FORMER Premier League star Matt Jarvis has lifted the lid on playing at Anfield and his love of coming up against Liverpool.
The one-cap England winger was part of the Wolves side that beat the Reds 1-0 back in 2010.
The shock three points helped the club narrowly avoid relegation that season, with Jarvis the star man.
He recalled to SunSport: “I always had great games against Liverpool — they were just one of those opponents I really enjoyed playing.
“I also couldn’t wait for matches at Anfield. It remains one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world.
“When people talk about being intimidated playing at Liverpool because of the ‘This Is Anfield’ sign in the tunnel, or hearing the Never Walk Alone anthem before the start, I never quite get it.
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“For me it was the greatest incentive and sent my competitive and energy levels through the roof.
“We went into this game at the bottom of the table, four points adrift from safety, so this was a completely free hit for us. We had absolutely nothing to lose.
“I was lucky enough to play with a squad of players that season who had great character and who never knew when they were beaten.
“We also had a manager in Mick McCarthy who each and every player would run through brick walls for.
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“The greatest compliment I can pay Mick is that he was the best manager I played under.
“He was honest, would tell it to you straight, was always on the training field with his coaches and would give you every tool possible to make you better and win games of football.
“It’s also great to know that I was part of Mick’s one win at Anfield.
“The frustration leading up to this game was we had lost matches where we should have picked up points.
“But we finally got our rewards by picking up three points here.
“As soon as Stephen Ward had given us the lead just before the hour mark it was then a case of digging in and holding out.
“The stats show we had two shots on target in the match. But it doesn’t matter how few you have as long as you make them count more than the opposition.
“Ultimately this victory at Anfield was one of the key moments in us staying up.
“We spent something like 33 days on the bottom of the table that season — and 206 days in the bottom three. But the most important fact is we survived that season and were 17th when it mattered most on the last day of the 2010-11 campaign.
“I had spent most of that December out with an injury but came back on Boxing Day at home against Wigan, then played three days later at Liverpool followed by a match at West Ham 72 hours later.
“I came off with about a minute to go at Anfield knowing I would be at Upton Park on New Year’s Day.
“It’s wonderful in reflection to have won both the Supporters’ Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year at Wolves in 2010-11.
“There is no greater honour than the fans and your peers voting for you. But was this the best season in my career?
“I never reflect on my best or worst seasons because I always gave as much as I could every time I played so I could never have regrets about whether I could have played better.”
Wolves’ trip to Anfield
“Looking ahead to Sunday’s game at Anfield you could almost mirror our build-up to the game 14 years ago to this Wolves side.
“For them, it’s a free hit just like it was for us. No one is expecting anything other than a home win.
“But I have been saying for the last few weeks this Wolves side is more than capable and in Matheus Cunha they possess arguably the best player in the Premier League outside the ‘big six’ teams. When he is on the pitch his inspiration to the rest is a huge weapon.
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“On the back of two successive 2-0 wins against Villa and Blackburn, who knows?
“If they can hold out at Liverpool and nick a goal like we did back then — and have the little bit of luck along the way that you always need — this is a Wolves team more than capable of surprising the league leaders.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
