When You're a World Within a World

I thought about engaging in some sort of deception to disguise the fact that this is another post about the exploits of Liverpool F.C., but just as George Washington could not lie about his lumberjack tendencies, I cannot disguise my affections for the Reds.

Tonight at Anfield, Liverpool faced Besiktas needing the first of three straight wins to advance from Champions League Group A. I'm not usually given to hyperbole, but this result was huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge. In a sport that is often derided for promoting low-scoring matches that resemble the First Battle of the Marne, the Reds put up a snowman tonight on Besiktas. That's right, 8 goals.

Goalscorers:

1. Peter Crouch (19th minute)
2. Yossi Benayoun (32nd minute)
3. Yossi Benayoun (53rd minute)
4. Yossin Benayoun (56th minute)
5. Steven Gerrard (69th minute)
6. Ryan Babel (78th minute)
7. Ryan Babel (81st minute)
8. Peter Crouch (89th minute)

Here's video evidence until the copyright department at ESPN International gets to work tomorrow morning scouring the information superhighway.

~CL~ Liverpool 8-0 Besiktas goals
Uploaded by FairPlayOnly

Benayoun's first goal and Babel's first goal were the standouts from the scoring barrage. The Patriots argument has to come in here at some point as a one-goal win secures 3 group points just as an 8-goal win secures 3 points, but this win represents something more for Liverpool. It's a potential turning point in a campaign that began with so much promise and has gone so wrong as of late. We've always known that Liverpool often must place themselves in escape situations that would make Houdini blush to achieve their true potential, but tonight once again proved that the more things change, the more they stay the same.