only this time they looked very similar to Vegard Heggam, Patrik Berger, Michael Owen and Kark Heinz Riedle. There was little DavidThompson biting like a pocket size Jimmy Case and Jamie Redknapp spraying the ball forward - yes, forward - like the magical men of yore while the KOP sang for its team. There was a little tear in my eye when that final whistle went and everyone on the KOP seemed to be congratulating everyone else. What a show! ... and okay, maybe this wasn't a great Newcastle, but who cares? We are watching our team recover, and this on top of the Boro result [and Everton getting a turkey sized stuffing down at White Hart Lane] was the best Christmas present we could have hoped for. Okay, okay, I may be getting carried away and I did still see our defence get split wide open like a pair of PJ Proby's trousers ... but what the heck. This was something special and you can wake me up when I tell you to. The patient is looking a lot better today than he did a few weeks ago. "(JJP)

As Johnny Mac gave the trip a miss in order to prevent even further (if you can believe that's possible) marital discord, here's JJP's match report:

"Blimey this was a Christmas pressie to behold. Our first ever win at the Cellnet or Riverside or whatever they want to call it. Before the game it was like 'Last Night at the Proms' as they went through a load of classical stuff, including, I think,"Rule Britannia", and all of their fans were told to wave their flags [they were having something called a Flag Day] and it was ever so strange because all the flags looked the same. A bit like MayDay used to be in Moscow - everyone had their custom, club-made flag to wave and waved it they did, when told. Everton are even into similar functions now - God knows what their Flag Days would be like... and I'm not even going to think aboutit.

This was Boxing Day on a typical cold and wet North Eastern day. But the mood amongst the 3,500 Reds was upbeat - surprisingly. There seemed to be an air of anticipation, something that has been missing in recent weeks - or is that months/years? The general consensus was that we could do this lot even though they had just done United over at the Theatre of Illusions. (Delusions, surely? JMac) Mind you, our defence was it's usual self, handing out gifts like Santa on speed but fortunately Boro decided they weren't over bothered and left them wrapped - apart, that is, from when Deane equalised. Looked like Jamie Carragher was okay after his 'night out with the boys' - well he scored (I had a hunch he might - JMac). And that freekick from Jamie Redknapp almost uprooted the net. But we save the best until last. Hey, we've moaned enough about certain players from the Nordic shores, but Vegard Heggem looks a bit tasty. He carved his was through their defence like a sharp knife going through the Christmas bird, and with all the skill and brilliance of a Brazilian [?] he clipped the ball into the net to send us lot mental and the Cellnet/Riverside emptied faster than a sink without a plug. I'm glad Macca got hold of him before he ran any further because the team coach would have had to pick him up somewhere down the A19. Phil Thompson went about as daft as we did and it was "get me home quick I want to get pissed". (I already was home and downing a very large sherry upon hearing the news - JMac).

Maybe it was just another layer of paper over the cracks, 'cos lets face it those cracks are still there. But it was something to savour and savour it I did. You should too."

Also present at Boro were the advance party from Monchengladbach. Six members of Borussia's fanprojekt came over for this game and Newcastle on Monday. They're scouting out for their big annual visit on February 6th when 130 Borussia fans will be over to support Liverpool vs. Middlesbrough at Anfield. They'll be playing a match on the Saturday morning for the 'Friendship' Cup and then be on the ale with us all day for the Boro game. If you see any of them at Anfield make them feel welcome as they are truly devoted to Liverpool and with their own team in the relegation mire in the Bundesliga they could do with a carefree, fun day out. (More details in a week or so).

First things first: the 'Respect The 96' protest was a huge success. Although photos of the Kop mosaic in the nationals were non-existent, many match reports did actually mention the protest - which is a small victory, I suppose, given their refusal to publicise previous Hillsborough protests. (The Liverpool Echo, however, gave it extensive coverage with some fine photos - which we'll put on the website a.s.a.p.). Liverpool FC gave the protest their full backing and donated a full page in the match programme in which Trevor Hicks re-iterated our demands for a fitting and permanent memorial to be erected at Hillsborough to remember the 96. Tommy Smith, in the Liverpool Echo, reported that during the protest the Wenesday directors refused to look at The Kop and gazed down at the floor. The Wednesday supporters, however, gave the mosaic a prolonged bout of applause.

Smith said... "I sat in the Anfield press box on Saturday whilst thousands of Kopites played their part in a major protest against the directors of Sheffield Wednesday FC over their continuing refusal to erect a memorial at Hillsborough. A few feet to my left sat the aforementioned SWFC directors. They shuffled in their places. They tried not to look. They clearly didn't want to know. The time has come to stop treating them with kid gloves. Liverpool FC have been backing the Hillsborough Family Support Group in their campaign. Power to their elbow for co-operating with the Kop protest and providing a full page in the programme to highlight Wednesday's intransigence. But I would now like to see Liverpool's hierarchy becomming increasingly vocal on this issue. The team can't boycott the game at Hillsborough on May 8th, but the rest of us can - including the highly respected and influential trio of David Moores, Peter Robinson and Rick Parry who, I know, feel deeply about this matter."

A confidential whisper from someone who ought to know has confirmed that the protest did hit home and that the directors at SWFC are now considering what form a memorial should take. However, this is not the end of the matter: Concrete and fitting proposals must be in place by next April - proposals that have been agreed to by the families and the Justice campaign. Otherwise, the Hillsborough boycott scheduled for May 8th MUST go ahead.

Now to the football ... We did it all in 20 minutes really, after a nervous opening quarter during which we gave the ball away far too easily and far too often. In fact there was little to suggest that we were any nearer to breaking out of the poor run of form that we'd hit since the back-to-back victories over Forest and Fulham back at the end of October. The press were constantly reminding us that it was out worst run of form for 44 years, since the relegation season of 1953-54, in fact. Any gloating Evertonians keen to rub this in were fended off with a reminder that whilst everyone and his dog might have been beating us back then, the Blues were certainly NOT - as they were ... ahem! ... in a division below us. Also, for good measure, whilst we are currently in our worst run for nearly half a century - we are still above Everton in the league. Hah! Big 5 club - my arse ... and where's your 'legend' now then?

Anyway back to us. We had a team paying SWFC far too much respect and fully aware that one slip could see another 'home banker' disappear. Nerves really were that bad. However, we kept at it; defended with spirit - if not class - and took a good chance when it appeared. Fowler controlled the ball in the area nudged it to St Patrick who rocketed the ball in from 18 yds with his weaker right foot. An excellent strike. The Reds then seemed to appreciate that Sheff Wed were rocking and Liverpool were visibly lifted. For the next 20 minutes they went at Wednesday in an attempt to sew the game up. Another fine build up saw Stig cross to Owen just inside the area. He controlled the ball and shot in off the post. Despite some nervous moments at the back in the second half the two goal cushion was enough to keep the nerves from fraying and when the final whistle went there was a roar of 50% relief and 50% celebration. It was definitely not a classic game, but it was an important result. Whether it's just a temporary respite or the turning point that halted the rot - who knows? Come next May we'll have a better idea of just how important a win it was

PS. I turned up - totally blitzed - after a Crimbo 'do' and without my season ticket. Paid another 18 quid to get in and sat there freezing to death in my suit. This is not recommended. (JM) Well done to Andy and everyone at Expressions for organising the mosaic.

This Saturday we'll be holding a 'Respect the 96' FlagDay at Anfield. It will be a protest at SWFC's refusal to erect a permanent and fitting memorial to those supporters who died in their football ground. Nearly 10 years after the event SWFC think that we'll just forget about it and go away quietly: well, they couldn't be more wrong. We must use this occasion to show them how deeply we feel over this issue. There will be a '96' mosaic made up of 12,000 cards on The Kop, and we would ask EVERYONE to try and bring a placard or banner or flag to make sure that this can not go unnoticed or unreported in the press and on tv.

Please also try and bring some flowers to lay at the memorial, and look out for the yellow 'Justice' stickers available on the day - please wear one prominently displayed. This event has the full support of Liverpool FC and the police have been informed of our intentions.

On Saturday, a 'Respect the 96' Flag Day will be held at Anfield for the match with Sheffield Wednesday to honour those who died in 1989. But why hasn't the Yorkshire club recognised the Hillsborough Disaster with their own memorial to Reds fans?

Sheffield Wednesday officials should feel a sense of shame on Saturday as they drive through the Shankly Gates and glance out of the windows of their coach at the Hillsborough Memorial and eternal flame. As usual, it will be bedecked with flowers, scarves, messages and candles - a clear indication that Merseyside will never forget the 96 Liverpudlians who, almost 10 years ago, lost their lives at the Hillsborough Disaster.

During a decade of agony and frustration for the people of this city, the Sheffield club has steadfastly REFUSED to put up any sort of memorial at their stadium to the victims of Britain's biggest sporting tragedy. Their defiant stance is not just illogical it is cruel and insensitive. It is also the final insult to the families and friends of the innocent men, women and children who went to enjoy a football match in Sheffield, on April 15th 1989, and never returned. It seems to the people of Merseyside that SWFC (the club - not the fans and players) want to pretend that Hillsborough never happened - that it was just a bad dream.

Wednesday continue to hide behind their lawyers, claiming that the erection of a memorial at their ground might somehow indicate culpability. This is totally illogical when you look at the precedent set by ... Liverpool Football Club.

Following the Heysel Stadium Tragedy in Brussels prior to the 1985 European cup Final which claimed the lives of 39 Juventus fans, the Merseysiders wasted no time in erecting a special memorial plaque at Anfield. you can see it these days in The Kop Visitor's Centre. Liverpool FC never thought twice about a Heysel Memorial. They felt it would have been totally insensitive not to have erected a plaque. In the ensuing years, many Italian fans have come to Anfield to see the memorial and quietly reflect on lost relatives and friends.

Sheffield Wednesday point to the Garden of Remembrance in Hillsborough Park which is just about 300 yards from the club. They will also tell you about the memorial that stands on the corner of Wadsley Lane, 100 yards from the ground. This, however, was erected by the people of Hillsborough - not the club. SWFC have had inconclusive meetings with representatives of the Family Support Group. Club secretary, Graham Mackrell told me; "Having taken legal advice, we are unable to erect a memorial at the stadium until the threat of prosecution is cleared up". SWFC cannot seem to grasp that the calls for a Hillsborough Memorial at the Leppings Lane End, where the disaster happened, are not linked with some devious trick, aimed at pointing the finger at the football club for what happend in 1989. It has EVERYTHING to do with understanding the feelings, not just of a rival football club, but an entire city.

A constructive letter from Liverpool supporters linked with the 'RED ALL OVER THE LAND' fanzine put the case for a memorial perfectly in last Saturday's Football Echo.

They have nominated Saturday's Anfield game with SWFC as a 'Respect the 96' FlagDay and have called for a colourful display of fans' loyalties in the shape of flags, banners and placards. They ask that floral tributes be placed at Anfield's Hillsborough Memorial by noon on the day, so that visiting officials can see them when they arrive at Anfield. Of course the placing of flowers at Hillsborough itself has also been forbidden in recent seasons by the Sheffield club - another show of insensitivity that makes you wonder what is going on the heads of those walking that clubs' corridors of power.

It should be made absolutely clear that the Wednesday players and the Sheffield fans themselves have got nothing whatsoever to do with their club's Hillsborough stance. Indeed, a Sheffield Wednesday fanzine has sent a letter to their club, asking for a memorial plaque to be erected at the Leppings Lane End.

Clearly, the Sheffield fans are with the Reds all the way on this issue. The Flag Day is, therefore, the correct way to make a high profile, yet dignified and peaceful protest.

JJP's match report: " An away game against Wimbledon is a strange thing. It's not really an away game is it, not when 18,000 out of 26,000 are supporting Liverpool? Standing outside the ground you could idle away the hours trying to spot someone who was actually NOT a Red. Then you go inside and the feeling is stranger still because you realise that out of the 18,000 Reds probably 80% of them are either making their debut, kids on a treat or the once or twice a year merchants who live south of Watford. So the atmosphere is a bit like that of a pre-season friendly in Dublin. Some of us are up for it though and we spend most of the game standing in the ramshackle stand that is known as the Arthur Waite Stand screaming at our team to get going. The team reacts like kids who have been told they've got no pressies from Santa, well most of them at any rate. When their goal went in we knew that it was it. We knew we wouldn't get back and even when we got a the penalty we seemed to know that Michael would miss. When Robbie went off, looking totally miffed, we hoped that our wing backs or whatever you want to call them would sling over a few balls for KHR to win in the air, but unfortunately it was ground floor only. The Wimbledon defence must have gone home with bruised ankles so often did our lads whack the ball against them. It was all so depressing. Virtually everyone we spoke to after the game was gutted by the display yet we then hear the mindboggling comments of GH saying that he thought the team had done well, played with commitment, blah, blah, blah. Others seemed to agree, those who were not with us at Selhurst I should add. To most of us if that performance was acceptable, we would be asking just how far has this team/club sunk?

It must have been nice for Michael to get that award I can't say that he deserved it but it just shows the extent of his popularity. I just wonder what Shanks would have said to him. I think he would have probably told him it was very nice, stick it in the loft and go out and win some proper trophies! Or maybe I'm just being a tad cynical.

From all at RAOTL best wishes to everyone this Christmas. Get down to Anfield and get bloody singing. Let's stop the rot and show the rest of theland what we are all about. "

JMac adds: Not much to add. I can see where Houllier got his "we played well" comment from. In the first half we weren't that bad. But this was sodding Wimbledon we were playing! If we aspire to the level of a Coventry or Derby or Sheff Wed ... then - Yes! It wasn't bad. But WE ARE LIVERPOOL - "All about winning things and being a source of pride to the supporters" and all that.

" I have just returned from Liverpool where my hometown team, Celta de Vigo, had to play the second leg of the UEFA Cup tie against Liverpool FC. I was a very special case as I support Celta de Vigo from my childhood but I have supported the Reds as well since 1974, when I was only eight years old. As you can imagine my heart was divided.

As a Celta fan, I would like to thank everyone we met in Liverpool for their generosity, kindness and hospitality; absolutely second to none. All Celta fans agreed that very few times there has been such a strong link with the people in an away game like this. I hope our shouts trying to cheer up the Anfield crowd were heard and may serve as a turning point in Liverpool FC's fortune.

As a Reds' fan I was really surprised to see so many empty places in the stands. The Kop was great, as usual, but I really think the team needs more warmth and support from the stands. I think there is a lot of work to be done.

Liverpool is a great club, the fans proved that, and I cannot understand how some players can be thinking about leaving their club where they are more necessary. I would like to finish saying thanks again to everyone in Liverpool. Some Celta fans were a bit worried because they had been told the wrong information about Liverpool down in London. I told them to judge for themselves once they were in Liverpool. I always knew it would not let me down. " (Mon G. Buhigas, Vigo)

Reserves vs. Birmingham City Res. (h) (played at Knowlsey Rd, St Helens) Pontins League 1-1 (10th Dec 98)

Jean-Michel Ferri, Gerard Houllier's £1.75m signingfrom Istabulspor, made an impressive Liverpool debut in the reserves' 1-1 draw on Thursday night. Clearly short of match fitness he was replaced after 75 minutes by Docherty. If he can prove his fitness in training it looks as though Ferri will make the squad for Sunday's Live Sky TV game at Wimbledon.

Danny Williams headed Liverpool into the lead, but after 71 minutes Birmingham equalised with a deflected shot from Dyson.

Reds: Nielsen, Kvarme, Roberts, Wright, Williams, Ferri (Docherty 76), Maxwell, Newby, Gudnassan (N.Murphy 79), D.Murohy, Cassidy, (Sub. not used: Culshaw). Not sure of the attendance but 500 programmes were sold! (New Reserve's programme - 50p).

Report's in tonight's players linking the Reds with Bayern Munioch's 33 yr old central defender Thomas Helmer as a "short term solution".

Barely a minute into this match Phil Babb treated us to a classic 'Babbsy' moment - completely losing a high, through ball and allowing Sanchez to run clear on goal where only James' sheer bulk kept him out. I shuddered. Here was one of our more experienced defenders (Italia 90 and all that) defending like an 11yr old. Not that he would have looked out of place; it was men against boys really and Celta looked a different class. Always confident and composed on the ball, they looked a solid unit with pace and the ability to break dangerously. They are also one of Europe's in-form teams and given our defensive frailty and missing players, losing to them (even at home) is no shame.

What should concern us, however, is the manager. Just how did Houllier acquire the reputation as a tactical guru? It seemed obvious before the game (and screamingly obviously now) that an aerial bombardment - though not in the Liverpool tradition - would prove a real threat. We had no midfield to speak of and a defence with no confidence: there was no way we could play and pass our way through Celta. Sure enough, every time we got the ball it was hit long for Fowler and Owen to chase and they struggled against a sold back four ably supported by their midfield. We lost posession almost every time, and we were immediately put back on the defensive. No attacking momentum could be gained and as they stroked it round, every touch of the ball gave Celta confidence. So where was Riedle? Fit enough to be on the bench and fit enough to come on when we were a goal down and the game already lost and the Reds in tatters. It was a mistake not to play him from the start. As was the decision to play Gerrard I thought. Sure - he had a good game and was very competitive but his passing was in the Redknapp mould and he seemed overawed. The forwards recieved no penetrating through balls. Fowler must have been intensely frustrated. I'd have plumped for the more experienced Murphy who can attack a defence given the confidence. Houllier's preference for the 18 yr old Gerrard must be a cause for concern for Murphy and if his head drops I wouldn't blame him.

Davy Thompson got stuck in and was my man-of-the-match (for us) but the competition wasn't much. Staunton, Babb and McAteer were all dreadful; Jason's crossing making Bjornebye look like Ian Callaghan. Staunton was another elder head who totally lacked leadership and, at times, looked panic-stricken. Berger was busy and got booked for an offence born out of frustration, but he was of little penetrative effect. Matteo looked horribly out of place as left wing back ... the list goes on. Only Owen, Gerrard, Thommo and James came out with any real credit. Fowler recieved no support and he can't play without the ball ...

Our real stars were the crowd: great support from the 29,000 Liverpool fans of whom Phil Thompson said: "The supporters were magnificent. They made such a lot of noise to get the players going. All the lads felt it and appreciated it.". But then he would, wouldn't he? Thanks Thommo but don't let our contribution gloss over a dismal showing from the team over the two legs of this tie. We were crap.

Celta's fans were great. Over 1000 of them (over double what Valencia brought) made the trip for what was the biggest game in their history. Believe me - we were a real scalp for them. Back in Vigo ecstatic fans took the streets like they'd won the cup. I, for one, hope they do. They were great to us over there and real sports over here, chanting "Liverpool ! Liverpool!" after the game to a rapidly emptying Kop. Those of us left responded with a chant for "Celta!" and I don't think one of us begrudged them their win. Hala Celta!

EPILOGUE: This team needs to be dismantled. Let's just hope that we can attract the right kind of players to replace Ince and Bjornebye; Babb, Leonhardsen and McAteer. Let's face it we're not a 'big' name anymore. Any players of real ambition will go for a club on the up: Villa, Chelsea or the like. Or to a club who've already got there: ManU or Arsenal. Is Houllier really that respected on the continent to bring in real class players who really want to play for us? I don't know. Prove me wrong, Gerard.

And it's ... Port Vale vs. Liverpool . I suppose that we should be grateful for a relatively 'easy' draw.

Newspaper gossip is now linking us with the peroxide blonde French winger, Ibrahim Ba of Milan. Ba recently topped a poll of 1,000 Italian woman who were asked which imported footy star they'd most like to spend the night with ... whatever happened to the Jari Litmannen stories so strong about 6 weeks ago?

Dinna forget - Get to Anfield, if it's physically possible, on Tuesday for the Vigo home leg. As of this morning (Monday) just 20,000 tickets had been sold. Don't just sit at home swearing at the tele. It's vital that there is strong support for the team inside Anfield. Remember how the half-empty ground and lack of atmosphere acted as a boost for Valencia? I don't care if Christmas is just around the corner - get off your arses and get there, and make some noise! (And if you don't come: you're a bunch of part-time bastards - and don't moan when you can't get derby or ManU tickets later in the season, 'cos I won't be listening).

Can I also remind you that the reserves play Birmingham at Knowlsey Rd, St Helens on Thursday night.

JJP's match report - " Before the game I was walking down the Tottenham High Street when I saw a man dressed in a red outfit with a massive white beard and it made me think about a time loads of years ago when I was a kid and still believed in the legend of Santa Claus. My mother told me that Father Christmas was the most generous man on the planet earth and nobody gave away so many gifts as he did.

After the game I was walking down Tottenham High Street and I saw the man again only this time I though my dear old Mam had been spinning me a yarn. Father Christmas might have been the most generous man on earth when she was a kid in Bootle but if she was around today she would know that Santa ain't even in the running when it comes to generosity. After all Santa,bless him, might wear red but he only chucks out the gifts once a year.While Liverpool's defence often wear red every week and most of the year they can be seen giving away pressies. Take Saturday for example - Spurs scored twice, didn't have to try very hard either and went home with three points well and truly gift-wrapped courtesy of the LFC defence. As regular readers of this web site or RAOTL will already know, as do the legion of fans that follow the team, gift-wrapped goals and points are the forte of the current Liverpool side. Is there another team so kind to others as ours? If there is, why can't we play them?

I am starting to think that Gerard may be a clone of Roy. He comes across as a decent bloke, but already his team selections are beginning to baffle.We had the Kvarme thing in Vigo and then for this one he threw young Steven Gerrard in but left Thommo out until we were two down. Against Villa Gerard obviously thought that Steve Harkness might be a better bet than Stig, in fact backing a three legged donkey in the national is a better bet than Stig, but doesn't bring him back for this one and dear old Stig was his usual hapless self. We are back to the old Roy ploy of bringing eleven men back for a corner - see Spurs first goal. Jameo still should have done better but why do we have everyone back - well don't ask me cos I don't know! What I do know is that Spurs scored a goal because of it. There was a laughable incident about ten minutes from time, maybe less, when we caught a Spurs forward offside. "Lump it up field, Stan, let's get it into their box" I mused to myself. But no, he chooses to play pass, pass along our eighteen yard line. Next thing Spurs have got a corner and I'm sitting there screaming out "why."

I watched a tape of MOTD and winced with embarrassment at the two goals and I didn't feel any better when Gerard reckoned that we hadn't started playing until we were two down. The thing is we rarely do start until it's all gone wrong. But you can't blame the forwards, they must know that they could score three or four and we could still lose! It must be getting to them like it's getting to us - no, like it's got to us! Spurs are under new management as well but you can already see the George Graham influence. He hasn't bought anyone, but he's made an impact. Spurs leaked goals like we do until he arrived, tightened it all up and got them organised. They are still the same players, but unlike us, they no longer gift wrap things for the opposition. I would say that fifty percent of the goals that we've let in could have been avoided, probably more. I will never give up on this club or this team, but we are long past being a team capable of challenging, those at the helm now, must sort things out before the problem gets even more embarrassing. "

First of all - apologies for not updating the site for a week or two. Many reasons - illness, workload and Vigo etc. Anyway, things should quieten down at work now so expect the usual prompt updates in the future.

Wimbledon (a) on Sunday 13th at 4pm (Live on ManU TV) - Voucher 33 required, any serial number. Prices £20 and £10 kids. On sale now.

Middlesbrough (a) on Boxing Day - Voucher 34 required, any serial number. Prices as Wimbledon. On sale from Thursday 3rd Dec.

Newcastle (h) Postal applications from 2nd December and personal application from the 9th. Usual home prices.

This was a good performance in the sense that in the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. At the moment any clean sheet is a joy to behold, so let's just thank the League's computer for giving us Blackburn this particular weekend.

It was one of the season's less notable games. Blackburn, as teams do just after losing a manager, tried to up their game and for periods looked neat and organised but they clearly lacked class in crucial areas. We began fairly brightly but the longer it went on without us scoring, the more nervous the crowd became, It would take just one slip by Babb or Carragher, or Jameo failing to hold a cross and we'd be staring our 4th successive home defeat right down the barrel. Confidence is that low. As luck would have it we nabbed a goal out of nothing. Paul Ince picking up a short ball from Fowler about 25 yards out and belting it towards the top corner. It swerved and dipped and crashed into the net just under the bar - a fine strike by anyone's standards. We'd love to believe Ince logs on now and then and checks this site out - how else can we explain his recent controlled performances? The desire still appears to be there but it's being channelled to the team and not to his ego, He's keeping out of trouble and we're looking better for it. Wouldn't have anything to do with Ferri's arrival would it? Or maybe Thommo's had a quiet word of advice??? Shortly afterwards Owen snatched a second from close range after a rebound and we looked secure- for the first half at least. But there was always the nagging fear that should Rovers manage to snatch a goal back then we'd panic and allow them to come at us for an equalizer.

The Kop were - again - very quiet. I'm sure it's nerves - I never relaxed until ten minutes from the end when it appeared that Blackburn had thrown in the towel. The appearance of Kvarme as a sub hadn't helped either. In the second half we seemed to play the game out, relying on Owen's pace to keep Rovers stretched at the back and thus never letting them settle into a pattern whereby they could try and launch a comeback. Fowler worked hard but looked off-colour. Owen's reluctance to give him the ball may have cost him a goal, but that's what strikers do, I suppose. Berger and Redknapp shone in the middle, Stig had a decent game and Babb marshalled Blake (their ONLY threat) very well. Heggem proved what a great wing-back he'd make and one second half run which had him juggling the ball on his heel was just brilliant.

Members of the New York Supporters Club were over for their annual visit and throughly enjoyed their Thanksgiving weekend in Liverpool. Can I say 'Hi' to Brook Scheiber, Chris Comstock, Steve Zerdelian, Brian Birrer, Brian Joyal and Jennifer Bourbeau. See you next time we're in NYC?

One point: since when has Shankly's statue become a table for tourist twats to eat their McDonalds off? Several Japanese day-trippers (eh?) were gathered around it after the match and had their fast food spread all over the base. Fucking sacrilege. Get a grip, Liverpool - why not have a steward on duty down there when there's a match on? (I was beaten to it when one of our guests from NYC asked the Japs to clear off. Pearl Harbour and all that I suppose.)

Overall: MOTM was Berger (tho' the papers raved about Redknapp, but the guy never passes forward into feet to create chances). who worked like a Trojan. The referee, Jeff Winter, was a total joke: Penalising one 'offence' and then letting an identical 'offence' go seconds later. Both sides suffered/benefitted from his ludicrous decisions, but it infuriated the crowd. Winter lapped it up, you get the impression all that attention gives him a thrill. Sad bastard.

