Blackpool in the Premier League 10 years on: Anfield of dreams as Seasiders stun Liverpool

After consecutive defeats to Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers, STEVE CANAVAN saw the Seasiders shock one of English football’s biggest names...

It is hard to pinpoint an exact best moment on days like this, but the anti-Alan Hansen chant at the end wasn’t bad.

After weeks of being on the receiving end of Mr H’s withering and, at best, disinterested comments on Match of the Day, how lovely it was to end up victors in Hansen’s backyard.

I won’t repeat the exact nature of the chant directed – it’s before the watershed and my mother often reads this publication – but let’s say he was told in no uncertain terms to rethink his predictions of relegation and embarrassment for Pool this season.

Some said the club wouldn’t get 10 points all season.

Well, they’ve got ’em in seven games – pick the bones out of that you so-called experts!

And how the Seasiders deserved the points over 90 minutes that will go down in the club’s history and be forever remembered by the 3,000 Tangerines inside Anfield.

Is it just me, though, or is it hard not to feel a slight bit of sympathy for Liverpool?

There is so much tradition at what is a fantastic club, giants in English and world football. The ground is superb (please don’t move to a new stadium, we don’t need another purpose-built, soulless footie ground) and the fans are first class.

They not only clapped the Seasiders players off at the end, but they also applauded Blackpool’s travelling support.

When you enter the main reception at Anfield, there is a roll of honour displaying the club’s achievements over the years.

It is intimidating to say the least to see the reams of league titles and trophies Liverpool have won.

Yet on the pitch, the truth is that this Liverpool team are a pale imitation of times gone by, even the mighty Steven Gerrard looking as if he’d rather be anywhere else than on the pitch by the end of the 90 minutes.

In fact it was so bad, Gerrard is probably looking forward to linking up with England, which really is saying something...

Roy Hodgson sat in the dugout with his head in his hands at the end – and no wonder.

But having said all that, don’t take anything away from Ian Holloway’s men, who were simply terrific.

Playing in an all-white kit that resembled Real Madrid, their football in the first half matched the Spaniards’.

They knocked the ball around at will and Liverpool couldn’t get it off them, an indication if ever there was one that the Seasiders really have learned from the Chelsea and Arsenal experiences.

Keeping possession against the big boys really is crucial.

Luke Varney’s goal on the stroke of half-time was massive.

Pool’s football in the opening period merited at least a two-goal advantage and, in terms of the outcome, getting it proved vital.

The second half was different thanks to a goal crafted by Gerrard.

After that Pool had to endure 15 minutes of torrid pressure but withstood it, and by the end, they again looked comfortable.

That said, Matt Gilks had to make a fantastic stoppage-time save to keep out a header from centre-back Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who had earlier scored.

Gilks palmed the ball away and a famous Seasiders victory was sealed.

After applauding the Tangerines off the pitch, the Kop stayed behind to hold a protest against their owners.

Liverpool is clearly not a happy place at the moment.

There was a clue to their desperation before kick-off when the song ‘Fernando’ by Abba blasted around the ground.

“Last time I played that we scored a couple of goals,” said the PA man. Has it really come to that?

Holloway made two changes to the team which lost late on against Blackburn.

In came Luke Varney and Elliot Grandin, replacing Marlon Harewood and the unlucky Brett Ormerod.

Ormerod has now been on the subs’ bench at Anfield, Chelsea and Arsenal – probably the three games this season any footballer would most want to play in.

CharlieAdam, clearly intent on making up for his own goal blunder against Rovers, tested Pepe Reina with an early free-kick.

A great strike by the Scot, and an even better save from the Spaniard.

The dreadful luck of World Cup winner Fernando Torres continued when he had to limp off after 10 minutes when his groin injury flared up again.

Mind you, Pool had their own bit of misfortune when Craig Cathcart, again looking so composed and impressive, was unable to continue because of a back problem. A major blow.

Or so we thought. Enter stage right Dekel Keinan.

The Israeli made a fine interception with his first touch and never looked back. He was superb alongside Ian Evatt and looks a class signing.

There was further bad luck at the break when Neal Eardley had to give way because of an ankle injury, and was replaced by Matt Phillips.

What a day for the 19-year-old, getting on at Anfield. Six weeks ago, he was in League Two with Wycombe.

Phillips had to play right-back, a massive test for a lad who is an out-and-out winger.

But by that point, the Seasiders had a handy two-goal cushion.

Adam scored from the spot on 29 minutes, the power of his shot taking it past the outstretched hand of Reina.

Varney had won the penalty, felled by Glen Johnson (apparently an England international but on this evidence I’m pretty convinced his twin brother was playing).

Adam had supplied a beauty of a pass to Varney in the build-up and richly deserved his moment of glory, the skipper netting his second league goal of the campaign and more than making amends for his Blackburn aberration.

Varney, on loan from the Championship lest we forget, added a second deep into first-half stoppage time when he latched onto Gary Taylor-Fletcher’s threaded pass and finished emphatically.

Liverpool got a lifeline when Kyrgiakos took advantage of some sleepy defending to head in Gerrard’s clever free-kick seven minutes after the break.

The home side pushed forward in droves, but when Joe Cole failed to take advantage of their best opening – chipping past Gilks but wide of the target when clean through – it seemed destined to be Pool’s day.

Gilks’ save at the end confirmed matters and the visitors were left to celebrate in raucous fashion at the end.

Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush, sat in front of the press box, looked shell-shocked. But not as much as Alan Hansen probably was. For Blackpool, it just keeps on getting better.

Most importantly, it’s three points heading into the international break. Bring on Manchester City!