One of the most dramatic years in the history of Liverpool Football Club is almost at an end, so we asked those who support, work for and write about our famous institution for their reflections on 2010.
From new owners and boardroom battles to a change of managers and on-the-field pain, the last 12 months will never be forgotten by those who lived through them.
Here, staff, supporters and journalists pick their player, moment and performance of the year:
Tony Barrett, The Timeswww.timesonline.co.uk
Player: It may not have been a vintage year for Liverpool on the pitch but that has not prevented the continued emergence of a player who is destined to become one of the club's greats. That player is Jose Manuel Reina; the best goalkeeper in England and one of the best characters in football.
Performance: Martin Broughton at the High Court. Forget everything else, this was the performance that mattered most. As the protest song went, Liverpool Football Club was in the wrong hands, the sterling efforts of their then chairman and his supporting cast changed all that.
Moment: Again, the sale of the club has to be the most crucial and pivotal moment for Liverpool in 2010. The cloud that had hung over the club for far too long was lifted and a brighter future lay ahead. In itself, this was more important than any other event during the past 12 months.
Paul Tomkins, Authorwww.tomkinstimes.com
Performance: Martin Broughton at the High Court. Forget everything else, this was the performance that mattered most. As the protest song went, Liverpool Football Club was in the wrong hands, the sterling efforts of their then chairman and his supporting cast changed all that.
Moment: Again, the sale of the club has to be the most crucial and pivotal moment for Liverpool in 2010. The cloud that had hung over the club for far too long was lifted and a brighter future lay ahead. In itself, this was more important than any other event during the past 12 months.
Paul Tomkins, Authorwww.tomkinstimes.com
Player: Pepe Reina was by far my player of 2009-10, but given his improvement, I'd say Lucas Leiva. He really impressed early in 2010, starting at Stoke in January, and excelling in the Europa League, particularly against Benfica. With both Alonso and Mascherano now gone, he's been able to escape their shadow and start to impose himself every week. Above all else, I admire his strength of character to prove his critics wrong.
Performance: It was only against Portsmouth, but the 4-1 home victory in March - after a run of poor displays - stood out like a beacon. Aquilani, Babel, Gerrard, Torres and Maxi combined to brilliant effect on the night.
Moment: Undoubtedly the moment when Gillett and Hicks were finally ousted as NESV took control. That week was like following a cup final online - except one that lasted for days. I was sat at my computer hitting refresh on Twitter and the Guardian website for live text updates. Rather than hoping for a Torres hat-trick, it was Lord Grabiner QC who was playing the game of his life.
Jim Boardman, Editorwww.anfieldroad.com
Jim Boardman, Editorwww.anfieldroad.com
Player: Pepe Reina. Not the best year for any Liverpool player, but it's easy to take players for granted which is something we shouldn't do with Pepe Reina. Him passing that milestone of 100 clean sheets and continuing to bounce back from his still rare mistakes should remind us all of how important he is to this side.
Performance: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea (November 2010). A depressing year on the field is nearly over; perhaps it's best looking at positives we can take into a new year. Chelsea arrived at Anfield as dead-certs for the league but left it beaten and shaken on the start of a run that might well have ended their hopes of that title. More of this in 2011 please, Liverpool.
Moment: The moment Hicks and Gillett finally got flushed away. The last few days of the Hicks and Gillett era seemed to drag on forever but the moment it ended was one to treasure. Still damage to be fixed, still wounds to be healed but that war is now over and we can finally build a future to match the best years of our past.
John Aldridge, Former Liverpool strikerwww.twitter.com/realjohnaldo
Player: I think it's Steven Gerrard as he's been the most consistent throughout the year. Pepe Reina would probably come second and Jamie Carragher third - Liverpool's stalwarts.
John Aldridge, Former Liverpool strikerwww.twitter.com/realjohnaldo
Player: I think it's Steven Gerrard as he's been the most consistent throughout the year. Pepe Reina would probably come second and Jamie Carragher third - Liverpool's stalwarts.
