With the championship gone, this was as perfect an end to the Premiership season as we could have hoped for.
Five magnificent goals, the securing of second place and a chance to bid farewell to an Anfield great. As the players took their lap of honour at the end of the ninety minutes, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this barren season had ended with an array of riches. Then again maybe it has? When one considers all we have been through this term, perhaps we have emerged richer than Arsenal even.
The game itself was without doubt one of the most important occasions of the season. Securing second place was a must for many reasons, namely money, pride and progress. A guaranteed place in next season's Champions League means we can sit back and relax while United face the prospect of a tricky qualifier with Bayern, Barcelona, Celtic and both Milan giants waiting in the wings.
The pride element comes in taking second place for the first time since 1991, and in finishing above United we
have gained bragging rights for the first time in a long while. And despite fate seeming to conspire against us
this campaign there has been yet more progress made as Houllier's master plan begins to enter its final stages.
The game was definitely a stumbling block in the making. Two years ago, we were presented with a similar situation. Travelling to Bradford needing to win to secure Champions League football...... we choked and choked badly. Not this team though!
John Arne Riise's 7th goal of the season on 12 minutes set the wheels in motion after Ipswich had started the
livelier of the two teams. Riise's sharp finish was something we have become accustomed to in a very impressive first season for the young Norwegian.
Personally I don't think we could be any happier with his contribution whether it be at left back or left midfield and if he continues in this vain, then we have one more world class player to add to the ever growing list. As if his first goal wasn't good enough, his second really was one to remember. A good advantage played by referee Steve Dunn after Vladi's fine run was unceremoniously brought to an end saw the ball fall to the flame haired Adonis on the edge of the penalty area. Riise's first time shot from the left hand edge of the area defied belief as it sped into the net and cue John Arne's customary shirt over the head celebration.
All of John's goals have been stunning this season - and the own goal at Southampton wasn't too bad either -
and coupled with his tireless running and superb engine he has to be a contender for our player of the season.
Certainly he was the star man today.
In between the goals came a massive blow for Steven Gerrard. A seemingly innocuous little strain on 20 minutes seemingly means that he will require an operation on his troublesome groin which will keep him out of the world cup. Now you all know we at the Liverpool Way couldn't care less about England, but seeing Stevie strut his stuff on the world stage would have made us all proud and I'm devastated for Steven, there can be no bigger blow as a footballer than to miss out on a World Cup.
Despite their now desperately hopeless predicament, Ipswich continued to fight and play some decent football, led by their inspirational skipper Matt Holland. A few half chances fell their way but apart from a Martin Reuser shot, which cannoned back off the post there was nothing to really trouble Jerzy.
In Gerrard's absence Danny Murphy took on the role of making the Reds tick as he has on so many occasions
this season. Hopefully he'll get a chance to shine in Japan and finally it might get some of the knockers off off his back.
Despite knowing their fate the Ipswich fans were magnificent throughout, and it's a shame it's us who almost single handedly condemned them to the drop. Back in February they were flying after winning 8 out of 9, we then gave them a 6-0 drubbing which seemed to totally knock all the fight out of them. Yesterday we finally sent them down after knocking in 11 unanswered goals past them this season. Man! That Burley must have seriously pissed GH off by stealing his manager of the year award last season! His disrespectful comments towards us in mid-week wouldn't have helped either. If any team ever want to get their asses kicked all they need to do is disrespect us...... 'The Don' hates being disrespected!
As I mentioned earlier, their fans were really a credit to their club, but their witty "we're gonna win 3-2" during half time was soon to become irrelevant as Michael Owen latched on to Titus Bramble's weak back header, to beat Marshall to the ball and net his final goal of the season at the Kop end. Fitting.
It's every footballers dream to score at the Kop end and to be fair to young Titus he did his level best to achieve this with two wonderful headed efforts forcing his own keeper into some wonderful saves. However determined he was to achieve this landmark, the boy is no Michael Owen!
People say that Michael has had a quiet season. Apart from achieving his finest ever goal tally, becoming
European Footballer of the year and giving the England national team it's finest hour in 40 years then yes.......
it's been very quiet!
The Reds added a fourth on 56 minutes as Vladi ran unchallenged through the Ipswich defence as if they
weren't there - I'm no tactical genius, but I'd say that might have been one of their problems this season! - and slid the ball home. Coming on as substitute for the desperately unlucky Stevie G, Vladi put in one of his finest displays of the season, maybe knowing that his Anfield future is on the line.
The game then finally gave way to the Gary Mac sideshow. He had received a magnificent ovation when he was warming up and had his name sung for most of the game. However when he came on the place just erupted as the Kop gave him a welcome usually reserved for the dearly departed Robbie Fowler. As the players lifted him on to their shouders, with 45,000 fans singing his name it must have been hard for him to keep it together. It was a lovely touch and one which he fully deserves. Good luck Gary…how we loved your baldy head.
The crowd were also clamouring for the introduction of Nicolas Anelka after his excellent display in midweek
against Blackburn. There has been much speculation about Nico’s future this week, with PSG saying the deal is done, but GH refusing to commit himself either way. I took his exclusion from the starting XI as a sign that
Houllier doesn't want to sign him, maybe I'm wrong?
Nico assumed the Jari role of entering the fray with 5 minutes left to make an impact and like Litmanen he
delivered with a goal that smacked of old school Anelka; looking cool, calm and assured as he slotted the ball past Marshall with a minute left on the clock. With Cisse looking unavailable for another year, a year in which his value will probably treble; lets hope GH snaps Anelka up before United or Arsenal sneak in. Come on Gerard, you know it makes sense Bruv!
Anelka's goal seemed a fitting way to end the campaign and as the players embarked on their lap of honour, one had to wonder whether they were saying their last goodbye's to the Anfield crowd. Players such as Anelka, Barmby, Berger, Smicer and even Hamann all seem to have clouds hanging over their future for different reasons. One player who will definitely be here next season is Markus Babbel, who also got a tremendous reception.
Another nice touch was the excellent mosaic in his honour. As good as the mosaics are, I hope there aren't as many next season. They are really special and having them so often kind of takes the gloss off them. They should be a once or twice a season occurrence, in order to retain their effect.
So a five-nil massacre seemed like a strange way for a notoriously boring and negative team to end the season, especially when this was their ninth goal in 3 days. In truth it hasn't been a bad season. Progress has been made under the most trying of circumstances. Special mentions must go to:
GH: for having the will and courage to fight back from his near tragic illness and providing inspiration to us
all, not only as a football man who gave us our pride back, but as a human being.
Thommo: for keeping everything ticking over so smoothly, when everybody had predicted our total demise.
Joe Corrigan: No he doesn't deserve special thanks
Finally the players, who have been magnificent all season, they handled GH's illness magnificently and have made us all proud and who better to end the final match report of the season than the man himself.
"My players have been true hero's and true heroism in always rewarded at some stage"
With that in mind….roll on next season.
Team: Jerzy Dudek; Abel Xavier (Nicolas Anelka), Jamie Carragher, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia; John Arne Riise, Steven Gerrard (Vladimir Smicer), Didi Hamann, Danny Murphy; Emile Heskey, Michael Owen:
