Since I was a kid, I have been able to sleep through anything in my life. House alarms, Fire alarms, dog howls, dog barks, ghost movies....ok wait not entirely true, but I have always been a sound sleeper. Tuesday night I got no sleep, my nuts were screaming :" Go watch football!!!" or was it my head. So I did, at 2.30 in the morning. So here a picture of what Benedict Andrew Anthony, aged 17, height 178cm and weight 74kg went through in the wee hours of the morning from a third person's person point of view. The match began in earnest, Arsenal grabs early control of possession, Ben sits at the edge of his seat transfixed, possibly cursing aloud in his head (God knows..). His mouth has been open for 10 minutes now and he has not realised it.
Alexander Hleb's pass to Abou Diaby penetrates the Liverpool, he blasts it into the net. Ben's mouth opens even wider, but though his mouth is open, he decides to lambast the Liverpool goalkeeper in his head. Arsenal continue to control match and leave Liverpool chasing shadows. Ben can't sit still, its as if his pants is on fire.
Then, Liverpool win a corner. Liverpool's rearguard veteran, Sami Hyypia eludes the cluthes of Phillipe Senderos and manage to tet his head to the ball. The ball goes into the goal in off the post. Anfield erupts. Ben heaves a sigh of relief and finally sits back in the sofa. He thanks god for creating Cesc Fabregas to be short. He smiles at the big, fat clumsy nut job that is Phillipe Senderos.
Second half, Fernando "El Nino Wonderkid" Torres gets his first sniff of a chance at goal in the entire match....
He strikes it sweetly and the ball lashes into the top corner of the Kop net. Manuel Almunia has no chance.
He goes off to celebrate with the adoring Kop. Thank you Rafa for bringing to Liverpool the boy from sunny Spain. Ben goes bonkers in the living room, jumping and waving his fist like a junkie on crack. It really seems like sheer ecstasy in a weird, crazy sort of way.
85th minute, Theo Walcott danced around the Liverpool defence on the counter attack, so its 4 Arsenal players against a hapless Martin Skrtel and poor ole Pepe Reina. He picks out Emmanuel Adebayor and he taps it into the net beyond Reina's outstreched palm. Ben sinks to his knees, looking lifeless and pale.
86th minute, Ryan Babel dazzles the Arsenal defence and drives past Kolo Toure, the desperate defender manhandles Babel in the penalty box and he goes down. Ref points to the spot. Ben goes nuts again!! Jumping around the living room at 4.15am in the morning. Captain Fantastic, Steven Gerrard steps up to take the kick. Ben mouths:" Please score...please score....please score...
He hits it........
Into the top corner, Anfield erupts, the earth shakes. Lorong Sungai Batu 2 shook too as the nomber 25 house erupted.
He reels off the celebrate as Liverpool prove their worth in Europe and have one foot in the semi finals.
Arsenal throw everything forward at Liverpool. It was gung ho time. All or nothing. Liverpool catch Arsenal on the break deep in stoppage time.
A desperate clearance from the Reds rearguard becomes a hopeful ball for Ryan Babel. He may be further from the ball than Cesc Fabregas but his sheer pace overcomes the difference. He outpaces the hapless Gunners Midfield General and with composure, passes the into the net beyond Manuel Almunia. And with only half a minute remaining, Liverpool seal their semi final berth.
Ryan Babel thanked the heavens and so did Ben.
Two of Liverpool's finest celebrate at the end of a great night at Anfield. One that would probably go down in the history books. Ben does a victory dance in the living room which is sore to the eye of the observer so here is where the third person leaves us...
What a great night, it was so unbelievable. I have only one regret, I wished I was at Anfield.
Final score: Liverpool 4 Arsenal 2