Performance: It's a tough one but I think the Anfield derby back in February is probably the stand out one for me because we went down to 10 men early on, but dug deep to grind out the win.
Moment: It has to be the resolution of the ownership issues. It means we can finally look forward and we haven't got two people at the helm who were taking us nowhere. It was massive for us.
Player: Not too many individuals have shined on a consistent basis during the past calendar year so I'm going for a player who, although not playing too many games, has done more than enough in those that he has. My player of 2010 is the big Greek Sotirios Kyrgiakos who, when called upon, has established himself as the new cult hero of the fans with a series of outstandingly wholehearted performances.
Performance: Tottenham at home back in January. We went into this match in the midst of a crisis with most expecting the worst against the new media darling from North London. Roused by a stirring pre-match show of support, however, a makeshift Reds XI defied the odds and silenced the critics with a passionate performance and deserved win.
Moment: A trip to Hamburg for the Europa League final would have been nice and it was so disappointing to miss out on that but although this club exists to win trophies even that would have paled into insignificance in the aftermath of events in the High Court. A long and drawn out saga it may have been but the completion of NESV's takeover will go down as one of the most important days in this club's illustrious history.
Jimmy Rice, Liverpoolfc.tv News Editor
www.twitter.com/JimmyRiceWriter
Jimmy Rice, Liverpoolfc.tv News Editor
www.twitter.com/JimmyRiceWriter
Player: Lucas Leiva. I was never one to get on the Brazilian's back, but this season he has developed from a decent player to someone whose absence is sorely missed. If his progress continues at this rate then I think one day he'll be regarded as a perfect cross between Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.
Performance: LFC 2-0 Chelsea on November 7. A heartening illustration of the potential within the current ranks despite a disappointing season to date. We all love to see an Academy graduate doing well, and on the day Martin Kelly had some of the world's best attackers in his pocket. And of course Fernando Torres was at his very best. More of that in 2011 please, Nando. Also a quick mention for Liverpoolfc.tv's display in a 15-14 five-a-side victory over LFC TV last month.
Moment: When your phone starts ringing at 2am, two possibilities come to mind: either a family member has died or someone is playing a prank. When I picked up my mobile in the dark hours of October 6 and listened to what I was being told, I was convinced it was the latter. The person on the other end of the line was informing me that Christian Purslow, Ian Ayre and Martin Broughton had effectively staged a coup and were trying to sell the club against the wishes of Hicks and Gillett. I would have hung up had the person calling not been my boss asking me to get into work. The hours and days that followed are the most dramatic I've lived through at LFC, but if I had to pick a single moment it would be on October 15 when I clicked 'Publish' on the story that our great club was finally in new hands.
Paul Anderson, Writerwww.bossmag.co.uk/
Paul Anderson, Writerwww.bossmag.co.uk/
Player: Pepe Reina. 24 clean sheets in a calendar year for a team which has been exposed on many occasions sums up how good the man between the Anfield sticks really is. He's also added a World Cup winners' medal to his collection, the only shame being he's wrongfully Spain's second-choice goalkeeper. It's been a year which has consisted of countless saves, captaining the side for the first time and reaching 100 clean sheets faster than any other shot stopper for Liverpool. He's an integral part of the team and a man who has epitomised the spirit of the club and our supporters during 2010.
Performance: Martin Broughton, Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre v Hicks and Gillett. During a calendar year which consisted of impressive displays against Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal at Anfield, it was the boardroom battle which hopefully means the club can progress and compete for silverware. With Hicks and Gillett trying their utmost to cling onto the club, Broughton, Purslow and Ayre all played a tremendous role in seeing the club sold to new owners who are now given the chance to help the Liverpool FC become a force once again.
