It was the quarter finals of the European Cup in 2005. A tense fixture at Anfield against Juventus, the first time we’d faced them since the Heysel stadium disaster of 1985. I was sat in the Anfield Road stand, just next to the away supporters. Sami Hyppia put us in front, with a stunning goal an then Liverpool Lu popped up to score the most remarkable goal I’ve ever witnessed in a live game. When you watch football on the television, I don’t care what anyone says, it simply doesn’t beat seeing it in the flesh, at the game. Luis Garcia latched onto a throughball from Anthony Le Tallec and slotted the most perfect volley past Buffon, one of the most highly rated keepers in the game. It was football magic. Sheer bliss. Garcia was already one of my favourite players and I was truly sorry to see him eventually return to Spain. Part of the European Cup winning class of 2005. A vintage year. An awesome strike. Altogether now:
Luis Garcia,
He drinks Sangria,
He came from Barca,
To bring us joy,
He’s five foot seven,
he’s football heaven,
Oh Please don’t take our Luis away!