Racing Club Celta de Vigo (a) UEFA Cup 3rd round 1st leg 1-3 (24th Nov 98) (For Vigo photos <CLICK HERE>)

What a contrast to our trip to Spain just 3 weeks ago. In fact result apart, this was a particularly forgettable journey all round, so I'd better tell you all about it before I forget. In fact there was a time in the afternoon that I almost wished I'd stayed at home. Maybe my physical demeanour (raging toothache, full of anti-biotics and painkillers, and a swollen cheek - giving me a face like Tomas Brolin) meant I was less-inclined to enjoy myself than usual. It's certainly difficult to laugh when you can't open your jaw.

Vigo, although close to the Portuguese border, is surprisingly close. It's less than 2 hours by air from Liverpool, so we arrived in good time (around 11.15am) at a shiny, modern airport. The sky was clear and the sunshine bright, and there was a pleasant nip to the air. It was a typical late-Autumn, early Winter's day. As at Valencia there were plenty of police both inside the terminal and outside, where we were, again, greeted with a couple of tv crews (are they that pushed for news in Spain?). The drive into the city took around 25 minutes and we were treated to impressive views of the river and the city as we descended into Vigo from the surrounding hills. Despite fearing a caning by the in-form side in the Spanish league, we were all in good spirits.

We were dropped off at an Irish bar (!!) - Cunninghams - where we had been promised cheap drinks. It was shut. Anyway, it looked a particularly gloomy little hole right on a busy dual-carriageway, having neither local colour nor Irish charm. These 'official' meeting points are always potential flashpoints and I wasn't keen on staying nearby. So we gathered the clan together and went off exploring. One thing a visitor to Vigo will soon discover is that it is not a party town: so the first half-decent bar we found we stopped at, and had a couple of welcome drinks. Beer was about a quid a pint and we were the only ones drinking alcohol at noon: the locals were snacking on coffee, hot chocolate and doughnuts. We were made quite welcome, however, and no-one was particularly perturbed at having English football fans in their cafe. As far as Big Mark and Peter were concerned the best features of this plain, simple cafe were the toilets. They'd been for a curry the night before and were suffering for it now. Meanwhile, we skimmed through the Spanish papers - full of news of our visit and photos of supporters who'd arrived the day before - whilst Spanish MTV played in the background (And you thought French pop-music was crap?)

Once again, a tv crew appears from nowhere and some of the lads give impromptu interviews out on the pavement. We decide to move on, after all this isn't really a pub - more of a snack bar / ice-cream parlour that just happens to serve beer. After a lengthy walk (during which we are shadowed by a van load of Vigo police) we bump into a another group of Scousers who say, "Don't go down there lads - there's nothing". So we switch direction and head (what appears to be) into the town centre. We were walking away from the modern concrete high-rise Vigo and into the older city. Vigo has some pleasant buildings and several quite impressive tree-line boulevards. All very continental, with some plush shops, but it's NOT Barcelona. It's not a tourist resort nor a major metropolis, it's more a small provincial city, and we're having trouble finding somewhere decent to have a few beers and some lunch - and maybe exercise the vocal chords. Eventually we turn off the main boulevard and head down hill towards the harbour (policevan in tow). We arrive at a large square, tree-lined, a few statues and the like. A bit of civic pride on show it seems. But the buildings around the square seem quiet and dead; this might be a working port (Spain's biggest fishing port) but where was the hustle and bustle? Even accounting for Siesta it was like half-day closing. We turn left, which pisses the police off, as to follow us they have to turn right and travel several hundred metres around the square to catch up with us. When they do eventually meet up with us again, we cross the square and head down towards the river-front. By now we're getting irritable, so the next stop is closeby. On a corner on the square we settle down in La Conde Lua - again, not a pub - a cafe/bar. It's cool and quiet inside and isn't bad at all. We have a draught beer and a bottle of the local Galician lager served in a frosted goblet. Excellent. Sue doles out some sarnies and even the duty-free fags get distributed. Then some locals arrive, including women and kids, so we move on. It's as if it would be rude to burst into song (would they feel threatened?) and so we feel uncomfortable. Outside we can see the policevan again. It's beginning to piss me off now. So we move on ... About 20 meters away we stop at what looks like a pub. Gloomy inside, long dark wooden bar, pinball machine and totally empty. Inside the first thing that hits us is the smell. Fucking hell, what's that? It's a sort of fishy/uriney pong that catches you right at the back of the throat and reminds me of old people who sit next to you on the bus. Peter's face is screwed up in concentration, then it dawns on him ... "It smells of kidneys ... (pause) ... otter's kidneys.". I'll have to take his word for it. The beer was disgusting, perhaps it was made from otter's kidneys too. As we sit out on the pavement (police van parked at the bottom of the road) we begin to notice something ... er ... peculiar about the clientele. Men, in couples, or singularly, are mincing in and out looking very light on the loafers. Then it dawns ... we spend 2 hours looking for a decent bar and end up in a dockside gay pub, and it absolutely stinks. I'm feeling rough and getting pissed off now. I suggest moving on and we all jump up and contemplate losing the police escort. But how? Then opportunity knocks - the riverfront promenade, at this point, has a large pedestrianised area accessible only by some steps. We scamper up the steps and leave the police behind.

At the quayside we can stop and take in the view. We take a few photos etc. and wonder what to do. The harbour behind us is a forest of masts, as small sailing boats (hundreds of them) are bobbing about in the swell. It's a marina of sorts. In the distance the green hills around the ria are dotted with white houses and one hill is topped by a church. It's actually quite picturesque. Where's me camera? What's also nice is that there's a bar/restaraunt down here too. A long white building with a stepped roof with railings, and portholes. Oh I get it! It's supposed to be a ship. La Taberna del Puerto (very original !) was cool and calm inside: all marble, mirrors, glass and steel and it had the prettiest barmaid we'd spotted in Vigo, wearing a small tee-shirt exposing her brown belly in a very sexy manner. I could hardly keep my eyes on the beer gushing from the tap as she served us. The beer, too, was the best we'd enjoyed thus far: Cruzcampo, served in attractive glasses that we just had to pilfer later on. We sat outside with some of the lads who'd come on the 3 day trip and enjoyed the sun. Bowls of nuts and olives would appear at regular intervals (as JJP swiped the detritus of someone's tapas) and we had a good chinwag (or chin throb, in my case) about Vigo and their previous night's escapades.

Around 4-ish I was getting bored and suggested we head off up the stadium. JJP was also in the mood and we left the others in another bar on the riverfront and jumped a cab out to El Esatadio Municipal del Ballaido. The main road out of the town centre was through a heavily built up modern area, buzzing with activity and full of shops. Why hadn't we come up here for a drink? About 10 mins later (the roads were very busy) we turned left off the main road and went down a steepish hill and there in front of us was the Estadio. It's actually a fairly interesting Wembley-shaped stadium covered in billboards and diagonal concrete supports, and is located in the centre of a large oval plaza, ringed by shops and bars. The stadium sits in the bottom of a 'bowl' and these bars and shops were slightly uphill - on the rim, so to speak: the whole effect was to concentrate your attentions onto the stadium and the evening's football ahead of us. Which was apt, as we had begun to appreciate the importance of this match to the people of Vigo. We had a look round, there was a very large queue at the ticket office for tonight's game and tv crews were all over the place (We later learned that this was the biggest game in Vigo's history). I visited the Club Shop, very small and mostly stocked with scarves, woolen hats and jumpers etc. None of the usual tat we associate with Liverworld. I decided to get my souvenirs from one of the many stalls ringing the plaza. After a good look round JJP and I headed towards a nearby bar opposite the 'home' end. This turned out to be the best bar of the trip. It had large 'french' windows at the front that were opened up and we sat at a small table on a narrow patio in front of a huge, squat palm tree that hid the stadium from view. The bar was packed with framed pictures of RC Celta, and a large 'HALA CELTA!' banner was suspended above the bar. The tv in the corner of the bar was showing live reports from the ticket queue - they really were going overboard with the coverage it seemed. We nabbed some programmes (got some left if anyone needs one) and eventually (after an hour or two) went back into town to meet up with the others.

Outside Cunninghams, my hunch was proved correct. It had been closed by the police and the atmosphere outside was a little hostile. Coaches had all pulled up outside and policevans and (hundreds of?) coppers swarmed all over the main road. I'd noticed the blue flashing lights from a distance. Fuck that, I thought and JJP and I went into a bar about 100 yards away for a quiet beer. When we eventually rejoined the group the police were getting quite bad tempered - lashing out at people with their batons (I saw one guy get hit about 5 times as he tried to board the coach. The copper had to be restrained by his colleagues. He'd clearly lost it.) Fans were being manhandled and pushed onto buses. The police were panicking and reacting very poorly to the congestion and confusion. Had they got a good kicking I think its fair to say they would have deserved it. It was all the more galling as the Spanish newspaper reports that we got after the Valencia game all praised the Liverpool fans and went on about 'the party atmosphere' and our good humour. Why the Vigo police had not taken any heed of this is beyond me? Up at the stadium, we were again manhandled from the buses and pushed towards the turnstiles. I managed to step aside and then pulled out my notebook and pen and began scribbling. If they think I'm a journalist, I thought, I might be able to slip away. It worked, and they moved on and left me alone. With about 90 minutes to kill I returned to the bar we'd visited earlier, had a natter with the locals, swapped my scarf and had a few more drinks watching the build-up on the tv. I met a nice guy (Juan Carlos) who didn't speak a word of English who showed me his snaps of the trip to Villa and to "Ocks-Ford". I managed to ask him if he was coming to Liverpool and I said I'd see him in The Globe at 3pm on the afternoon of the game. (If anyone spots a 5' 3" long-haired Celta fan drinking whiskey in the Globe and wearing my scarf, point him in my direction will you).

Shortly before kick-off I move on - a quick trot over the plaza and I'm in the ground. Everyone is standing on their seats and there seems to be hundreds of people milling around lost. It was chaotic. I spot the others and clamber over the seats towards them. There seems to be well over 1000 of us (Villa brought 400) and the tv later says 1500 made the trip. Were making a bit of noise but the 32000 Celta fans are making a right racket. They're all wearing pale-blue scarves and many are sporting blue bobble hats. The first half is quite forgettable but we're doing okay to keep it goal-less. Then Michael is released by Thompson's lob, he scampers clear and slots it home - we go beserk and the celebrations go on for the next 10 minutes. At half-time I do the rounds and were hugging and whooping. JJP was that 'confused' he thought it was all over and we'd won. (A bit like me in PSG) In the second half we were absolutely awful and it was embarrassing. Even then, at 2-1 down though, I thought we'd be okay, we could win this tie. The third goal was the absolute killer - even the coppers were dancing when that went in. 3-1, and I think they thought they were through. Our 'reputation' seemed to have got to them in the first half, they paid us too much respect. Once they'd sussed how crap our defence was, we'd had it. After the final whistle the mood was very despondent and we were all a bit bad tempered. The Celta fans chanted "Liverpool - Liverpool!" which was appreciated by those of us not glaring at our shoes or swearing at the coppers. There was a half-hearted response of "Celta - Celta" from our enclosure but most people were so pissed off - how could we have changed the defence from Saturday? I mean Kvarme? If that had been Evans' decision there'd have been a riot. Only one manager now - only one person carrying the can.

John P's report ... " Arriving at Villa Park I glanced at my ticket, it read "Enter via BLOCK 'R,'" - though at the turnstiles I half expected to see a sign above saying, "Abandon hope, all Ye who enter here", such was the despondent mood of many of our supporters. The general consensus was that we were going to get stuffed! ... "Oh Ye of little faith!"

What a show! What a game! What a performance! This match had everything, and don't anyone believe that we didn't deserve to win. Some of the stuff in the first fifteen minutes was top drawer, brilliant, and of course Villa came back. They are top of the league and they weren't going to lie down were they? And when they came back, we came back and Robbie was back to his 'God' role. We've been through a hard time, it may not yet be over, but when a team can go out and do this to the team currently on top of the heap, then there has to be hope. Once the game got going and that start was digested our fans were brilliant. If you weren't there, I hope you saw the reactions to Robbie's third goal on the TV - mayhem would best describe it! The noise at times was deafening and any abuse directed at one-woman beater was deserved, the man has a problem although playing football with a chip on your shoulder cannot be easy. Like I said, the game had everything. Our defence was as bad as ever, Jameo as erratic as ever but there were times when the defence threw themselves at things and if you got to see that block of Carragher's when Collymore hit a scorcher, you'll know what I mean! Jameo gave away a penalty, then made a brilliant save. To be fair, they could have been given another one, and they missed the proverbial bucket full of chances. But don't forget about what was going on at the Villa end, Berger missed one [sorry Johnny boy, but he did] (Ah, but it was his right foot! - JMac) ), Michael deserved one with that lob, Robbie might have had a couple more and after twenty minutes it could have been four and if it had been, it would have been game over - or would it?

It was sad, then, that such a great game was marred by the fruit-case. Collymore should have gone for the foul on Harkness. He said it wasn't malicious, well thank God for that because I dread to think what state Steve Harkness would be in today. The allegation against Collymore last season was that he threatened to break Harky's leg! After seeing that 'tackle' draw your own conclusions regarding intent. Most of those around me were of the opinion that it was premeditated and having watched it several times since, who can argue. When he got sent off after being the victim of a 'terrible' foul by Michael his walked off in front of the baying horde of Reds he kissed the badge on the Villa shirt and then made some weird gesture to us, I'm sure you've seen it, maybe he was trying to balance that chip. I like John Gregory, but when he said that Michael had 'topped' Colly, you have to wonder what he was on at the time. He should just sit down and watch that assault on Harkness, if he has any decency in him, he would tell Collymore to sling his hook.

I was a Colly fan and thought he got the short end from Roy while at Liverpool, but when you are witness to what the sad bastard [the Birmingham term for anyone associated with Villa] did any remaining sympathy goes out of the window. Still, let's end on a high. Johnny Mac was absent due to having toothache [I kid you not] and having to pack for Celta Vigo, that is, he's filling up his magic bottle of Buxton Pure Spring Water to help him through the flight! But he would have loved it at the end when Thommo went on the pitch and went up to each player and either slapped them on the back, hugged them or did a bit of the old 'fives' and then looked up at the delirious travelling Reds and punched the air in triumph. Then he came back and did it again as his name rang round the 'away end.' I enjoyed this one.

John Mac's comment - It's true, it was toothache (well a very painful abcess actually) and I was in agony, but forgot about all the discomfort as the score filtered through from Villa. I'm not a great radio fan as far as The Reds are concerned. I've always felt I jinxed the team if I listened. But this was important. I'd missed just two games all season and was in need of a fix, so I decided that I was going to listen on Radio Merseyside ... I switched on and after 2 minutes or so bottled it and went into the kitchen to brew up. I came back to find the score at 2-0! That was it - it was decided - there was no way I could listen on the radio. I switched it off and sat watching something on Grandstand. The half-time scores came and ours was late (due, it transpired, to Collymore's assault on Harkness). My palms were sweating. Then it came in ... Two - nil. Phew! Now if we could only keep them at bay for the first 15 mins of the 2nd half ...

I was a shambles for the next 45 minutes as the scoreline kept changing. In the end I went into the kitchen pacing around and banging my head on the cupboards. Finally at around 5 to 5 the Beeb confirmed it and went live to Villa Park. There was Houllier laughing with Dion Dublin, and then Thommo punching the air and beaming just like it was Paris 81 again. Reports of our demise are, it seems, a tad premature. As for the Harkness assault, it had to be a red card didn't it? However, if you watch the MOTD recording you can see the ref call Stan to one side, and then with his back to Collymore and facing the linesman he mouths "Yellow? ... Yellow?". He's obvioulsy not seen it and is asking his linesman for assistance. So blame the bastard with the flag for that one. I bet you 50 quid the cowardly twat Collymore will be injured when Villa play at Anfield next April. Great chanting by our fans though ... "He's shit and he beats his tart!", then when he collapsed in tha area - "He dives and he beats his tart!", and after failing to hit the target for the umpteenth time - "He only hits Swedish women!". Motson's MOTD commentary was awful - can he actually see anything at all?

On December 19 we'll be organising a 'Respect the 96' FlagDay at Anfield. It will be a protest at SWFC's refusal to erect a permanent and fitting memorial to those supporters who died in their football ground. Nearly 10 years after the event SWFC think that we'll just forget about it and go away quietly: well, they couldn't be more wrong. We must use this occasion to show them how deeply we feel over this issue. More details over the next few weeks.

RAOTL issue no. 28 will be on sale on Saturday at Villa. It'll have a full Valencia trip report and photos (see below) , a review of Kevin Sampon's excellent 'Extra Time' book and a look at Cherry Red's new (sic) Liverpool cd. Plus all the usual crap. On sale outside the away turnstiles at Villa Park.

Did someone mention that supporting Liverpool recently is like being in 'Groundhog Day'? Well today was slightly different - we normally let the opposition sprint into a clear lead and THEN we score a late consolation goal. This time we actually played fairly well. There was effort and spirit - the trouble is that we're still a team lacking any confidence whatsover and we have a paper-thin squad. I said at the start of the season, when there was talk of Dundee moving on, we should be buying strikers not selling them. My reasoning was that with Fowler still months away from fitness (and it shows) and with Riedle liable to miss every 3rd game with a knock to his old bones or a dose of the mysterious Swiss 48 hour bug, we were in danger of having no strikers available should St Michael receive a knock. Well Michael duly pulled a muscle or something on Tuesday and we started this game with KHR and Fowler up front. When KHR came off with a nasty blow to the head, it left us with a 70% fit, out of sorts Fowler up front. So what does our new sole manager do? He brings on Leonhardsen wide on the right and pulls Davey Thommo (our best player by a mile) from out on the wing into the middle. The looks of bewilderment on the fans was only matched by those of our defenders during the last 15 minutes of the game. It was understood completely by those on The Kop: Danny Murphy just HAD to come on to lead the attack, but NO. In one substitution Houllier has alienated a large swathe of support who thought that this type of mad, baffling decision had disappeared with Evans. What sense of shape or purpose we had disappeared with that substitution. Matters were not helped by another inept refereeing display from Manc twat # 2 , Dermot Gallagher: a man loved by Kopites who fondly remember his disgraceful performance in the '96 Cup Final. He shamelessly refused Thompson a penalty when the youngster was chopped down inside the box and whilst Ince and several others were still arguing with the ref Leeds swept down to the Kop and equalised.

To be frank, we fell apart after that. What little confidence there was evaporated and Leeds made us look like a pub team: shapeless and bereft of inspiration. Where was The guv'nor then? You may well ask. Well done 'Incey' (makes you squirm doesn't it?) you've finally be outed as the fraud you are. You are 10% of the captain that Souness was and as a 'hardman' you're not fit to lace Ronny Whelan's drinks. Get that armband off him NOW! Stig is 100% more honest than Ince: crap he may be but he pulls his tripe out every game. On Saturday's showing the captain should be Davey Thompson, though at Valencia we all thought that Staunton had earned it. He was running that team when it looked like Houllier and Evans hadn't got a clue. And just when will Redknapp or Ince play an incisive pass into our front runners? Instead we get neat 10 yard square balls or diagonal punts into the corners - Let's face it Fowler, Owen and KHR have been fed on scraps now for 2 months.

Overall, the defeat was very harsh. We weren't very good but we battled and tried and deserved to go in front. We should have been 2 up but were made to pay thanks to a disgraceful refereeing display. But we really have to defend better - Leeds were allowed to walk through us and pass the ball into the net. And where was the midfield then? We've been susceptible to high balls all season and on Saturday we dealt well with Leeds' aerial threat. Then we concede 3 daisy cutters from a team that just ran at us. James wasn't really at fault with the goals but it's worrying that someone we thought was a good shot stopper should be beaten from the edge of the box like that.

Stars? Difficult ... Heggem, Thompson and Riedle were our best. Thompson stood out by a mile: some of his shots and crosses went miles off target but he never stopped running and tackling, and he made Ince look like an old man. The supporters have really taken him to heart - so that's the last we'll see of him then. Overall 4 out of 10.

Things have now happened - and sections of the press are having a field day. Its up to us to prove that we are what we say we are - THE FAMOUS KOPITES. If you are going to the game on Saturday take your flags and voices along. Sing this songs to yourself between now and then, then sing them ALL on Saturday - LOUD!

" The Cry was 'No Surrender' , we'll fight for the boys in Red, we'll fight, we'll fight for LIVERPOOL - the team Bill Shankly bred. We'll fight for Alun Evans, We'll fight for Ian St John, We'll fight, we'll fight for Liverpool - the pride of division one. "

The boot room has not been closed it is just being repainted. Roy was the last of the original Shankly boys, Thommo is the first of the new breed of Shankly boys! (JJP)

So it finally happened and Roy moved away from the front line. He declined the ' other' job and walked away. But he went, as far as I am concerned, with his pride intact. I never wanted to see him ' sacked' or hounded out by Goodison-style hate mobs; I would rather he went of his own accord. Maybe that didn' t happen in quite the way I had hoped and from a distance it would seem that at the very end he might have needed a slight push. Admitting that you have not quite managed to achieve the objectives laid down and what was certainly expected of you at Anfield is no shame. There are not many people, if any, who can deliver the expectations of the Liverpool supporters. If you examine the record of Roy Evans and place it against the vast number of managers in the top flight it stands up. Twice third and twice fourth, winning the League Cup, reaching an FA Cup Final, a European Cup Winners Cup semi-final and a League Cup semi-final would guarantee some managers life-long contracts, but not at Liverpool. With all due respect, if the manager of Everton could achieve that sort of record he would probably get to be a freeman of the City, Saintdom and have gooey-eyed Evertonians licking his backside! But we expect and demand more. Many people have written to this fanzine expressing their thoughts about the Roy Evans managership and very few believed he could ever deliver; and in extreme circumstances some demanded his head on the plate. I personally thought that after the 1996-97 season Roy should have gone whilst he was ahead. I said it in the fanzine at the start of last season, but when it was apparent that he would not be leaving I said that we should support him as manager of Liverpool FC and I think that the vast majority of us did.

I was as surprised as anyone when the club announced, in the summer, that Roy would have a partner and he would share the managerial duties with Gerard Houllier. I said in the first issue of this season that it appeared to be a compromise, and that if it went wrong it would be Roy who would pay the price. And so it was. There can be no doubt that Roy made mistakes, but his loyalties to the club can never de doubted. He also said things that I think in privacy of his own office he may have regretted - like the occasions when he appeared to criticise the fans. Roy was painstakingly loyal to his players when at times [many times] he should have employed someone to kick their arses from Anfield to Melwood and back again. The players let Roy Evans down and whether they like it or not, the ' 'Spice Boy' tag was earned, and even now, it is not clear whether it has been totally eradicated. Some of the performances served up away from home were bad enough but some of those dished out at Anfield, on a far too regular basis, were unacceptable . Roy staunchly defended the players despite their failure to meet the standards, and to the fans it appeared that as far as the players were concerned it was money, money, money. Anfield traditions such as pride and commitment were seen as a low priority. However, Roy spent millions - forty million or so - on rebuilding the team but as time went on he may as well have stood over a drain and threw the money down it. Then when it became crystal clear that something had to be done in the defence, nothing was done and likewise with the goalkeeping slot. It became make do and mend and the once famous fortress Anfield became a picnic area for all and sundry to come along to and feast on the rich pickings. For three seasons the fans appealed to him to sort out the defence but it seemed as if deaf ears were being cocked towards us. We could see that there was a problem, but it was allowed to go un attended. It was like driving around with a couple of punctures and thinking that you' d fix them another day but then finding all the garages were shut, and so you told people that there were none available. Roy must have known what the problem was but did nothing about them and in the end we could plug up the gaps no longer. It was all so frustrating, but through the worst of it all we found it hard to turn on Roy. Thirty odd years at the club, working quietly in the background during the halcyon days of Paisley and Co. But there was never a public protest, never a shout of "Evans out!" or anything like that. We [the fans] wanted him to succeed but when it was obvious that he wasn' t going to, we [the fans] wanted him to move aside quietly and pass the torch to someone new. In the end, that didn' t happen. The Club have to accept some of the responsibility because surely they must have known the feelings of the fans and they must have known that the players were letting everyone down and that, in truth, Roy wasn't the man to deliver the gold. But they left it alone and in the end brought embarrassment on the club with the double act. I would have leapt as high as I could with joy if it had worked, but while like everyone I hoped for it to work secretly I knew I was kidding myself. After the good start to the season [for which Houllier appeared to get most of the credit] the problems started to snowball and eventually become an avalanche [for which Evans appeared to get most of the blame]. In the end someone made the decision to run with Houllier - whether this was David Moores' decison or whether it was Roy's decision that it would be for the best if he moved on - we can only speculate. It now has to be seen whtjer or not the decision is the right one (if David Moores made it).

In the end Roy left the club with dignity and pride: no recriminations, no acrimony, just as we knew he would. We may not have rated him at the top when speaking of Liverpool managers, but in the murky waters of what is the game of football today he was a rarity - he was a decent human being. (JJP)

It was no surprise really ... an emotional - and clearly knackered and disillusioned - Roy Evans left Liverpool this afternoon. Houllier is to take sole charge of the side. Evan's assistant Doug Livermore has also parted company with The Reds. Houllier asked for "someone with Liverpool in his blood" as an assistant. Tom Saunders recommended Phil Thompson to the board and Thommo was appointed as Gerard's assistant. Listening to Thompson on Radio Merseyside this evening it seems that quite a few arses will be kicked over the next day or two. The spirit of The Bootroom lives on. Opinion in the city (judging by the phone-ins tonight) is swinging against some of the players who've been accused of not pulling their weight and not having the football club's best interests at heart. No names but I think you all know who we mean.

More on this when we've collected our thoughts. But for now - Thank you Roy Evans for everything you've done over 35 years for LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB. People tend to forget the REAL state we were in when Souness was sacked. Good luck Roy.

Jesus. It was like Groundhog Day - it was Saturday all over again. A defence with the jitters gives away two goals in the opening quarter of the game and then we had to chase the game. The first goal was a carbon copy of Derby's opener: a deep centre looped back over the keeper from an unmarked attacker's head. At least we played better in the second half and that was purely down to Riedle's aerial prowess: time and time again he nodded down crosses and clearances to team-mates to set up attacks or strikes on goal. Too little too late though. And to put the top hat on the evening St Michael injures himself scoring a consolation goal 10 minutes from time.