Moment: Dirk Kuyt v Everton. Sat in the lower Anfield Road on a bitter February afternoon hearing the old enemy taunt how they were going to end their 10-year wait for three points at Anfield. Then seeing Sotirios Kyrgiakos given his marching orders 10 minutes before half-time and without main goal threat Fernando Torres, Everton supporters had their tails up. Only for one set piece and another moment of Dirk Derby day magic sent me into raptures whilst stunned Evertonians watched on in envy and disbelief.
Paul Rogers, Head of Content at LFCwww.twitter.com/PaulRogersLFC
Paul Rogers, Head of Content at LFCwww.twitter.com/PaulRogersLFC
Player: Steven Gerrard, who just edges out Pepe Reina for me. Over the last decade Gerrard has done everything you could ask of a Liverpool player - on and off the pitch - and during 2010, he's still been our most consistent and valuable performer. Who else, other than Gerrard, could have come off the bench to score a match-winning hat-trick against Napoli when the chips were down?
Performance: Martin Broughton. I produced his first LFC TV interview on May 7 when he told fans, "Success for me is completing the sale in a relatively short period - a matter of months - to somebody who hindsight says was a very good owner for Liverpool."
Then, just over five months later, with the sale completed minutes earlier, I was in the room in London when he told LFC TV's cameras: "For me, this is job done. I came here with a specific remit to sell the club, to find the right buyers for the club. I've found the right buyers for the club."
He said keep the faith, some of us did, many didn't, but in the end, I think it's fair to say he delivered.
Moment: Watching the Los 33 emerge from the San Jose mine in Chile live on TV, obviously, but if we're talking football then it has to be travelling down to the High Court in London to see the takeover trial and being present in the lobby of Slaughter and May when it was confirmed to the world that NESV were the new owners of the club. That and taking my young daughter on The Kop for the first time for the Chelsea game were the best things for me personally about supporting Liverpool this year. She'd only ever been in the Anfield Road before but the look on her face as she cheered Torres's goals, did the bounce and joined in with (most of) the songs, was brilliant. Hopefully, under NESV's ownership, she'll have plenty more days out like that to look forward to.
Claire Rourke, LFC TV Presenterwww.twitter.com/clairerourke
Player: I'm sure this will be a popular choice, but I'm also going to go for Pepe Reina. In what has been a difficult and strange year, it's hard to find fault with Pepe. He is a fantastic character and I was made up when he got to wear the captain's armband in recent weeks.
Performance: The performance that stands out for me was the 4-1 victory over Benfica. There was a different mood about the place that night. It wasn't the competition we wanted to be in, but fans, players and everyone at LFC TV were so keen to win it. You'll Never Walk Alone always gives me goose bumps, but I do remember it being sang with extra fervour that night. Fernando Torres obviously grabbed the headlines because his goals helped to book a date with Atletico in the semi, but special mention to Lucas who won a few people over that night.
Moment: I'm going to go for a personal memorable moment for this one. In May, I was given the opportunity to go out to South Africa with the club's community department. Our aim was to use football as a tool in the hope of delivering some vitally important life messages. I met some truly inspirational young kids - some were suffering with HIV and Aids, some from the most impoverished of backgrounds, and others who had no access to the most basic human needs such as clean water. It was remarkable to witness the power of the Liverpool badge at work. Through our messages these children were inspired and in turn they inspired us. I was in South Africa as part of my job with LFC TV, but this wasn't work, this was a privilege and provided me with some of the most memorable and humbling experiences of my life.
Peter McDowall, Anfield Pitchside Announcer and BBC Radio Merseyside Producerwww.twitter.com/petermcdowall10
Player: Steven Gerrard would get my vote, predictable I know, but he embodies all that is good about football and in particular Liverpool Football Club. His desire to drive the team on and in some cases carry them to results still amazes me, despite it happening so often. He's continued that in 2010 and that was set against that fear in the summer that he may have decided to take his staggering talents elsewhere. He is an amazing professional and great guy into the bargain. My runners up would be Lucas and Jamie Carragher, in that order.
