Liverpool Legend Thompson Relives Trabzonspor Memories

YOU may have read David Fairclough’s vivid account of Liverpool’s most recent trip to Trabzonspor in last night’s ECHO; as someone who was also involved in that fixture 34 years ago, I can tell you it was every bit as bad as it sounded.
Turkey is one of the most testing places you can play football and we found that out to our cost when we went out there for a second round European Cup tie that none of us will ever forget.
Tom Saunders, our old chief scout, had been out before we travelled to check Trabzon out and he booked us in to the best hotel in town – if I told you a two-star box in Benidorm was more palatial, you will get the picture.
What made the trip worse though was the fact I got a stomach upset after contracting food poisoning the night before the game and, to this day, I’ve no idea how I managed to get through it.

Aside from feeling on the verge of death all the way through those 90 minutes, the one thing I vividly remember from being out in Trabzon was the noise and passion from the home fans.
While I’m sure Trabzon has changed beyond recognition since my last trip there, I don’t believe the fervour of the city’s supporters has diminished and Liverpool will have to be at their best to get through to the Europa League group stages.
Roy Hodgson will be stressing the importance of getting a good result tonight but, even if that happens, I don’t for a moment expect there to be any complacency in the return - it’s simply not the way Liverpool do things.
JAVIER MASCHERANO wanted to leave Liverpool 12 months ago and the story has been the same with him again this summer.
If someone wants to move on from Anfield, I don’t have a problem with them because no individual is bigger than our club.
But I have to take my hat off to Mascherano for the performance he produced against Arsenal, as his attitude and commitment was first class.

Some will say that Roy Hodgson gambled by including him but, just as was the case with James Milner and Aston Villa, it has proved to be the correct decision.
His work rate was exceptional and, considering the circumstances under which he was playing, you could not have asked for any more from him.
Should Mascherano stay here, we would have one of the best midfields in the world with him and Steven Gerrard.
We will now watch developments with interest.