Friedel was barracked for the second goal but I'd blame the defence in front of him for allowing Anderton's soft chip to reach a Spurs head. Playing behind that defence would have had Elisha Scott flapping.

At least The Kop showed a bit of mettle and the die-hards were up chanting and singing (sometimes alone). The mood after the game outside The Kop was quite stirring. Now is the time to stand up and be counted. I was wishing for a 400 mile away trip at the weekend with a pay-on-the-gate policy so the REAL fans could show what this great football club means to us all. Villa away sold out the next day. It makes you proud.

JJP Reports ... " Liverpool have always had the ability to prove the critics wrong. Go right back to the days when Shanks left, the critics said it was the end. In the rare seasons when Uncle Bob failed to lift a trophy or two the critics said it's the end. When Bob moved off to polish his medals the critics said that Joe Fagan wouldn't be able to continue the success: Then he did the treble. Then Kenny did the double, trophies, trophies trophies. The critics said it couldn't continue, but Liverpool proved them wrong, time after time.

Things have changed now, but the team keep on defying the critics. After Barnsley last season the critics said, "It can't get any worse than this" but it did. After Charlton they said it again, but our intrepid bunch of misfits and no-marks wouldn't take that lying down, as they proved against Leicester. "It can't get any worse" they said again and as the team showed resilience against Valencia it seemed as if the critics had again been proven right. But the team were rocked by these allegations of improvement and were determined against Derby to put the good result against Valencia behind them. They did it in style, because surely this was really the depths, surely it can't get any worse than this? Well, they've said that before haven't they. Like the old heroes of time gone by this lot will keep re-writing the record books. Believe me this Liverpool team could go out there on Tuesday and really show just how bad they can be if they want. Don't rule out another nightmare performance from this over-paid bunch of shite! " JJP

JMac continues ... When I left John on Saturday evening he was visibly shaking with anger. If Uncle Roy had walked round the corner I dread to think what would have transpired. It doesn't get to me to that extent - that's not to say that I don't care: far from it. Maybe it's just happening far too often to get to me anymore. What annoyed me most was if Macca could play like that for the last 10 minutes - be that devastating - why doesn't he do it more often? Saving himself for the Primera Division and sunny Espana? I'd love him to prove me wrong. Fowler is still a long, long way short of being properly fit; both physically and mentally. After an hour of today's game he looked absolutely shot to ribbons. To his credit he still kept finding positions, showing himself for the ball and never shirking an opening. A fit Robbie of 18 months ago would have had 2 or 3 goals. This all begs the question "Why were there no strikers on the bench?". Don't tell me both Riedle AND Dundee were injured. The list of outfield subs: McAteer, Thompson, Kvarme and Harkness shows a serious lack of ambition. Chairman Kopite had better get the chequebook out pronto and find us (a) a centre-back who can defend crosses - allowing Carragher to shine in a more creative roll a la Mark Lawrenson. This would also give Jameo the confidence to regain his form of 3 years ago. He's not a bad keeper at all, but I reckon even Ray Clemence would have had kittens playing behind this defence. (b) At least two midfield players - a strong tackling central type, to play the holding role and a more creative, attacking right-sided midfielder. Competition for places may mean that Ince and Golden Bollocks might pull their tripe out a bit more often. (c) a striker, preferably good in the air, but not a Drunken Ferguson carthorse type. We are painfully short of strikers and a club of our stature should have 4 or even 5 strikers that can play Premiership/European football. (d) a left back of the calibre of Heggem. Someone we can rely on.

Overall we have a paperthin squad and absolutely nobody in the reserves ready to step up to Premiership level. As for the managerial partnership - I'd just like to know who is making what decisions so that we can aportion blame/credit. We're all confused out here. The only crumb of comfort we can draw from all this is to look at the current double winners. This time last year, Arsenal with a new French manager were in much the same shape we are now: aimless and drifting to mid-table frustration. A few judicious signings in key positions and they went from strength to strength ... etc etc. Get the chequebook out David.

Aha! We're going back to Spain. < Real Club Celta de Vigo > - away first leg on 24th November. This posting timed at 11.08am GMT. Get the news here first on RAOTL TV.

In all my years following The Reds this counts as one of the most dramataic and exhilarating games I've ever attended. Even now, two days later, I'm hoarse and drained. I can't wait for the photos to be developed as I was so Manolo'd I can't remember what went on. JJP is writing the trip up and the report will be on-line later today (Thursday). Don't forget to tune in tomorrow for the UEFA Cup draw too. (JMac).

" What a trip and what a sesh! And we did it - we stuffed 'em. 'The Travelling Band' went to Valencia and we reigned in Spain. It was even a case of 'Sunny Spain' with the temperature being in the mid-seventies, which meant that those brave hearts amongst our little gang who had took their shorts got a chance to air their legs.

It was the normal scene as a bleary 'Travelling Band' met up at Speke Airport on a cold and wet Tuesday morning on November 3rd. We weren't the happiest bunch of bunnies in the world, I mean, the team wasn't exactly in a great vein of form, whilst Valencia had won a couple of biggies back in their league - and won them handsomely. Some of us were reasonably optimistic knowing that no team from Spain had beaten us in Europe since Bilbao had flipped us out on the toss of a coin back in the sixties. So at 7am, tired, cold and hungry, we were the ones in the Speke Airport cafeteria clutching the bundles of straw, while the pessimistic lot kept referring to the Leicester trip and wondering whether that was the worst performance this Liverpool side had ever given, and just how long would it be before even that debacle would be outstripped.

Almost all of the 'RAOTL' gang was in attendance, with the notable exception of AD Block 109er who was shirking in his responsibilities by putting a family holiday before football. The early morning caffeine intake was completed, and soon over 220 Liverpool fans were flying over the land and sea towards Spain for yet another European adventure. Ah, I bet those poor old Evertonians were eating their hearts out. But it was good to know that they were doing their club proud by slinging a load of plassy bottles at the Third Reich leader during their weekend hammering by Man Utd. Meanwhile, at 30,000 feet over the south of England, the pilot came over the inter-com and told us that the temperature in Valencia was a nice 72 degrees. The mood began to improve. The air crew came round and served up the grub [I could say something but let's leave it - most did] and at around this time there was a distinctive sound known only to the more hardy members of 'The Travelling Band.' It was the sound of the famous Johnny Mac bottle of sparkling pure Buxton Spring water being opened. However, the label is slightly deceptive as the bottle contains a healthy mix of vodka and finest Schweppe's lemonade. As he takes his first swallow from the bottle he utters that sound of satisfaction of "Ahhhh - lovely." People then began to roam up and down the aisle greeting friends and planning the day's excursions.

When we arrived at Valencia airport some of us wondered what sort of reception we would get from the local militia - after all the Spanish police have been known to test their batons out on the odd English skull when the Summer resorts are invaded. Word also has it that the treatment offered to fans of Leicester and Chelsea in recent seasons hadn't exactly done a lot for any Anglo/Spanish relations. Plainly we had not been forgiven for the 'War of Jenkins' ear'. Indeed, as we left the arrivals buildings there was a large police presence - and they always look to have the 'Billy the Kid,' eyes with one finger perched close to the gun holster fixed on their belts. But fair dues to them, they just stood and stared whereas in places like France they just look as if they suffer from itch of the trigger finger. It may have helped that Johnny Mac was trying out his schoolboy Spanish and waving idiotically at the tv crews. He tries to be a friendly soul. We boarded the four coaches that were to take us into the town centre - and off we went. Once in the centre of Valencia we were faced with a difficult choice; did we go for a drink or not? Our choice was made in a democratic way; Johnny Mac saying, "This place looks all right!" . It might have been a shot in the dark or typical Mackin intuition - but he was right. Not many can match him when it comes to making these decisions. He was also right when an hour or so later we moved on the famous 'Museo Deportivo de Manolo el del Bombo' - the bar owned by the legendary Spanish football fan Manolo. who takes his drum to games and attempts to whip the Spanish fans into a frenzy, by beating his skins in a monotonous beat. The Bar is directly opposite La Mestalla, or, as it is also known, Valencia's ground! When we got there a well-known group of Reds were just tucking into lunch and food was plentiful, but after taking a cursory glance at the offerings on the plate we declined to give them any assistance - God, if you could have seen those sausage-shaped delicacies. We decided to concentrate on the beer (for a change). We decided that we should also introduce ourselves to Senor Manolo and almost immediately he invited us behind his bar to pose for a few snaps - one that may hopefully one day adorn his wall with other thousand or so! As we sat outside lapping up the warm sunshine Manolo came out banging his famous drum [if you haven't heard about him and his drum, take our word for it, it is famous]. He then turned to us and suggested that we should sing a song or two so it was time for the first rendition of 'Scouser Tommy.' Manolo did his best to accompany us but to be honest he didn't have that sense of timing so we thought it might be a good idea if one of us helped him out. And that one of us just had to be Johnny Mac - the guys a legend! (it's true - JMac) So 'Scouser Tommy' rang out around Plaza Valencia FC once more and this time to the pounding beat of Manolo's drum; banged loud and proud by our own Johnny Mac. Slowly but surely the songs started to be given an airing and the bar gradually filled up. There were a few strange looks from the passing locals and the odd curious look from the local policia.

Later in the afternoon the gang started to split up and go exploring. We dropped into a few other bars en-route back to the town centre and already the afternoon heat was beginning to have an effect and some of us were becoming increasingly tired. Either that, or it was the beer. It all starts to become a bit of a blur now, we kept on sipping a few sherbets but the pace had dropped. Everyone had reassembled in the Town Square and the coaches arrived to ferry us back to the stadium. The mood was good amongst our crew as the tickets for the game were distributed. The price of these was 4,000 peseta's which when calculated into sterling was about 17. 80p although we had to pay 20! Now I don't want to make anything of this but there were in the region of 1,200 Reds at the game so that 'extra' 2. 20p starts to add up when you multiply it by the number of tickets sold - but like I said, I don't want to dwell on it. Most of us were on Row 22 but when we found out just where Row 22 was it was frightening! (I think it was row 3022 - JohnMac).

When the coach dropped us off right outside the entrance the police tried to make sure we went straight in, but somehow we avoided them and found ourselves back in the bar of Senor Manolo. By now the square outside his bar was filled with Reds and the songs were reverberating around the streets. A fair few Valencia fans were there trying to get something of their own going but it always sounded like 'VALENCIA' whilst our fans were giving them a few chorus's of various anthems. It was all so friendly and everyone was just having a good time and a beer and the more beer we had, the more tired we became. We had lost a few - Johnny Mac had obviously took a wrong turning after getting off the coach and gone into the ground so he must have been really tired! ( I'd bumped into Big Jim and was having an inebriated chat and when I turned round to follow you lot, a stroppy Spanish copper pushed me towards the turnstiles. I tried to argue but he was having none of it, and I had to give up and go in - which was a good job really as it took me about an hour to hike up the ramps to the top tier. - JMac)

Meanwhile back at Manolo's - about forty-five minutes before kick-off the local law arrived and started to get organised and gradually channelled us towards the stadium. A few hundred Valencia supporters stood around so as we departed we sang 'Scouser Tommy' and 'YNWA,' which went down well. There wasn't a hint of bother, which was good and finally we moved in through gate 99 and into the Valencia equivalent of an 'away end.' Couldn't spot any programmes or any sort of publication so we started to make our way towards our seats. Fucking hell - I felt like sending for Sherpa Tensing and I swear I spotted a couple of mountain goats as I walked onwards and upwards (No John - that was the local Valencian totty - JMac). We had been warned that if anyone suffered from vertigo then they could have had a problem; it was becoming clear now why the warning was given. I'm bloody glad it wasn't on the flight path from or to Valencia Airport because it would have been a real worry. On a clear night you could probably see Ibiza. I'm not a member of the Hoddle club but I reckon this was the closest I've been to God, (You've never met St Patrick then? JMac). Had there been another few feet to climb I reckon we could have sat in his living room and watched the game with him. There's no such thing as an obstructed view in this ground, unless there's cloud cover!

The teams came out to a noisy welcome and a ticker-tape, confetti blizzard, and soon the game was underway. It was hard at times to know if shots had gone close or were well wide, such was the height of this Stand. You certainly got a good view of the movement of the teams [or not, in the case of some players]. The first half passed in haze [?] most of us probably realising that we would have to watch a recording of the game so that we could get a better idea of what it was like. As the first half drew to a close the effect of the afternoon session was beginning to wear off [we were starting to wake up] and it was just in time to see the Spaniards go in front. The second half was better, our fans were really giving the team some great support but time was beginning to run out. Over in the distance changes were afoot, and on came Sean Dundee and Jason McAteer - can't remember who came on for who or when but we knew that Robbie and Heggem had gone off. Michael set off down the right and raced past three defenders. At first I thought he'd go for goal, but thankfully he didn't. He crossed and the ball flew into the net via the head of Steve McManaman - and you could almost sense that his value had gone up by a couple of peseta's. We went absolutely wild. ( I couldn't agree more, I don't think I've ever been more excited by a goal. I just screamed and screamed, jumped up and down and kissed the bloke next to me - JMac). The clock in the ground said ten minutes to go - we were level! The home supporters [not quite as loud and intimidating as we had been led to believe] were subdued. The one thing we didn't want now was to settle back and defend the advantage of the 'away' goal. We didn't - we went for it. I will never forget the ball reaching Paddy. On and on he went and then Wham!!! the chosen one hit it. From our seats up there in the Gods [not that we were sitting on them] we knew where it was going the moment it left his foot. The wild scenes of jubilation minutes earlier were repeated but tenfold. We went berserk. I turned to my mate Pete and screamed, "We done it, we've fucked 'em" not realising that the ref. had a watched donated to him by one A. Ferguson. Don't ask any of us to describe the events that resulted the sending off of Macca and Ince [is he off his head or what?] we were still dancing. Then they scored, oh my God, ten minutes left when we scored and now the ref. was adding about eight more on. But they finally ran out of time. It was over and the scenes of joy on that enclosure were almost beyond description. (John, do you remember singing 'Adios, Adios' to the Valencians as they poured out of the stadium? - JMac) " JJP.

Well John, I seem to recall most of what you've written and I'll add to it and describe those riotous scenes at the airport after the match when I get the time. Now for the draw .... fingers crossed. (JMac)

Voucher 30 - serial numbers ending in 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7. Tickets are priced at £17 or £16 for restricted views. On sale from Friday.

Voucher 29 is required for the Spurs League Cup tie on Tuesday November 10th. Tickets went on sale on Sat. 31st Oct. and are available for season-ticket holders until Nov 4th. From 5th Nov. they'll be on general sale. Prices: Kop and Anny Rd - £15, Adult & Child combined - £22.50. All other tickets are £17.

JJP Reports ... "There are three unanswered questions lying on the table as the cold and wet long nights of the winter take a grip on our lives. Question one. Did Bill Clinton get his wicked way with the girl Monica? Question two. What was the Minister for Wales really doing on Clapham Common? Question three. Who the fuck is running Liverpool? Now on question one I would say good luck to Big Bill if he did get a bit of extra time in the Oval Office and on question two maybe we should say "Whatever turns you on," but question three ...does anybody out there have a clue as to what is going on?

It's rebellion time! We can take no more - we are so far behind the top dogs that we will soon need a pair of binoculars to spot them. We have witnessed some shite over the past eight years [it keeps going up] but this was as near to the bottom of the pile as it can get. Normally when you come out of a ground, even after a loss, you can take a small morsel of comfort from the performance of someone or other - but not after this one. Not one player came out of this undisciplined, clueless, passionless performance with anything. It would be hard to single out just who was our worst player, so bad were all eleven. In typical fashion the 'brains trust' sent Fowler on when with about ten minutes left - and we were a goal adrift. At the back all the old bad habits were there with Stig finding it hard to keep his feet when nobody was near him. In the centre of defence the ball was miscued, and even Heggem looked out of sorts. In midfield McAteer was almost a laughing stock and him getting sent off [harsh though it might have been] will ensure that Evans and Houllier have to leave him out. Ince was pathetic and Berger missed his mate Johnny Mac because his mind must have been somewhere else. Macca has good days and bad days and this wasn't one of his bad ones - it was even worse. Owen was out of it and Riedle hardly got a kick - I should say really that Owen was hopeless and Riedle rubbish, but they do need the ball occasionally to do something. If we got a good cross in, then I missed it. We had two shots on target but they wouldn't have troubled any keeper [even ours at their worst] and a couple of long range efforts went a distance wide. There was nothing to give even the slightest hint of optimism for the trip to Spain. There was nothing to give any encouragement that this pair of ours can make even the slightest improvement. Leicester manager Martin O'Niell was like a jack-in-the-box springing around, heading and kicking every ball. Our bench sat in sullen silence and they looked about as excited about it all as we did on the only away end to give the one at Southampton credence. But at least we showed some passion in trying to get the team moving, but them on the bench just haven't got a clue. Liverpool are going backwards as a team and a club. The top sides replace top flight players with top flight players, we are now forced to replace second raters with third raters and nothing gets done. If those at the helm [Roy and Gerard] are not prepared to do something about it, then those in the boardroom should sharpen the axe - or haven't they got the guts either! "

I made the right decision then - staying at home and reading Kevin Sampson's excellent book, 'Extra Time' (Reviewed in the next RAOTL). I won't comment on the game, as after John's expletive-ridden phone report at 7:30 that night I decided not to watch MOTD that night either. However, now is not the time for recriminations. What we have to do (as supporters) is roll our sleeves up, lubricate the vocal chords with finest Cruzcampo, and sing our heads off in Valencia tomorrow night. It's backs-to-the-wall time, Redmen, and there's a Minister for Wales on the prowl. NO SURRENDER !!! (JMac)

Okay, I may have been optimistic about the attendance. Fulham brought about 3,500 enthusiastic supporters. Not surprising really as Mohammed Al Fayed, their owner, subsidised their special train and 100 coaches. (whilst intrepid and loyal Reds were charged £450 to fly with the official party to Kosice. Just thought I'd mention it). It was a big day out for them and they made a fair bit of noise, though not as much as Manolo and his Valencian amigos did last week. (By the way, Manolo, I'll be in your bar at about 2pm next Tuesday. Mines a pint of sherry or I'll stick that drum up your large, hirsute, Iberian arsehole. Comprende?).

A few changes from Saturday. Riedle rested and Fowler in. Thompson AND Danny Murphy in midfield!! (McManaman was absent). Heggem rested and McAteer was tried at fullback just so that we could all confirm how dire he is in that position. Brad was preferred to Jameo - who was on the bench (and who also spent the half-time break in a competition with Harkness (I think money may have been involved judging by their reactions) to see who could hit the crossbar with 'freekicks'). And that was it ... we were off!

Not much happened in the first half. Ince came close with a header (shades of Valencia) but we generally huffed and puffed without creating anything clear cut, but also without being in anyway threatened by a well-organised Fulham. Owen knocked one wide from an acute angle, but I felt we had deliberately weakened the team just because of the low status of the competition. Would we embarrassed by a second (the old third) division team? It was bugging me.

In the second half we took the lead after a speculative long-range effort from Davey Thommo was deflected (or knocked on) by an outstretched leg on the edge of the Anny Rd penalty area, the ball looping up and over the keeper. I immediately thought it was own-goal, but those around me said Fowler had made the vital contact. I wasn't convinced. Just as some on The Kop were letting the London contingent know that they weren't singing anymore the swines equalised. Paul Peschisolido (ex-Stoke and Karen Brady's fella) cut inside about 30 yards out on the Main Stand side and swept in a vicious, dipping and swerving shot that flew over Brad into the top corner. It was reminiscent of Mike Walsh's famous goal of the season for Blackpool or Fashanu's dipping volley for Norwich against us back in the early 80s. Nice goal and warmly applauded on The Kop. Oh dear, and just as I was thinking about a trip down to London for a replay some bloke said that it was 'sudden death' - no replay, just extra time and pens. It wasn't necessary though as 5 minutes later Owen skipped clear of a tackle about 30 yards out on the Main Stand side and swept powerfully towards goal. At the edge of the area he cut inside and was brought down by a clumsy challenge from behind. Fowler stepped up and put the penalty away with ease although the keeper did go the right way. All over bar the shouting really. Ten minutes from the end a free-kick on the right was whipped in by Stan Staunton for Ince to glance expertly home. Great header. A few changes had been made after Fowler's penalty. Murphy (who had received a painful knock) was replaced by Harkness and Owen by (fanfare!) Sean Dundee. Neither had time to do anything but Dundee looked keen and quick and I still think that on the (admittedly tiny amount of) evidence he could be pretty useful. We were never in any trouble and it was, in the end, a pretty comfortable win.

Another cold, wet and windy night with the game live on the tele... Do you know, when I was a lad, the only live games on the tele were the Cup Final and the European Cup final - with the occasional England-Scotland home international. How times have changed. I'll go and get me slippers and cardy. By the way. those of you who - like me - spent most of the first half wondering what to wear in Spain next week, can I tell you that today's high was 54 in Valencia, cloudy with sunny patches.

Overall 6 out of 10. Professional without being outstanding. Some good performances - Staunton, Berger, Carragher, Brad and Owen. The rest just okay. Fowler still looks short of practice - let's hope that's all it is. The Liverpool fans were quiet AGAIN. It's beginning to piss me off. As I was driving home Radio 5 said that Fowler and Ince were among the goalscorers - which lends weight to my own goal version of events.

"Walk on through the wind", goes the famous song, "Walk on through the rain..." and Messrs Rodgers and Hammerstein must have had today in mind. Weather like today's in the South China Seas would have had the fleet tied up in port, all windows batton'd down and the dog safely tucked up in the coal hole A typhoon, I believe they're called: severe weather warnings, flood alerts and all emergency services on standby. And what are we doing? Attempting to remain upright in the hammering down rain and force 5 gale, trying to sell soggy copies of a scurrilous football magazine. By one o'clock most of us had given up and retired for coffee and toast in the sanctuary of the church hall. I last saw Steve Kelly from TTW&R dragging his sodden body (and several bags of wet-through fanzines) silently down Walton Breck Road, looking like an Albanian refugee coming down from the hills after the Serbian army had burnt down his farmhouse and had sex with all his chickens. He was not happy. (Though he looked a lot happier - and drier - when I bumped into him in 'The Ba Bar' at about half seven that evening). I was standing outside the museum entrance with Barry Stone, who was trying to sell fanzines for Steve. Barry had his kagoule hood up and the draw-string pulled so-tight that you could see just his nose and one eye in the 'hole'. He was trying to talk but was completely muffled. I was leaning closer to try and hear him, when some woman came up, tapped me on the shoulder and gave me a penny for the Guy. Well, 50p actually. Well done, Barry. See you at 6.30, same place on Tuesday - and I'll bring a pram you can sit in.

As luck would have it, the skies brightened and the rain relented, and at about 2.15 we were back out on the street selling. "This game'll be off" someone said. "Nah, it's stopped now.". "Yeah, but it's been pissing down for 3 or 4 hours ... remember the derby game?". Indeed we did, but at 2:30 it was surely too late to call the game off?? I went in expecting to see the pitch dotted with glassy ponds - to my surprise the pitch looked immaculate. The couple of hundred grand we shelled out in the summer on the new drainage system was obviously money well spent; I presume we didn't buy it from Norway then. The wet surface actually worked to our advantage and we zipped the ball around well in the early stages. Whether it was a reaction to Tuesday's poor showing I don't know, but we looked pretty lively. It was no surprise when St Michael outpaced the flat Forest defence and slotted the ball marvellously into the top corner. What WAS a surprise was Forest's equaliser shortly afterwards. A long, diagonal high ball into the box that we failed to clear (sound familiar?). Steve Stone did very well to retrieve it at the by-line and pull it back to an unmarked striker 8 yards out. At the time I thought "Here we go again". But having seen it in the tele I'm not going to aportion blame. It didn't last long anyway McManaman firing home a second goal after great work by Owen and Berger left him clear about 12 yards out. What a pleasant surprise it ws to see a McManaman shot that was (a) on target, and (b) hit with some venom. There's hope for the lad yet. From that moment on we were in complete control. Michael added a third shortly before half-time, again breaking clear of a square defence to slip the ball wide of an advancing Dave Beasant in Forest's goal.

Even the pessimists could see us scoring more in then second half but the 4th goal was a long while coming. Forest did try to play a bit (well done Dave Bassett) and on the few occasions they tested David James he was completely at ease with the ball. I know this is tempting fate but he seems to have recaptured the form of 3 or 4 years ago when he was tipped for an England place. With Porno 'Tache Seaman reaching the end of a fine career it could be David's big chance... Over to you, Jameo. The bloke in front of me stood to win 60 quid from Ladbrokes if we won 3-1 and Owen scored the first goal. As each chance flew wide or brought a fine save from Beasant, he turned around grinning. Then when Riedle was brought down for the pen, he looked back. I said, "Don't worry - he'll miss it". Owen stepped up and blasted a perfect penalty into the bottom corner for his hat-trick. "Never mind", I said. The bloke in front was jumping up and down: "I don't care - I don't care!" he cried. We were in total control now and still Forest tried to grab a goal back: one cross into our area saw James fouled as he collected the ball, he dropped it (cue: groans and cries of "Back to normal then". James, however, swept up the loose ball and immediately freed Owen with a 40 yard throw. Michael, slipped into top gear and screamed away from the Forest defenders, tearing straight down onto goal. He let rip and the ball cannoned back off Beasant, whereupon Michael flashed the loose ball into the net for his fourth. We stood round applauding and grinning like Cheshire cats: "He's not bad is he?" someone said. "He'll do" someone else added. Too right he will.

Owen was, obviously, the star. But great performances also came from the tireless Riedle who is the perfect foil for St Michael, and should have scored himself with a cannon of a diving header in the second half. Carragher and Staunton AND Heggem were also impresive at the back. McAteer worked hard but his crossing and passing were poor. (No, I'm not mentioning Danny Murphy at this point). Late on, Dave Thompson came on and ran around like a maniac tackling everyone in sight, even our players. A refreshing sight. Overall, 7 out of 10 given the poor standard of the opposition.

Let's look on the bright side: excellent performance from James in goal and no away goal conceded. Sean Dundee made it onto the bench. What else? Well, we've ... um ... not conceded a goal in 3 UEFA Cup ties ... and we're unbeaten in four whole matches ... Er ... that's about it.

