Originally posted by wiw
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Could someone post the article text please? 
Neutrals should be cheering on Liverpool's quadruple hunt - they are one of the greatest teams ever
No matter your allegiance, football fans should be savouring what Jürgen Klopp is doing and cheer Liverpool on towards the quadruple
LUKE EDWARDS
NORTHERN FOOTBALL WRITER
29 April 2022 • 10:33am
Luke Edwards
You can continue to try to hate them if you must. If your tribal loyalties will not allow it, or your view is so soured by past grievances that you cannot look beyond your prejudice, you can dismiss this idea as preposterous, but it is impossible not to like this Liverpool side.
It is a team you cannot fail to enjoy, such is the brilliance with which they take the game to their opponent, with no fear or mercy offered.
They are wonderful to watch – a whirlwind in red, combining elite skill and technical magnificence with diligence and hard work; a collective work ethic that embodies everything important to and desired in team sport.
Liverpool do not flinch if you take the fight to them. They trust in their ability to land more blows and inflict more pain than the opponent.
But neither do they worry or panic if you try to frustrate them. Even if you defend for your lives, they are so ruthlessly driven, they will take it anyway. All you can decide is how to be killed, not if.
Everyone knows what Liverpool are going to do, how they will play, what they look to inflict on their opponents and the style in which they intend to do it. That does not mean you can do anything to stop it, as Villarreal discovered in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
The Spanish side managed to block, irritate and frustrate Juventus and Bayern Munich and offered enough of a threat going forward to score goals.
They beat Manchester United in the final of the Europa League last year with the same methods, but were outplayed and overpowered by Liverpool, who were so dominant in the last four of Europe’s most prestigious competition that the game resembled a Premier League side facing one from League Two in the FA Cup.
That is Liverpool’s brilliance; that is their genius and it is why few would resent them becoming the first English team to win the quadruple.
As we move towards May, and with Liverpool one point behind the Premier League leaders, already League Cup winners and FA Cup finalists, the unthinkable could easily become a reality.
Liverpool may still fall short. They face a formidable foe in Manchester City, but even in that ferociously intense competition between two tremendous sides, the neutral will probably choose red for the simple reason they are not owned by a nation state looking to sportswash its global reputation.
As for Jürgen Klopp, he is a manager, even if you twist your face at some of his antics, particularly his rudeness and lack of grace in defeat, you also know you would simply love him if he was the manager of your team. There is no greater show of respect you can give an opposition's manager.
His charisma, his passion, his ability to unite a team with its fans and, of course, his coaching ability and man management, no club in the world would pass up the chance to employ him if they could.
Some will still bristle at that, but like so many others I have tried to dislike this Liverpool team because old habits die hard. It is not possible, not if you are fair and honest about it. If you like sport and appreciate and celebrate greatness, you simply have to admire what Klopp and his players have done. What they continue to do.
If I can admit that, anyone can. I grew up in an era when it was anyone but Liverpool. A primary school in east London dominated by Liverpool shirts. I supported Everton to be contrary, a brief flirtation it must be said, but battle lines were drawn.
My best friend as a kid was a Liverpool supporter from a family of Liverpool fans who were my second home and enjoyed me arguing with them like some sort of errant fourth child.
I lived with three Liverpool supporters at university, the six people in the house split evenly down the middle, bickering constantly whenever Liverpool’s name was mentioned, let alone when they played.
For my generation, Liverpool were the glory hunter’s choice, the armchair fan’s simple selection for regular and easy gratification. When the majority of football fans experience far more pain than joy, Liverpool celebrated trophies like birthdays and anniversaries.
Rich, powerful and almost completely dominant in England, they were football’s evil empire and many of us enjoyed seeing it toppled.
The rise again under Klopp could easily be resented, but there is so much to like about Liverpool. If they go on to win the quadruple, it will be a pleasure to say we watched them do it. We are witnessing one of the best club sides this country has produced. That should never be a cause for bitterness.
No matter your allegiance, football fans should be savouring what Jürgen Klopp is doing and cheer Liverpool on towards the quadruple
LUKE EDWARDS
NORTHERN FOOTBALL WRITER
29 April 2022 • 10:33am
Luke Edwards
You can continue to try to hate them if you must. If your tribal loyalties will not allow it, or your view is so soured by past grievances that you cannot look beyond your prejudice, you can dismiss this idea as preposterous, but it is impossible not to like this Liverpool side.
It is a team you cannot fail to enjoy, such is the brilliance with which they take the game to their opponent, with no fear or mercy offered.
They are wonderful to watch – a whirlwind in red, combining elite skill and technical magnificence with diligence and hard work; a collective work ethic that embodies everything important to and desired in team sport.
Liverpool do not flinch if you take the fight to them. They trust in their ability to land more blows and inflict more pain than the opponent.
But neither do they worry or panic if you try to frustrate them. Even if you defend for your lives, they are so ruthlessly driven, they will take it anyway. All you can decide is how to be killed, not if.
Everyone knows what Liverpool are going to do, how they will play, what they look to inflict on their opponents and the style in which they intend to do it. That does not mean you can do anything to stop it, as Villarreal discovered in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
The Spanish side managed to block, irritate and frustrate Juventus and Bayern Munich and offered enough of a threat going forward to score goals.
They beat Manchester United in the final of the Europa League last year with the same methods, but were outplayed and overpowered by Liverpool, who were so dominant in the last four of Europe’s most prestigious competition that the game resembled a Premier League side facing one from League Two in the FA Cup.
That is Liverpool’s brilliance; that is their genius and it is why few would resent them becoming the first English team to win the quadruple.
As we move towards May, and with Liverpool one point behind the Premier League leaders, already League Cup winners and FA Cup finalists, the unthinkable could easily become a reality.
Liverpool may still fall short. They face a formidable foe in Manchester City, but even in that ferociously intense competition between two tremendous sides, the neutral will probably choose red for the simple reason they are not owned by a nation state looking to sportswash its global reputation.
As for Jürgen Klopp, he is a manager, even if you twist your face at some of his antics, particularly his rudeness and lack of grace in defeat, you also know you would simply love him if he was the manager of your team. There is no greater show of respect you can give an opposition's manager.
His charisma, his passion, his ability to unite a team with its fans and, of course, his coaching ability and man management, no club in the world would pass up the chance to employ him if they could.
Some will still bristle at that, but like so many others I have tried to dislike this Liverpool team because old habits die hard. It is not possible, not if you are fair and honest about it. If you like sport and appreciate and celebrate greatness, you simply have to admire what Klopp and his players have done. What they continue to do.
If I can admit that, anyone can. I grew up in an era when it was anyone but Liverpool. A primary school in east London dominated by Liverpool shirts. I supported Everton to be contrary, a brief flirtation it must be said, but battle lines were drawn.
My best friend as a kid was a Liverpool supporter from a family of Liverpool fans who were my second home and enjoyed me arguing with them like some sort of errant fourth child.
I lived with three Liverpool supporters at university, the six people in the house split evenly down the middle, bickering constantly whenever Liverpool’s name was mentioned, let alone when they played.
For my generation, Liverpool were the glory hunter’s choice, the armchair fan’s simple selection for regular and easy gratification. When the majority of football fans experience far more pain than joy, Liverpool celebrated trophies like birthdays and anniversaries.
Rich, powerful and almost completely dominant in England, they were football’s evil empire and many of us enjoyed seeing it toppled.
The rise again under Klopp could easily be resented, but there is so much to like about Liverpool. If they go on to win the quadruple, it will be a pleasure to say we watched them do it. We are witnessing one of the best club sides this country has produced. That should never be a cause for bitterness.
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