As a 19 year old Liverpool fan, last night’s game in Rome was something very special.Of course, the last European Cup final Liverpool reached was 11 years ago. I much prefer calling this competition the European Cup, because with that name comes a reminder of the tradition and prestige that it carries. This is a special competition and one that this club just seems to have a never-ending love affair with. Prior to the Manchester City tie in the quarter-finals, my Dad and I were discussing our predictions and he wasn’t so sure we were capable of going through. While City for sure have a better squad (evidenced by their achievements in the Premier League this season) I was just confident that we would find a way to make it through. I always feel that way about this club, no matter the group of players. We always find a way in this competition.When we made the final in 2007, I was 8 years old. I remember it more vividly than I remember 2005, which despite being my first ???proper’ football memory, I can barely remember at all. Ever since then, growing up and getting into football, I’ve always been told how good Liverpool were ???back in the day’. You can find snippets of video clips of those days, you can get pictures of those big games, but they don’t come close to experiencing those days. Previous generations of Liverpool fans have been lucky enough to experience it. I haven’t, and plenty of other Liverpool fans that I know haven’t either. It’s been nice hearing those stories from my Dad and granddad about those players and those big games throughout their youth, and I’m sure they love telling me those stories. But with all due respect, I’m tired of hearing about how good we were. I’m tired of hearing about all the good times I was born too late to see, all the glory days that I wasn’t around to witness. I’m ready for nights that I can tell my children and grandchildren about. I don’t want to be stuck with ???that Capital One Cup we won vs Cardiff that time’, or even tales of other team’s successes, such as ???Agueroooooo’.And who better to give me one of those stories than this Liverpool side. This manager. This group of players. In all my life I’ve never felt a stronger bond with a group of Liverpool players, and I want them to win this trophy with everything that I have. Not just for me and the millions of other fans around the world, but for themselves, to prove that they are winners and that hard work pays off. And, of course, to say a massive ???up yours’ to all the other rival clubs that didn’t think we were capable.
Those who know me know I’m a massive club football fan, but the international stuff just doesn’t do it for me. I’ve got friends who are dead patriotic when it comes to football, who absolutely love England and get so excited about international tournaments in the sense of ???England might actually do something this time’. I have no problem with this of course, but as far as I’m concerned, I’ve been raised on a lifetime of disappointment when it comes to England so I don’t hold high hopes of that changing any time soon. Since this is the case, I can safely say that Liverpool have found themselves in pretty much the biggest game I can think of in my head. Not only is this a European Cup final, it’s a European Cup final against the biggest club in history, who are breaking all sorts of European records. This is us, Liverpool, against the biggest side, playing for the biggest prize in club football, it’s surreal for a fan like me. Older fans will look at this game and have fond memories of Rome in 1981. I look at this game and think of that time I beat Real Madrid on Fifa over Christmas to win this competition with a Liverpool squad far superior to this one. This simply shouldn’t be happening and yet here we are, and it’s fully deserved.Even if we don’t win in Kiev, this season has of course produced some incredible tales that I will carry with me through the rest of my life. Until Hoffenheim way back in August, I had actually never seen a Champions League night at Anfield. I had done the Europa League run back in 2016, but to hear that music blare out around Anfield legitimately gave me Goosebumps, and the football we played that night was electric.Then there was the Porto away leg, which I watched here in the Redmen TV studio with Ross and Tom- the best Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had.Onto the quarter finals, and possibly the pick of the bunch for me. It was the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced both inside and outside of a football ground, and actually one of the best Liverpool performances I’ve ever seen. To be so ruthless against such an amazing football team in the first half, and then to defend so well and keep out an away goal, it was perfect. The standout moment that night had to be Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal, which I didn’t even see hit the back of the net, I was just already cheering.
And this is my point, those stories are all well and good, and like I said, I’ll always remember where I was on those nights. But as Jurgen Klopp said in Rome yesterday in his post-match press conference, getting to a final is nice, winning it is nicer. I can’t begin to tell you how ready I am to never forget where I was when Liverpool won their 6th European Cup, rather than where I was when we lost to Sevilla in the Europa League, or when Gerrard fell over (I was at home for both of those, by the way).So that’s my message to this squad. You players have the chance here to write a brand new chapter in Liverpool folklore. The torch is about to be passed to you. This is an opportunity to create a night that a whole new generation of people will talk about for the rest of their lives. You have the power to make that happen. Are you up to the task lads?Allez Allez Allez. By Ben Kelly – @bkelly776 For more Redmen TV content including podcasts, subscriber exclusives and three new shows every week subscribe now and get your first month for FREE bit.ly/RMTVjoin 