Everything was disappointing about the evening. The attendance was just crap - 26,004, and that includes the 350 or so from Valencia. For games like this they ususally count on about 10,000 or so pay on the gate-ers: in the event, only 3000 turned up. We could blame the weather - it was cold, windy and rainy and the fact it was live on the tele BUT I'd prefer to blame the ticketing policy. It was £18 for The Kop last night and it'll be £13 next week for Fulham. Even accounting for the 2000 or so Fulham will bring I expect the attendance to be better than this game. We're also in the crest of a slump and a lot of fans are voting with their feet and picking and choosing the games. Which leaves me thinking why in hell did I bother? And why in hell will I (and about 1000 others) be spending a load of dosh to travel out to Spain in 2 weeks when I could be sitting at home with Channel 5 and a crate of Stella? Because I'm obsessed that's why.

Valencia received a boost when they came out onto the pitch - the famous Anfield cauldron was less than bubbling last night. The Catalans expected a ferocious partisan crowd and were immediately lifted by the empty seats and the 50% Anfield 'roar'. Perhaps we need to be 2 or 3 goals down from the first leg before we can be arsed these days. Valencia also played a naughty move by insisting that they wear their orange away strip (they normally play in white) which meant we had to wear our white kit at home. I sincerely hope we wear all white in a fortnight and make them play in their away strip at home. (It's also a good omen - our last game in Catalonia was in this same competition in '76 when we wore all-white at the Nou Camp and defeated Barca). Their fans were in the usual away enclosure in the corner of the Anny Road and showed a surprisingly limited repertoire of 'songs': all to the accompaniment of the fat Manolo's drumming. Still - it was a noise and it must've helped 'Los Ches'. The match itself was an anti-climax: with 2 dodgy defences we had predicted a game full of goals. As it was both defences held firm although Valencia created the better chances, mainly due to the room our attacking left them. They packed the defence and hit us on the break. Ilie showed some nifty touches and looked very dangerous. We created just a few chances in the first half - mainly from crosses. Riedle had a header cleared off the line, and St Patrik's corner - a few minutes later - led to Ince's shot flying just over. Paddy also tested the keeper from distance with a stinging drive. On the whole we were woefully short of creativity and the forwards never once received really dangerous crosses. McAteer and Stig's crossing was poor and Macca's only just a fraction better: £52,000 a week for that?

As we attacked in the 2nd half (without ever stretching Canizares in their goal) we left gaps at the back, and Valencia attacked quickly and intelligently. James made several outstanding stops - the best being a flying save to tip over a late free-kick. And that was about it - the game petered out and we all went home tired and cold. I also heard a rumour abour Murphy's omission from the squad - it's suggested that he's been carpetted for being out on the piss. I don't blame him though, do you? Being told that you're not good enough to get into that midfield would be enough to drive anyone to drink.

Strange game this football. I mean, I left Goodison Park after a poor 'derby' and a goalless draw feeling reasonably satisfied. I hate the place this wooden monument to a time long gone and I think that Evertonians are, in the main, morons who still celebrated at the end of this game as if it was a triumph for them. Autumn is with us, there's tinsel in the shops, kids are trying to earn a penny or two towards their bonfire night festivals and that lot from Goodison still hasn't scored a goal at home! And at the end of the game they start crowing because we didn't beat them. They start crowing that we haven't beaten them for five years - four and a half to be exact, but lets not split hairs - forgetting that they haven't finished above us for twelve. In fact, when was the last time they were actually ahead of us in a 'real' table, forget those published after three games? But that is to relegate the real issues to the same level as Everton. At the moment the 'derby' means little in real terms, other than 'local pride.' That lot celebrate a poor 0-0 draw simply because it means another point nearer the safety target, whilst we bemoan our failure to beat a team that is going nowhere. So why did I leave the pit feeling reasonably satisfied? Well, when you look at the mess we are in: no defence and none on the horizon, unless I've missed something, a team out of touch and one that has suddenly stopped scoring I will gladly pick up any crumb of comfort, after all, beggars cannot be chosers can they? So what were these morsels that I gratefully gathered up? Well, I saw the ball going into OUR penalty area and I saw David James catch it four or five times this happened, more in one game than in last season, I think. I saw the ball going into our penalty area towards the Drunken one, but as I thought to myself "this is it" I saw Staunton and Carragher, and later Kvarme, getting there first. And did I see Stig Bjornebye stick in two crunching tackles? Yes I did, MOTD later confirmed it! He also had a shot; may be even our best effort. Okay, he didn't get one cross in, but you can't have every thing can you? So those were the scraps of comfort I took home with me, not a lot and straw clutching I may be, but at least I didn't walk out of Goodison Park looking for a hiding place this year. Up front we rarely looked like scoring. Robbie had a couple of chances in the first half, but Michael was limited to just one shot that went over. The brains on the bench might have noticed that we could have done with a bit of height up front and sent KHR on a bit earlier than the eighty-seventh minute he still managed to get booked! I'd rather young Master Owen stayed upright when he's going past defenders, he's got enough talent and getting 'name' as a 'diver' is more likely to cost us than help us. I blame Hoddle for that. Anyway, still on the crumbs of comfort platform, things can only get better. (JJP)

JMac adds ... Overall I was glad that we kept the big Drunken yard-dog quiet. James and Carragher/Staunton were outstanding. Owen and Fowler were quiet. Didn't see any trouble but the usual animosity was well to the fore. I'm not too happy with this "Shit on the blue shite ... " chanting. I thought we were above all that. Yes, they are shite but that's nothing new is it - they've always been shite. JJP had to shell out £70 for a bluenose's sesason-ticket (probably one of those ones they buy on the HP, so John has unwittingly bought the gobshite's tickets for the next 4 games.

RAOTL issue no. 27 will be on sale next Tuesday for the Valencia home UEFA Cup game. The game is also an unofficial FlagDay - no leaflets have been printed but you are all encouraged to bring along your flags and banners.

JJP braved miserable weather, and a dilapidated tip of a football ground, to bring us this report:

" It's a Saturday afternoon and because of those boring International matches that now take over the fixture list Liverpool haven't got a game. So I'm faced with a dilemma, do I stop in the house and listen to the England game on Five Live, do I go shopping or do I pop down to that slum of a football ground called Goodison Park and watch our Reserves play the Everton stiffs? Being as the fortunes of England are not paramount in my mind because we have enough problems at Liverpool, and shopping can be done on a Sunday, it was a no contest and down to Goodison I went. You appreciate just what a state of decay the dump is in when you go and there aren't too many about. But if Goodison Park is in a state of decay what about our team? This was the Reserves so I thought that I might just be able to spot a chink a light in the tunnel regarding some of our current problems. However, I have to report that this was as bad as anything we've witnessed at the 'pit' in recent times - and we lost 2-0. A side that contained Kvarme, Harkness, Matteo, Leonhardsen and Riedle, backed with 'hopefuls' such as David Thompson, Sean Dundee [yes, the invisible man] and Danny Murphy should have been too strong, surely, for an Everton side littered with such 'stars' as Gerrard, Ward, Grant, Farrelly, Madar and Oster - but no. There was so much that mirrored the recent failings of the first team, such as joke defending: Everton's first goal being a case in point. It followed the usual pattern of things, a needless free kick was given away and when it came over into the penalty area our keeper, Tony Warner was rooted to his line [sound familiar?] and the cross headed down, it bounced: Kvarme, Matteo and Harkness all stood and looked and Madarse headed it in. I just muttered some obscenity under my breath. Thompson and Murphy harbour the desire to play in the first team, well both got needlessly booked and neither showed that bit extra that should serve as a jolt to the 'joint-bosses.' Riedle looked as though it was a run out and was subbed on the hour, which more or less confirmed it. Dundee tried hard but got nowhere. First team material? Not yet. With just over ten minutes left I went home, taking another look at the decaying stand that serves as the Upper Bullins. We go back next week for the 'real thing,' but the decay will still be there ... the stand or our team? You decide. "

Line up: Tony Warner. Bjorne Kvarme, Alan Navarro, Tom Culshaw [sub Neil Murphy], Steve Harkness, Dominic Matteo. David Thompson, Oyvind Leonhardsen, Danny Murphy. KarlHeinz Riedle [sub John Newby], Sean Dundee.

Unannounced, the Valencia home leg tickets went on sale this morning. Usual prices: £18 for The Kop etc. Ring the ticket office answering machine on (0151) 260 9999 for details. I imagine it'll be voucher number 27.

Not that it'll be any concern of ours but the UEFA Cup Final will be in the Luzhniki Stadium in ... MOSCOW (!!!) on May 12th. Just in case we do get there - do Transalpino or Easyjet go that far? UEFA have also announced that as from next season the Champions (sic) League will field 3 English teams. What's the betting we finish 4th?

Here's the details for getting one of the massive allocation of tickets for the luxuriously appointed Goodison Rd Tip. (The sooner they push off to Widnes the better). Voucher 26 is required, ending in a '2'. Tickets are £19 for Upper Bullens (or Upper Cramped Obstructed Views) and £17 for Lower Bullens Rd (or Lower Cramped Obstucted Views). A child concession is available in the Lower Bullens - £11. tickets on sale from Tuesday Oct 6th for as long as supplies last.

When you do a fanzine you often wonder if any of the powers that be ever get to see a copy? I know that some of the staff there do read it, but they're not directly connected with the coaching or playing staff. Do you think Evans or Houllier have ever read it? I'm certain certain local journalists browse this web site frequently - there's too much of a coincidence for stuff we've written turning up in the pages of 'The Echo' and 'The Kop'. That's why ( I like to think) Ric George can write in tonight's Echo, "With neither David Thompson nor Danny Murphy on the bench - heaven knows why - the Reds needed someone to liven them up.". It's just the local press re-iterating our views. Then there's the other hypothesis to explain this concurrency of opinion - the one that goes that everyone in the civilised world - and Salford - can see that Bjornebye, McAteer at right back and Leonhardsen just do not belong in the side at present. Not only that, but that Owen is out of sorts and tired, that Fowler's not fit, and that Phil Babb is just awful. Everyone, that is, except Messrs Houllier and Evans. Which is why on Sunday we saw them continue with McAteer at right back (despite Heggem being the one consistent bright light in the defence this season), Bjornebye at left back, Babb in the middle and Leo on the right side of midfield. As soon as I heard the team news my heart sank. Okay, I'm not Helenio Herera BUT wouldn't it have made sense to bring Heggem back on the right? He's solid, quick and intelligent and who can both attack inventively as well as fill a lot of space up and down that flank. Then pull Owen wide and deep on the right where his pace would have terrified Le Saux, and allow him a free role. Then Riedle could have partnered Fowler up front and given us an aerial option, as well as someone who could have physically coped with the massive Desailley (some of his challenges from the back were very 'clumsy'). Okay, maybe we're stuck with Babb for the time being, but surely Staunton or Matteo could have filled Stig's role to greater effect? Well, after an hour or so of the game that's what transpired, as the centime finally dropped and subs were used to give us a greater shape and purpose.

For the first hour of this game we were just crap. And it filled me with dread. The tension and frustration amongst those around me was palpable. Were we going fo fuck up another season as early as the first weekend of October? Three league defeats at such an early stage would almost certainly see any hopes of a title challenge dashed. The result was a tense and nervous Kop. Despite it being a FlagDay (Good showing of flags too) we were quiet. Not only did Chelsea out sing us, but the Adult and Child section of the Road End out sang us. Our passing game was non-existant and Fowler and Owen were isolated and living on crumbs. Paul Ince had another red-haze day and seemed determined to get himself sent off. That said, he made some crucial challenges in and around our area and his presence is vital to the side. Redknapp, Berger and Leo all struggled to find space and teammates when in posession. In all we struggled to cope with a quick and techically superb Chelsea side. The goal looked (from The Kop) the result of indecision in the defence - Babb and James dithering then reacting too late - however, I may be being over-critical as it was a fine ball from Di Matteo to free Casiraghi, he rounded James easily and slid it in well from a tight angle. We were lucky to go in at half-time only 1-0 down.

The second half continued much in the same vein, that is, until the substitutions. Matteo was already on for Babb who had slid bollocks-first into the post trying to keep Casiraghi's goal out. Heggem came on for McAteer to HUGE applause, then Riedle for Leo (similar). We looked a better side for it. Fowler dropped off to allow KH to lead the line. It almost worked, we should have had a penalty when Lebouef (The beef?) clearly clipped Riedle in the box and brought him down. KH probably made too much of the challenge BUT it was still a foul. Lebouef's despicable reaction was to run to the ref waving his fist to encourage the ref (the utterly shite Graham Poll - bizarre decisions and inconsistency personified) to book him for diving. Riedle was, I think, booked for dissent. (Which may explain why Le Saux wasn't booked for an atrocious dive late on in the match when Heggem challenged him). We had ralled well in the last 20 minutes - but it was a rally of graft and determination, rather than of good football. Heggem looked quick and purposeful down the right flank and gave Chelsea more problems in ten minutes than McAteer did in an hour. The crowd responded and we at last began to make some noise. It looked like we'd lose though, such was Chelsea's determined defence. Redknapp, however, reacted quickly when we won a free-kick 25 yards out and curled a shot around the wall, low-down past the dozing De Goey into the bottom corner. It wasn't a Del Piero special but it was most welcome. We had two half chances in the last 5 minutes (Fowler and Riedle) but the draw was as much as we deserved.

Overall: 5 out of 10. Redknapp, Berger, Heggem and Ince stood out. McAteer and Bjornebye were really awful. Stig just doesn't seem to do anything right, and McAteer is woefully out of position back there. James didn't impress and failed to command his area. Lack of communication with Carragher and Matteo led to a few scares. I'd like to see Friedel back for the derby as I don't think that mentally James is up to it. He seems far too nervous.

The draw was made this lunchtime - and The Reds are to play Valencia C.F. of Spain. The first leg is home on October 20th. The away leg in Spain a fortnight later on November 3rd. Check out RAOTL's guide to < Valencia CF >

Voucher 25 required for this all-ticket match on Tuesday October 27th (7:45pm) The game is also being shown LIVE on Sky. Main Stand, Paddock and Anny Road will be £15 - The Kop £13. Tickets on sale from Friday 2nd October. After a while they'll go on general sale. Phone the ticket info line for details on 0151 260 9999.

With this tie virtually dead and buried after the 3-0 win away in Kosice I wondered what we'd get at Anfield. Would it be the cautious 'hold-what-we've-got' approach that bored us last year with the Celtic game, and got us eliminated against Brondby? Or would we get the 'go-for-the-jugular-attack!-attack!-attack!' style that Houllier remembers and eulogises about from the famous 11-0 rout of Stromsgodset in 1974? Funnily enough we got a combination of both.

Although only 23,000 turned up for this already-won 2nd leg game (shown live on terrestrial tv) the atmosphere was strangely reminiscent of Inter Milan in August when 45,000 packed the place. The common factor was the proportion of day-trippers or debutants. It seemes as if half the crowd were first-timers, judging by the monotony of their singing: "There's only one Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Paul Ince etc etc ". Right next to me were a young, hand-holding couple who treated the evening like it was a trip to the pictures. Right in front were 4 young lads in replica tops with their own names on the back, who were contstantly hovering between sitting and standing with their tiny cameras hoping to snap the players. The fact that they'll get nothing on their photos but the back of the head of the guy in front did not deter them. The number of brand new Michael Owen scarves (Yes, he has his own scarf!) was frightening. The merchandisers are gearing up here for Cantona or Beckham-style (and scale of) exploitation. How long will it be before the rest of the country is sick to the back teeth of him, and the backlash kicks in? I much prefer our traditional way with all this. Kenny Dalglish was the greatest talent this country has seen in the last 30 years, but kept a wonderfully dignified low profile. He let his feet do the talking. I only hope Owen (or rather his dad and agent) have got the sense to realise that the lad'll earn millions without having to prostitute himself like certain oiks over at the Theatre of Delusions (I mean, Brylcreem!... Come on! ... I'd rather rub lard all over me head). So far Owen's been very selective, lets hope he keeps it up. We've had enough of the Spice Boys at Anfield.

Where was I? Anfield. Five to eight and a surprisingly good (but rather high-pitched, such was the number of youngsters) YNWA. A few decent flags on The Kop, the Road End packed (well half of it was) with families and youngsters - when they sang and chanted it sounded just like the old boys' pen in the back corner of The Kop. (Which reminds me of a game about 15-20 years ago when the pen were being particularly vociferous. The Kop decided to take the piss and chanted in a high-pitch: "Liverpool! Liverpool!". The rest of Anfield roared with laughter, and as it subsided and The Kopites were feeling pleased with their wit and inventivenes, the shreiking pen came back with: "You're gonna get your fucking heads kicked in"). Several first choices were either rested or injured so the team looked strangely unattractive - particularly when Stig and Leo's names were read out. I was also surprised that Owen played, as he's looking a bit jaded over the last 3 weeks or so. What, I wonder, have Dave Thompson, Sean Dundee and Danny Murphy done to be continually snubbed, surely these lads deserved a run out in a game like this? James was also prefered to Brad in goal: he did two things of note all night (1) He came out for, and caught, a decent cross (Cue: very loud, sarcastic cheers and applause). And (2) he completely buggered-up trying to control a ball with his feet and gave away a needless corner. It was impossible to see any improvements in his game as he did nothing else all night apart from tipping over a couple of long range efforts late on in the match. His distribution was good though.

It took a while for Ince to make an impression and when he got moving so did Liverpool. But once again he stupidly got booked for a rash challenge from behind. If we get a 'easy' draw in the next round and we're in a good position in the 2nd half of the 1st leg he's going to HAVE to get himself booked so that he'll miss the 2nd leg, as by round 3 in December we should start meeting some decent teams. He is vital to the side as he gives Redknapp the space and confidence to play, as well as generally driving the side forward when required. Redknapp was enjoying himself - but the opposition wasn't much was it? I'm not being cruel. But when has he ever really performed against a top side or in a vital game? His last really good performance against quality opposition was Blackburn in Sept. 95. Yes, he did hit a good free-kick but usually he'll just get the keeper to pull off a fairly comfortable save - ie they're on target but with no real power. He's got a long way to go to get into Beckham's class when it comes to free-kicks. His second goal was a cracker - a swerving shot from 25 yards. He then spent the last 25 minutes (selfishly I thought) camped upfield looking for his hat-trick. Leonhardsen tried hard but was disappointing, his evening summed up when he fell over the ball 5 yards out and allowed Ince to snap up the chance. Bjornebye, too was poor. His crosses were coming in from far too deep. Fowler, outside the box, looked sluggish. He's obviously unfit, after all this is really still his pre-season. He took both goals well but squandered the penalty with a poor shot too near the keeper. Owen was closely marked but showed some remarkable skill and turn of pace to wriggle clear of defenders on several occasions. He does, though, look in need of a rest. Last night was the obvious opportunity to do so, but with Fowler still only 75% fit and Riedle still recovering from a 'knock' (or nice long weekend in Switzerland, to use it's medical term) we couldn't afford to rest him. Which brings us to Berger - St Patrik was the star of the night. He attacked and defended for the full 90 minutes and was very unlucky not to score with a driving run and blistering 30 yard effort which flew back off the post. He was clearly loving playing against former countrymen and at the end embraced several Kosice players.

Kosice brought about 80 fans, and they were stuck up in the upper Centenary. At times we could hear them chanting but I never saw one close-up. Do they really exist? After all, we saw none on the tele during the first leg ???? One other incident of note was George's announcement over the PA to apologise for the shop having to close before the match. I presumed they'd just run out of tat and shite, but it was a computer failure that took out the tills.

Overall: 7 out of 10. A professional job and a few spectaculat strikes on goal. Here's hoping for Bologna or Betis in round two

Hillsborough Latest: CPS could take up the case against former officers (28th Sept 98)

"H'boro Group to Battle On" Writes Caroline Storah of The Liverpool Echo. "The Hillsborough Families were today awaiting a key decision on the future of their private prosecutions against two former South Yorkshire police officers. The Crown Prosecution Service is set to say whether it will take on the cases against David Duckenfield and Supt. Bernard Murray. The two are charged with unlawful killing and neglect of duty and Duckenfield also faces a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. In law, the CPS can take on a private prosecution if it is asked to do so. But the families fear that could lead to the case being taken no further. Today they vowed: "We'll fight it, whatever." And they promised if the CPS does take it on then the families will challenge the move in a judicial review. The HFSG legal adviser, Keva Coombes, said: "The CPS was asked to take this on before the two defendants made a court appearance. A decision was promised at around the end of September, but we shall challenge it."

Chief Supt. David Duckenfield, 53, and Supt. Bernard Murray, 56, were in command of crowd control on the day of the disaster in April 1989 at the FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield where 96 fans lost their lives. They appeared before Leeds magistrates facing the private prosecutions at the end of last month. The hearing was adjourned until next month. Two weeks in December are due to be set aside for committal proceedings."

MOTM #1. This weekend we should all raise a glass to Arsenal's Patrick Viera, for (allegedly) doing what we would all love to do: twatting a South Yorkshire copper. MOTM #2. Paul Dalglish for his taciturn, King Kenny-style interview on Match of the Day, following his Premiership debut. Obviously his father's boy.

Also this weekend - the League Cup draw brings Kevin Keegan's Fulham back to Anfield on, probably, October 27th or 28th.

As if to put a top hat on the events of the last 48 hours, a strong Liverpool reserve side lost 2-0 to ManU at home last night (Friday). To underline just how bad we must have been: Jordi Cruyff scored for the Stretford Sky Dodgers PLC understudies. (JM)

JJP writes: When we heard that our Reserves were playing at home to the Manc second string in a hastily re-arranged Pontins game we decided to send some of our younger members to the game to get an on the spot report. It came in late! We decided that it only fair that we see a Reserve team game through the eyes of the younger members of the 'RAOTL' news hounds. So we clubbed together and raised enough dough to send a team of four young urchins to Anfield for the first time on their own to watch the Reds. Armed with everything that they should need, they toddled off to the game on the bus wearing their red mufflers and bobble hats each with the essentials. The essentials included a lucky bag of sweets purchased from Woolies 'pick 'n mix' counter including a curly wurly each, a Twix and a to drink they all took a zoo pop and a straw and their crayons so that they could do some colouring using their Anfield Activity packs during the game. The four of them looked really cute as they got on the bus at Paradise Street Bus Station waving excitedly to us as the bus pulled out. When they got to Anfield the driver put them off, not because it was their stop, but because they were getting a bit naughty - well, slashing the bus seats and squirting the zoo pop over other passengers does fall into the category of being a bit naughty. And the things that they were doing with the curly wurly was nobodies business. Andy, the biggest of the pack and the one who had been put in charge, sent back his report, although we had to rewrite it because of all the spelling mistakes, swear words and silly pictures that he had drawn. This is what they had to say:

(Andy Knott's report): " The reserves lost 2-0 and the match was very, very, very average. Robbie played and looked sharp for 45 mins, and in that time had 2 or 3 decent long-range efforts and forced a couple of saves from VDG. Leonhardsen was up and down - no, not the wing - although he did play on the left, it was his performance that was up and down. I have a minute by minute update (well almost) of the highlights and low lights i.e defensive nightmares yet again, but I won't inflict it on you all. Oh, and the formation changed throughout the game: why, I don't know (Consider yourself our new joint-manager then, Andrew). The other stars, as we call them, playing included Danny Murphy (very quiet), Davy Thommo (Best player in first half), Matteo (Captain Marvel, put on his arse by Cruyff pass for first goal), Jamo (Couple of good saves - but could have done better with their second), and Kvarme (say no more. A bit harsh, never played too bad) helped out by Williams (right back who reverted to centre back when Matteo moved into midfield and Danny went up front, when Robbie was subbed after the hour), Newby, Gudnasson, and Roberts. One thing of note: In the 51st minute, well one year, one month and 51 minutes, Leo picked up the ball and run forward in a straight line. He never turned inside, didn't pass back or sideways - he went forward and ran straight into 3 Mancs.

The goals were a bit dodgy: Cruyff split the defence and as James came out to block the little Manc twat wearing no. 9 passed inside to the little Manc twat wearing no. 10. The second was a thru ball that the Manc twat no.11 ran onto, held off Williams and beat Jamo on his near post. Aaaaarrrggghhh! The night was made all the more memorable when the conversation got round to the RAOTL Xmas piss up (I believe Tara Palmer-Tomkinson is sorting out the invitations - JMac) and the talk of Sue becoming a dominatrix, and wearing leather pants for the evening. (The mind boggles, we may even get JJP into his rubber jockstrap). The highlight of the night though has to be the ejection of 4 kids from The Kop. Everytime the ball went in the crowd, 100's of kids went fighting for it. 2 balls and 4 kids left the ground, (A visiting Peter Beardsley wasn't happy when all the kids chased him thinking his hump was a ball stuffed up his jacket). I also recall a rather good rugby tackle by a steward on one of the after-match dickheads who ran onto the pitch. Overall very dissappointing"

Liverpool Res: James, Williams, Roberts, Kvarme, Matteo, Murphy, Thompson, Leonhardsen, Fowler (Gerrard 67 mins), Gudnasson, Newby (Navarro 60 mins). Subs not used: Culshaw & Neilsen.

