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Rising force Liverpool's renaissance good for soccer
With Arsenal's credentials now under question, Liverpool is emerging as the biggest threat to the reign of Manchester United as English champion. OK, the title may have already been decided this season. But Liverpool is quickly closing the gap on its north-west rival. After the mistakes of previous regimes, Frenchman Gerard Houllier has shrewdly assembled a squad that promises to return the Anfield club to its glory days. Liverpool's success in English and European cup competitions this season reflects more than just a talented and resilient squad. It shows a club with self-belief and a hunger for trophies, missing since the start of the 1990s. I covered European football from London during the peak of Liverpool's prosperity in the 1980s, befriending the Reds' Australian player Craig Johnston. Johnston was the first Aussie to really make the big-time in English soccer. He was a goal-scoring midfielder who made up for his lack of obvious, natural skills with speed, fitness and determination, a little like Nick Barmby in the current Liverpool team. By playing for England 'B' in one friendly international, Johnston regrettably gave up his right to play for Australia. But he was desperately homesick and seemed to enjoy the interaction with his fellow Aussie when I interviewed him several times in the mid 80s. On one occasion, Johnston had me over to stay at his palatial home in Chester, outside Liverpool. It was there I met and interviewed other high-profile Liverpool players including John Aldridge, Steve McMahon, Bruce Grobbelaar and John Barnes. Liverpool's popularity was so great that in 1988 Barnes oversaw the recording and release of a team single "The Anfield Rap", which made the British charts. The following year, I covered Liverpool's pre-season trip to Finland and met manager Kenny Dalglish and his assistant Roy Evans. The likeable Evans was extremely friendly and helpful: almost too nice for football, I remember thinking at the time. Several years later, critics would make the same observation after his undistinguished stint as Liverpool manager. Liverpool lost its way under Evans and his Scottish predecessor Graeme Souness. Souness, a superb former midfielder and ex-Glasgow Rangers boss, was strongly criticized for his apparently haphazard and extravagant purchase of several mediocre players. By the time he left, the Anfield magic had well and truly gone. The club got lucky when Houllier came to Liverpool. Not only did team officials find a sophisticated European with an impressive coaching pedigree (he was a former manager of the French national side), but Houllier "knows" Liverpool, having worked on Merseyside as a school teacher. He even stood on the terraces at Anfield as a devoted fan. European football will benefit if Liverpool is able to scale the heights once again. It's not healthy that Manchester United has been allowed to dominate the
English game for so long.
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