A UCL Defeat; yet, we still believe

There's many things that goes behind supporting a team like Liverpool. It's not a story of trophies, or a journey that comes to a heavy heartbreak. No, it's not just that. It's also believing till the end.

I am 23 soon, this year. I was only 19 when I saw them lift the big ears. It made me happy, seeing Jordan Henderson doing his trademark shuffle and Mo Salah smiled so bright. Tonight, I saw them miss it by one goal difference. One goal, a big gap.

When Vini hits it and the net explodes, I am not giving up. I look at the clock and I think, alright lad, we go again. And the manager motions with his hand, circular loop, we go again. Liverpool played, Liverpool tried but couldn't make it to the finish line. Yes, it hurts. Like no other. It hurts. But, there's so many things that comes with supporting Liverpool Football Club.

It's not the trophy we are chasing. It's not the end we want. It's the journey we've been taken on. A young girl of five watched her whole world fall apart as her mum and dad decided to part and her first memory is the comeback miracle of Instanbul where Steven Gerrard believed and riled the fans as he hit it the first time. It's a young girl screaming at Smicer's shot, not even knowing what's happening, only knowing hysteria. And her breath holds watching the Spaniard Alonso, her hero. He misses the first, doesn't miss the rebound and it's 3-3. Oh Liverpool, you are the love of my life and you always will be.

I know true love, true loyalty because I am a red.

There's so many things that comes with supporting this Liverpool Football Club. Yes, tonight, it'll hurt. But we go again.

There's so many things that comes with supporting this Liverpool Football Club. It's not just the heartbreak, the almosts or the trophy lifts. It's the journey of making it till the end. Liverpudlian knows what supporting this club means. It's the burden of history carried by the shoulders and feet of great players that aren't considered world class but becomes so with hard work.

Pay no heed, yes, the score says we lost on our seventh cup tonight but every single player showed up and tried. None gave up and neither should we. Jürgen Klopp's foundation is simple, ' Doubters to Believers'. There's not been one second in that match, I didn't believe. Even when the ref blew it at 5:10 in spite of us winning a foul, I believed.

I've seen my team lose so many times, so many Liverpool sides lost in front of my eyes but never did I stop believing. Every minute, every second, my heart only beats stronger. Call it love, call it obsession, call it delusion. Every Liverpudlian should be proud of these boys. They gave it all.

Thiago, winning his time against injury, back in the lineup defended and did all he could. Trent Alexander Arnold, his third UCL final for Liverpool, defensively stood up strong tonight, he who is so much criticized for that set of ability. Mo Salah, a king in his own right, who gives his all and yet, never stopped even when it didn't fall to his hands. Luiz Diaz, doesn't understand any linguistic but loves football, played until the time he was subbed off. Sadio Mané, a lion, up, down, running left and right, he was everywhere, and never complained. Fabinho, our lighthouse, our intercepter, kept prowling till the end. Naby Keita, one brilliant chance, couldn't sit it right and yet, came in a game of chaos and settled as best he could. Roberto Firmino, the whole Kop knows he is the best in the world. Virgil Van Dijk sees himself playing forward at the end, the big man stood so long and so much even after his last season. Hats off, Virg, hats off. Alisson Becker, never forget his impact: our last man in defense. Always present. Jordan Henderson goes off at the end, could have been one of the most successful captains in our history but pay no heed, he still is. And we wait to see the shuffle again. Last but never least, my man of the match for a Liverpool side that gave its all. Ibrahima Konate, young man of 23, whose season started in Paris and ended in the City of Love under the lights of a Champions League Final lost his first game tonight after a whole season of not losing.

Bow down, Liverpudlian, tonight hurts. But we will recover. We will come again. This is only the beginning. It's a journey. There's too many things that comes with supporting Liverpool Football Club. It's not just the trophies, the heartbreaks or the burden of history. It's the journey of making it there. Our days are not over, only starting. To every single boys who wore that jersey tonight, they made us proud.

For them, we believe.

Walk on.

Written by Hanshika Heeramun