Source: Liverpool_Echo
Phil Thompson: Liverpool FC's Europa League clash with Trabzonspor brings back memories
REDS legend Phil Thompson starts a regular weekly column from today - below are some highlights from the Kirkby-born defender's decorated career as a player, coach and manager at Anfield[LNB] Show Caption nullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull 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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB] 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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.
