Red Alert in Merseyside as Liverpool make the final

BY MATT SWINDELLS

The Selco Masters grand final became an even more mouthwatering proposition this weekend when Liverpool added their name to its growing list of footballing giants.

Following Rangers qualification in the first heat, the ‘Mighty Reds’ marched through the difficult Selco Northern Masters in fine style – firing a staggering 12 goals in three matches.

The Liverpool echo Arena was the venue for a tournament that saw the Red half of Merseyside joined by their old rivals Everton, as well as Tranmere, Wigan, Bolton and Blackpool.

Selco Northern Masters Champions Liverpool

Tranmere Rovers, surprise winners of the regional event last time around, were looking to begin their campaign in style when they clashed with Wigan, but a 1-3 defeat to the Latics suggested that history may not repeat itself.

If Tranmere disappointed in their opening clash then Liverpool certainly did not, earning local Selco Masters bragging rights for the next 12 months with an emphatic thumping of Everton.

Paul Walsh is fondly remembered at Anfield for his predatory instincts, and he showed that retirement has not dulled those skills, firing four goals in a 5-1 victory that saw Graeme Stuart covert a last minute consolation for the Toffeemen.

Following those opening defeats both Everton and Tranmere needed to turn their fortunes around fast in match two, and neither achieved that leading to early exits for both clubs.

Everton were beaten by the odd goal in three in their clash with Blackpool, while Tranmere were put to the sword by current Bolton manager Owen Coyle, who took the chance to show his players how it is done by netting four times in a 4-2 win.

With their goal difference through the roof after their opening win, Liverpool then took to the field against Blackpool needing just a point to make the final, and after a nervous start they took to the task with aplomb.

Relatively unknown Andy Roscoe opening the scoring for the Reds, and then Bjorn Tore Kvarme netted the second in a 2-1 victory.

All that was left to establish was who they would meet in the final, and the answer was Coyle’s Bolton side as they overcame Wigan to set up what appeared to be a mouth-watering clash – with the subplot of the race for the golden boot.

Liverpool Captain John Barnes with Selco's Simon Humpage

Both Coyle and Walsh entered the game with four goals each, but a Liverpool team  also containing Mark Wright, Stephane Henchoz, Patrik Berger, John Barnes always looked favourites.

Before the game Bolton admitted that they needed to frustrate the free scoring Reds, but they shot themselves in the foot early on when they allowed a sweeping counter-attack to end at the feet of Kvarme – who finished well to open the scoring.

It appeared a thrilling encounter was in the offing when Scott Green leveled for the Trotters, but that just acted as a wake-up call for Liverpool and they went looking for more goals.

A Bolton mistake allowed Berger to capitalise early in the second half to put his side back in front, and from there on in it was one way traffic.

A wonder strike from Kvarme added a third, and that was shortly followed by the fourth from Berger, before Paul Walsh rounded off proceedings securing the golden boot for himselves in the process.

And after the game Walsh admitted that his day had been all the more surprising given his late call-up to the event.

He said: “I didn’t even know I was playing until a couple of days ago so it was a pleasure to be here and play with great players – I didn’t know I had the golden boot in me but I really enjoyed it.

“We played really well and it has given us a lot of confidence going into the final in September.”

Simon Humpage, marketing manager at Selco builders merchants, who presented the trophy to Liverpool skipper John Barnes, believes that the Selco Masters Grand Final is looking set to be the best ever.

He said: “The opening two events have seen very strong sides qualify for the final – and they are also massive clubs with a lot of rivalry.

“We already have Manchester United and Man City in the final, and Rangers and Liverpool have now joined them and displayed a great deal of flare in the process.

“On today’s evidence Liverpool may be the team to beat but it is still early days yet.”

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