1 min read
Liverpool's stunning defeat of Borussia Dortmund epitomised the magic of football. There was an electric atmosphere with the stage perfectly set in the historic Anfield arena that has witnessed so many famous European nights.
Millions around the world sat on their sofas to join those inside the stadium as Liverpool, flying the English flag, went 2-0 down, then 3-1 down with the downcast players needing to score an impossible three goals to win the tie.
However, football isn't simply about the players; it's about the fans. Many English fans were united in their living rooms, hoping, praying, that Liverpool could mount one of the greatest comebacks in their history.
Buoyed on by the passion of the crowd, Liverpool scored one, and then two more goals. Then it seemed inevitable. As Dejan Lovren leapt up to meet the floating football to guide it perfectly towards the goal, I wasn't the only one screaming. Anfield erupted, with pure joy and passion for a game that we all care so much about. It didn't matter if you supported Arsenal, like me, Spurs, Leicester City, or Liverpool themselves – everyone was together, in a state of euphoria.
Football gets inside you in ways that are not entirely rational. Why do we build 60,000 seat cathedrals just to stage matches? Why do we pay money every week just to watch overpaid young men kick a ball around a pitch? Why do we let a goal notification on our phone affect our mood for the rest of the day? It seems ridiculous. But as I was jumping with joy in my living room, communing with millions elsewhere in other living rooms just like mine, it all seemed to make sense.
A few days later, on a wet pitch in north London, as I piled on top of 10 ecstatic young footballers to celebrate a last-minute winner in my Sunday League Cup semi-final, I felt that camaraderie once again. Football isn't just complaining about the exorbitant wages of footballers or the disgusting corruption in Fifa. Football is about those moments when victory is snatched from the jaws of defeat, when a stranger hugs you in the stands, or when all 60,000 fans are singing in unison, for the love of the beautiful game.
As I heard the opening moments of that Liverpool match, the whole stadium singing together in one majestic choir, the message of those famous lyrics resonated within me. I love football for this exact reason: You'll Never Walk Alone.
Joshua Korber Hoffman is a 15 year-old football fanatic and Arsenal supporter. He writes a football blog called The Young Gun, in which his love for writing and the beautiful game intersect.
To get more from opinion, click here to sign up for our free Editor's Picks newsletter.