Liverpool fans have been known down the years for their magnanimous natures. They love Liverpool of course. But they try not to let that get in the way of their love for football.
On Wednesday evening they were treated to/suffered an absolute masterclass from a player who is in his prime. Isco, Kroos, Benzema, Modric and Rodriguez were all superb but the fairy dust, as usual, came from Cristiano Ronaldo.
His touch, his strength and his pace combined to have an utterly bewitching result. He usually scores and his team usually wins. This was the case against a Liverpool side which was outclassed for the last 70 minutes.
But when Ronaldo was withdrawn, despite being Liverpool’s tormentor in chief, the home fans demonstrated their class by warmly applauding the world’s best player.
Most fans wouldn’t applaud an opponent off the pitch, especially if their team had lost. But the special significance comes from the fact that this was an ex-Red Devil. Can you imagine a United fan clapping a former Liverpool man off the park? I highly doubt that you can. Because it most probably wouldn’t happen.
In defeat Liverpool have once more shown why they are such a special club and why Carlo Ancelotti said when he arrived in England:
“He (Bob Paisley) was a fantastic manager and to be sitting here in the stadium is a great honour for me,”. “The atmosphere at this ground is always a little bit special, and the European history is exceptional.
