Color It Red

There was a time when Liverpool ruled English and European football. And it took a former Reds midfielder Matt Busby to turn Manchester United into a power and challenge Liverpool for football supremacy. The Merseyside too was also on top of the world from the 50’s to the 70’s with the shipyards being the hub of commerce and the explosion of Beatlemania and the Merseybeat sound on an unsuspecting world.

But the pipeline to gleaming silverware has since dried up. The Beatles have been scattered to the four winds by Yoko Ono, the Apple Corps, and a bullet. The shipyards have closed down leaving Liverpool to search for its identity with the renewed importance of airports and technology which has made the world even smaller.

In contrast, Manchester has grown by leaps and bounds. It has become England’s Second City while Liverpool, though back on its feet, still clings to the beat of a bygone era as it has retained its reputation as a Cultural Capital of Europe. While the Fab Four historically remain the undisputed kings of the international music scene, Liverpool has since produced only Echo and the Bunnymen, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Pete Wylie who are relics of the (old) New Wave era. There’s Ladytron modern purveyors of sound but if you’re not into new music you’d say, “Lady who?” In the meantime, Mancunians proudly tote Oasis, Badly Drawn Boy, Morrissey, and well, Richard Ashcroft and his late lamented The Verve, recent chart toppers all in the international music scene.

Kopites find themselves choking on their words as they used to taunt Chelsea with jeers of, “You have no history.” United fans parry that with an even more painful, “Liverpool is history.”

There are a few titles under gaffers Gerard Houllier and Rafael Benitez but the Reds under Alex Ferguson, have won 20 major titles since 1986. As for relations between fans and players, well, they aren’t like the old days when they could have a pint in the pub after a match. The biggest thrill for United fans was to flash a banner that read, “MUFC We won the title on Merseyside” and rub their rivals’ noses in the dirt. Now, it’s a brick through the windshield, tear gas if you’re really unlucky or vile words that scar.

The derby between Liverpool and Everton, though fierce and intense, is for local bragging rights. Between the Reds and the Red Devils… it’s combining the Battle for Britain and Europe (the Champions League berth and old Big Ears). It’s a battle for the hearts and minds of their millions of supporters all over the world. It’s Coke and Pepsi on the pitch. But since the 1990’s, Scousers have chanted this all too familiar mantra, “maybe next year.”

Three of the major players on both sides have roots to this seaside city. ManU’s Wayne Rooney is a Merseyside boy although he rooted for Everton. The Reds’ Steven Gerrard came up through Liverpool’s ranks as did defensive back Jamie Carragher though he cheered for the local rivals as a young lad.

This year, despite all the troubles at their home office, Benitez’ boys are focused on winning the domestic titles and in Europe. They’ve jettisoned some of the old guard and brought in a new strike force that should make Toshack, Rush, Keegan, Dalglish, Fowler, and Owen proud. Yet time is running out on the Spaniard and the club’s American owners. Even after awhile, “maybe next year” doesn’t cut it.

Note:
It was 48 years ago when Liverpool began a tradition of wearing all red kits to kick off their European campaign. Ron Yeats was the captain of that first great Liverpool team.

English Premier League start of the season:

Liverpool vs Sunderland 530pm August 16 at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.