Talking about comebacks and sharing that issue with a Liverpool fan, it is 100% possible that he will drag that Istanbul retaliation into the debate. Going against a Milan side that has more star studded players in it that day than the Liverpool sides of the last 5 years, only a Miracle would have kept Liverpool in contention.
Thus, after that Night in the Capital of Turkey, the word ISTANBUL 05’ became synonymous to its English counterpart: Comeback. But, for a team that has given its fans more headaches than Premier League trophies in the last 2 decades, Liverpool epitomized the concept of a Miracle that day in Istanbul.
Talking about comebacks in general, most set of fans would refer to the performance of their teams over the course of 45 minutes. Because, in order to make a comeback, there is an essential thing: you have to go down first.
However, for Liverpool, they, first of all switched off for 45 minutes, conceded 3, switched on in the 2nd half for 10 minutes during which they scored 3, and then switched off again, until the time that Steven Gerrard lifted the trophy
Although football has been associated with fame, money and brands of late, the only thing which keeps the fan in-connection is neither of these three. In-fact, a football fan would be least concerned with the wages of his favorite team players as long as they’re performing on the pitch.
Thus, if they don’t perform, a meager 5 million pounds for Rickie Lambert looks like a mountain, however, for the other way round, Real Madrid paying Tottenham 83 million pounds looks as peanuts.
Dissecting our attention back to the Istanbul final, than on that fateful day of the history for Liverpool football club, although they were the underdogs, but they weren’t written of: a situation which evoked at Anfield after Liverpool were stunned 3-0 by Manchester United.
Even though they were facing an AC Milan side much greater in grandeur, fame and recent history, Liverpool, in the last 10 months of the competition, had shown the world what they’re capable of. Having beaten the likes of Juventus and Chelsea in the buildup of that final, Liverpool weren’t naïve in that final
Thus, unlike the comeback which they produced that day in-front of the 70 thousand fans, a win for Liverpool before the final, wasn’t a bewildering idea for either set of fans given the performances the Reds have produced in their way towards the Champions League final.
Now coming back to the question which has evoked response, would it be a bigger comeback for the Reds to achieve qualification of Champions League? The answer, as you might predict, has its own pros and cons and isn’t a simple YES or NO.
Grandeur factor
First of all, taking into effect the grandeur factor, the factor of bewilderment and that of ecstasy, the feelings which Liverpool fans felt on that fateful day in Istanbul can only be equaled, when and if, either Liverpool win the Champions League again, or, if Manchester United gets relegated from the Premier League.
Otherwise, that feeling cannot be equaled in the foreseeable future.
Necessity
As they say that necessity is the mother of invention, this proverb gets support from the tactics that have been employed by the Liverpool manager of late. Getting smashed by Manchester United 3-0 away from home, just 8 months after they walked of with a similar victory at the same turf, Rodgers, to his credit, decided to stick with the 3-5-2 formation and looking now at the Premier League table, the Reds have reaped benefits of it.
After finishing runners up, Liverpool have failed to be in the top 4 in the Premier League era next season.
Success breeds success, and failure breeds failure. Again, Liverpool have examples of the truthfulness of this proverb. Every-time the Reds have finished Runners up in the Premier League, they were out of the top 4 next
season.
Unlike Rafael Benetiz who had all boxes ticked, Brendan Rodgers have to get a top 4 spot in order to earn praise from Liverpool.
Thus, with history, finances of rival clubs, and bemusement of his own fans against him after the departure of Luis Suarez, Brendan Rodgers had to tackle a task that had drowned certain Liverpool managers in the past.
However, call it naivety at the big level, Brendan Rodgers indicated that a certain Mario Balotelli would be a proper replacement of Luis Suarez. Apart from this statement, and a couple more which the Northern Irishman lavished in the ‘’praise’’ of Southampton after mass exodus of players, Brendan Rodgers has learnt his lessons this season.
Although Rodgers isn’t under pressure now, there were times around this season when the Liverpool boss was feeling the heat. With results going against him, not 1 of the new players performing, fans and analysts barbequing his tactics, it wasn’t important rather it was necessary for the Liverpool manager to succeed.
Comparing his situation at Liverpool with that of Rafael Benetiz in the latter’s 1st season at Anfield, Rafa was enamored by the signings he had made earlier.
Unlike Brendan Rodgers who is yet to prove his credentials at Liverpool, Rafael Benetiz came to Liverpool with a LA Liga trophy in his resume
Apart from winning the hearts of Liverpool fans in his 1st season by winning the UEFA Champions League medal, Rafa had already acquired players of the caliber of Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia and Fernando Morientes, all of whom, at one stage or another, went to play for Spanish National team.
Thus, even if he resigned to the task, Rafael Benetiz would still have been a Liverpool manager in the next season, although with much less grandeur. On the other hand for Brendan Rodgers, a defeat in his cause, might still raise questions over his future as a Liverpool manager
Britannia Stadium might serve as to be Ataturk Stadium in May
Although this comparison seems comical, the former is the last fixture of their 2004/05 season, while the latter, under normal circumstances, would be their last one of the 2014/15. While they will reach the later scenario even if they won’t flinch a muscle, the former took its toll from the Reds.
Like that fateful night in Istanbul where Liverpool have to win to ensure next seasons’ Qualification, a similar scenario might arise at the Britannia Stadium in May.
However, these two can be compared as both of them can have the same impact on Liverpool: qualification in the Champions League.
Just like in 2005 when Liverpool had to win the final to ensure qualification in next season’s competition, a similar scenario can arise at the Britannia Stadium providing, Liverpool experience the same form which they have acquired from the last 2 and a half months.
Conclusion
Taking into effect all the facts that have been mentioned above, if Liverpool can ensure next season’s qualification in Europe’s elite competition, than if not better, it will equal the comeback which the Reds produced in 05’.
Barclays Premier League: Can a top 4 finish rival Liverpool’s comeback of Istanbul 05’?
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