Even with talks swirling that Liverpool’s season might be wading off course with only the Premier League left to vie for, the spirit around Anfield remains unshakable. Aiming for just the league title is perfectly acceptable.
March unfolded in an unusual fashion: only a single Premier League match, an unfortunate Champions League exit, a narrow defeat in a domestic cup final, and rumors about Trent Alexander-Arnold possibly heading to Real Madrid. Liverpool fans found themselves with a lot of time to mull over these happenings before facing Everton in a second Merseyside derby within a short span of seven weeks.
It was only the second league match Liverpool had played in five weeks. The day before, Arsenal scraped a win over Fulham, trimming the lead to nine points at the top. A frustrating draw at Goodison Park back in February and the specter of more irritation against David Moyes’ tactical acumen added to the tension. Without Alisson and with Curtis Jones trying his hand at right-back, fans were on edge before the match kicked off.
In the car on the way to Anfield, my friend Phil said, “If we lose tonight, then we’ll bottle it.” On the way back, I asked him if the night’s triumph had quashed his worries. He agreed, though he remains unwilling to start singing about winning the league until it’s officially ours.
Personally, I was calm about the match. Even at halftime, with the score still tied and Everton avoiding a red card, Beto was becoming a growing nuisance, with a disallowed goal and a close call hitting the post. Yet, I felt confident that we’d seize our moment when it came.
Liverpool’s struggles in March against PSG and Newcastle, the sparse league schedule, FA Cup distractions, and an international break all conspired to disrupt our rhythm. In a season where questions loom about whether winning “only” the league is satisfactory, the answer is clear to our supporters: absolutely.
Outsiders often fall into two camps. Some, nursing their own team disappointments, choose to belittle our potential crown as a way to lessen the sting of Liverpool’s possible 20th league title. Meanwhile, others from rival clubs respect our playing style, appreciate our passion, and recognize what we’ve been denied by wealthier opponents. They don’t begrudge our chance for a long-overdue celebration after a pandemic stole our moment.
Is it “only” the league title? Well, the league triumphs in 1978/79 and 1987/88 were golden eras, and the victory in 2019/20 broke a 30-year drought. Arsenal’s 2003/04 Invincibles, Manchester United’s 1992/93 title breakthrough, Leicester’s 2015/16 fairy tale—these achievements were “only” league titles too.
Everton’s solitary league win in 1986/87 is all they’ve secured since—reminders that many fans dream of “just” winning the league. When we cross that finish line, Anfield will celebrate that title with gusto.
As for the Merseyside derby, it wasn’t the most thrilling, but I’ve sat through far less engaging ones. Diogo Jota’s brilliant goal sealed it, and modern football sees no issue with Luis Diaz’s position despite Moyes stirring nostalgia for bygone rules.
Moyes may resemble fictional time-traveling characters, but he remains rooted in Goodison’s present, soon to be just a memory as Everton prepares for a fresh chapter at Bramley Moor. While bustling with excitement over their move, the reality is Everton will feel different once Goodison is left behind.
Moving stadiums changes a club’s essence. Teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, and Sunderland have had to rediscover their identities post-relocation. For Everton, leaving Goodison will mean change, marking an end of an era, followed by a new beginning, albeit with the same cherished traditions.
Here’s to the would-be champions, the Reds.
