Among the poetic banners draped from the away end at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night was one consisting of just a single word: defiance.
It has been the overriding emotion both on and off the field for Liverpool during a week in which they have remembered the past while underlining the promise of the future.
The refusal to give in was astonishingly apparent at Chelsea when Rafael Benitez’s side came close to pulling off one of the most remarkable comebacks in European Cup history.
And Liverpool’s players, beaten but unbowed, were together in the belief their show of character can bolster their efforts to chase down Manchester United in the quest for the coveted Premier League crown.
“There are six games remaining and we must win them all,” says goalkeeper Pepe Reina. “Of course it's in Manchester United’s hands and doesn't just depend on us but I hope United will drop points.
“It seems like they're not playing at their best but neither are we. We'll have to see what happens.
“They are under a lot of pressure. They are leaders and are in a great situation. All we can do is try to win every game.
“We played for Liverpool with heart. All we could give was passion and commitment. To be a Liverpool player is a pleasure.
“We will never give up, we are Liverpool and that's our character, it's the way we are. We will fight until the very end.”
While trailing leader’s United by a point and the Old Trafford side possessing a game in hand, it will be a tough ask for Liverpool.
But few are now willing to dismiss the chances of the Anfield outfit ending their 19-year wait for the championship.
Liverpool have played 44 games in the Premier League and Champions League combined so far this season, and lost only three.
In fact, Benitez’s side have been beaten just six times in almost two years of top-flight action, a remarkable statistic that highlights both their consistency and the achievement of United to remain ahead of their Merseyside rivals throughout that period.
The force, though, is with Liverpool, who have netted at least four goals in five of their last seven games at venues that have included Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.
That tally wasn’t enough on Tuesday, however, despite Benitez’s men racing into a 2-0 lead at half-time to level the aggregate scores.
The evening’s pivotal moment came shortly after half-time when Reina fumbled Didier Drogba’s near-post touch over his own line for a goal that revitalised Chelsea.
And Reina admits: “It was bad positioning in my case. I was too in the middle and should have been closer to the near post. It was my mistake and I have to recognise that. That’s the life of the keeper. We are very disappointed but we must be proud of ourselves. We gave it all but we couldn't manage to turn them over.
“We had plenty of chances in the first half and there was just one team in it – Liverpool. It could have been more than 2-0.
“At Stamford Bridge we were better, at Anfield they were. But it doesn't matter who was better, only who goes through.
“In the first half I thought we were going through, we were playing fantastic football and dominating.”
Having faced each other 24 times in less than five years, familiarity has bred contempt between Liverpool and Chelsea.
But there was a new-found respect in light of a game that is already being touted as a modern classic.
“Liverpool are a fantastic team and play with no fear,” says Drogba. “They did everything to try and go through. It takes two teams to make big games like this and we saw two great teams.”
Florent Malouda adds: “We scored the goals at the right moments, but you have to say that Liverpool were really good. They kept pushing us until the end, it was a fantastic match for the supporters.”
Dirk Kuyt was among the Liverpool goalscorers on Tuesday, and the Dutchman says: “The team can be proud of the effort we gave. We tried everything we could and it was great to be 2-0 up at half-time.
“We played for the supporters and everybody together did everything they could. The supporters were really good. We tried everything we could. We’re disappointed, but we are very proud.”
One dream may have been dashed for Liverpool, but another still remains.
It has been the overriding emotion both on and off the field for Liverpool during a week in which they have remembered the past while underlining the promise of the future.
The refusal to give in was astonishingly apparent at Chelsea when Rafael Benitez’s side came close to pulling off one of the most remarkable comebacks in European Cup history.
And Liverpool’s players, beaten but unbowed, were together in the belief their show of character can bolster their efforts to chase down Manchester United in the quest for the coveted Premier League crown.
“There are six games remaining and we must win them all,” says goalkeeper Pepe Reina. “Of course it's in Manchester United’s hands and doesn't just depend on us but I hope United will drop points.
“It seems like they're not playing at their best but neither are we. We'll have to see what happens.
“They are under a lot of pressure. They are leaders and are in a great situation. All we can do is try to win every game.
“We played for Liverpool with heart. All we could give was passion and commitment. To be a Liverpool player is a pleasure.
“We will never give up, we are Liverpool and that's our character, it's the way we are. We will fight until the very end.”
While trailing leader’s United by a point and the Old Trafford side possessing a game in hand, it will be a tough ask for Liverpool.
But few are now willing to dismiss the chances of the Anfield outfit ending their 19-year wait for the championship.
Liverpool have played 44 games in the Premier League and Champions League combined so far this season, and lost only three.
In fact, Benitez’s side have been beaten just six times in almost two years of top-flight action, a remarkable statistic that highlights both their consistency and the achievement of United to remain ahead of their Merseyside rivals throughout that period.
The force, though, is with Liverpool, who have netted at least four goals in five of their last seven games at venues that have included Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.
That tally wasn’t enough on Tuesday, however, despite Benitez’s men racing into a 2-0 lead at half-time to level the aggregate scores.
The evening’s pivotal moment came shortly after half-time when Reina fumbled Didier Drogba’s near-post touch over his own line for a goal that revitalised Chelsea.
And Reina admits: “It was bad positioning in my case. I was too in the middle and should have been closer to the near post. It was my mistake and I have to recognise that. That’s the life of the keeper. We are very disappointed but we must be proud of ourselves. We gave it all but we couldn't manage to turn them over.
“We had plenty of chances in the first half and there was just one team in it – Liverpool. It could have been more than 2-0.
“At Stamford Bridge we were better, at Anfield they were. But it doesn't matter who was better, only who goes through.
“In the first half I thought we were going through, we were playing fantastic football and dominating.”
Having faced each other 24 times in less than five years, familiarity has bred contempt between Liverpool and Chelsea.
But there was a new-found respect in light of a game that is already being touted as a modern classic.
“Liverpool are a fantastic team and play with no fear,” says Drogba. “They did everything to try and go through. It takes two teams to make big games like this and we saw two great teams.”
Florent Malouda adds: “We scored the goals at the right moments, but you have to say that Liverpool were really good. They kept pushing us until the end, it was a fantastic match for the supporters.”
Dirk Kuyt was among the Liverpool goalscorers on Tuesday, and the Dutchman says: “The team can be proud of the effort we gave. We tried everything we could and it was great to be 2-0 up at half-time.
“We played for the supporters and everybody together did everything they could. The supporters were really good. We tried everything we could. We’re disappointed, but we are very proud.”
One dream may have been dashed for Liverpool, but another still remains.
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