For the first time in about six years we went to the theatre and came away with exactly what we deserved - NOTHING. It hurts to say that but surely none of our supporters can argue with it. To try, like Evans did, and apportion blame to the Referee for our failure is simply clutching at straws and hiding behind a mask. Once again it was our own frailties - our now well known frailties - that let the Mancs stroll it. Against West Ham it was stupid team selection that cost us at least a point, if not all three. Against Charlton it was defending that would have earned a Junior schoolboy side a severe rebuke. Against the Mancs it was an American goalkeeper who was about as close to the ball on occasions as Bill Clinton is to the truth! And I like Clinton. Inside fifteen minutes or so minutes Friedle had miskicked two 'simple' back passes, let a soft shot squirm under his body and from the corner he had conceded he punched as wildly as a drunk in a Friday night punch up. I still give him the edge on James, but that doesn't say much. Having two crap keepers along with a crap defence does not do much for the confidence. On Saturday Babb and Carragher had nightmares, they remained in the team. The best defender this season has been Heggem - he appeared to have been dropped. Stig returned and that just about says it all. To be fair to Babb and Carragher, they didn't do all that bad and certainly you couldn't point the finger at either of them this time around but the problem with our team is that there is always someone who is going to play Santa - this time it was Friedel. United passed the ball with purpose and swiftness while we went back to the old days of passing ourselves to sleep. Macca got the ball and just walked around with it while Ince seemed determined to prove Demento right. If we had a threat up front it was Riedle but, of course, he was taken off to bring Robbie on. Michael did nothing all night but stayed on. Whoever it is that makes the decisions down on the bench they should have enough courage to forget 'Super Star' tags and think about the team. We took off a fit looking Riedle and replaced him with a 70% fit Robbie and left on a totally out-of-sorts Owen. I 'm putting this together the morning after the match and I am searching hard in my mind for some shred of comfort - It's a struggle. (JJP)

** A Liverpool fan was treated for a badly cut face after clashes between fans before last night's Premiership clash (Write the Liverpool Echo). The man suffered the injuries on the forecourt outside Old Trafford when fans threw bottles and stones. In a separate pre-match incident a Manchester Utd fan was stabbed in ther neck and face when rival fans clashed on a car park in Salford. ** PS. The doctors who treated the injured Liverpool fan (Ian Bagot, 17) said the wound was probably caused by a knuckle-duster. (JMac)

I suspected the worst when the teams were read out by Utd's hysterical announcer about ten minutes before kick-off. It just would not compute ... Heggem out and McAteer in ??? Thats 'Jason-I'm-not-a-full-back-McAteer' versus 'Ryan-I'm-definitely-a-winger-yes-sir-I-am-Giggs'. Bjornebye for Staunton ??? Even if Stan has had a rough time over the last fortnight - replacing him with Stig was mind-boggling. And still no Dundee on the bench, just the as yet still unfit Robbie Fowler (who looked completely goosed last Saturday). We were, for almost all the first half. completely crap. Giggs was wandering wherever he pleased, dragging McAteer behind him. JJP's mentioned above how innefective our midfield was - Ince seemed intent on proving how hard he was to the 50,000 Ferguson-trained sealions inside Old Trafford. (But where was the press's defence of the man - compare it to the way the fawned over Beckham when he was getting his post-Argentina stick), whilst Macca continued his useless form of the last month; he pushed that ball around the pitch like a man taking a pram aimlessly for a walk. Owen and KH were totally starved of support up-front. Only Berger seemed intent on actually getting at Utd's defence.

I missed the penalty as I was having a slash. Having seen it on the tele since, I think it was harsh. Especially as Giggs got away with a very similar 'handball' later in the match. But 1-0 down at half-time was as much as we deserved. I've never seen the Liverpool support so quiet for a long time at OT. After ten minutes it became clear which way the game was going and we just seemed to sit there and take it. In the second half Utd surrendered territory to us as they were confident of holding out against an isolated and out-of-sorts Owen, and a lonely Riedle. They did too, tho' I suspect had Brad fumbled a shot and Yorke had stuck it away - as we did 20 minutes from the end - then the offside flag would not have been raised. Suspicious and cynical - Me? The more we pushed forward in search of an equalizer (without really causing the nazi to stretch himself in goal) the more we left Babb and Stig and McAteer exposed at the back. Just read that rock-like defence through again! Sure enough, they broke and scored. Twats. Nothing more to do but sit there and take the taunts. Twats.

Evans was wrong for slagging the ref after the game, not because the ref was right but because he was trying to throw a smokescreen over another huge tactical mistake. Grow up and admit it: you fucked up - AGAIN. (JMac)

Lyrics to the Manic Street Preachers' 'S.Y.M.M.' are reproduced on our 'Justice For The 96' site. Check the 'HSRSFJ' link. On your next trip to Anfield PLEASE visit the 'Hillsborough Survivors, Relatives & Supporters for Justice Campaign' shop at 134 Oakfield Road, Anfield, L4 OUG. It's just 5 minutes walk from Anfield. T-shirts, car-stickers etc. are available and the staff will be only to happy to chat with you and update you on their activities.

Telephone the shop at (0151) 260 5262 (that's 001 151 260 5262 if you're dialling from outside the UK).

I've sat here for 5 minutes and wondered how to begin this report. Some people have said that had this been last season we'd have lost this one. "Remember Barnsley?", they said. Yes, I do remember actually. Barnsley had one good chance and stuck it away then spent the last 70 minutes of the game in frantic defence. We didn't actually play that bad against Barnsley - as I wrote at the time - on another day we'd have won it 5-1. Barnsley, however, stuck to the plan and defended heroically.

No - if you're looking for an a similar game as a guide then cast your mind almost exactly 6 years. It was way back in the mists of time before Sky, the Premiership and all the other crap made football friendly, shiny and marketable. Tuesday September 22nd 1992, Chesterfield AT ANFIELD in the Hokey Cokey Cup 2nd Round. The score: 4-4. Only Charlton was worse. Yes, Chesterfield happened in the grim dark days of Souness and came sandwiched between a pitiful 4-2 defeat at Villa and another home defeat by Wimbledon. But we KNEW we were crap then - we had a team packed with kids, fading stars and nobodies. I remember asking someone who the subs were that night - and NO-ONE knew who they were. We also came back from 3-0 down which at least showed some spirit.

No, Charlton was worse, had the game lasted anothet five minutes we'd have lost. We've had an Achilles heel in central defence for 2 or 3 years now and I'm getting sick of people saying "There just aren't the centre halves around". Well, no. not if you're looking for Alan Hansen or Ron Yeats they're aren't. But Neil Ruddock or even David Unsworth would have been an improvement on Saturday. Phil Babb has to the worst central defender I have ever seen play in a red shirt. And I include in that, Torbjorn Piechnik, Gary Ablett and Nicky Tanner. His very presence in the defence was a boost to the Charlton attack - he was like a twelfth man for them. If he EVER plays in a Liverpool shirt again then there's something seriously wrong at the club. We could go out tomorrow and, for 2 or 3 million, buy some brain dead six foot stopper from the first division and it would be an improvement. I mean it. Jamie Carragher has the makings of a decent central defender but he needs someone he can rely upon alongside him. Babb is useless. His only asset is his speed. He can get back and, maybe, get a tackle in. But he can't head the ball, can't run with it and can't pass. His positional sense is abysmal and he spreads panic amongst his team-mates like Neil Ruddock offering them a lift home. So don't give me that tired old "There aren't the class defenders about" rubbish - I know there aren't - just go out and buy someone who can defend from corners and tackle. If Friedle broke a leg tomorrow do you think we'd say ... "Well there aren't the great keepers about anymore so we'll go with Jameo"? No, we'd be out there buying someone - anyone - as a stop-gap. That's what our defence needs now.

Not that Babb was 100% to blame. Others had real howlers. Harkness positively stank. What the fuck he is doing trying fill in Ince's role I don't know. He's a half-decent full back, a bit of a snarler. Sure he can get stuck in and break the play up, but that's it. To play him in that up-and-down 'general' role is a joke. And that's Houllier and Evans' fault. They did it at West Ham and it stank and they persisted with it today. What have Danny Murphy and Davey Thompson got to do get games? As for Ince, his absence was a double-edged whammy: It allowed Hakness on the pitch and meant that we surrendered the 20 yards in front of Babb and Carragher to the Charlton midfield, thus allowing them a free run on goal, and it meant that 'the best midfield partnership in Europe' went to pieces. Without Ince to prompt and drive the play, Redknapp is utterly lost.

Then there's the great coward McManaman. Didn't fancy this one at all did he? Drifted inside and constantly waved the ball away when Matteo or Carragher were looking for a pass. Spent the second half pointing out wide to Berger or Heggem and brushing the hair out of his eyes. I've never seen a Liverpool player who can look so busy and do absolutely fuck all. Yeah, admittedly he's great picking the ball up 50 or 60 yards out and runing past a defender or two. But he invariably stops and gives the ball away. He never gets into dangerous positions, never puts good crosses in and as for his shooting .. Just wait for the home leg against Kosice, he might score then or get a dangerous ball into the box. And then there was Staunton - one good shot was the sum of his contribution for the afternoon. It was like having Stuart Pierce in the team. Every ball was hit 60 yards into the corner flags or over the top for Owen to chase.

Owen and Fowler were starved of the ball for most of the game. Fowler is clearly not match fit and struggled with his touch. I don't know what Sean Dundee has done but he could have upset a few of the Charlton defenders with his pace, height and strength. He wasn't even on the bench. If there is a real problem with him then we deserve to be told, If not then he must surely be given a chance.

Overall. 1 out of 10. Berger grafted and scored a real beauty. Fowler stuck to his task but looked blunt and tired. Heggem, too, worked hard down the right but was never given any options for a pass when he came up against the Charlton defence. On this evidence we are going to get shafted on Thursday. We can only hope that Ince is back and that 'spirit' can carry us through the 90 minutes. I hope some arses are kicked at Melwood on Monday morning.

At 6:46 I switched on Channel 5 to see the 200 Reds that had made the trip standing around, looking well-travelled (i.e. knackered), on the terraces at the Stadium Lokomotiva (Kosice's own ground is being refurbished). They looked unshaven and some looked pissed. Many were slurping from plastic glasses of lager. God I was jealous. Okay, it wasn't the Bernabeu, Guiseppe Meazza or Nou Camp but I would've given my left nut to have been there. One to remember and boast about I bet.

I won't go into too much detail as we tend to feature eye-witness reports here at RAOTL. JJP, Big Mark and Peter travelled over and John's report appears below. For my part - well, I was chuffed with all the goals. All were well taken. And the banners around the perimiter: 'Justice for the 96', 'BOYCOTT HILLSBOROUGH' and 'The Leather Bottle' (was that you, Mono?) did us all proud. If you want to read the usual match reports then go to the < The Mighty Reds page. For the record: Berger from a 25 yd free kick low into the bottom left hand corner; Riedle with a great diving header from a superb cross from Macca on the right, and Owen clean through from a pass from Robbie to slip it past the advancing keeper. Welcome back Robbie Fowler. On for just 17 seconds before he made that third goal for Owen. A great start to Liverpool's 27th European campaign.

Overall: 8 out of 10. For the result if not the 'performance'. Start saving up for round 2 now. By the way, cheaper prices apply at Anfield for the home leg so get down there and support the lads.

" Liverpool calmly entered the Tigers [of Kosice] den to face the wrath of a hostile eastern European crowd, baying for the blood of the team from the Western World of Capitalism. But Liverpool were unmoved by the hordes spitting out vitriolic hatred, and you could sense as the team took to the pitch that the side were ready - after all, are Liverpool not the team who once went to Rome and taught the Romans that Christians do not always bow at the knee when staring into the eyes of the lion? Even as, as the teams walked out on to the pitch the Kosice night sky lit up as the fireworks were set off. The Liverpool fans tucked away on the open terrace feared for the safety of themselves and of their team. The greyness of the stadium was transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour as the two captains stood inside the centre circle, as the hammer and sickle flags waved proudly in the hands of the legions of home fans. We bit our lips and waited for the Referee to start the game; and when he did we all woke up.

This must have been the easiest run-out the side have had in Europe since those long off days when teams from places like Iceland were turned over in monotonous fashion. There was little (or no) interest among the locals and that might have had something to do with the ticket price increase - or maybe they knew that their team had no chance anyway? You would not have known that there was a game on if it hadn't been for bumping into the occasional Red wandering the streets in search of the sights, so low key was the whole thing. The crowd, laughingly put as 3,700 by the local press and ridiculously put as 4,500 by some of the English press, would not have filled the KOP end of the Anfield paddock and the atmosphere resembled a wet Wednesday in Wigan rather than a UEFA Cup game. Our numbers probably just reached two hundred and although one or two attempted to get a song or two going, little interest was stirred. The team went out and did a job, got the business done early and settled down to ensure no injuries were picked up. We could not have expected any more. The three goals were all well taken and Patrik looked pleased to find the target. Of course it was great to see Robbie back in action and even better to see him set up a goal with his first touch. His appearance was probably the highlight of the night as far as the football was concerned.

European games are as much about the trip as they are the football and I would say that most of those who were on this trip went home with a few pleasant memories. How can you fail when you can get a few jars down your neck at a price of between 30p and 50p [in the high-class joints] a pint? (Stop! I don’t want to hear any more. - JMac) Many fans stopped over in Prague and that was a paradise if you like a beer or two, in fact it probably wasn't too bad if you didn't bother too much about the strength and taste of the local brew (What? That’s like going to Bordeaux and saying that the local plonk was ‘alright’ - JMac). I have to say that once we were in Prague we decided to sample to atmosphere of a City famous for its contributions to the world of classical music, all of which lasted until we spotted a bar (I was there in spirit then - JMac) . We thought it better to discuss our plans with a beer or two before doing anything rash. I suppose it was only natural that we should settle on checking out the bars rather than getting involved in anything heavy. We were glad to be in such a lovely city, but how often do you get the chance to drink some of the worlds best beers, and at prices we last knew in an age where the classics consisted of the latest Pistols’ offering.

I suppose we might have been a bit disappointed that we didn't have a few Patrik flags to wave to show the locals our love of the latest hero of Prague. We would have loved to have given them a song or two as well, but Johnny Mac was stuck in an office on Deeside. He would have loved to have been in the homeland of his hero and I am sure he would have found a song in his heart to let the musical loving Czech folk know of his fondness of their greatest current footballer. (Ah yes, my Czech hero, Bud Var Staropramen - JMac). As it was, I think we gave our absent drinking comrade a thought and then got another round in. It would have been something special to have seen Prague by night, and we all long for the day when we can come here to play one of their own teams [Super League permitting]. We were there for about seven hours - seven days wouldn't have been too long.

So on to Kosice, a different country but an equally pleasant place to taste a bevy or two or maybe more. We went for the 'more.' Kosice wasn't exactly the most alive place on the map; in fact the life around the City was not a lot different to the atmosphere in the ground. Match day was a Bank Holiday and I think that meant that everyone stayed at home. When we went into the bars the locals were friendly enough and all made us welcome, but not a lot was happening. I suppose you could say that the people of Kosice are a bit behind the times when it comes to music. Not only were the prices seventies-style but so was the music only it was not the stuff that memories are made of - unless you happen to be a big fan of someone like the Rubbettes and 'Sugar Baby Love' or Billy Swan and 'I Can Help!' Still, we could put up with that under the circumstances and we did.

Night time around the City was back to that wet Wednesday in Wigan [even if this was a Tuesday] but our intrepid band discovered places to go and we can safely say that thirsts were quenched. In fact the trip so inspired a couple of our crew into penning a song but that will appear in the next issue of 'RAOTL.' As for now, the trip is in the memory bank, a little classic all of its own and we all hope to be able to do it again before the Super League comes along and takes all this away. We missed Johnny Mac; maybe he can make up for it next time. " (JJP)

Too bloody right I will. What's the betting we draw Leeds or Villa? (Johnny Mac)

What the sodding hell is going on? On the day that we are told that Sean Dundee is to be sold to Auxerre because of the embarrassment of attacking riches at Anfield, we find that Riedle is being rested, and because Fowler isn't 100% we'll have to play with just one striker at West Ham.

If Dundee stays then we'll have 4 strikers of any note on the books. Let's say Fowler breaks down or St Michael gets walloped by some donkey defender. That means we have just 3 attackers available, one of whom is so fragile that he has to be rested after just 4 bloody games of the season. Does not compute. We should be buying strikers not selling them.

Why sell Dundee? We're not strapped for cash, and Sean doesn't want to leave. He refused to talk to Auxerre saying he wants to play here. Give him a chance. All I can think of is that the club have discovered that some of stories floating around about his 'colourful' private life in Germany are true. Maybe they think they've signed a cross between Stan Collymore and Stan Bowles. Fucking do for me.

Paranoia alert: there were a lot of entertaining claims made about Dundee and his time in Germany. Now that News International are into the Stretford Dodgers to the tune of £600m, will we see some 'Exclusive' stories - true or otherwise - in the 'News of the Screws' and 'The Scum' about Dundee's personal life ????

An unwelcome sense of Deja Vu swept over us during this game. Wheras the performance against Coventry had reminded us so much of The Reds of ten years ago, the display at West Ham was more like those of ten months ago. It had it all: tactical ineptitude and unfathomable team selections from the managerial team, woeful performances in key positions, jittery defending - particularly in the air ... all it need was Stig and Leo and a fat Robbie Fowler.

The news leaked out that morning that KH was being 'rested' and that we'd be playing with a lone striker against one of the dodgiest defences currently around (ours excluded that is). To say the supporters were pissed off would be a huge understatement. Okay, KH is 'getting on a bit' and may be feeling the physical strain, but 3 points is 3 points. And why is Kosice suddenly so important? I'd much prefer a win at Upton Park to one in Slovakia. Jesus - if winning on Saturday meant a draw in Kosice (even a 1-0 defeat) I'd have gone for that. If we can't beat Kosice over 2 legs then we really are kidding ourselves that this season might actually deliver something. But no, the brains trust decided otherwise. This was a tactical blunder on a par with Strasbourg. By the time they'd admitted it and brought Riedle on, we were two down. Let's be thankful it wasn't last season: the substitution would have made with only 7 minutes left and it would've been Berger off and Bjornybye on.

We were crap. Owen ploughed a solitary and uninspired furrow up front, desperately seeking support and service from a midfield packed with ... well, lets be charitable ... grafters. Ince was absent throughout. McManaman flitted in and out of the game and was largely anonymous. Harkness was just shite. Only Berger and Redknapp performed to any real degree. At the back it was like having Jameo, Kvarme, Stig and ... er.. Nicky Tanner back. Jittery wasn't the word. West Ham were contstantly allowed to run at us and pass around the edge of the box virtually unchallenged. Their second goal came from a passing movement amongst 3 or 4 players with our defence standing off them like shy schoolboys. The first goal from Hartson was last year all over again. Pathetic defending to give away a free-kick, then a corner, then the cross was allowed to reach Hartson absolutely unchallenged. Friedel glued to his line and Carragher, in particular, standing there like a dummy. Now I have to take 'Match of the Day's and JJP's word for this, as at 3 minutes past 3 I was just emerging from Upton Park tube having taken a West Ham fan's advice on how to get there 'quickly'. The sloth-like responses of the stewards I had to deal with (JJP had gone in with my ticket) meant it was nearly half-past three when I finally got to a seat. Luckily, I hadn't missed much.

After half-time we stepped it up a bit but with Staunton continually crossing into the stands and Macca having one of his 'sweep the hair out of my eyes and point' days it was difficult to see where a goal would come from. Then came the changes: Riedle for Harkness (to tumultous response from the travelling Reds). Berger and Jamie went close with long-range efforts and Macca passed a volley back into the keepers arms. In an effort to improve the supply McAteer replaced Heggem and Matteo came on for the terrible Staunton. McAteer then began to whip in crosses like he'd done in his first season. From one of them KH hit the post and ten minutes later went one better by heading in a great cross. In 20 minutes KH had made himself Man of the Match - and he didn't look that knackered to me.

Such was the disappointment - no, it was disbelief - in the decision to 'drop' Riedle and play just Owen up front that rumours swept the away end that Evans had made the decision because Houllier wasn't there (scouting or spying on the Continent or something). It was unfair as Gerard was there and, apparently, it was a 'joint' decision. Throughout the first 45 mins the fans had chanted for Riedle to be included and when he comes on he transforms the team and, almost, the result. Makes you think that we know something they don't doesn't it? We ALL knew Leonhardsen was crap and didn't deserve to be in the team. It was US who cried out for Berger to be back in the side. It was US who were constantly telling Evans to drop Stig or Jameo, that Babb wasn't go to be the answer back there. Be honest, when was the last time that 'they' made a decision that we didn't agree with at the time that turned out to be a good one. Apart from buying Heggem that is - and then that was only because we'd been so disappointed in the three other Norwegians. Feeling very bitter and pissed off today - and I haven't even got a trip to Slovakia to cheer me up.

Next FlagDay will be Chelsea at home on Sunday October 4th. It's a live game on Sky so it'll be an ideal opportunity to show off a bit. We'll post more details on the FlagDay link when I get round to thinking some up. Any suggestions anyone? Future flagdays include Sheff Wed in December - in order to protest at the absence of a memorial at the Leppings Lane to the 96 victims of Hillsborough. Remember - No memorial means a total BOYCOTT of the game in Sheffield next May. That means EVERYONE - we want no Liverpool fans to attend the game.

Man Utd is (as the whole world already knew) voucher 9 and 0 (voucher number 23). Priced at £20 adults and £10 for kids. I wonder what those people who boycotted ALL Rupert Murdoch's interests will do now? Can I have your vouchers? ON sale from 8:15am on Friday 11th.

Also on sale that day (for season ticket holders initially) is Kosice (home leg) on Sept. 29th. Voucher 24 is required and they've seen sense and dropped the prices: £15 for The Kop, and elsewhere the £20 seats are now just £17. Kosice are expected to bring about 100 to Anfield so the whole Anny Rd will be available for Liverpool fans.

On the subject of Kosice, We're expecting to take about 350 over there. Mainly due to the fact that the 'official' Town's Travel trek looks like one of the most uncomfortable and expensive (for what you're getting) jaunts ever (it includes a 12 hour coach trip leaving Kosice at 5am on the morning after the match in order to catch a flight back from Prague.) There is usually very little spare capacity on scheduled flights to Prague and Eastern Europe, and by last Friday every, single seat from the North of England to the Czech Republic or Slovakia was booked. Leaving yours truly stranded - I could go from Heathrow but it would mean taking nearly a week off work and would cost well over £450. JJP will be travelling (on a 3 day trip - I believe he's managed to book time off work) and so will be reporting back for us. I'll also try and get some stories from Mono and the intrepid lads from Speke who are driving the 1200 miles to Slovakia, leaving straight after the West Ham game on Saturday.

Can I also take this opportunity to thank the extremely helpful staff at the Slovakian Tourist Office for all their good-humoured and prompt responses to the enquiries we've fired their way over the last week or so. Dakujem!

A welcome sense of Deja Vu swept over The Kop during this game. It was as if we'd been transported back a decade: a handy, occasionally awkward, side comes to Anfield and meets a Liverpool team not exactly firing on all cylinders. The visitors are then swept side by sheer hard-work and a determination by The Reds to apply their skills - and obvious class - to the task in hand. We worked very hard for this victory and it was thoroughly deserved.

From the first whistle we dominated posession and yet created very little against the (now familiar) well-organised Coventry defence. It took about 20 minutes for the game to liven up and the goal, though made by Ince, was really created by the Egg-man with some terrific skill on the right hand side in the corner of the Centenary and Anny Rd. Heggem then found Ince who found the by-line and turned back hard and low for St Patrik to slot home into the bottom right-hand corner from about 10 yards out. Paddy looked truly chuffed with his goal, as I imagine I did. That seemed to break the ice and we dominated the rest of the half with the midfield in particular (and Heggem) outstanding. Carragher, Babb and Staunton were all having an uneasy evening - particularly Staunton who had trouble staying on his feet. The only worrying moment came when a loose ball fell to Dublin in box. Fortunately he hesitated (tho' clear on goal and only 8 yards out) and allowed Brad to smother the ball.

It was clear that this wasn't going to be a performance to rival that at St James' Park. And with Coventry (and particularly Dion Dublin and Huckerby) always capable of nicking a goal or three at Anfield there was no doubt that we still had to treat City with respect. One slip in defence could undo a lot of hard work and God knows what might happen ... This concern lasted all of 3 minutes. Macca skipped down the left flank and fed Redknapp just inside the box. Jamie's shot took a deflection and sped into the bottom left hand corner of The Kop goal. 2-0 and we felt we could afford to relax slightly now - on the terraces at least. On the pitch there was no let up, particularly from the tireless Riedle who ran himself into the ground all night. Owen too - though not having the best of nights - worked hard and did find the net but was clearly offside (he took it well tho' folks and battered it low past Hedman from a narrow angle). Riedle's efforts on the night were best summed up by his last gasp challenge on Dublin in the second half. A corner at the Anny Rd end is headed on at the near post, Dublin goes up for it and it's clear if he makes contact it's a goal (Brad is flying in the opposite direction across the goalmouth) - until, that is, until KH challenges Dublin. He doesn't win the ball but does enough to put Dublin off and the ball flies wide.

Overall: 7 out of 10, mainly for perspiration not inspiration. Outstanding were Redknapp, Heggem and Riedle, whilst Berger, Ince and Owen all worked hard. West Ham lost 4-3 tonight at home despite being 3-0 up in 20 minutes. I wonder what sort of reaction we'll see on Saturday?

Robbie Fowler made a surprise return to Liverpool reserves last night in the 3-2 victory at Leicester City. RAOTL correspondent JJP will be posting a report as soon as he learns to type. And here it is ...

" Being a mood to watch even more football after the total eclipse of the Geordie heart I decided to pop down to Filbert Street to watch our reserves play Leicester. I got there about twenty minutes before kick off and it was bedlam. Hundreds of kids lapping up what Leicester call "Family Night Fun." They even had a bouncy castle but they wouldn't let me on, so I worked my way through the crowd of kids who were surrounding the jugglers and the clowns and QUEUED up to get in! I thought, "bloody hell, Everton ought to try this if it gets the crowds in!" But then I remembered that they've already got the clowns, only they're not funny unless you're on our side of the park! I got in the ground and spotted Big Jim sitting up there in that new stand of there's. His first words to me were, "Robbie's playing!" I was stunned, but happy. So there we were at a reserve away game waiting for it to start with a great deal of anticipation and expectation. First team games weren't like that last season well, not all that often anyway. Our team was announced and yes, Robbie was playing. Not only Robbie but this bunch of likely lads David James, Dominic Matteo, Bjorn Kvarme, Steve Harkness, Sean Dundee, David Thompson, Danny Murphy and Oyvind Leonhardsen. So was this another sign of things changing at Anfield? Last season first team squad members gave the impression that Pontins football was beneath them, we should see if this is really the start of something new. About seven minutes had passed when lo and behold Robbie rounded the keeper but got pulled down. He took the spot kick and God was back on the goal trail. Just before halftime Leicester got level thanks to Kvarme who was under no pressure when suddenly he fell over just like he did at Goodison last season and it was one all. In the second half we totally dominated and some of the football was brilliant even at this level. Danny Murphy finished off the move of the match to make it 2-1 and then Sean Dundee scored the goal of the match to make it 3-1. More should have followed but it was a combination of poor finishing, good goalkeeping and the fact that Robbie was not quite at his old standard not surprisingly but the football was good to watch. The home side pulled one back when Jameo cocked up and sad to report he didn't look too clever most of the night. Robbie looked pounds lighter than he did last season and although the reflexes weren't razor sharp there was good edge to his game. We thought he'd get anywhere between forty-five minutes to an hour. As it was he was still there at the final whistle. Before the start of this game the players went through the 'new' routine and Big Jim said he was getting a warm glow about this season, I reckon he may be right. " (What? Fowler back so soon? Never mind 'a warm glow', the thought of Owen & Fowler together at OT is giving me a woody - JMac).

