16th October 2004, just over nine years ago, and a 44 year old Rafael Benitez had been in the Liverpool dugout for a few short months. A 34 year old me hopped a plane on the Friday evening headed for Heathrow, and then the tube to Fulham to my buddy Bill’s gaff. We must have gone out for a few pints that night, because we always did. The following morning, we probably went for a big fry up in one of the local caffs, again because we always did, and then a few loosening pints in some place on the Fulham Road. Bill had been a Fulham ST holder for a few years at that point, and I had tagged along enough times to know that sitting in the home crowd demanded some discretion but you weren’t going to get your head kicked in because…well. ‘S Fulham, innit?
Fulham: Van der Sar, Volz, Knight, Bocanegra, Green, Malbranque, Pembridge, Diop, Boa Morte, McBride, Radzinski
Subs: Crossley, John, Jensen, Rehman, McKinlay
The only thing I want to note about that Fulham squad was that Collins John was on the bench, and the only reason I mention that is because when he signed for Fulham, he was introduced to the crowd by John Collins. Collins had retired the previous season but Fulham brought him back just so they could have John Collins introducing Collins John, another reason why I've always liked Fulham.
Liverpool: Kirkland, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Luis Garcia, Diao, Hamann, Riise, Baros, Cisse
Subs: Dudek, Alonso, Warnock, Biscan, Sinama Pongolle
Look at that squad, an almost perfect mélange of old Houllier and new Benitez, and as with all such delineations, there were hits and misses in both columns. Alonso on the bench had not played much and with Gerrard injured, he probably thought it was a day for him to start but Diao got the shirt first. I was full of chat and spirits going down Fulham Palace Road and into the Cottage, confidently predicting a win and excitedly running down the plus points of our new manager and signings but Boa Morte shut me the fuck up with two first half goals, Josemi flailing about in his slipstream on each occasion.
Cometh the hour, cometh the Basque as Rafa decided he had enough of the Senegalese and told Alonso to go on for the second half. You know when some pundit says, they need someone to put their foot on the ball and dictate the play? Well, they should be contractually obliged to add, “just like Alonso against Fulham in 04” because that’s what he did. Bear in mind that at this point, the last time we had trailed at half-time in the Premiership, away from home, and came back to win was September 1991 against Notts County, or so the Liverpool Echo of the day insisted.
Our first had a hint of good fortune as a typically aimless shot from Baros was alchemised into something finer by Zat Knight. How, Zat? The second needed no such intervention. Alonso whipped in a cross from the left which was probably goalbound but for the header of Garcia, which cannoned off Van Der Sar, and even Baros could not miss the resulting tap in. 2-2.
At this point, the wind was in Liverpool sails with Alonso and Hamann imperious in midfield. Happily for Fulham, Josemi intervened again on their behalf, chopping down Boa Morte for the last time and trudging off the pitch to the backdrop of a second yellow and much home fan rejoicing. Unperturbed (and perhaps even improved) Liverpool then took the lead through an Alonso free from thirty yards out, Van Der Sar stranded on his line. The reports of the day suggested a deflection off Papa "Wardrobe" Diop but I didn't notice it therefore it didn't happen. Matters were finally brought to a close by sub Igor Biscan who exchanged lazy passes with Warnock before first timing it into the top right corner with an insouciance bordering on arrogance, all counterpointed by the goofy "who me?" expression afterwards.
I was pleased. Two nil down at half time and we beat them. A man down for the last half an hour and we beat them. Most of all, we looked a different team with this Basque on the pitch, a cooler, deadlier, more composed team. It felt like a changing of the guard. Walking out of the Cottage, I turned to Bill and said “not too Xabi, eh? Geddit? Eh? XABI! Eh?” Bill told me to shut my fucking hole and get the next round in but I didn’t mind. Things were looking up…
http://www.youtube.com/v/we6BFFOpOd8