How can I forget this? Lee Carsley, derby goal, the celebrations were unbelievable.
It is this one on top.
Ossie sets it, Cars… it’s lucky I was shielding the goalkeeper there so he couldn’t
see it. But this celebration, this shows what we were all about. And Carsley scoring as
well, which doesn’t happen often.
It was massive for that season because it played a big part in where we would finish
and the intent of what we wanted to do and beating Liverpool. And the way we did it,
we beat them in the game but also physically and mentally. It was on a different level.
This one brings back amazing memories because 3-0, AJ double, a goal from me and I remember
getting Xabi Alonso in a headlock!
Good header down, reverse Mikel dink, Spanish flair, flick on from AJ, Ossie protected then
I caught it on the half-volley and kept the ball down. It went through Pepe Reina’s
legs and then the boxing celebration.
This was good because it was hot, a beautiful day, I think it was an early kick-off and
we started off on fire. The gaffer had a fresh haircut so we were in the mood. It was little
things like that. It is the way we won, you could see from the offset that there was a
bit of fear from Liverpool. They had a few chances but we were on the front foot which
is the most important thing.
Wow – how can we forget this goal?! Carsley every day in training was hitting balls from
25 or 30 yards and this one had so much schwazz on it that Pepe couldn’t deal with it. He
has bopped it up in the air and AJ is opportunistic, followed it up and it was one of those games
when everything fell into place for us. We were buzzing with that goal. We made a lot
of noise because every time you go to Anfield or you go anywhere and you lose there, they
make sure that you hear it. And it hurts you. We always say before we played “remember
what it felt like”. It is so good watching these goals now everything is team. There
was no individuals. But Cars…wow. I think that’s why Real Madrid signed him!
This is one of my favourite goals. Me and Mikky always had an understanding and we used
to practice this in training all the time. And that is how to shut a crowd up. It was
such a blessing. No disrespect to Liverpool but to score at Anfield, this is what every
kid dreams of. Scoring in the big games.
I’m hugging Hibbo, the first one, Jags… I love this goal.
Which one is this? Oh this one’s a bomb! Seamus goes on a mazy run, half-volley, roof
of the net, I’m just going crazy. I can’t even remember doing this but I was pushing
Seamus away.
This is Seamus, all Seamus. Me? I had the easy job of finishing it but I didn’t even
celebrate with him because I was too much in my own world! There we go!
Look at the fans just watching me punch the flag. I’ll never forget it.
Yes…Johnny Heitinga runs near post, me and Carragher fighting it out, then Mikel with
the toe-poke! He meant that because he is cheeky like that. And look at Mikky, look
what it meant to us. Everyone says it is hard to come from overseas and buy into what this
club is all about but we were just a band of brothers. We all loved each other and we
all took care of each other on and off the park.
It was a good finish, Mikky, I’ll give you that.
It is good to talk about it, not being here now, because you forget what you have achieved
when you leave such a big club. You don’t realise until you come back how much of an
impact you have made as an individual and as a group of players.
Can you remember what you did that night?
Oooh yeah… nah!