Liverpool Reserves James, Neil Murphy, Matteo, Kvarme, Boardman, Harkness, Thompson, Leonhardsen, Fowler, Dundee, Danny Murphy. Subs [not used] Culshaw, Newby, Warner, O'Mara Attendance 6,315

Reserves record P2 W2 D0 L0 F6 A3 P 6 Scorers - Danny Murphy 3, Sean Dundee 2, Robbie Fowler

To those who are interested in such things Leicester produced a programme which was A5 in size and contained 24 pages including the cover. It contained a lot of adverts but most of them were aimed at the kiddie market. It also gave a Pontins Profile on Liverpool. Although the content is for the young fan who can no longer afford the stupid prices that clubs like ours expect them to pay - and would not be the sort of thing adults would want - I'm sending my copy to Johnny Mac Liverpool should consider the idea. There was the usual pre kick-off team sheet available but the name of Robbie Fowler was not on them. So God gets everywhere, but not on the team sheet. (Johnny Mac replies ... Why thank you kind sir. Yes, I'll have it. One for the collection. )

Mark Wright (aka 'The Freckled Franco Baresi') has been forced to retire from the game due to a long-term back injury. Mark was signed by Souness back in 1991 for £2.2m from Derby County. Mark says of Liverpool: "I've got a great affinity with this club. I won 45 England caps and played in a World Cup - but the greatest thrill of all was lifting the FA Cup as a Liverpool skipper six years ago.".

Thanks for everything Marco, especially that wonderful header against PSG 2 seasons ago, when you played a real lion-hearted captain's game. Good luck in the future ... You Fucking Beauty!!!

Brookside's Sinbad (bonus point if you know how he acquired the nickname), alias Scouse actor Michael Stark, was spat upon, verbally abused and feared for his safety whilst sitting amongst Newcastle fans during Sunday's game. After Owen's 3rd goal Stark had to be ushered (Oooh! ... Brookside pun there!) away by police and stewards from his seat in the Milburn Stand and taken into the Liverpool enclosure - where he received a rapturous welcome from the Reds' fans. (At 3-0 we'd have cheered Jimmy Tarbuck). Stark says he really did fear for his safety, whilst a Newcastle spokesman said "the fans posed no real threat and that the matter was completely good humoured." Good humoured enough for Mike to have to be escorted into the away supporters' enclosure by the police, that is.

Can you imagine the fun the press would have had if, say, Jimmy Nail or the wonderfully talented Ant and Dec had been subjected to similar treatment at Anfield?

Whilst we're talking about soap stars... at OT last season I saw that ugly Manc, Martin - who's married to the equally ugly Gail - walking across the concourse. A Liverpool supporter said something to him (it didn't look threatening but you never know). Soap star walks past and says nothing. Five steps later he turns to his friend and says "Scouse bastard!" within earshot of a group of Kopites. "You fucking Manc twat!" says one of them: soap star shuts up, gazes at the ground and carries on walking. Personally, I'd have hoofed the talentless Manc cunt up the arse.

At half-time I scampered out of my seat and sprinted below to watch the first-half highlights on the televisions in the concourse. As I stood below the tv waiting for the Sky adverts to finish, Reds came singing and whooping down the stairs, silhouetted against the bright sunlight as they descended into the cool darkness. The bar was open and it was a warm afternoon: cold beers were soon downed as Owen's goals were loudly cheeered. St Patrik Berger's excellent strike was rightly greeted with an outburst of 'his' song. Through the railings we could see glum Geordies standing around in groups just staring at us. What a first 45 minutes! The best since ... well, since when? Newcastle at home in 96-97? Leeds (a) back in 90-91? Who knows? We were just brilliant.

When King Kenny had been crudely disposed of so that the Newcastle directors could give glamorous, sophisticated, sexy Ruud Gullit the job on Thursday I feared the worst. The press went into overdrive and the Mirror (who it is alleged paid Gullit's agent £100,000 for their 'exclusive' Kenny Out - Ruud in story) were the worst. This has happened before to us - struggling team ditches a manager, new guy comes in and we usually get well beaten as the opposition team and fans pull out an extra 25% from somewhere and sweep us aside. I'm thinking of Gregory at Villa and Big Fat Joe at The Tip. With 35,000 deranged Geordies and a live on the tele game, the omens looked bad.

On the 3½ hour trip up the M62 and A1 we were deteremined that we wouldn't let them walk all over Kenny's reputation. Just where did these dickheads get the idea that they have a reputation for playing exciting and sexy football? From, it seems, two seasons under Kevin Keegan a while back which conveniently swept aside a couple of generations of absolute crap football and no trophies. Just the UEFA Cup 29 years ago and something back in the 1950s. And they think they're a big club! It wasn't too long the Toon army were turning up in their less-than 15,000s for league games and extolling a very fat Mick Quinn as a football folk hero. Sexy football my arse. Just six months ago they allowed a couple of their laughing directors to call their womenfolk 'dogs' and label the supporters as simple idiots for shelling out £45 for a replica shirt that cost the club a fiver. And there they all were on Friday: directors back in the fold basking in the greasy glow of a football prostitute like Gullit, whilst the gullible (and yes, simple-minded) Toon Army queued up to get their new 'no 1 Gullit' replica shirts and dreadlock wigs. Newcastle shares soared on the stock market, which is what the whole tacky episode was all about really.

I'm sorry to sound so harsh about the Geordie football fans as they are, by and large, decent and friendly folk. After near riots at Barnsley and ManU last season, when we had taken the piss out of the opposition fans, it was heartening to be slapped on the back, have your hands shook and be wished 'all the best' in the league campaign, by some very disillusioned and upset supporters. And it's nearly always like this up there: our third win at St James' in less than 9 months and not an ounce of trouble. I thank for them for the sportsmanship and good humour. BUT ... they do themselves no favours with their overblown sense of their footballing importance. Time to grow up, I feel.

Back to the football ... if St Michael was worth £30 million before the game he must be worth an extra £10 million by now. He was absolutely BLOODY SENSATIONAL! A hat-trick in 17 minutes: two very good goals and one brilliant one. Not just that, but he was popping up everywhere, tracking back, covering and tackling. It was a near-perfect performance. Berger, Riedle, Heggem and Carragher all had truly excellent matches and even McManaman was up for it: I swear I saw Steve McManaman win a header in the opposition area and head the ball down to a Liverpool player! Honest! I won't go into too much detail about the goals - you can read all the reports on < The Mighty Reds site - but they were all crackers: from Owen's first perfect poacher's goal to Berger's powerful burst from midfield and ferocious shot, via Owen's third Argentina-style solo effort: they were magnificent.

On the terraces it was a similar story: totally one-sided. It was brilliantly inventive and rapier-like from us, whilst the Geordies huffed and puffed but could provide no answer. We (the fans) were as great as our team was. The reports in the press all mention our superb vocal support and our declarations of devotion to King Kenny. I'm proud of you all. The Liverpool Echo tonight makes me especially proud (What? Shock! Horror!) ...

Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish today paid tribute to the Liverpool fans who backed him so vocally at Newcastle. The former Reds' boss, who parted managerial company with the Magpies last week, was so touched by the chanting of his name by the Liverpool supporters at St James' Park yesterday that he phoned The Echo to convey his thanks. It was their loud chanting of his name in a stadium where his efforts were seldom ackowledged which reminded him just how appreciated he is on Merseyside. He said today "It was very thoughtful of the Liverpool fans to chant my name. I just want to thank them all for that. I never expected it at all - it was very nice to hear". "

It was a very satisfying drive back to Liverpool. And at 10:30 when I got through the front door I went straight to the fridge and cracked opon an ice-cold bottle of Stella and toasted Liverpool FC - ALLEZ LES ROUGES!

Overall performance. 9½ out of 10. (But 10 out of 10 for the first half). Stars? All 11 were stars but the real plaudits must go to Owen and Berger, Carragher and Ince, and us - the supporters.

"If this was Newcastle's version of "Sexy Football" then how was it for you, we made the earth move! Well, if you were standing in the Sir John Hall corner with 1,800 Liverpool fans, you must have felt the Stadium rocking as song after song was belted out? The Geordies, now all seemingly wearing Ruud Gullit wigs [gullible, no, not the Toon Army], could only sit and admire as we took them apart. Sure Michael was brilliant, but this was definitely a team effort. Carragher, Berger and even the much maligned Jamie Redknapp contributed to it. But maybe the Liverpool star might not get a mention during the latest bout of "Owenmania" because Heggem was brilliant. Have we finally spent our money wisely in Norway? Time will tell, but the 'Egg-Man' will do for me. The travelling Kop turned this into a tribute to Kenny and if he heard it or his lad [Paul - sub for the Geordies] told him about it, then even Kenny would have been moved. We even made the papers with the Daily Mail giving it a couple of lines which is almost the equivalent to headline stuff. We like the Geordies, after all we gave them Kev, we gave them Kenny, we gave them Terry Mac, JB and Rushie - the trouble is they just don't know how to handle class!

They didn't know how to handle Michael Owen either, nor the rest! It will be interesting to see who gets the "Match of the Day" goal of the month award. Michael's second or third? Paddy's classic - or will it be a Beckham free kick? I know who should win it, but I bet the beeb carry on the "Everyone be nice the Brylcream Boy." We have said in earlier stuff that there are a few signs that we might just change from the pessimistic stance to the optimistic. This was further proof that Gerard and his mate Patrice have surely had some influence on things. The team is starting to look organised and it might be early days but surely even the biggest sceptic can see a change? Time will tell and it could all revert back to type pretty quickly but when you watch a show like this, even if the Geordies were in worse shape than those stupid wigs, you have to say you were glad to be there!

PS - That bit about the earth moving - I wasn't joking. I was standing [supposed to have been sitting - I know] next to big Mark and that ground rocked! Or did Mark start jumping up and down? For nine or ten days pal, we're on top of the world. I'm going to enjoy it. Love is the drug - and I loved this one. JJP "

MANIC STREET PREACHERS have drawn police criticism for a track on their upcoming album 'This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours', which deals with the 1989 Hillsborough football tragedy in which 96 people died.

The song, 'South Yorkshire Mass Murderer', has been slammed as "offensive" and in "bad taste" by a top-ranking South Yorkshire police official. The track, which is featured on the Manics' new album, 'This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours' released by Epic on September 14, is an attack on officers in charge of crowd control at the 1989 Sheffield Wednesday (Jesus!! - RAOTL) vs Liverpool football match where 96 Liverpool fans died in a crush. The policing of events is currently the subject of a private prosecution by bereaved families through the Hillsborough Families Support Group. The first case came to court last week.

The families' plight was also highlighted by the award-winning Jimmy McGovern documentary, Hillsborough. In a phone call to NME last week, McGovern said he thought the sentiment of the Manics song was "brilliant", adding, "I wish the British media had the balls of our singers. I'm impressed." The song's chorus features the refrain: "South Yorkshire mass murderer/How can you sleep at night/Sleep at night". It then goes on to namecheck McGovern: "The reason for this song/Well it may be a pointless one/But thank you Jimmy McGovern/For reminding me of what lives on".

South Yorkshire's Assistant Chief Constable Ian Daines, who was not involved in policing on the day, admitted he hadn't heard the song but said: "Judging solely from the title it would appear to be in bad taste and is likely to cause offence to many people." The Manics had originally planned to incorporate a speech about Hillsborough from a character in a McGovern-penned Cracker episode who, traumatised by events at Hillsborough, returned to South Yorkshire to murder its police officers. McGovern said: "Alby (the character) had that thing about how Hillsborough in 1989 was the end result of a full-scale assault on working-class culture and values starting with the miners' strike in 1984."

McGovern said he was taken back by the "power" of the Manics' lyrics but was concerned about a possible libel action against the band. He added: "I've heard those sentiments (how do you sleep at night, etc) expressed by many of the Hillsborough families. it's just that when you see it in black and white and realise it's gonna be sung, well, it really takes your breath away." (from the NME)

The allocation is: Serial nos ending in ... 2,3,4,5,6,7 & 8 (!!!) One ticket at £26 or £17 for children. On sale from Tuesday Sept 1st.

The draw was made this lunchtime - and The Reds are to play Kosice from Slovakia. The first leg is away on Sept. 15th with the second leg on the 29th. Kosice is a hell of trip - further away than Warsaw or Budapest. We'll post some details on trips and information about Kosice as soon as possible.

The consensus of opinion after this one was that it was a fair and 'good' result. Arsenal are a very, very good side and at half time I felt we were hanging on a bit. They had created 2 or 3 really good chances (notably when Parlour blasted over from 8 yards in front of The Kop) and our defence had been at sixes and sevens on several occasions. During our half-time discussion we felt that if Arsenal did manage to sneak a goal then that would be it for us. They were more than capable of closing up the shop and hitting us on the break. We had struggled to create a clear opening and Owen was having little in way of quality service from the midfield. If Arsenal scored one, then we could see them adding another...

Well they didn't and it was partly due to a much improved second half from Liverpool. Ince drove the side on from the middle of the park and was unlucky not to score himself. Heggem and Staunton gave good performances down the flanks - Heggem, in partcular, was impressive and kept Overmars quiet for most of the match. Ince's contribution would have been much better had he chose to feed the full backs on the flanks instead of continuously running into the brick wall that was the centre of the Arsenal defence. Bould was having a cracker of a game - and at 35 could easily make it into the RAOTL All-Star XI for our next match. Carragher was growing in stature and was not giving Bergkamp a sniff of the ball. Both defences seemed to be holding sway - the difference being that, at times, ours was swaying as much as holding.

Our best chances were Riedle's first half header which was 6 inches away from a goal with Spunky (or "Porno 'tache" as he was cruelly called ... it's not that bad a 'tache is it?) stranded, and Heggem's stinging 20 yard drive across the face of the goal that Ince almost capitalised on when Spunky could only parry.

Overall 6 out of 10. Ince, Heggem, Carragher and Staunton impressed. Berger was subdued in a role that gave him little scope to get forward, allowing MacManaman to infuriate again (if he could only shoot and cross etc ...). Riedle worked hard but had a tendency to go down too easily allowing that Manc bastard Elleray to wave play on when we should have won free-kicks. Friedel again gave a very good peformance - the one-handed save from Anelka at the Kop end was just fantastic. Had Fowler been fit and playing instead of KH then we could have snatched all 3 points: 2 chances fell to KH (hardly a poacher) that even the fat Robbie of last winter would have banged away. That said, had Ian Wright been playing for them ...

The best bit of the day was St Michael's announcement that he'd signed a new, improved 5 year contract that will keep him here until 2003. When he'll still be only 23 years old ... an amazing 3 or 4 years away from his prime! Oh, and for any bluenoses at The Echo reading this I was having a beer in The Albert after the game with blokes from Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Scotland, the USA (hope you got home okay, Nate) and Canada (ok - he was a Scouser but been there for 20 years) ... oh, and about 100 Scousers.

Next up - Blackburn Reserves at Anfield on Tuesday. After the good response to our reserve reports last year we'll be continuing with them in 98-99.

Hillsborough Survivors, Relatives & Supporters for Justice Campaign (23rd Aug 98)

New link added to a < HSRSJC page here at RAOTL. Next time your up at Anfield drop into their office at 134 Oakfield Rd, Anfield L4 OUG (Tel. (0151) 260 5262) and see what you can do to help. The office is about 5 mins walk from Anfield, just past Sam Dodds.

Hillsborough Police Chiefs Face Disaster Families Families of victims of the Hillsborough disaster have come face to face in court with the two former senior police officers they hold responsible for the tragedy. More than 20 members of the Hillsborough Family Support Group packed Leeds Magistrates' Court for the start of a private prosecution they have brought against former chief superintendent David Duckenfield, 53, and former superintendent Bernard Murray, 56. The two former officers appeared in court to hear allegations that they unlawfully killed John Alfred Anderson and James Gary Aspinall on April 15 1989 and wilfully neglected to carry out a public duty on that day. It is also alleged that David Duckenfield "intended to pervert the course of justice when he lied about the circumstances in which Gate C became open". The case is the first private prosecution to be brought as a result of the disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in April 1989. Ninety-six fans died as a result of a crush on terracing at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium. The case was adjourned until October 13 when the Director of Public Prosecutions is expected to have given advice on the release of witness statements held by South Yorkshire police. Committal proceedings have been pencilled in for December. Stipendiary magistrate Nigel Cadbury told the court: "Clearly this is a very sensitive case. It happened a long time ago. It must not be allowed to drag on." Mr Duckenfield, of West Parley, Bournemouth, and Mr Murray, of Pontefract, West Yorkshire, were both released on unconditional bail. The chairman of the support group, Trevor Hicks, who lost his two daughters in the disaster, said: "The case went according to our expectations. We believe things are progressing.".

The away kit was released yesterday and was very similar to our prediction back in July. (See below). The big difference is the red shoulder stripe which extends right down the sleeve. Not too keen on that touch - a bit too Nottingham Forest for me. Still it's not a bad kit and will sell by the million I'm sure. The first choice will have white shorts - an all white away kit: aaaaah! ... memories of Barcelona and the Nou Camp in '76 when Toshack scored and Joey Jones threw back all the cushions ... which means that for the big away games (ManU, Arsenal) we'll be wearing the traditional white shirts and black shorts with white socks. That said, it's far from being the traditional 'Bob Paisley' shirt we were 'promised' by Reebok.

Spare voucher 21 - ending in 0 or 9. We're in the usual place: East corner of the Sir John Hall Stand. Priced at £23 or £13 for children.

Any of you who doubted Souness's capacity to plumb the depths of embarassment - doubt no more. I always found it amazing that even after his dealings with 'The S*n' there were those who defended him. Well, like Emlyn Hughes - another great Liverpool captain and player - has has returned to embarrass us once more with his inane twitterings in the press. In a Scottish magazine article he is quoted thus: "I actually believe Everton are a bigger club than Liverpool. I really mean that. Everywhere you go on Merseyside you tend to bump into Everton supporters."

Well, as a man who spent the last two years of his time at Anfield hiding indoors to avoid Liverpool supporters that's probably the way it seemed.

To be fair to the man, in last night's Echo (Wed. 19th), he in part retracted this and claimed he'd been mis-quoted. Sunness now claims, "I NEVER SAID BLUES ARE BIGGER THAN REDS - I was misquoted by magazine " reads the headline to Ric George's piece. "All I said was that there were possibly more Evertonians than Liverpudlians on Merseyside these days. That's because Liverpool draw on supporters from all over the UK." Ric then goes on to list Sunness' wonderful achievements during his Liverpool career. Those of you who've followed Mr George's career will not be surprised at this as it (a) allows him to have a dig at Liverpool supporters, and (b) gives him yet ANOTHER opportunity to polish the oily veneer of his bosom buddy's reputation. Suspicious? Me? Well, if I was a cynic I might suggest that the Liverpool Echo's sports staff are lapping all this up, especially when they print a letter just 4 pages inside the back cover with the title: 'Where are all the Scousers?'. This letter suposedly from an Italian living in London who came up for the Inter game, contains the following: "When I tried to exchange my scarf at the end of the match, everybody I met was from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Norway ... in fact, everywhere apart from Liverpool. When I went to Old Trafford 3 years ago, there were plenty of Manchester people willing to make a swap for my Inter Milan scarf ..."

That's when the penny dropped. You bastards, I thought. The letter's obviously a fake, planted by either a Manc, Bluenose or the Echo (or a combination of the last two). How do I know? Well it doesn't take a forensic scientist to find suspicious that (a) the guy claims to have lived in Britain for 4 years but makes a clumsy grammatical error like "willing to make a swap for my Inter Milan scarf". (Sounds like someone deliberately trying to sound foreign, to me). and then (b) then he calls his team "Inter Milan", which NO self-respecting Inter fan would ever do. Maybe someone at The Echo read this web-site, noted my remarks about the tourists there that night and decided to enjoy a little dig at our expense. There WERE loads of tourists around that night BUT there were also plenty of regular out-of-town supporters and plenty of Scousers too. Also, a great deal of those 'tourists' were first-timers from Liverpool!

However, sandwiched between the expensive trips to Glasgow and Dublin is it any wonder some of the regulars (Scousers included) decided to give it a miss? (That, by the way, was my conclusion).

Anyone living or working in Liverpool knows this old 'Everton-all-Scouse' chestnut to be a load of old toss. In much the same way as they know the Liverpool Echo is a load of old toss. If Everton's support is all Merseyside based then how come we regularly manage to get over 10,000 fans into their ground for derby games when the official allocation is a quarter of that? Are there busloads from Exeter, Surrey and Rhyl coming over on the morning of the match and buying them from touts? No ... it's Red's fans living and working in the city using bluenose spare vouchers to get spare tickets, buying them in pubs and from Bluenoses at work etc. For a club which now claims to have the majority of supporters in the city following them, why can't they sell all their derby tickets to their own fans? Answers on the head of a pin to Ric George, The Liverpool Echo ......... By the way, Ric, should you feel a fit of pique coming on, and start firing off a solicitor's letter to complain about us questioning your impartiality as a serious football journalist, can we just tell you that - 'We have a mutual friend in Paris'. 'Nuff said.

Apologies for the delay in updating this site. technical problems and all that. I couldn't make to Southampton so here's JJP's eye-witness match report:

" The quirk that is the football fixture list took us to Southampton on the opening day - or rather the second day or whatever it was. Thanks to the Skyjack our game was on a Sunday. As 'The Dell' is not the biggest of football grounds and the fact that tickets only went on sale six days before the start of our season meant that we had to go through the usual scramble for tickets. Suddenly anyone with an '8' became a friend and someone to add to the list of those who will receive Christmas Cards come December. Mind you, are club are good aren't they. "Tickets are priced at sixteen pounds and eighteen pounds" we are told by the voice on the ticket line. No they're not, they're eighteen pounds and twenty pounds - and this for a seat in a ground where, 'restricted views' are plentiful. Anyone, some of us made it, but sadly Johnny Mac was grounded and reduced to watching the game in a pub, which will surely be a novelty for him (eh? JMac), and our friend AD from Block 109 was on holiday in Bournemouth: my, how the other half live! Still, we managed to get his ticket for him as he left his season ticket with us and, wouldn't you know it - he was the lucky one, he had an '8.' Being a considerate sort, amongst other things, he decided to let big Andy know that the weather down there in the south would break at the weekend and it would probably rain. Andy being the trusty sort took him at his word, and turned up wearing his designer Carlsberg sweatshirt more suited to away games in November at St James Park. More of that later because we are sure you want to know all about it.

JJP's day started early enough, as he had to get a taxi to a train station some seventeen miles away from him, in order to be in Birmingham where Andy was to pick him up. It wasn't the fact that it cost him twenty odd quid in a cab that upset the normally happy one, but the fact that he had to leave the pub a bit early on Saturday night so that he could get some sleep before travelling. When you reach his age, you need it. It was another quirk of fate because: everyone being on time, trains and Andy arriving as scheduled, are as rare as football seasons without Everton having to fight to stop up. A little collision with a taxi at New Street station was not the best way to start the new season, but as Andy drove slowly by, someone decided to open a taxi door at the same time rendering Andy's wing mirror to the back seat.

You know that the football season has started, don't you, when you pick up the Sunday's to read about Man U scraping a draw at OT with a goal scored just before the start of Match of the Day, and their ever-fawning press writing reams and reams about the Brylcream Boy and wondering why he is not as popular with the fans, as he obviously is with them? You also know it is the new season when you're stuck on the M25, the temperature about 85 and poor old Andy in that woolly top.

Down at the ground there are plenty of Reds hanging around, and a good bout of singing coming from the Winston pub that has become a popular place for our supporters. The mood matches the weather, apart from Andy who is now sweating buckets and as AD appears on the scene dressed in a 'T' shirt and shorts we fear the worst - but Andy just stares before asking about his weather forecast. It was based on the fact that it had been so good down there for a fortnight, AD thought it must change soon and Andy guzzled down another large bottle of warm flat coke.

As soon as you walk into 'The Dell' you are reminded what football grounds used to be like; in fact this one reminds you of what they must have been like before the war! Someone said that there wasn't enough room to swing a cat round, there wasn't even enough room for the bloody cat to get in, let alone be swung round. One small bog and one small pie stall represent the away fan's 'modern day' facilities at 'The Dell.' But we shouldn't grumble too much because we were on the front row of the upper tier directly in line with the sun, which enabled us to top up our tans and poor old Andy to sweat another bucket or two. Our performance wasn't too bad, well a win is a win, and we are two points in front of the Mancs and the Blueshite. Although our defence looked better, there was still the occasional ringing of the alarm bell when the ball was sent in the air across our penalty area. Michael looked a little bit off the pace by his standards but he did get the cross in for KHR to get us back on level terms. He missed a 'sitter' as well, but it all came good when he got on the end of one, and the ball flew into the net. A gent dressed in a suit and tie standing near our dugout was spotted going a little crazy and shouting out "goal" in a French accent. I can assure you that as the ball rattled the rigging the noise from our fans almost lifted the roof - that's not that anyone would have noticed in this ground.

We all left the ground in a happy mood, three points away from home is a good enough start. Even our use of a sub seemed to be right. Okay, it was Paddy again, but this time in the right circumstances. Michael got the M-O-T-M award but some of us felt that KHR had shaded it on the day, and that's all Andy wanted - shade. Over to Johnny Mac for his pub watch vigil. "

Thanks John - concur with most of what you say. Tell Andy it was pleasantly cool sitting by a breezy doorway in a shadowy pub quaffing ice-cold bottles of Stella. From where I was - Heggem looked to have had a good game, as did Stan. Overall, I thought a 7 out of 10 - given that we were away and we came back from a goal down.

Ireland last week, Scotland this week. South of England next week. I wonder where some people get the money from as you see the same old faces everywhere, some of them with a couple of kids in tow too. It must cost an absolute fortune. Me, for example - I'm giving Southampton a miss as I'm absolutely skint. With a UEFA Cup game next month something's got to give, and it looks like being a five hour trip to that cramped tinderbox known as The Dell.

Glorious sunshine in Liverpool meant that Young Master Redboy and myself had left wearing shorts and T-shirts (well, in his case, it was a full - Michael Owen No. 10 - kit). However by Preston the sky darkened and all the way up through the Lake District to Carlisle was grey, miserable and wet. A detour at Carlisle, due to a road accident that completely closed the motorway, put us about an hour behind schedule, and we were worried we might miss the kick-off. But as we sped up the M74 towards Glasgow the clouds parted and when we reached the end of the motorway the temperature was a fabulous 90°. We had also made up a bit of lost time: it was 1:30 when we parked up in the shade of some trees a mile or so from 'Paradise'. God, it felt strange - I was sober in Glasgow.

