Former Liverpool player Boudewijn Zenden now lines up in OM’s colours. Next Wednesday, however, he will return to Anfield for Marseille’s Match Day Two clash of the UEFA Champions League…
Just a few months ago, Boudewijn Zenden was wearing the Red of Liverpool on his back. Next Wednesday, he returns to the mythical stadium at Anfield Road with Marseille, to take on his former team-mates. “It’s a bit bizarre but it will be great fun because I’ve got a load mates over there. I know everyone, because it’s not that long ago that I was one of them. What’s more, Champions League nights at Anfield are always special, for Liverpool but also their opponents.
The whole OM spends on the banks of the Mersey River, the memories will be flooding back to the Dutch international, but the pinnacle will almost certainly be the fans singing ‘You’ll never walk alone’ inside the ground. It’s amazing, but it’s not sung to pile on the pressure. It shouldn’t intimidate the opposition, because it’s a song about sticking together when things aren’t working out. It makes you hair stand on end, but in a good sense. You have to make the most of this experience, because the people come to the ground to see good football.”
Winner of the Champions League in 2005 and losing finalists last season, Liverpool are favourites to qualify top of OM’s group. “They’re a team that are very well organised, very compact. The defenders don’t give an inch. They’re fast and strong on the counterattack and from set pieces. They must score about 40 per cent of their goals like this,” added Bolo Zenden.
Kuyt, Crouch, Riise, Torres, Babel, Carragher, Kewell… Lots of big names in international football can be found in the Liverpool changing-room, but the biggest of them all is Steven Gerrard. The midfielder, Liverpool born and bred is the key to Rafa Bentitez’s team. “It’s true that he’s dangerous, but Kuyt, Crouch or any of the others can be too. That’s why the team is so strong.”
Amongst all these famous names, three will be missing against Olympique de Marseille. Jermaine Pennant is suspended, Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso are injured. “Alonso is a great passer of the ball, but the Argentine Mascherano can step into replace him. A bigger loss for them is Agger, because he’s the only left-footed central defender they have. But Rafael Benitez is used to squad rotation and it won’t change much because the entire squad oozes quality.”
