Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain thanked Liverpool supporters for creating a “horrible” atmosphere at Anfield for visiting Manchester City Wednesday night. The underdog Reds stomped City 3-0 in the home leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie.
Everything was on point for Liverpool in this midweek clash, from the manager Jurgen Klopp to the players to the supporters in attendance. Perhaps no atmosphere at Anfield Road is as rocking as what you’ll find for a huge night game in European competition. The Ox says that this was the best atmosphere he’s ever played in.
“It was an amazing atmosphere, the best I’ve ever played in,” said the £40 million summer acquisition from Arsenal.
“You have to give credit to the fans because it is never nice coming to Anfield and hearing that crowd – I’ve been on the other end of it and it is not easy. The fans play a massive part.”
“I’ve never witnessed anything like that. Coming into the stadium for a game which was not a final it almost set it up to be like a final. It definitely got us going and you could see that. If you are the away team and the crowd gets going like that it is horrible.”
The 24-year-old English international scored 20 minutes in Wednesday night, his second goal against Manchester City, the Premier League champions-in-waiting this season.
“City are an amazing football team but they are only human and you put anyone in a pressure environment in an atmosphere like that maybe it can disturb them. I wouldn’t say to the extent it did that because they still played some good stuff and dominated the ball but it definitely played a part in the first half,” Oxlade-Chamberlain continued.
“It got us going and it would probably shake anyone up so you have to give fans credit for that.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain and company will next take on Everton in the Merseyside derby on Saturday. Then on Tuesday night, they’ll travel to Man City for the second and final leg of the quarterfinal tie. The Etihad is obviously known for having some attendance issues from time to time.
However, even if it’s a packed house, duplicating the Anfield atmosphere from a couple days ago will be nearly impossible.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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