Liverpool had been invited to play in a friendly match to celebrate the opening of the new Jock Stein Stand (The old 'Celtic end'). Whereas, at Anfield such an event may have warranted just a mention in the programme, up at Celtic they were a bit more showy. Bunting had been stretched from the roof of the new stand down to pitch level, and a large net full of green and white balloons lay behind the goal. A band on the pitch played typical Celtic songs (e.g. Fields of Athenry) and just before the teams came out Celtic paraded their European Cup winning side of 1967: the famous Lisbon Lions (Simpson, Craig, Gemmell, McNeill, Murdoch, Clark, Wallace, Lennox, Johnstone, Chalmers and Auld) along with a full-size replica of the trophy (take note Liverpool!). The victory in Lisbon - and a domestic treble too that season - remains as Stein's greatest achievement and we wouldn't begrudge the great man anything, particularly that day. The applause from the Liverpool section was loud and long. Then the stand was officially dedicated to Jock Stein (his widow was there I think), and the balloons were then released. The stadium does look very impressive these days. As we approached the top of the stairs I warned young RedBoy that it was going to look a bit different to the last 2 away grounds he visited last season: Filbert Street and Highfield Road. At the top stair he stopped and stared at the massive stands, awash with green, white and gold: "It looks like the World Cup" he said. We then encountered a spot of difficulty finding our seats due to some very bizarre seat numbering. As late as ten minutes after kick-off people were wandering around holding their ticket stubs and looking lost ... and that was just Doug Livermore.

Then came the communal "You'll Never Walk Alone". And that was the last we heard from the Celtic fans that day.

JJP's diary: " Then it was on to Glasgow, no trophy on display, but a tribute to the Celtic version of Shanks - the great Jock Stein. And another win! Four in a row, pre season, has Gerard [ably assisted by Roy, of course] rewritten the record books? Near on 3,000 of us at the scene of last seasons UEFA festival now regathered on a hot summers afternoon to witness the Bhoys open their Jock Stein stand. We won 1-0, it was nothing special, apart from being able to say "I was there." Although the highlight had to be Johnny Mac and Big Mark outdoing the Owen Fan Club with their rendition of the Berger song. The kids can't match us grown ups can they. "

For most of the game we were well in control, always looked dangerous and even (gasp!) looked solid at the back. Whereas we were enjoying ourselves hugely at our end, the Celtic support was subdued - possibly a reflection of the way the game was going on the park. Berger, Riedle, Carragher and Friedel were outstanding. Brad's contribution being a string of top class saves. 1-0 and we thoroughly deserved it. Celtic came back into the game in the second half, maybe we were wilting in the heat after such a good first 45 mins? But we held firm and could have snatched a second goal: St Michael spurned one glorious chance, and Leonhardsen then buggered up 2 breakaways when we looked in with a good chance of scoring. On this form Berger HAS to be in the team next week. A late chant for Stein and Shankly near the end, and a HUGE cheer for Robbie Fowler warming up on the touchline, and then it was home.

Inter at home and for the first time this season I'm beginning to think we've got the basis of a decent side. True - we don't have the class in all areas that, say, Arsenal have, but we're beginning to look like a team. We're beginning to have some 'shape'. Admittedly this was a weakened Inter side but in the first half we knocked the ball round fluently, created chances, pressed and harried and scored a fine goal from Ince. The most noticable aspect of the game though, was the crowd. I'd estimate that half of them were making their first visit to Anfield - and they'd come to see just one thing: St Michael. There were crowds of families and kids dressed up like Christmas trees who looked at the fanzines and said, "Is that the programme?" and "Which end is The Kop?". It was becomming difficlut to find a 'regular'. Even at half-time when I went up to our usual meeting pount on the 2nd floor Kop consourse there were just masses of unfamiliar faces. Instead of the usual half-time gathering of 15-20, there was just two: Big Jim and me. Jim promised he'd write up the Scandanavia trip for RAOTL 26, so get your orders in now.

JJP takes over: " It's almost as if the Gods decreed it. Last time we stuffed Leeds in a final a few days later Inter Milan were paying a visit to Anfield. Low and behold, here they where again. I half expected Jamie Redknapp and Rob Jones to walk around the pitch showing off the Carlsberg Trophy to an expectant Anfield whilst the KOP sang "Go back to Italy!" This time it was a one off - another 'final' this time for the Pireli Trophy, which, I do believe, Inter won by beating some team from the Salford district. This time there was no second chances for the Italians, no bent Spanish Referee, no loud and noisy Milanese folk keeping our team up all night [they've become quite capable of doing that unassisted] and the Cup was ours. A cracker from Paul Ince and one for our midfield general in waiting, Stevie Harkness. Once again it was the Michael Owen show. Not that he had a great game, far from it, he didn't. But as darkness descended and the ball rolled out to our latest Icon the Anfield night was lit by a thousand flash lights as little girls and boys [and, no doubt, that Irishman] took snaps for the album. "

Owen's pulling power really is phenomenal. Considering that this match was shown live on terrestrial TV the capacity attendance of 45,000 was quite staggering. A few days later Newcastle Utd could only attract around 30,000 for the visit of Juventus (arguably Europes's greatest club side).

Oh joy of joys - our first final since the Wembley fiasco of '96. The mere thought of silverware being paraded from an open top bus was enough to get me out of bed at the crack of noon. Sitting up in bed half-asleep I spent a full 5 minutes pointing a broken remote-control at the tele. I looked over to see Andy face down, fully dressed - including his shoes - on the bed next to me, completely unconscious. Nice to see us all having a good time then. Full of the joys of August we decided not to waste the day and left the hotel to go into town. Ten minutes later we boarded the DART and sped into Dublin. We were men on a mission: JJP is a record collector and has a fabulous juke box in the back room of his house. John had decided to visit one of Dublin's more esoteric record shops (HMV not really being his bag). What were we after? Some Elvis, perhaps? The Clancy Brothers? The Beatles? God knows ... anyway we crossed the Liffey and got off the train at Connolly Station. A few minutes walk away we found the specialist record and book shop, I looked around and after five minutes left John to it. As luck would have it we were next door to a pub: the Ripley Inn, and Big Mark and I dived in for breakfast. It was a bit of a surprise for a Dublin boozer, all stripped pine - like a trendy wine bar. But then this area is not really frequented by tourists and so 'Irish pub' rules no longer apply. Good Guiness and decent sandwiches - we recommend the place. The rest joined us after a bit and after a few more pints it was decided to head back to Lansdowne Rd and try and sell a few mags. JJP thought that Saturday's Garda may be a bit more relaxed than Friday's, seeing as how Friday had passed peacefully. "Er... we'll catch you later then", Mark and I said.

Can't really recall what happened in the next hour or so but around 2pm as we were crossing the road on the southern quayside near Tara St station we heard raucous revelry coming from 'Fitzgerald's Bar'. Well, we had to investigate didn't we? Inside we found a couple of dozen Leeds fans in fine voice and a dozen or so Scousers in similarly fine fettle. Yer man behind the bar was struggling to keep up pouring the pints, so as we waited I had a good look round. This was no tourist pub, this was ... well ... authentically scruffy. Not decorated, I imagine, since 1955. It reminded me a bit of the old bar in The Elephant in Woolton Village before the brewery shagged it up in the late 80s. There was a glass shelved bar with mirrored wall tiles, various bar-room ornaments and knick-knacks, and even a glass pie and sarnie cabinet. But the 'piece de resistance' were the bogs: I went for a slash and came back full of enthusiasm, "Mark, Mark, there's a fucking stable back there!". Off he went and returned in fits of laughter. The urinal was little more than a trough against the wall at floor level - more of a gutter really. The 'closet' had a yellow wooden door that reached from head height to knee height. The plumbing would not have been out of place in Babylon. Proper pub bogs - CAMRA were probably sending a man round with a plaque at that very moment.

About half an hour before kick-off we tossed up: Harp side of the coin we stay in the pub, other side we go the match. Mark steadied the coin on his thumb-nail, biting the tip of his tongue in concentration, then flipped it towards the ceiling. I imagined it landing on it's edge in the creamy head of my Guiness, then the barman leaning over to say "I toss again". It wasn't necessary, the coin landing Harp side up. I looked at Mark, Mark looked at me and Yer Man behind the bar said, "So that's a pint of Guiness and a pint of Bud then?".

" The last time we played Leeds in a final it was back in 1965 [discounting the odd Charity Shields] but here we were again meeting them in a final with silverware on offer. Just like on that glorious wet May day all those years ago it was The Reds that triumphed, only more comfortably this time around. There we were on the Lansdowne Road terrace getting into the swing of things and wondering what had become of our absent friends [Johnny Mac & Big Mark] who were taking their support of the sponsors just a bit too far when the screams started again. On to the pitch came the teenage idol and to my right I could hear a voice shouting "Michael, oh Michael, Michael." I turned round expecting to see some young kid wetting themselves with excitement but no! A middle-aged bloke with a greying beard - probably a priest! Not a lot happened in the first half really, not a lot happened in the second half either apart from the fact that we scored twice inside a couple of minutes. One a great goal from Patrik that by night fall was getting increasingly greater and greater, and everyone must have known who scored the second one because of the din.

You can't beat the Irish and their sense of occasion. When it was 2-0 and following a brilliant chant of "LIV-ER-POOL" that took those of us who were there in '65 back to the great day but then a rousing chorus of "Stand up, if you hate Man U" which every one did. It was hard not too on the terrace! Somehow Michael was deemed man of the match in true Bryan Robson style. I suppose the sponsors feared that they might be beaten to pulp by kids with dolls if they had given it to anyone else. [John, I'll leave the night out to you, but go easy on me...] "

Mark and I made it back to hotel before the end of the game. So we decided to wait in the bar. The rest arrived shortly, along with numerous Liverpool and Leeds fans, and we all had a good natured hour or so enjoying the liquid refreshment. Quick shower, change, then it was minibus/taxi into town and a date with 'The Goalposts' bar somewhere off O'Connell Street. Only the taxi driver couldn't find it, so we abandoned ship and went walkabout settling into 'Madigans' for some quick refreshment. Madigans is a large city centre pub, not dissimilar in feel to 'The Phil' in Liverpool - except nowhere near as pretty. Lots of tiles, polished wood and glass and lots of tourists enjoying their dinners. It was FAR too warm in there so we left after one and headed off to explore. And wouldn't you know it - the next street up and we found the 'Goalposts'. It was quite busy but the great bar staff served us in no-time. It's a very comfortable bar with a sporting feel (!!). The walls were adorned with Gaelic footy pics and a worryingly poor painting of the Irish squad circa 1988 which was so dodgy that we spent an hour extolling the likeness of Paul McGrath before discovering it was Johnny Aldridge. It was here we bumped into a gang of Leeds boys (well, men really) - fans since the sixties some of them. They treated us like long lost brothers - one of them (Mark from Batley) thanking us profusely for a tribute we'd done to Billy Bremner earlier this year. Anyway we got on like a house on fire. Leaving at around midnight we went in search of ale - but ale was not forthcoming. Despite a cab ride over the Liffey into Temple Bar we could find no bar or club willing to let us in. Once they heard our English accents it was "Sorry boys", with no explanation. Tempers were beginning to fray and JJP went walkabout - I had to leg it after him to make sure he didn't walk under a bus or something. "Dublin is shit" he kept muttering (and this from the man who loves Ireland to bits!). "Yeah, its crap" I agreed "Let's go and twat Bono". So we went up to The Clarence Hotel to find Mr Bono and tell him his town was crap and that we couldn't get a pint.

To cut a long story short, after an hour's traipsing the streets looking for a cab we finally found one back over the river (we'd crossed it twice looking for a lift) somewhere near Pearse Station. I was so knackered I wanted to kiss the driver. John just sat there looking sullen, telling the guy he'd never been so insulted in his life and that Dublin was the rudest town on earth. I just grinned. Sometimes it's best to just humour him. If I ever see that Bono though ...

Okay - it wasn't exactly a 'foreign' trip but it was certainly overseas, and we as we gathered at the Pier Head at 7:30 am on the Friday morning the same, old familiar away-day faces were turning up in cabs and buses for the Super Seacat to Dublin. The soccer season was underway and everyone was happy - apart from my missus, that is.

Stumbling under the weight of several hundred copies of RAOTL we (Andy, me and Sue, our accounts department - the others were travelling via Holyhead) lurched onboard the Seacat, up several flights of stairs, through the already packed bar and staggered "for'ard" towards the pointy end of the boat. Bags and incredibly heavy mags were dumped on the seats and a few "Hello's" were exchanged with the familiar faces. After twenty minutes or so when I had stopped sweating and wheezing, and my face had ceased to resemble an embarrassed beetroot, I said "I wonder when we'll get going?". "We've been going for ten minutes, soft arse", said Andy, spraying crumbs everywhere from his sausage roll breakfast. And indeed we had. So smooth was the 'cat that I really hadn't noticed we'd actually hoisted the anchor, spliced the mainbrace and set sail for Erin's emerald shores. I suddenly came to - "I'll miss the view! ... I'll get the ale" I burbled and sped off "aft" to the bar. I was worried about missing the quite impressive vista you get when sailing out of the Mersey and into Liverpool Bay. It really is something - The Liverpool waterfront: Liver Buildings, the Cunard Buildings, Mersey Docks & Harbour Board etc and miles and miles of Jesse Hartley's massive, almost monumental, docks and sea walls. As we left the mouth of the river painted buoys marked our path out to deeper waters, like an avenue of trees. Seagulls dived and swooped in the boat's wake; and the weak, early morning sun illuminated the stirring city that seemed to be lying flat-out with it's feet in the water.

I've done this a few times now and each time I'm reminded that this was the view my great-grandfather should have had as he left Liverpool, bound for New York, at the turn of the century. Family illness had stopped the great trek in it's tracks: Italy to the United States - via a liner from Liverpool. Whilst waiting for a passge to a new life in the States illness struck and, instead of completing the journey together, half the family left for the New World and the other half settled in Liverpool's 'Little Italy'- the tenements around Gill Street behind Lime St Station. But for that, I'd probably be a New York Yankees fan now and living in Queens. Ironically, the Italian side married into an Irish family (the Murphys!) that had done the trip in reverse, arriving in Liverpool in the mid 19th century from County Clare. So there I stood in the queue for the bar gazing out of the panoramic windows at the stern, as Liverpool slowly receeded into the distance. Images of emigrants from a century ago filled my head and I almost felt a sea shanty coming on. Where's that Spinner's album?

Out in the more open waters of the Irish sea, the swell grew greater and I ricochet'd down the aisle bumping from side to side, gingerly carrying several pints of Kilkenny and Bud. It was not yet 9am and we were enjoying our first beer of the weekend. The crossing was uneventful: we half-watched a boring video, had a few more pints, read the mag and wandered around chatting to anyone we knew.

It had been a fine morning when we left but the sky grew greyer as we approached Dublin Bay and the rain set in. When we disembarked at lunchtime it was torrential, but - half pissed as we were - we didn't seem to care. After queueing for non-existent taxis we caught an overcrowded bus (there were as many people standing in the aisle as there were sitting in seats) into town and then a taxi out to our hotel in Ballsbridge, almost adjacent to the Lansdowne Road 'stadium'. We checked in (Mount Herbert Hotel : (01) 668 4321 - very nice too) and crawled on hands and knees, dragging the bags behind us like sleds, up to our room on the 257th floor (well it seemed like it). JJP was already there, watching tv, and Big Mark soon emerged yawning from under the bedclothes. JJP then suggested we head into town and look for match tickets as the kick-off was 5 hours away and we weren't sorted. The local DART station was only 5 mins walk away and so within half an hour JJP and I were walking down Grafton Street looking for HMV, and the Ticketmaster agency that, as ancient legend had it, lay therein. As we approached things looked grim - there was a huge queue snaking down towards St Stephens Green. Uniformed security men were organising those fans massing on the pavement outside into an organised queue - well as organised as you can get in the Free State - and were letting fans in in groups of 4 or 5, and even then only intermittently. It became clear that we faced a wait of a couple of hours. So we ambled in, up the stairs, found someone we knew in the queue and bunked in. Even so it took half an hour to get 5 £14 tickets for the South Terrace. Already £70 in beer tokens used up - damn! Only one thing for it now ... PUB.

In all our 3 days in Dublin I don't think we found a better pub than Kehoes in South Anne St (Between Grafton St and Dawson St). Kehoes looks like it hasn't seen a coat of paint in 50 years and it probably hasn't. A long dark, polished wooden bar, with dark varnished panels and etched-glass partitions; it also boasted a marvellous 'snug' at the front and a damn fine pint of Guinness. I swiftly dispatched my first of the weekend and ordered a second whilst toying with the idea of giving the match a miss altogether. I think John P could have been persuaded to stay in Kehoes as well, but we had everyone else's tickets, and (as John suddenly seemed to remember) we also had some fanzines to sell, off we went, back to Lansdowne Road.

Unfortunately, the Garda had different ideas and refused to allow us to sell near the ground. They're still a bit edgy with English fans here after the East Stand was trashed by some bigoted neanderthal Brits a while back. So we dumped the bags back at the hotel and decamped to the bar and had several beers with resident Reds and Leeds fans. I'll let JJP take over for a bit now ...

" St Pats, the champions of the Republic of Ireland came to play us two days after their epic encounter with Celtic while our lads flew into Dublin straight from the loss against Rosenborg. I've not seen anything like it since the Osmonds back in '73. Screaming adolescent kids and that was when Michael got off the team coach! What would it be like if it was serious stuff? It was all too much for us long in the tooth sort, so we went back to base and had a few beers. The game, well what about it? Paddy scored, so did Danny Murphy - super free kick and good old KHR got in the act but of course what should have been easy became hard. This was Liverpool after all. We went one up but then Jameo went all over the shop and they made it one each. A minute later we showed this team of up starts that we're nobody's fools and quickly whacked in a couple to put them firmly in their place. (Do I detect a merest smidgeon of irony there John? - JMac) Then St Pat's got a penalty and it was 3-2 and it still wasn't haltime yet. The second half was about as exciting as the prospect of a flat pint of Carlsberg [the sponsors] and even the introduction of St Michael failed to liven it up. Johnny Mac, always the martyr to a cause, decided to go and support the sponsors back in the hotel bar whilst the rest of us had to decide between the prospect of a night out or watching Leeds play Lazio. No contest really ".

Yes, it's true I did leave early and go for a beer. It was getting cold and I was tired and thirsty - okay? JJP's correct tho' the second half was mind-numbingly boring. My memories of that day are ... We were high up in the top left hand corner of the terrace and overlooked the practice pitch behind the West Stand. By this stand was a clubhouse of sorts, and the players had to walk a hundred yards or so from this clubhouse to reach the pitch at the corner of the West and South Stands. When The Reds emerged it was - as John says - like Beatlemania. As they made their way towards the pitch people ran to the roped off walkway (already 4 or 5 deep in on-lookers) just to catch a glimpse of St Michael, and when he eventually emerged on the pitch the crowd roared - or screamed - in approval. The end we were in was the St Pat's adopted home end for the day. When they scored their fans lit up flares that briefly brightened a very dull and miserable afternoon. Whereas in England this would have led to a dozen yellow-jacketed policeman barging through the crowd to arrest the flare-bearer, they do things slightly differently in Dublin. A solitary steward moved into the middle of the St Pat's supporters, quietly confiscated the flare and then, with nowhere else to put it, just held it aloft til it burnt out. Why he just didn't leave it with the St Pat's fans I don't know - the end result was just the same. Landowne Road is "quaintly traditional" ... in other words it would be closed down in ten seconds flat in England. Once inside the turnstiles fans are basically free to go where they please as the segragtion (small temporary fencing and over worked stewards) was almost non-existent. I mislaid my ticket stub but gained entry to the South Terrace when a stub was passed over to me from the other side of the fence in full view of the stewards. Toilets were temporary portaloos ... and just a bit smelly. The whole event had the atmosphere of a Sunday gymkhana or County Fair. But let's not be churlish - we're used to Colditz-like security at English football matches and most of the time attend games in state-of-the-art, close-circuit tv'd all-seater pleasuredomes. This place actually looked like a footy ground, even if it did need a lick of paint and a roof.

There was a large-ish group of Liverpool fans in the lower tier of the West Stand, all packed into one block of seats at our end. We deduced that this must be those on official (ISC?) trips. There were plenty of others spread around the ground - and THOUSANDS of Irish Reds! Several large banners appeared on the upper West Stand, notably the Hillsborough memorial banner and the Kop 'Urchins' flag. There was also a mysterious large 'LFC' one which seemed to move around the entire ground, popping up unannounced hither and thither (mostly on the thither side). Apparently when St Pat's equalised, the tv showed a close-up of a bored JJP, Andy and me looking none too chuffed with our defending.

We all met back at the hotel bar, downed several more cold ones and set off for a night on the town. Now this is where it all becomes a wee bit hazy. I don't remember much ... except reaching Kehoes to find it absolutely jam-packed. We then set off to the Dawson Lounge (on Dawson St - Dublin's smallest and friendliest pub) which was reached by negotiating a narrow, steep staircase from a doorway off the pavement. After here, I remember wandering around Temple Bar enjoying a few scoops and eventually, at about 1.30am, enjoying a light supper (Chili Burger, chips, onion rings etc) in an American style diner somewhere near Jury's hotel in Ballsbridge. It's all a bit vague really. Still there's always tomorrow ...

Our Danish Correspondent, Erling, has done us proud again and sent in his match report dutifully transcribed as he watched the match, RBK vs. The Reds played in the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, on tv in Denmark. Over to you Erling ...

" This is a television eye 'witness' report, so I can't tell you much about the sights and sounds from the stadium which is being rebuilt, so one of the side stands was completely gone. Don't know how many were there, but the Reds' support was greater than in Randers, but even a drunken Swede could see that! From the TV I can reveal that the weather was cloudy, there wasn't any wind at all, and that the temperature was 18 degree C. (Little details like this make it so much more interesting - JMac)

Sitting on the bench were : Owen, Thompson (Without any hair), Ince, McAteer, McManaman and ... Fowler - but he was just a spectator (No change from last year then - JMac).

Not much happened in the first 10 min. Then Heggem found Murphy in front of goal but Danny fired 3 yards wide, and a min. later the same player forced a good save from the keeper after good passing by Leo and Riedle. A couple of min. later Berger found Stig on the edge of the penalty area, and the Stigster managed to release a good shot with the right foot, but the ball was deflected wide. Then there was action in the other end, when Kvarme produced a Cole, i.e. he was too slow of the mark, so a Norwegian got a shot on goal. Heggem produced another good run and pass after 21 min., but the keeper grabbed Stan's shot. In the 23rd min. RBK had a quick counter attack like the one when Barnsley scored at Anfield last season. There was NO marking at all, and luckily Brad saved with his legs. The following corner was headed over the goal without intervention from any defenders. New RBK corner after 27 min., and still no Red players are up in the air! The ball is headed onwards to the other side of the penalty area, and from there the ball is crossed again. Stig doesn't challenge Sigurd Rushfeldt in the air, or at least give him a 'gentle' push, so the RBK player just heads the ball into the top corner. Hmmm, where have I seen this before? (No comment - JMac) The relative good LFC play fades out after the Norwegian goal, and the last 15 min. turns into a competition between S & S in who's best to produce bad crosses etc. Babb also manages to bring Brad into trouble, as he plays a bad pass back to the American's weak foot (left). The keeper then has to try to pass to Stig with this foot but in vain as the ball goes out for a throw-in. Finally there's some bad marking by Heggem, who allows a RBK forward a good cross into the box, where Babb just manages to prevent a certain goal in front of another forward. So the half is over and we played well for the first half of it, but fell apart when they scored.

No LFC changes during the break and the half starts bad, as Stig is caught out again. As we are playing in a new 4-3-3 formation, the centre-backs haven't yet realised that they have to cover a bit more on the flanks, and the wide men in the midfield also have to think a bit more defensively! After 49 min. Stan sends a good shot towards goal from 17-18 yards, but the ball pass jut inches outside the far post. After that Stan sends in a corner for a Riedle header (over), and I have to say that Stan is a better option for right hand corners than Stig. (What? I'M a better option for right hand corners than Stig - JMac). 55 min. are gone, and LFC switch Murphy for Dundee and Harkness with Thompson, and both new players just slot into the positions the other players occupied, so 'Tower' Thompson is playing as a defensive midfielder in a 4-3-3!? A min. after the substitution Berger produces some bad marking, which allows a RBK player a hard shot on the bar. The bar is hit again just 4 min. later, as a free-kick 2 yards outside is chipped into the penalty area, where an unchallenged Rushfeldt is allowed to rise and head the ball towards goal. Stan produces another good corner, after a shot from Thompson is deflected wide in the 63 min., and Stan also gets a shot away on the riposte, but fires far wide. McAteer comes in after 64 min. for Heggem, and slots into the right back position. One minute later Kvarme plays an RBK player on-side on a deep pass, and Hernes doesn't give Brad any chance when he scores the second goal, while the defence looks at sixes and sevens! 20 min. before time it finally happens as Owen comes on for Berger, and the three up front are now: Owen, Riedle and Dundee Owen at once creates a chance, which is cleared by the defence.

The above formation only last for one minute, as McManaman comes on for Riedle, so now it's: Dundee, Owen and McManaman Then it's formation shift again as Ince comes on for Babb, and Paul takes over as captain, while Staunton reverts to central defence, so now the midfield is: Thompson, Ince, Leonhardsen (left). After 74 min. we string together 5-6 good passes, and while Leo, Owen and Sean fight for the room to finish it off, a Norwegian defender gets first to the ball and clears the danger. Two min. later Owen runs through the entire defence and falls over near the goal-line, but he seem to exaggerate (no filming please!), and the ref. gives the ball to RBK. Then there's action in the other end, where there is again room behind Stig, so Brad has to save by a foot parade (? JMac), and then Thompson is booked for a nasty tackle. In the 80th min. an RBK player runs onto a deep pass that fell between Kvarme and Jason, and Friedel again has to save us, this time by preventing a loop (chip? - JMac) from the striker. Again action in the RBK goalmouth, when Macca fires directly at the keeper (Ahem! - JMac) , and then it 's the LFC end again, where Stig obviously doesn't have the strength to track back anymore. Stan saves the situation, so it's back to the other end, where Sean frees Owen who then fires 2-3 yards wide after he loses the defender by 1 yard per every 5 they move! The match ends with a free header for Thompson from a McAteer pass, but the lack of hair makes Davy head well wide, and the last action is when a free Rushfeldt hesitates in front of the LFC goal so Stan can get the ball out of play.

