I’ve never seen Liverpool win the league.
Ever since I can remember during my 25 years on this earth I’ve followed Liverpool Football Club. It was my Dad that brought me up a Red, having himself grown up during Liverpool’s glory years in the 70s and 80s.
He’d tell me of getting the supporters’ club bus to Anfield and being on The Kop, watching the Reds in the Milk Cup final at the old Wembley stadium, and how year after year there would be almost unprecedented success.
Naturally, the stories of Liverpool lifting the league title would always spike my interest the most, with the thought of the team being crowned champions something of dreams.
To say I’ve not seen Liverpool achieve great things would be far from the truth. I remember that treble winning season in 2001, the Miracle of Istanbul in 2005, the Gerrard FA Cup final in 2006 and the more recent European triumph in Madrid.
But it’s fair to say that success hasn’t been sustained and there have been large periods of severe uncertainty, on and off the pitch, and times when the football really wasn’t at the level it should’ve been.
The end of Houllier’s reign was poor. Benitez didn’t exactly go out on a high note. Need we delve into Roy Hodgon’s time at Anfield or the mess that was the Hicks and Gillett ownership?
The constant battles to secure top four finishes were draining, with bigger players constantly using Liverpool as a springboard to bigger moves were tiring and emotionally exhausting for us fans.
Fast forward to present day, and things couldn’t be different.
Since Fenway Sports Group bought the club back in 2010, the club has been on an upward trajectory which has steeply increased in the last five of those years – with much of that credit deservedly heading in Jürgen Klopp’s direction.
I’ve never seen Liverpool win the league, but Klopp told me and all the other Kopites across the globe to look optimistically into the future.
What has been built since that time is nothing short of remarkable.
We’ve reached two consecutive Champions League finals, a Europa League final, a League Cup final, recorded a record points tally in the league and missed out on the title last season by a single point.
This season, the Reds are racing clear of the chasing pack, with a 13 point lead over City and a game in hand.
I think it’s fair to say that there aren’t many doubters left.
The whole atmosphere around the club is miles apart from what it ever has been, even during some of the better more recent eras.
Speaking to my Dad about those former glory years, he too shares the sense of optimism that Anfield is emitting right now.
He’s excited and believes. I’m excited, but even in my lifetime I know not celebrate too soon. I only have to think back to the 2013/14 season to remind myself of the heartache that comes with that.
But I am revelling in everything about this Liverpool team, which is easily the best I’ve ever seen and possibly will see for a number of years.
They’ve got everything, the manager is one of us, the club is thriving off the pitch and everything is on the up-and-up.
I’ve never seen Liverpool win the league. But can I finally let myself start to think that this could be the year that ends?
I would like to think so, but I’m not counting my chickens yet.
