Have A Merry Red Christmas

Have A Merry Red Christmas

I am a forty something Liverpool supporter who has supported the Reds for over thirty years. I am blessed with a lovely wife and three beautiful children, my oldest child is severely autistic and can’t speak and my father took a massive stroke the day after Liverpool lifted the Carling Cup at Wembley. My dad is now confined to a wheel chair and has to live in a nursing home as my mother would not be fit enough to care for him at home. Liverpool Football Club keeps me sane in all my trouble and strife.

When I was young Christmas was all about getting toys and getting the latest Liverpool strip to re-enact my heroes out on the street. But nowadays it is all about seeing my kids getting the presents they always wanted. I don’t look for presents now, I look for three points on Boxing Day for the Reds. I am just digesting my Christmas dinner as I write this article. I have really enjoyed this Christmas day with all my kids happy with their presents, and great news that the Justice Collective’s Hillsborough charity single is this year’s Christmas number one.

Christmas is the time for the mid-term report of how Liverpool’s season is going, and this season has been a season of transition after the sacking of King Kenny in the summer and the arrival of Brendan Rodgers to the Anfield hot seat. Rodgers has inherited a difficult task to bring Liverpool back to the “Glory Days” that they miss so much. The new manager’s task has been even more difficult with an inexperienced squad that lacks in numbers. Liverpool’s form has been very inconsistent so far this season, hence their league position, but there has also been many positives, for example the introduction of youngsters like Wisdom, Suso and Raheem Sterling have excited the Anfield faithful this season as the youngsters have stepped up a level to become regulars in the first team this season. Luis Suarez has been unplayable and scored many goals as Liverpool’s only recognised striker as he has thrived on this added responsibility with Liverpool’s lack of striking options. Liverpool have played some great stuff this season, but failure to take their chances has been a recurring problem for the Reds. But the fact that Liverpool are not too far away from a top fourth place is encouraging and with the recent news that Daniel Sturridge should be joining soon and the hope of more signings in the January transfer window, then the second half of the season looks extremely promising.

Steven Gerrard has struggled this season, but he looked more like his old self when playing alongside the industrious Lucas at the weekend. Enrique’s recent form has also been encouraging after struggling in the early part of the season. The much maligned Stewart Downing looked a different player on Saturday against Fulham as he netted his first Premiership goal since joining Liverpool and if he can perform like this on a consistent basis then he could still have a big future at Anfield. Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel’s form has been once again impressive just like last season, and Glen Johnson has been tremendous at both, left back or right back. Joe Allen started the season very well, but in recent weeks he has struggled a bit, but he still looks a great addition to the squad and is used to working with Rodgers at Swansea.

I am really looking forward to the second half of the season and I think Brendan Rodgers has us going in the right direction. I always feel honoured to be part of this big Red family and I wish all my fellow Liverpool supporters a brilliant Christmas and a Happy New Year.