continuation
noun
the state of remaining in a particular position or condition.
After triple checking the math I’m here to inform you that 2005 was over 15 years ago. In my heart I know that’s wrong but reality tells me the number’s right. I’m almost inconsolable at the ridiculous acceleration of time.
I drove past the house I used to live in fifteen years ago and was surprised to see that the front door was still red. It’s been a long time since I considered that address home and much has changed in my life since then. I mean I drive now for one. Seeing that red door was a strange comfort however, although time had hurtled on, the door's redness had remained an unchanged constant.
I have many significant memories of life behind that red door. I recently watched Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror which brought back particularly vivid memories of seeing the Twin Towers in smoke on our small kitchen tv. But there’s a different, more joyous memory (for some), attached to that kitchen television that I’m going to write about.
In 2005 Liverpool pulled off possibly the greatest comeback in footballing history. The Merseyside club played Italian giants AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League Final. My mum, a Liverpool fan but non committed to football, watched in the kitchen. My dad and I watched in the living room.
At half time Liverpool were 3-0 down at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. The AC Milan team they were playing against was made up of legends. There was not a single weak spot in the Italian teams starting eleven with all time greats in almost every position. With opposition that consisted of Maldini, Seedorf, Kaka and Shevchenko it was reasonable to consider this game finished at the halfway mark. My mum did, she turned off the kitchen television at half time.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard wore Adidas boots that night and as the sportswear manufacturer’s slogan goes “Impossible is Nothing.” My mum missed Gerrard’s header. She missed Smicer’s strike. She missed Xabi Alonso’s equaliser to make it 3-3. It wasn’t until then that we convinced her to turn the small tv back on. My mum watched extra time and saw Jerzy Dudek’s incredible double save. She watched the penalties and saw his spaghetti legs on the line as he prepared to save Shevchenko’s penalty.
When Dudek saved the penalty securing Liverpool’s victory my mum was elated. We let her have her moment, but in the years following have not let her forget the fact that she almost missed it. There’s no doubt Liverpool’s comeback has been used countless times as an example of never giving up hope. What I sometimes reflect on is the complaceny of the Milan players as they went in laughing at half time. Liverpool’s joy is their shame, written forever in the history books.
I don’t like Liverpool, with their iconic song and countless trophies. I can’t stand them personally. Even still, when Gerrard scored his header I wanted the comeback to happen. When it did happen I was somewhat swept up in the miraculousness of it. There are some things so improbable that it’s impossible to hate on them.
I know if it happened again tomorrow I’d definitely be booing but in my youth I had a purer heart. As I sit in a new house watching Liverpool play AC Milan in the 2021 UCL group stages I hope for their demise. At half time it’s 2-1 to Milan but this time the circumstances are different. AC Milan’s team isn't filled with greats and Liverpool are favourites. The comeback is supposed to happen, but I hope it doesn’t.
It does. Liverpool won the game. There’s no miraculousness to be swept up in, I’m just bitter. Over fifteen years on and a red door is still a red door. Over fifteen years on and Liverpool are still coming from behind to beat AC Milan. Don’t those Merseyside reds realise that my old door is the only thing I want to be the same all these years on?