The Ultimate Football Excursion – Day 12: 

London to Liverpool + Liverpool Vs Udinase

We are tiring badly!

All we could manage today was a late breakfast followed by a lunch time train to Liverpool. After checking into our hotel (200 meters from Anfield Stadium) we explored the nearby Stanley Park. Essentially at one end of the Park is Anfield Rd with Anfield Stadium (Liverpool FC) while on the other end is Goodison Rd with Goodison Park (Home of Everton FC).

Goodison Pk

Anfield - Outside

Anfield

After collecting our tickets we decided to find a place to have dinner. What a dismal place Liverpool is – at least around the two stadia. There was literally no place to eat – unless you wanted take away Chinese, burgers or pizza. Let’s just say the English don’t know how to do fast food – awful!

Anfield stadium was smaller than I imagined. The seats were hard plastic and very narrow and very close together side to side and front to back. I’m not tall but my knees cramped. The seats were similar to Loftus Road (home of QPR) and among the worse so far.

The game itself was entertaining with Liverpool holding the upper hand in the first half going into the break 1-0 up. The Liverpool defence was asleep at the beginning of the second half and Udinase equalised in the first minute. For the next 20 minutes the Liverpool defence looked shaky resulting in Udinase scoring twice to lead 3-1 with 20 minutes to go. The Liverpool manager introduced his heavy guns in Surez and Gerrard with immediate dividends with Surez converting from a free kick just outside the penalty box. Liverpool pressed hard for the equaliser however the Udinase goalkeeper was up to the task making a number of good/lucky saves with Udinase running out 3-2 winners.

Football Tally:

Games: 8

Competitions: Premier League X 4, League Cup X 2, Champions League X 1, Europa League X 1

Stadia: White Hart Lane, Stamford Bridge, Emirates, Old Trafford, Villa Park, Loftus Rd, Anfield

Missed Games : 1

Tomorrow: Liverpool to Manchester to visit the National Football Museum before returning to London.