Superbowl Sunday is always a strange day for me. The last time I watched an entire Superbowl game was more than 20 years ago when Chicago’s “Superbowl Shuffle” beat the Patriots.
Usually I spend the day doing the opposite of what the majority are doing. For example, for Superbowl 2006, I had a launch party for EPL Talk at my house, where friends and family members got together to celebrate EPL Talk, as well as to watch a live football match that was on that day (coincidentally, it was Chelsea against Liverpool). Another year, my wife and I went to a strip club on Superbowl Sunday and the place was almost deserted. We essentially had the place to ourselves.
This year, I decided to watch the last five minutes of the Superbowl to see what all of the fuss was about. Just like the Liverpool against Chelsea match from earlier in the day, the climax of the game was incredibly exciting. At Anfield, it was Fernando Torres who stole the spotlight with his leap to head in the ball from the tightest of angles. In Tampa, it was Santonio Holmes’s spectacular catch in the end zone that sealed the game for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Getting ready to watch the match earlier in the day on Fox Soccer Channel, I felt a little guilty when Fox decided to cut over from the Inter Milan against Torino live footage in the 89th minute to Anfield. But what was Fox supposed to do? Those Italians had started the kickoff 15 minutes later than usual because of a protest against a drug test incident.
Within minutes of the game at Anfield kicking off, Fox ran the final score from the Serie A at the bottom of the screen. Thankfully for Fox, the game ended in a one-one draw. Otherwise Serie A fans may have been rioting in the streets.
The first ten minutes of the Liverpool against Chelsea game seemed like a faerie tale with snowflakes descending on the turf at Anfield. The game had a magic quality about it. Little did I know that it’d turn into a nightmare for Chelsea.
Full credit has to be given to Liverpool for a performance that was fit for champions. They battled throughout this game and gave Chelsea little to no breathing room to mount counter-attacks. The creativity and thrust that had been missing for so long was back for Liverpool. A win was the perfect reward for a team that never gave up. Unfortunately the three points were tinged with controversy due to Lampard’s sending off. Many may say that Liverpool’s win was aided by Riley, but I don’t think so.
While the win against Chelsea is a massive confidence boost for the Reds, Liverpool must now maintain that level of desire that they showed against the Blues in their upcoming matches against lesser opposition such as Portsmouth, Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Sunderland before they face Manchester United on March 14 for what may end up being the title decider. In between now and their trip to Old Trafford, Liverpool also faces Real Madrid in the Champions League. Who said life is easy.
i think chelsea could have had 13 men and still not picked up 3 points from the game Gaffer, they were dreadful. Liverpool by far and away the more exciting team.
What strip club?
Chelsea looked horrible yesterday.
They lack cohesion. They don't have a killer instinct up front. Cech looks like half the keeper he was in his finest form.
Lampard looks like the only one who cares.
They need Essien back badly.
Yes, Chelsea were woeful, but you have to admit that the sending off changed the complexion of the game.
By the way, you and your wife go to strip clubs together? Do a lot of American couples do that?!
A place called Rachel's. The food is quite good.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Not sure Arjun. You'd have to ask the Americans on this site.
Cheers,
The Gaffer