A bit better play than Monday, but it's more and more evident that we need TWO central defenders, which are capable to get into the air and head the ball away. We also need a left back, as Stig is too slow and not very good in defence, and when his crossing has gone there's nothing left. We also need to improve the marking done by ALL players, as the other teams get too many chances, and it can only result in goals!!! Heggem was the best player in strong competition with Friedel, but it's easy to see that Heggem has been training longer than the other players. So now it's St. Pat's Athletics FC on Friday, and as they lost in the Champion League qualification today (0-2 to Celtic), there should be a great chance that we make the final in the Carlsberg Trophy Cup in Ireland. By the way, there must be some good players over there to keep an eye on, cause they have just been crowned European U-16 & U-18 Champions!! Bye from Erling, who's glad that he stayed in Denmark and watched the game on the tele. "

The LFCSC-NYC now has a 24 hour hotline for all fans who want to get the latest news and information. Call (212) 971 - 1959 (Prefix with 001 if dialling from the UK). Check out the < LFC - NYSC website for membership information and details of their plans for the forthcoming season etc. The NYCSC may be over on their annual trip this November and hope to take in a UEFA Cup game too. On a similar note, the Borussia MGB - Liverpool Fanprojekt will be bringing over 150 fans from Germany this Winter for their annual organised visit (Piss-up) and several individual members are also coming over for games, as and when they can make it. More details nearer the date.

Anyone travelling over to Dublin this weekend - or anyone over in Eire - who would like to help out selling RAOTL at Lansdowne Road? Contact us by e-mail on kop@mcmail.com or turn up outside the ground a couple of hours before kick-off and look out for us. You get a handsome commission and the chance to come for a Guiness or several with us after the game (Who could refuse that?).

The following is an exclusive report for RAOTL from Erling Baldorf, our Danish correspondent. I've edited it slightly for clarity but left most of it as originally written to give you a flavour of Erling's wierd mind ...

" Was 1-1 as bad as it sounded? I have just been asked this in an e-mail from John Mackin, and I m sorry to say that it was! While writing I'm looking at Tour de France out of the corner in my eyes, and today it's up, up and up, and right now it also looks like a mountain stage if No. 19 should be won this season. But as they say: "If you wait long enough it will be Christmas some day!" (Or as Steve Kelly described Everton's managerial choices: "Even a stopped watch is right twice a day" - JMac - Sorry Erling, please continue ...).

Monday at 10.00 and it was off to Randers by train together with three other supporters. We arrived in Randers at 14.00, and went directly to the pub where the warm-up took place, while 'You Never Walk Alone' was played tens of times. A lot of people sang along, but it s VERY sad to say that this was the last time that day that we heard the song, cause the tune wasn't played before the players entered the pitch, and the 3000+ LFC fans didn't bother to sing it. This might be because the fans where scattered over the whole ground instead of assembling where the ticket instructions from the Danish Branch had said! Otherwise it was a good, oval, ground with an athletic track around the football field, and except for the main stand it was standing without a roof on top (That's 'uncovered terracing', Erling (JMac)). When arriving at the ground we noticed the first strange thing. An English vendor selling Liverpool AND United Shirts outside the entrance, and I have to say that he really had to endure some abuse. (Hear Hear! Proud of you - JMac.) Bought five programmes at 90p a piece, and they looked really good, so I can just guess what LFC earn on a £2 programme. Great to see my own name mentioned in the programme as they wrote about the recent hand-over of the 'Player of the Year' trophy to Michael Owen (See RAOTL's <Randers page for an excusive pic! -JMac) . The rest of the LFC info was crap, an insult to LFC fans and a shame for the organisers! About half of the names on the LFC players were spelt incorrectly, and just imagine looking at: Brat Friedle, Jason MacAteer, Marc Wrigth, Denny Murphy and Vegard Heggen!!! Shame on you Randers and Broendby who helped them out!!! Oh, by the way it looks like we only have 17 Championships, or did they forget 1979/80? Doooh! They had player portraits of five LFC players, but only one of them played, namely Leonhardsen (spelt correctly). Inside the ground there was the sorry sight of two blue shite supporters (one Scouse, one Cockney) in full blue uniform, why don't they get a life and support their own team (They had a big game at Port Vale the next night you know ... what score was it? JMac) or at least wear civis at a LFC match? Also a few United supporters were present, but one of them was too big to harass, while the other was a youngster who got some abuse every time he passed (Hear! Hear!). Obviously we had only brought along 14 players to Denmark, and while the 13 of them warmed-up on the pitch using sitting mats to do some stretching as well (wow, new era!) Leonhardsen spent the most of the time jogging around the pitch. I don t know if he was injured, or if it was the athletics track that inspired him? By the way I can unveil that Joe Corrigan hasn't lost any weight! The teams were lead onto the pitch by the (in)famous England-Argentina ref. Kim Milton Nielsen and to the tune: The Final Countdown and that was as far from a pre-season as it can get! The loudspeakers were lousy, so it took some time to find out that the line up was 4-4-2 like this:

Hmmm! Didn't we buy Staunton to put in some quality crosses? Isn't this a bit difficult from central defence?

9mins: Thompson misses a sitter (two tries) on a good pass from Heggem. 13: The midfield looked like they played in a zone system, without any f*%^"ng order! 14: Heggem shows some good control and delivers a good ball to Riedle who hesitates. 18: Broendby IF s (BIF) Ebbe Sand fools Stig and zigzags through the entire defence, but without the chance to deliver any shot 20: Stig deliver a good ball to Berger, who delivers a bad pass into the area where both Sean and Riedle waited. 21: Berger loose the ball in own half and "Brat" had to save a good Randers shot! 22: Murphy deliver a good ball for a Dundee header, which goes far wide. 23: Randers fire a good free kick just wide from 30 yards. 24-33: We have a lot of possession but don t get too many chances. 34: Stan and Babb were both fooled by Sand and Friedel had to save. 36: Good run by Murphy who shots at the legs of the BIF keeper Mogens Krogh. 37: Sand rises between Babb/Staunton for a good, but wide, header. 38: Riedle shoots high and wide. 41: Thompson fires a good shot a bit high and wide. 43: Murphy is completely free in front of goal but delivers a weak shot. 44: Sand, once again, rises above our central defence and gets in a good header. 45: Murphy finds Heggem who finds Berger with a good pass, but a completely free Patrik lost control in front of goal with only the goalie to beat.

Tea break. Taaa a lot! Man of the Half was the Brazilian CENTRAL DEFENDER Wragel Da Silva, who played on a contract for BIF. Patrik, Danny, Sean and Karlheinz tried to get by this tall cliff during the entire half (eh? I think he means "all foundered against this mighty mountain of a man" ... JMac) but without any luck. A rumour, started by me, went around, that Houllier was starting contract talks during the break, and that was why the player (Da Silva) didn't play in the second half!

2 mins: An unknown player rises above Stig for a clear header on goal. 3 A bad marking by Berger presents a free shot at goal for a Randers player. 6 NO marking at all at left back, so a Randers player could send a low cross into the area, where a Randers player was completely unmarked. (Are you sure this isn't a match report from last year, Erling? JMac) After the player, Jesper Thygesen from BIF (former Randers), had decided, by flipping a coin, which side he should put the ball, he fired it in. It was an expensive goal, at least for the Randers fan in front of me, cause he threw a full pint into the air! (And I wasn't there to catch it - Damn! JMac) 8: Stig fires another cross towards Walton Breck Road, but from Randers? Stig gets nil in geography!!! Did he see Flo in the crowd? 9: Berger completely miss-kicks a shot towards goal. 13: Staunton saves a cross almost on his own goal line. 17: Thompson sends a shot wide. 18: Input from Sam Johnston: "Tell the bastards that Berger is an overpaid tart". (Was he watching the match? I thought he went there to watch you lot?... and was Rex outside watching it in the pub?- JMac?) 20: A new tactic is introduced, as we leave a man, Berger, up front for opposition corners, whereas we pulled everybody back last season, even the lighthouse Owen! A new Houllier trick? 21: Murphy sends a good shot towards the top corner but the keeper produces a good save. 24: Two Randers players completely free on the penalty spot, but produce a weak shot at Friedel. 25: McAteer comes on for Thompson (right midfield), and Leonhardsen for Murphy (left midfield!). If the season starts with Stig at left back and Leo at left midfield we ll know who's in charge, and it won't be Houllier! Why do they always take Murphy off? (Because he doesn't complain - JMac) Do they opt for the player with the smallest wage per week? Danny played well! 26: Good left footed shot from Dundee, but the keeper saves. 27: You know how boring a match is when you discover that we only have ONE English player on the pitch, Harkness! 28: Again room for a free header inside our Irish central defence backed up by our Norwegian full backs! 30: Harky retaliates in front of the Beckham ref. as he kicks a Randers player from behind after a minor incident. No response from the ref. at all? 3:1 A one-two combination releases a Randers player completely free inside the area, but luckily he was offside. 32: At last an LFC goal. All the papers say it was a MachII pass, but I still say that it was a throw in from McAteer, and that Heggem fired in the good cross. Riedle got a good header in, and helped the ball the rest of the way into goal. 34: An unknown player sprints from Stan, but Friedel was quick from his line and made a great save in a one-on-one situation. 35: Berger gets a free kick just outside the area, and Stan fires a weak shot past the wall and the keeper made an easy save. 42: Heggem sends in a good cross and Riedle made a good header. The keeper saved and gave away a corner which we wasted (What? Never! - JMac), and then the match ebbs out!

No rating will be given as most of the players were crap, and I hope that it's the hard training that's affected their play, or what you can call it? We REALLY need a dominating central defender, or two, and we have to sort the midfield out very soon, even though it was a pre-season and a couple of players were missing. I've just read that Berger is still wanted by LFC, but after last night I say: Sell him. (Erling, how could you. Don't listen to that Sam Johnstone fellow. JMac) if we can! It was one of the worst pre-seasons I've ever seen, but the best players were: Heggem, Murphy, Friedel and Dundee (first half). The attendance were about 9.000, and the strangest moment was the two blue shite supporters singing along to YNWA, and the most hilarious moment when they invaded the pitch (bluenoses invading the pitch ? Never! - JMac) and one of then tripped himself on the adverts and fell, face first, onto the ground! Oh, and sub not used: Kvarme, but I couldn t see any reserve keeper!!!???

That's it and that's that. Thank god the season will start very soon!! (Erling Baldorf - Danish Bastardo)"

Erling is not following The Reds to Oslo but may watch it live on TV in Denmark. If so, Erling, can we have another match report for the web-site?Or do any of you Norwegian Liverpool fans (Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, perhaps?) want to write a report - email address as on our home page. (JMac)

Sorry it's taken a day or two to get this on-line, but I've had a busy week-end. Well, hoorah! hurray! the soccer season is underway and everybody's happy. Or not as the case may be - but more of that later.

It was a very pleasant summer's evening when I arrived at Gresty Rd at 6:30; sunny, warm(ish) with a faint breeze. Fans of both teams in replica shirts milled around and there were a higher than usual proportion of kids in attendance. As I was driving I gave the pub a miss and settled for a cold bottle of Sunny Delight (Florida Orange) and began to ask around for tickets (I had been unable to get one when I was last at Anfield, and had intended to turn up early and get one from the ground. Arriving 2 hours later than planned and finding the 'Sold Out' sign up, I resorted to plan B.). I bumped into a few familiar faces and we swapped pleasantries and jokes and I soon bought a ticket from a largeish gentleman who shall remain nameless (but had - as usual - wangled complimentaries and passes in the press lounge). Ticket sorted, I hunted out the RAOTL staff who were selling the pre-season special edition (issue 25). Andy (& Sue), James and JJP were all in position and selling. Sales were slowish and so I decided that I wouldn't be needed and could continue to mingle and socialise.

Around ten minutes before kick-off I decided to go in and, as luck would have it, found that my seat was directly in front of some of the lads from The Albert, fresh from a lurid weekend in Amsterdam. The teams then came out to a lukewarm reception: the 'regulars' had little to get excited about and the tourists and day-trippers were perplexed by the absence of familiar faces - no Ince, Macca, Stig, Owen et al - and had no-one to get excited over. The Reds side had an experimental feel to it (4-4-2 !!) and it seemed to me that Monsieur Gerard was giving one or two players an opprtunity to impress. James in goal (?), Kvarme at right back, Staunton on the left. Babb and Harkness in the middle. McAteer, Matteo, Carragher and Berger shared the midfield, with Murphy and Riedle as the forwards. As the first half got into gear it was clear that Crewe were the more composed and direct team, and Liverpool struggled for any rhythm and were continually losing posession. Staunton's crosses were either dangerous or wildly overhit. Kvarme was having trouble with a speedy left winger. James looked a bag of nerves and Babb and Harkness looked less than solid. Berger looked busy and Riedle worked hard as a target man. It was no surprise when Liverpool struggled with a good cross and allowed Crewe to take the lead. James took some stick from the travelling Reds' fans (some of them - I've never been one to bait players during a game) and one wag cried "Houllier Out!". A few minutes later Babb overhit a 'backpass' and nearly lobbed James. Crewe then troubled the Reds again with a curling cross and were unlucky when they scored with Liverpool's defence everywhere, only to have it disallowed for offside. Some Liverpool fans (those who weren't bored rigid) were restless and continued to sarcastically barrack James and several others. Half time was a relief when it came and we debated whether or not to leave early and head home for a few beers.

For the second half McAteer (anonymous in the first 45 minutes) was replaced by Davy Thompson and Riedle was replaced by Sean Dundee (with white boots!). For the record a three-minute, three-goal burst 20 minutes from the end won it for Liverpool: Spud Murphy slotted home following a good ball from Dundee after 64 minutes, a minute later Matteo drove home the second and 2 minutes later Kvarme scored from close in. Later on Heggen came on but did little of any note. And I missed it all as a minute before Spud's goal I gave up and went home. It was also getting a bit cold and I didn't have a jacket with me. In all - it was dreadfully boring and we went out of duty more than anything else.

We should be getting some reports this week from our Danish correspondent from the game in Randers and RAOTL no. 26 will also feature Big Jim's report from the Scandanavian tour. During the course of this week we'll post some snippets from Randers and Oslo when we get them.

We're all off to Dublin on Friday so there'll be no updates for the Irish games until the Monday after.

Issue 25 is officially on-sale tomorrow at Gresty Rd, Crewe for our first pre-season fixture. We will NOT be selling in Denmark and Norway as we are saving our dosh for Dublin, Celtic and the UEFA Cup 1st round. Scandanavian Reds can mail us if they want a copy at the usual address. To see selected extracts click here: < Issue 25

Other news ... er, Heggem signs. Royston says he can deliver "quality balls into the box". Just like Stig, eh? Apparently Monsiuer Houllier doesn't rate James or Friedel. I'm liking the guy more and more. (nah, bit unfair on Brad there who hasn't let us down at all). See you at Crewe tomorrow - anyone got a song for Sean Dundee?

LFC and MUFC have both asked the premier league if the game scheduled for 11.15am on Saturday 26th September can be brought forward to 8pm on Thursday 24th September. The reason is that the following week is European footy week (which was the reason given for moving the fixture to the Saturday morning anyway). Why can't this fixture be scheduled for a Saturday when there AREN'T any European games close by? These fixtures are supposed to be scheduled by computer so it wouldn't take much would it? I mean they already program the thing so that we never get a decent game on (a) Boxing Day (b) Good Friday and (c) Easter Monday - dates when we always used to be playing City or Utd.

I couldn't really miss this one. Front page in the newsagents - The Sun have obtained the match ball from the England - Argentina game and want to present it to St Michael. Owen was just 9 years old at the time of Hillsborough and doesn't live in the city of Liverpool: is he aware of the depth of feeling on this issue? Rest assured we'll be doing our best that he is made aware of our feelings and we hope to persuade him to tell the Sun to shove it up their arse.

Paul Ince has already received a lot of criticism over his involvement in a Sun tv advert, and we've yet to get a reply to a letter sent to him by a supporter's group actively involved in the Justice campaign. We'll let you know as soon as possible.

"Lack of coaching talent", I says ... and look what happens. One of Europe's most respected coaching talents joins Royston at the helm. And he's a Red to boot, proud of having stood "on The Spion Kop". Check out <The Mighty Reds link for all the usual press gubbins on this one. It appears to us then, that Moran's departure was to create the necessary space in the backroom staff for Royston to move sideways. I can't believe for a minute that they will jointly manage the team. There can be only one boss, and Roy has had his chance.

After all, if Ronnie Moran did retire, why did he wait until the first week of pre-season training to do so? He would have gone last May. No, I'm a bit cynical on this one. I believe that once Houllier accepted the job, space had to be made for him. Maybe the promise of a testimonial for Moran (God knows, the guy deserves one) was a sweetener - Ron's 'golden kick-up-the-arse' so to speak.

RAOTL and TTW&R went down at Anfield yesterday, to pick up Crewe and Celtic tickets and have a look at the visitor's centre, when the press conference was on. We did manage to speak to Roy afterwards and could only get him to tell us that there was another arrival (possibly coaching) imminent AND 'one or two' signings within a week or so. "Is it another Norwegian, then Roy?" we asked sarcastically. He would say no more. He had no idea who we were (Thank Christ!) and even my promise that "it would go no further" could not get him to elaborate.

So after several years of The Kop chanting 'You French Bastard' at Eric, do we have to go all Gallic now? Like in Blackadder III when The Scarlet Pimpernel was all the rouge, sorry, rage: "Un toast, encore un toast! ... ah Le Adder Noir!". Will The Albert ditch the bottled Bud for Kronenbourg 1664? Is it farewell chips and curry sauce, Bonjour le demi-baguette avec jambon? (I hope so - on both counts). Did I ditch the garcon_rouge e-mail address too early? (You can still mail me there, by the way). And if I can remember where I put it, I can safely get the big 'ALLEZ LIVERPOOL' banner out of mothballs?

Oh, and ManU have signed another blonde Scandanavian winger called Jesper! All down the front row of The Kemmy then lads.

Well, it's an unconfirmed story as yet (3.00pm Wed 15th) but a good source has told us that Ronnie Moran and Liverpool FC have parted company. Updates when we get them. Ronnie's tenure on the chief coach position was a little shaky last year we believe and he was due to retire shortly. But did he fall or ... ? The big worry is the lack of coaching talent left at the club now. Who can take over? Livermore? Lee?

Well, it's happened - we've put the price up. I could blame printing costs and the exchange rate mechanism etc but the truth is JJP has a heavy cocaine habit to finance, Andrew has run out of Letraset and my predeliction for 15 yr old Japanese schoolgirls is proving a tad more expensive than I anticipated. Therefore ... from issue 25 (pre-season, summer special) the fanzine will cost £1.50. By way of compensation the size will go up to around 44 pages. A fair exchange is no robbery, n'est ce pas?

Existing subscribers will, of course, continue to receive the mag at the old rate for the period of their subscriptions. However, if you want to subscribe at a special discount rate or renew your existing subscription at a discount rate (see < subscription details ) you have until August 31st to get in touch by post and send us a cheque. The discount will work out at a 25 % saving on the new rates - BUT is only applicable for 8 issue (i.e. full season) subscriptions. From September 1st any subscriptions will be at the new rate.

Sorry, but that's the dog-eat-dog world of international publishing for you. I had that Lord Beaverbrook in the back of my cab once ...

The tickets for Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Rd. Crewe on Friday 24th July at 7:45pm now on sale. Match is ALL TICKET. Prices are £13.50 (Adults) and £6.00 (Children).

Celtic at Celtic Park, Glasgow on Saturday 8th August at 3.00pm: Adults £15 and £13 (restricted view) and Children £9.00. There are also coaches running from Anfield for ISC and Travel Club members priced at £14.50, and leaving at 9.00 am on the Saturday morning.

Glasgow Train details: Lime St to Glasgow Central, change at Wigan North West. Leaves at 7:32am and arrives Glasgow at 11:17am, or an hour later take the 8:32am which arrives in Glasgow at 12:12pm. All well and good BUT the last train back is at 6:10pm and doesn't get back to Lime St until 10:34pm. That only gives you about an hour and 20 minutes to get from Celtic Park to Glasgow Central.

The earlier you book the train, the better: Apex returns cost around £19:50 but you need to book NOW!. Booking by 2pm the day before you travel will set you back £26:00. Buying a ticket on the day costs a whopping £45.80. And only an idiot books on the day ... eh. lads? Hands up who forked out £48 for Chelsea last season, plus the £6 first-class supplement, and £2 a can for Stella? I had that Richard Branson in the back of my cab once ... he couldn't afford his own bloody train fares.

Alf is one of the (relatively) forgotten names in the great history of Liverpool FC. His name has been used recently in Reebok's new ad campaign for our new 'nostalgia' home kit, and it's mentioned in the ad that he now works as a part-time security guard, somewhere in Manchester. We here at RAOTL would like anyone who can throw any light whatsoever on Alf's career after leaving The Reds to get in touch. We know he went to Bury after Anfield, and we also think he then went on to Carlisle. If you have any info at all about Alf, PLEASE get in touch. Send it to the e-mail addresses on the home page or the PO Box number for post. (Or Alf if you're reading this yourself get in touch, please.)

"Alf Arrowsmith did wonderfully well. In twenty-one matches he scored 18 times, a record any player would be proud of. When you remember that Alf had had only a handful of senior games before this, his performance becomes all the more amazing. What a pity that he has had such bad luck with injuries since then" (Sir Roger Hunt, speaking of Alf's contribution to the '64 title in 'Hunt For Goals'. Pelham Books 1969).

Tickets now on sale for Inter Milan friendly on Tuesday August 4th: Main Stand, Centenary & Paddock: £17.00. Spion Kop: £15.00 & Adult&Child: £22.50. Anfield Rd Adult&Child:£25. Personal application, Credit Card or Postal sales. See < Ticket Booking for details on how to get the tickets. The game was arranged as part of the Paul Ince deal. RAOTL can find no truth in the strong rumour that we will also be playing Inter in Milan later in the season. Pity.

New dates have been confirmed for friendlies v Glasgow Celtic on Saturday, August 8th and Crewe on July 24th.The Celtic game is the official opening of the completed 'New Paradise', and recalling the UEFA Cup tie last year - and the fun we had up in Glasgow - the craic should be good. Kick-off will be 3pm and we'll post ticket details as soon as we get them. We will not be doing a travel guide for this one as you should all know the score by now.

Crewe (as we predicted) will be the season's first friendly game. Evans has said that the World Cup players will be rested for this one - so that's no Friedel, Bjornybye, Leonhardsen, Kvarme, Macca, Ince & St Michael at the very least. Sean Dundee will play, we have been assured. The season's first RAOTL will also be on sale at this game. As the ground is adjacent to Crewe Station, the train is by far the best way of getting to this one.

The season's opening game Southampton has been Sky-jacked at will now kick-off at 4pm on Sunday, August 16th. Other confirmed televised games: Newcastle (a) 30th Aug. Man U (a) Sat, 26th Sept. (11.15am??), Chelsea (h) on Sunday, Oct. 4th, Blackburn (h) on Sunday Nov. 29th and Wimbledon (a) on Sunday, Dec. 13th.

The game with < Linfield has been confirmed for Friday, August 7th. Details to follow when we get 'em.

LFC and Reebok announced that a new second strip will be available in August. Although neither would comment on the kit in any detail it is believed to be a white shirt with white shorts (first choice) or black shorts. This is as we predicted in RAOTL several months back. In fact, the same source that told us of the 'return-to-the-60s' round-neck home kit has also told us that the away strip will be similarly retro in feel and reminiscent of the great traditional away strip of the past. (See our banner logo on the home page for examples of great away strips of the past). unlike the home shirt it will be v-neck and have a red stripe on each shoulder. In fact here's our idea of what it'll look like (We've gone for the black shorts as they're more traditional):

Tickets are available for the < Dublin Carlsberg Trophy Tournament on the weekend of July 31st/ August 1st. On the Friday Leeds play Lazio at 6pm. (Salas and Boksic will be playing for the Romans - unfortunately Pierluigi Casaraghi has jumped the good ship SS Lazio for Chelsea this summer; and Carlton Palmer, sadly, will no longer grace the Leeds side). Meanwhile, at 8.15pm on the Friday, The Reds take on the Irish Champions (St Patricks Athletic- a local side). The next day there will be a 3rd/4th place play-off at 2.00pm and a Final at 4.15pm. Games played at Lansdowne Road.

Then there's the Inter Milan game at Anfield now on TUESDAY (Not Wednesday as first advertised) August 4th. Contact the club in early July for ticket details. We'll be posting news on this site as soon as we get it.

Also for your summer diary: July 9th - Pre-Season training starts. Dates finalised for games in < Scandanavia : Denmark on Monday 27th July (Randers Freja), and then Rosenborg, to be played in Oslo, on Wed. 29th. (We'll get full reports posted from our contacts in Denmark and Norway asap). Then the season begins on August 15th. 1st round UEFA Cup is scheduled for Sept. 15th and 29th.

Now confirmed game v. Linfield at Windsor Park, Belfast on 7th of August. I also expect a last-minute friendly to be played at Gresty Rd against Crewe.

Sunderland	(h) (St Helens)	Tuesday 23rd March	Pontins League
Prescot Cables	(a)	Wednesday 24th March	Liverpool Senior Cup
Blackburn	(h) (Anfield)	Thursday 25th March	Pontins League
Notts Forest	(a)	Monday 29th March	Pontins League
Leeds Utd	(h) (Anfield)	Tuesday 13th April	Pontins League
Aston Villa	(a)	Wednesday 28th April	Pontins League
Stoke City	(a)	Tuesday 11th May	Pontins League
Derby County	(h) (Anfield)	Thursday 13th May	Pontins League

To be arranged ...	PNE (a)	ManU (a) Everton (h)

	Mrs. Margaret Aspinall Associate Member Secretary
	Hillsborough Family Support Group
	1st. Floor Central Buildings
	41 North John Street
	Liverpool
	L2 6RR

Leeds	(a)	Mon 23rd Aug	8pm
Man U	(h)	Sat 11th Sept	11.30am
Everton	(h)	Mon 27th Sept	8pm
Bradford	(h)	Mon 1st Nov	8pm
Sheff Wed	(h)	Mon 6th Dec	8pm