Performance: I will go for the 2-0 win over Chelsea in November. Fernando Torres had been heavily criticised over his form and there he was back to his devastating best, and against a side that he had tormented so consistently. Any defender hates playing against all out pace, and you could almost sense the fear from John Terry every time he was forced into a sprint with him, it also took Torres's record to five in three games against them. The second goal was magical, and all fans watching could see what was going to happen before he curled it beyond the helpless Petr Cech onto a postage stamp. I don't think any of us have tired of seeing disconsolate Chelsea players trudging off Anfield on the wrong end of these great games, so that will go down as my most memorable performance of 2010.
Moment: I'm lucky enough to be the pitch announcer for home games and bringing Gerry Marsden onto the pitch to sing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' in October was a fantastic moment. I'm awe struck by the atmosphere when the Kop is in full voice, the new owners were there and there was a genuine feeling of optimism for most people. John Henry and his wife got a real feeling for how the crowd can react and be such a fundamental part of the football club going forward. It was 'hairs on the back of your neck stuff' and will stay with me for a long time, so that's the moment I will choose.
Joel Richards, LFC Bloggerwww.joelrichards91.blogspot.com
Player: Has to be Pepe Reina. For me he has been the most consistent out of the whole squad for the past year. If it wasn't for him and some of the saves he made, plus the amount of clean sheets he has managed to keep, then it's fair to say that Liverpool would be in a worse position than the one they currently find themselves in.
Performance: Not many to choose from but I'll go for the 4-1 victory against Benfica in last season's Europa League. On an evening when everything went right for Liverpool (for once!) the whole team managed to perform to a standard that fans expect on a European night. Not only that but the third goal scored by Fernando Torres was one of the best moves I have seen all year from anyone in a red shirt.
Moment: Not on the pitch but a personal one for myself and the fans that follow this club everywhere. October 2010 will live long in the memory as that was when the future of this club was secured thanks to the High Court and the change of ownership. Thanks to the fans (and Spirit of Shankly in particular) plus Martin Broughton, Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre, the removal of Tom Hicks and George Gillett was the culmination in a long saga which shouldn't have happened in the first place. Hopefully this club won't see as dark times ever again.
Jake Hargreaves, LFC TV Assistant Producer and Academy expertwww.twitter.com/JakeLFCTV
Joel Richards, LFC Bloggerwww.joelrichards91.blogspot.com
Player: Has to be Pepe Reina. For me he has been the most consistent out of the whole squad for the past year. If it wasn't for him and some of the saves he made, plus the amount of clean sheets he has managed to keep, then it's fair to say that Liverpool would be in a worse position than the one they currently find themselves in.
Performance: Not many to choose from but I'll go for the 4-1 victory against Benfica in last season's Europa League. On an evening when everything went right for Liverpool (for once!) the whole team managed to perform to a standard that fans expect on a European night. Not only that but the third goal scored by Fernando Torres was one of the best moves I have seen all year from anyone in a red shirt.
Moment: Not on the pitch but a personal one for myself and the fans that follow this club everywhere. October 2010 will live long in the memory as that was when the future of this club was secured thanks to the High Court and the change of ownership. Thanks to the fans (and Spirit of Shankly in particular) plus Martin Broughton, Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre, the removal of Tom Hicks and George Gillett was the culmination in a long saga which shouldn't have happened in the first place. Hopefully this club won't see as dark times ever again.
Jake Hargreaves, LFC TV Assistant Producer and Academy expertwww.twitter.com/JakeLFCTV
Player: My player of 2010 is a split decision between Conor Coady and Raheem Sterling. Raheem was a new signing last March/April and took to U18 football at Kirkby easily. He scored on his debut against Everton and has even made an appearance for the first team in a pre-season friendly. He is quick, confident on the ball and as tricky a winger as I have seen in a long time at that level. I'm sure Rodolfo Borrell and all the staff at the Academy will look forward to helping him progress through the ranks and develop him into a better player in 2011. However, I have to give my player of 2010 to captain Conor Coady. He is a well grounded and polite young man off the pitch and a top professional on it. His development since I have been watching him has been consistent and persistent. His debut season with Rodolfo and the U18s was a difficult one and as captain he took it on himself to push the team forward even when it seemed things just wouldn't go his way. He is a tough tackling, good passer of the ball and can play in a number of positions. On top of all that he was the first England captain to lift a trophy in 18 years and was named in the top 10 for the BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year.
