Thursday night was emotional night for just about everybody associated with Liverpool, as Jürgen Klopp’s side pulled off the most unlikely of comebacks to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 in the Europa League quarter final at Anfield.
Former Liverpool vice-captain and club stalwart Jamie Carragher was at the game, and could barely contain his excitement at witnessing a famous Anfield European night from the unfamiliar perspective of the stands.
Following the game, radio station Talksport discussed what they had just witnessed.
Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy, co-host on the Sports Bar show, was in no mood to join in with the positive atmosphere surrounding the match, insisting that Liverpool’s defensive display meant that they had no right to take encouragement from this, while also putting down the Europa League as a competition and bringing up the team’s Premier League underachievement as a stick to beat them with.
Carragher had heard enough, and was quick to voice his displeasure at Cundy’s attempts to downplay what was a memorable night for the club.
He was welcomed to join Cundy and host Andy Goldstein on the phone soon after, and the ex-England international did just that.
Carragher pulled no punches as he tore into what he perceived as Cundy’s bitterness over what had transpired, stating that jibes about defensive displays and the competition’s stature were simply borne out of a dislike for the club itself:
“I couldn’t listen to any more. I was in the car on the way home. I was high as a kite and Cundy is trying to bring me down.
“The Premier League has nothing to do with tonight.
“There is a rivalry between Liverpool and Chelsea and that’s fine. It’s not the night for that. And I thought you just went on about it too much. And you were goading Liverpool fans when it their time to celebrate.
“Listen, you don’t like Liverpool, Jason. Let’s be honest. You were quite wound up that Liverpool fans were coming on, ringing up and enjoying it. And instead of just taking it, taking the medicine for tonight, you just couldn’t help yourself!
“You’ve got to (have) respect for Liverpool, it’s a special night and not many clubs can have a night like that. We’re very lucky. Even if you don’t like Liverpool, you have to accept that.”
When the talk turned to the respective sides’ history (as it invariably does), Carragher couldn’t resist a jibe right back at Chelsea:
“You said something about Liverpool fans living in the past, what has that got to do with tonight? Doesn’t everyone do that (live off their history)? Chelsea haven’t got any so it’s difficult for them.”
COMMENTS