Liverpool may have blown it in domestic competition after the weekend’s draw with Manchester City but hopes are certainly alive in Europe. The Reds managed a narrow 0 – 1 victory over Real Madrid at The Bernabeu. Yossi Benayoun’s headed goal from eight yards in the 82nd minute was all the separated the teams after the 90 minutes. This is more than a win, it means that Liverpool have an away goal which gives Liverpool a distinct advantage over Real in the return leg at Anfield. The Spanish side will need to score twice to take the victory at Anfield, 0 – 1 to Real will mean extra time and possibly penalties and Liverpool have an excellent record on penalties. But the demoralising thing for many Liverpool fans is the recent slide in league form falling seven points behind Manchester United. This seems to happen every season, The Reds start out well and as the season progresses start to fall away as the Champions League starts to get into full swing. Manager Rafael Benitez is well known for his preference for European football which is the only black mark I can put against the man as he tends to put more emphasis on winning the Champions League than winning the best domestic league in the world! There was lots of speculation that Benitez would announce he was leaving Anfield after yesterday’s Champions League fixture with Real Madrid. But instead he gave the strongest hint yet that he is going to commit his long term future to Liverpool. I have mixed feelings about him staying really, like many Liverpool fans I want to be able to take our first Premiership title. Liverpool have won everything else since the Premier League was formed back in 1992 but never the Premiership title itself. Liverpool have been old first division champions many times but they have been lacking since the formation of the million billion pound Premier League!
Although I have never been much of a soap opera fan, the one soap that I watched on a semi regular basis was Eastenders. And I have just read that Wendy Richard who played Pauline Fowler in the soap for a 2/3rds of my life has died at the age of 65. She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer after a regular check-up and married her partner John Burns after being diagnosed. Although her character hasn’t appeared in Eastenders for two years because of creative differences, she will always be remembered as a key part of the soaps longevity with many big storylines revolving around her character. Rest-In-Peace Wendy Richard!