Performance: The best performance has to be the U18s beating Leicester City 5-1 away in the Youth Cup in January. The Foxes were unbeaten all season and were the out-right favourites to win. But thanks to a fantastic hat-trick from Lauri Dalla Valle and a masterclass in tactics from Rodolfo Borrell it was an amazing result.
Moment: The takeover night. It was all hands to the pump at the LFC TV studios. Everybody was excited and working hard off the cuff as no one really knew when the news would break or how. Yet between the staff in London and here at Chapel Street we produced a fantastic live show!
James Carroll, Liverpoolfc.tv Journalistwww.twitter.com/James_Carroll84
Performance: The best performance has to be the U18s beating Leicester City 5-1 away in the Youth Cup in January. The Foxes were unbeaten all season and were the out-right favourites to win. But thanks to a fantastic hat-trick from Lauri Dalla Valle and a masterclass in tactics from Rodolfo Borrell it was an amazing result.
Moment: The takeover night. It was all hands to the pump at the LFC TV studios. Everybody was excited and working hard off the cuff as no one really knew when the news would break or how. Yet between the staff in London and here at Chapel Street we produced a fantastic live show!
James Carroll, Liverpoolfc.tv Journalistwww.twitter.com/James_Carroll84
Player: Pepe Reina. 2010 has seen the Spanish stopper send another batch of long-standing club records crashing, ensuring he'll forever be remembered as one of - if the not the - greatest goalkeepers in Liverpool's illustrious history. But not only have Reina's world-class attributes consistently shone, his leadership qualities have proven highly influential on the team and it came as no surprise to see Roy Hodgson hand the World Cup winner the captain's armband in the recent absence of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
Performance: From a personal perspective, derby wins are always a highlight and February's 1-0 victory against the Blues was particularly satisfying. A top-four finish was still very much on the cards at that point in time, but the Reds' hopes of achieving a derby double on a foggy Merseyside morning were dealt a blow in the first half when Sotirios Kyrgiakos was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Marouane Fellaini. However, Liverpool's 10 men dug deep to summon the famous battling spirit that has helped us defy the odds on countless occasions over the years. It was to be Dirk Kuyt's header after the break that sent Anfield into delirium and secured a hard-fought three points.
Moment: Undoubtedly the moment of the year for Liverpool FC was the purchase of the club by New England Sports Ventures in October, which finally brought the ill-fated Hicks and Gillett reign to an end. John Henry and Thomas Werner have resurrected a surge of optimism around the club and there is once again a genuine belief amongst everyone concerned that the future can be Red. Away from ownership, the decisions of Reina, Gerrard and Torres to commit their futures to the club proved that even without the allure of Champions League football for now, Liverpool are still very much an attractive proposition to the globe's elite band of footballers.
Paul Hassall, Liverpoolfc.tv Journalistwww.twitter.com/paul_hassall
Player: Pepe Reina. In a year blighted by inconsistency one man maintained the high standards that have earmarked him as arguably the finest Liverpool goalkeeper of all-time. A predictable choice but certainly a deserving one.
Performance: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea. Nov 2010. The Reds rolled back the years with a performance full of passion and desire. Fernando Torres stole the headlines with a reminder of why he is one of the finest marksmen in Europe, but everyone to a man gave an eight or nine out of 10 display as the champions were put to the sword.
Moment: It would easy to say NESV's takeover but I'm going to be different and say the full-time whistle of last season's Anfield derby. 10-men eased to victory against Everton's best team in a generation. A sweet moment.
