Listen up boys: Jamie Carragher passes the time in Runcorn waiting room by making sure the Reds are up to date with the latest sports news in the Daily MailRuncorn was an appropriate setting for the start of Liverpool’s two-day trek across Europe on Tuesday. It is known locally as The Corn - and Liverpool’s players are going to have to earn theirs if they are to reach the final of the Europa League.
With flights still grounded across most of the country, Rafa Benitez and his squad face a test of stamina and endurance just making sure they participate in Thursday’s semi-final against Atletico Madrid.
Here is how the first half of the travel marathon panned out yesterday:
12.45pm - the team bus arrives at Runcorn train station. It struggles to turn round in the cramped forecourt, and it soon becomes clear the path into the station is going to be just as tricky to negotiate for Benitez and his players. ‘Come on, guys — give them some space,’ implores the Thomas Cook rep.
1.00pm - a promising omen as the station announcer informs a crowded platform of the imminent and on-time arrival of the 13.04 to Euston.
1.30pm - coach G is a no-go zone for all but the players. A glance through the door, though, reveals newspapers, books and films on laptops are the preferred activities.
2.50pm - there are two gleaming, grey executive coaches waiting on the platform at Euston to ferry us to St Pancras, much to the bemusement of passengers on an adjacent platform. Benitez poses for one photo after another in the 50 yards between train and coach. Players complain about coach journeys, but sympathy goes out of the smoked glass window when you climb aboard their state of the art model. Talk about lap of luxury. Padded leather seats and flat screen televisions everywhere.
The fat controller: Reds boss Rafa Benitez is the centre of attention
Full steam ahead: (Dirk Kuyt just wants to get going as Glen Johnson and Pepe Reina follow on while Javier Mascherano (right) takes a big book for the trek3.20pm - arrive at St Pancras to a scene of absolute mayhem. For the media, anyway.
The team bus has special dispensation to pull up outside the front entrance, enabling the players to file through a queue-less check-in desk and into one of the first-class lounges. The rest of us are escorted through the usual array of shops and into a vast hall that is feeling the effects of the ban on flights.
4.30pm - the players have made their way from lounge to train without anyone batting an eyelid, let alone badgering them for photos or autographs.
6.45pm - Paris at last. It has been a long day and the most anyone can get out of the players is ‘bon nuit’ as they step on to a waiting coach and head for their hotel.
Benitez said: ‘The players all had ice packs and carbohydrates after the West Ham game and we thought it was better to let them have a good night’s sleep than set off any earlier. The journey has been fine so far.’
On to Madrid in the morning.
source :dalymail
