http://thekop.liverpoolfc.tv/_39Why-Chelsea-was-the-perfect-goal39/blog/3304405/173471.htmlAurelio. Kuyt. Lucas. Kuyt. Shelvey. Aurelio. Johnson. Meireles. Lucas. Meireles. Johnson. Shelvey. Johnson. Meireles. Aurelio. Shelvey. Meireles. Aurelio. Johnson. Agger. Reina. Agger. Lucas. Johnson. Aurelio. Lucas. Aurelio. Lucas. Shelvey. Johnson. Kuyt. Torres. Goal.
It appears so academic on paper. It appears even more so on a computer screen.
But that third goal against Wolves, the exclamation point to conclude the perfect piece of prose, means so much more than the 239 characters and 33 words above.
It was the most beautiful goal I’d seen.
A third goal is always a welcome boost to the goal difference and a morale boost to the squad, especially a goal which contains 31 uninterrupted passes in the build-up.
But most importantly, it’s about what the goal represented; it’s about what it symbolised regarding Liverpool Football Club under the guidance of Kenny Dalglish.
Possession football. Pass and move. Patience. Small phrases, oft repeated, which mean so much.
They’re not just instructions to bellow on the sideline, they’re part of a footballing philosophy – a philosophy which has been ingrained into supporters for decades; a philosophy fully adhered to by Kenny Dalglish.
It’s not just about tactics, though. The third goal showed a lot about the players as well.
It showed the ability of Lucas and Raul Meireles to move the ball quickly, efficiently and effectively in a packed midfield. It showed the confidence of 18-year-old Jonjo Shelvey, who always wanted the ball. It showed the everlasting graft of Dirk Kuyt, the intelligence of Fabio Aurelio and the creativity of Glen Johnson.
These are individual qualities which supporters were already aware of.
But never before have they been combined to produce such a devastating end product, because never before has this squad of players had the belief and team ethic they do now.
To see the timid, tentative shuffle of a few months ago transform into the assured, arrogant swagger at Molineux was conclusive proof of the belief Kenny’s appointment has installed into the squad.
It’s not just belief in themselves, but belief in who and what they’re playing for - belief in playing for Kenny Dalglish; belief in playing for Liverpool Football club and its supporters.
It’s a club that has always been founded upon collective effort. Shankly had his own definition of socialism, which quickly became ours; the kind where everyone works hard and the rewards are shared. Kenny may have joined the club after Shankly’s tenure, but Bill Shankly wasn’t just a football manager. He was much more important than that.
The philosophy of teamwork and representing the supporters and with pride is something that the football club is founded upon. Shankly made the people happy, and those who care about the people have been trying to do similar ever since – none more so than Kenny Dalglish.
The aforementioned philosophy and pride was illustrated perfectly by that goal.
That’s why the goal was so significant. That’s why the past week has made it even more so - even if it was Fernando Torres who took the 32nd touch.
To write in depth about Torres, his actions and motives would be fruitless. A lot less will be said by people who know a lot more.
We shouldn’t be mourning his loss. He was a fantastic player for Liverpool, and he has the potential to be a fantastic player for Chelsea.
But players are, sometimes, immaterial; mere pieces of cloth emblazoned upon the back of the shirt to help commentators and spectators identify more easily. It’s the badge on the front that has always remained.
There were 31 passes before he finished off that team goal; 31 passes that showed belief, teamwork and our future under Kenny Dalglish. It wasn’t just Shankly’s socialism on display, it was Dalglish’s directive.
Torres may be gone, but with that came a new sense of belief amongst Liverpool supporters. Other supporters would claim lunacy and delusion; but we just claim their ignorance.
Over the past few weeks, Liverpool FC has felt itself again. No more courtroom battles, no more dirty laundry being dried in public. We now have football men making football decisions.
We have Damien Commoli helping decide who is suitable to be a part of Liverpool Football Club in the future, and Steve Clarke training those who are already here, ensuring they’re fully equipped to be a part of that future too.
But most of all, we have Kenny Dalglish, who is ensuring every player knows what it’s like to play for their fellow team mates, their football club and its supporters. It’s a special philosophy being implemented by a very special person.
If any player doesn’t wish to be a part of that, then no tears will be shed. The supporters now trust the players to understand what it means to represent the club, because they have the perfect example of that watching on the sideline. If a player doesn’t appreciate that, then it’s difficult to appreciate them.
That’s why the Chelsea goal swiftly overtook the Wolves goal as the most beautiful goal I’ve seen.
Gerrard. Meireles. Goal.
Not every goal can have 31 passes in the build-up. But what every goal now has is belief. Belief that the players, manager and supporters are united as one, working together towards success not seen since Kenny’s first reign. The celebration at Stamford Bridge, from all three parties, said it all.
No armbands are needed to prove allegiances anymore. The willingness to represent the fans and Kenny Dalglish with decorum is proof enough.
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