Kevin Howson, Red and White Kopwww.twitter.com/kevhowson
Kevin Howson, Red and White Kopwww.twitter.com/kevhowson
Player: This came down to a choice of two. On performances alone it would be Pepe Reina. At times last season he single-handedly kept us in games and his attitude is always right. He gets pipped to my vote, though, by our very own Lazarus: Lucas Leiva. Booed by his own fans, pilloried in the press and rumoured to be surplus to requirements. Many a young man, thousands of miles from home, would have buckled but thankfully for us Lucas is made of sterner stuff than most. He kept his head up, his attitude remained superb both on and off the field and slowly but surely he has set about proving everyone wrong. His partnership with Raul Meireles has been one of the few high points of a wretched season so far. He's still only 23 and the sooner we get him tied into a new contract the better.
Performance: Compared to the glut of matches we've had to choose from 2005-2009 it is really difficult to pick anything from 2010 that excites. So I would nominate Martin Broughton and Lord Grabiner QC in the crucial High Court hearing. It was like a European away under Rafa, the preparation and the execution was immaculate.
Moment: In the end this wasn't exactly a moment as such, more a long drawn out courtroom drama with a twist of Texan farce but the easy winner in this category was the takeover by NESV back in October. What looked like a dignified end to the whole saga soon turned into a gut wrenching roller-coaster ride and finding myself in the bizarre position of providing live commentary from court twitter feeds on www.redandwhitekop.com; get in there Grabbo! We lurched from counter-bid to ludicrous counter-claims in Hicksville district courts until finally arriving at an official announcement on what turned out to be a very bizarre Friday. If I had to pick one moment from the fortnight it would, for schadenfreude alone, have to be Tom Hicks's interview later that evening. Sat in front of a picture of our glorious, if non-existent, new stadium and crying into his Liverpool mug about 'epic swindles' and 'internet terrorists'. It was the perfect backdrop for the celebratory champers doing the rounds in our house.
Steve Hunter, Liverpoolfc.tv Commentatorwww.twitter.com/shunter77
Moment: In the end this wasn't exactly a moment as such, more a long drawn out courtroom drama with a twist of Texan farce but the easy winner in this category was the takeover by NESV back in October. What looked like a dignified end to the whole saga soon turned into a gut wrenching roller-coaster ride and finding myself in the bizarre position of providing live commentary from court twitter feeds on www.redandwhitekop.com; get in there Grabbo! We lurched from counter-bid to ludicrous counter-claims in Hicksville district courts until finally arriving at an official announcement on what turned out to be a very bizarre Friday. If I had to pick one moment from the fortnight it would, for schadenfreude alone, have to be Tom Hicks's interview later that evening. Sat in front of a picture of our glorious, if non-existent, new stadium and crying into his Liverpool mug about 'epic swindles' and 'internet terrorists'. It was the perfect backdrop for the celebratory champers doing the rounds in our house.
Steve Hunter, Liverpoolfc.tv Commentatorwww.twitter.com/shunter77
Player: Pepe Reina. For me Pepe is the best goalkeeper in the world. To get 100 clean sheets for the Reds quicker than the likes of Ray Clemence, Bruce Grobbelaar and greats of the past like Elisha Scott and Tommy Lawrence says it all. He is the best 'sweeper keeper' in the land and his awareness and setting up of attacks is absolutely brilliant. Reina is also the man for the big occasion and his agility is different class. You know you can rely on our Spanish custodian when you need him and hopefully Liverpool's No.25 will be guarding our goal for many years to come.
Performance: The 2-0 win over Chelsea this season was our best display so far under Roy Hodgson and it was also a brilliant occasion. The two goals from Fernando Torres were different class and the atmosphere was red hot. Right from the first blow of the whistle you could tell the Reds were up for this game. With the crowd roaring us on we responded. Dirk Kuyt was playing his first game since his injury on international duty with Holland but you would never have known he had been out for a month. His energy levels were phenomenal and it inspired the team. Raul Meireles had his best game to date in a red shirt and he looked like the genuine class act we knew he was when Hodgson swooped to bring him to Anfield. Torres showed that even though form might be temporary, class is always permanent and his second goal on the stroke of half-time was a touch of genius.
