1 month ago
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Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
The right-back relives memories of Liverpool vs Chelsea fixtures.
Memory is a funny thing. For me, it often involves the smoothing out of rough spots and wrapping a lot of the moments in a bit of mental gossamer. I am, if nothing, a sucker for nostalgia.
Sports memories are a completely amped up version of that for me. The great moments are that much more special for me, because the context of whatever hardship was overcome or a new level achieved is filled in, giving the moment more shape and heft. Kirk Gibson’s home run for the Dodgers in the ‘88 World Series, for example, is a lasting memory for me as it was my first sports memory as a new immigrant in Los Angeles from the Philippines. It’s easy to look back at these times and feel a bit of longing.
Recently, the official site asked Liverpool FC right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold to talk about his memories of the Liverpool-Chelsea fixture. It’s likely no surprise that among his favorites is the 2005 Champions League semi-final:
“I’m probably just living it through memory now [the 2005 Champions League meeting]… I’ve watched the full game back once. I like to do that just to get a feel for what it would’ve been like. It was an incredible game. I think you had two really good managers, legendary managers coaching both sides, and then legends on the pitch. They were always bound to be super-tough games and amazing for viewers and tough battles. That’s what I grew up remembering Liverpool versus Chelsea as - Chelsea were always the team that were in and around the league [title], and we were a team that was always tough to beat, so to beat them and to go onto a Champions League final was a special thing.”
It must be meaningful, all things considered, for a local lad to play for Liverpool now and to get to reverse that dynamic; for as long as he’s been a first teamer, Liverpool have been in the ascendancy with Chelsea finding it hard to find their footing in a post-Roman Abramovich reality.
Liverpool are currently going through a transition that feels similarly monumental. Luckily for everyone, the early returns in the Arne Slot era - a post-Klopp phase - have been spectacular. Here’s hoping that run continues with the Reds making more good memories, beginning with their tilt against Chelsea on Sunday.
