Man, as much as it sucks that we're out of the league race - I struggle to wonder where the mindset of the fan is not being able to get some fire in the old loins (no, not talking about questionable birds and the problems that arise post 4am 'U UP?' texts) for the prospect of being back in the big dance that is Champions League.
Yep, I F***ing wish we were in the title race. But lets be real, its been Chelsea's for a while now and it's not even close. We simply did not have the squad/luck to keep pace. AFCON was a F**k up of a month both with Mane going and the Matip shitshow. Lallana being in and out, Coutinho gone for a fair hunk - that's our team. Goalkeeping issues and the standard Liverpool defensive Benny Hill episode - it's really a F***ing miracle that we aren't sweating more. Have Arsenal to thank for that I guess! As well as Mourinho showing that he is just a man with a F***ing sh*t attitude and not the messiah that the media tried to make him for the last decade or so.
So we're not in the title race. But F**k me, we're gonna be back in the top four. We're gonna be in the Champions League. Let me ask this question of you all, what is one of the biggest pride points we all go back to when discussing Liverpool's success, our pride in our history, the love for the heroes of yesteryear? It's '77, winning the F***ing thing for the first time! It's '78 and watching that legend of Kenny beginning with that chip of beauty. It's '81 and knocking off Real F***ing Madrid! '84, and sinking those bas**rds in their own back yard in Rome. And '05, the greatest Champions League match of all time. We are the best to ever row over the channel and take on the elite of Europe. We won it five times. FIVE TIMES. Who's the last team to knock off Barca in the round of 16? Still us. Europe has been laughing without the menace of the reds coming over the hill, as who's there to really challenge? We are meant to be there.
However, while I say we are meant to be there - you also have to earn it. We've been dogs knackers for years now, bar that one magical year under BR that still ended in tears - and he couldn't manage in Europe to save his wee life. The league is an absolute dog fight, you have to EARN top four. To be in the Champions League from the Premier League means you've beaten out some F***ing quality to get there, and thats something to be proud of. Yeah, there's no trophy. But F**k, if we finish above United to get there (hope to F**k someone beats them in Europa) then get in.
This isn't even mentioning the obvious financial reward, the ability to offer CL footy to the elite players we need to target for this squad - which are fundamental to reaching where we believe we should be. Yes, we are Liverpool. We are a club that is beyond the mortal realm as far as our history and culture is concerned. But even gods must be humbled, and we have been for the last twenty-five years. We must learn to appreciate the small things, to appreciate taking the step back into the top four. Then, then we can truly appreciate the journey back to where we truly belong. Then the gravity of that league win - it is coming - will be ever more profound when these steps are looked back upon through misty eyes and many, many pints of lager tasting that much more sweeter than ever before.
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