Moment: The takeover of Liverpool FC by New England Sports Ventures. When we saw John W Henry emerge with Martin Broughton, Ian Ayre and Christian Purslow to announce they were victorious in the takeover, a huge sigh of relief was breathed by Kopites all over the world. As the court case and the drama unfolded we all knew how important the scale of this successful takeover was. At the start of the year the club was in an uncertain state with demonstrations against the former owners common place, but now we can look forward with great optimism to a very bright future.
David Fairclough, Former Liverpool striker
David Fairclough, Former Liverpool striker
Player: Steven Gerrard. We are very fortunate to have a player of his quality and even though team performances may have not reached the level we would have wanted at times, I think Steven has been the one who has tried to pull something out of the bag. The hat-trick against Napoli is symptomatic of Stevie - he's the man for the big occasion.
Performance: I know it's very current and springs to mind easily, but I'll go for Chelsea in November. The first 45 minutes were exactly what we want from Liverpool and although we never matched that level in the second half, there was no need to go gung-ho after having gone in two goals up at the break. For me, it is the stand-out performance of the year.
Moment: The moment is obviously the fact the club changed hands and got us moving in the right direction again. There is a real positive energy amongst the fans now.
Player: Lucas Leiva. A player who had taken a lot of criticism over previous years has developed into one of the more consistent players in the squad this year. Always showing for the ball and becoming more and more involved in the key parts of our game. His goal against Steaua Bucharest and performance against Chelsea in November are two particular highlights.
Performance: Tottenham Hotspur in January. There have been bigger scorelines, but this game saw the players and the supporters fighting together like no other this year. From the show of support by supporters on Anfield Road before to Kuyt's second from the penalty spot in injury-time, there was passion and determination to win a very important three points.
Moment: High Court. It is not a moment you would certainly want to repeat, but it is definitely a key moment in the club's history let alone 2010. Spirit of Shankly (SOS) had campaigned tirelessly against Hicks and Gillett from it's formation in the Sandon in January 2008. A democratically elected organisation that had arranged marches, stay behind protests, email campaigns, global poster campaigns, SOS held meetings with key officials at the club and the Premier League in the quest for fit and proper ownership as well as continually helping on other supporter issues away from the ownership. Summer 2010 saw other fan groups further supplementing the fight and SOS holding an Independence Day Rally on St George's Hall Plateau in Liverpool. The culmination of this campaigning at the High Court was an unlikely fixture for LFC, but an important one to hopefully begin a bright new chapter. John W Henry himself said in a meeting with SOS representatives after the takeover: "If it wasn't for yourselves and supporters doing what you have, we wouldn't be here now."
John Bradley, LFC TV commentatorwww.witter.com/JBcommentator
Performance: Tottenham Hotspur in January. There have been bigger scorelines, but this game saw the players and the supporters fighting together like no other this year. From the show of support by supporters on Anfield Road before to Kuyt's second from the penalty spot in injury-time, there was passion and determination to win a very important three points.
Moment: High Court. It is not a moment you would certainly want to repeat, but it is definitely a key moment in the club's history let alone 2010. Spirit of Shankly (SOS) had campaigned tirelessly against Hicks and Gillett from it's formation in the Sandon in January 2008. A democratically elected organisation that had arranged marches, stay behind protests, email campaigns, global poster campaigns, SOS held meetings with key officials at the club and the Premier League in the quest for fit and proper ownership as well as continually helping on other supporter issues away from the ownership. Summer 2010 saw other fan groups further supplementing the fight and SOS holding an Independence Day Rally on St George's Hall Plateau in Liverpool. The culmination of this campaigning at the High Court was an unlikely fixture for LFC, but an important one to hopefully begin a bright new chapter. John W Henry himself said in a meeting with SOS representatives after the takeover: "If it wasn't for yourselves and supporters doing what you have, we wouldn't be here now."
