Football: Sad night for Reds fans

It was Liverpool against newly-crowned EPL champions Chelsea on Sunday night and there was a strong turnout at the Tiger TNP Sports Bar at Shanghai Dolly in Clarke Quay.

At the end of the The New Paper EPL Mania's "live" screening, fans of the Reds were the ones who went home disappointed.

The 1-1 result all but ended Liverpool's hopes of Champions League football next season, and the pain was even more pronounced because it meant deadly rivals Manchester United would return to the elite European club competition. Forest Law, 37, was understandably downcast when he said: "It was an expected result. I won't make any excuses.

"Actually, I was expecting us to lose tonight, but we managed to nick a draw.

"It's still a bad result.

"It was do-or-die tonight, but we didn't get anything. It's official, we'll have to settle for the Europa League.

"I blame (manager Brendan) Rodgers. He's a good coach, but his tactics have consistently failed this season.

"We can't keep this up any more. He has to go."

Things got off to the worst possible start for Liverpool, when Chelsea captain John Terry put the visitors ahead with a well-placed header in the fifth minute.

CROWD-PLEASER

On the stroke of half-time, Steven Gerrard, who will leave the Reds for Major League Football at the end of the season, was on hand to nod the ball home off a free-kick for the equaliser.

It was a sight that truly pleased T L Chandran, a die-hard Red for more than 35 years.

Chandran was one of three lucky winners of a L'Oreal Men's Expert hamper worth S$200, after correctly predicting the half-time score of 1-1.

"Gerrard is the soul of Liverpool and, to many fans, he is the greatest player to wear the club's colours," said the 66-year-old.

"He hasn't had a good season, so to see him score and somehow redeem himself, despite his legs and age failing him, was beautiful."

Like Law, Chandran is not convinced by the man in the Anfield hot seat.

"Rodgers has had three seasons to prove himself, and Liverpool fans still can't tell if he's a good or bad manager," he said.

"It might be too soon, but maybe it's time for the club to look for alternatives."

haiqals@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on May 12, 2015.
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