John Bradley, LFC TV commentatorwww.witter.com/JBcommentator
Player: Pepe Reina. For me, the best goalkeeper in the world, just pips Steven Gerrard. Both players could not be replaced but Pepe edges it. He is a vital cog in the team, magnificent in matches, but also conducts himself fantastically well off it as well. Already a true Red legend.
Performance: Liverpool 4 Benfica 1. After being beaten in the Stadium of Light in Lisbon, Anfield rose to the occasion, much like it did against Spurs in January. Benfica were a very decent side but were made to look awful as the Reds ran all over them. Just pips Chelsea game earlier this season.
Moment: The takeover was the key moment of the year, the club was in transitional mode, but was only really treading water and risked being left behind as battles were fought in the High Court, rather than where they should be - on the football pitch. Hopefully, under NESV the club can make giant steps forward.
Kristian Walsh, Liverpoolfc.tv columnistwww.liverpoolfc.tv/search/q/kristian+walsh
Kristian Walsh, Liverpoolfc.tv columnistwww.liverpoolfc.tv/search/q/kristian+walsh
Player: Our Spanish goalkeeper has been akin to a matador with a bull at times this year, regularly snatching any sniff of a goal away from dumbfounded strikers. His communication and positioning may not be as conspicuous as his world-class saves, but they're equally important to the team's success.
Performance: Benfica. We produced a great performance - and atmosphere - to overcome our first-leg deficit. The passing was superb, the volume from the supporters was as high as the tempo on the pitch, and Torres was majestic against a very good Benfica side who would go on win their league at a canter.
Moment: I was stood in MX with one of the lads who I went to Naples with, and seeing the Napoli fans silenced thanks to Steven Gerrard's treble was very enjoyable. It was also fantastic to witness yet another vintage performance from our captain.
Dan Davies, Esquire Magazine
Dan Davies, Esquire Magazine
Player: For consistency it has been Pepe Reina - the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. He's had a solid year, but he's hard pushed by Steven Gerrard. I'd also like to give a special mention to our most improved player, Lucas Leiva. In the second half of the year he's proven his doubters wrong and shown real backbone - that's what we like to see at Liverpool. For a 23-year-old playing in a foreign country, that shows a lot of fibre. Wearing the Red shirt means something to him.
Performance: FK Rabotnicki away. Obviously not the 'best' performance of the year, but a great trip into the unknown for the fans that made the journey to Macedonia and a very solid away win to get our season up and running. The fact the result was achieved with several fringe and younger players in a difficult atmosphere made it all the more pleasing.
Moment: Definitely the court case and getting rid of Hicks and Gillett - it was a huge relief. It was frightening it went close to the wire, but ultimately a proud moment for all those who had made a stand about the future of something they love and care about.
Dave Usher, Liverpool Way editorwww.liverpoolway.co.uk
Dave Usher, Liverpool Way editorwww.liverpoolway.co.uk
Player: Difficult, as very few have been able to maintain a good level over a consistent period of time. Gerrard and Torres have probably had as many bad games as great ones, maybe even more so in Fernando's case. Lucas and Carragher have been steady enough, Meireles has done well whilst Ngog has done okay for a young lad learning his trade. For me, though, Reina has comfortably been our outstanding performer of 2010.
Performance: Again, very tough compared to previous seasons. Benfica was okay although the score flattered us a bit, so it probably has to be the Chelsea win this season. They were flying coming into that game, although they've been terrible since which has kind of taken some of the shine off the performance now. Actually, can I go with Lord Grabiner's dismantling of Gillett and Hicks in the High Court?
Moment: Unquestionably the victory in the High Court. Had we been saddled with Gillett and Hicks for much longer, there's no telling how bad things would have become. So the best moment for me was seeing Broughton, Purslow and Ayre celebrating outside the court. Closely followed by Tom Hicks' hilarious "Epic Swindle" interview on Sky a couple of days later.
Author: Liverpoolfc.tv
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