Last week I had the pleasure of shooting one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures in European club football for some time. Nope, Tranmere’s trip to Wrexham was several months earlier. I mean Liverpool versus Manchester United in the Europa League at Anfield. It was the first meeting of the two sides in a European cup competition, which is staggering given the history of the two clubs.
I have been fortunate to shoot a fair few games for PHC Images this season, but was not expecting to get the nod for this one. In fact, on the day of the game I was sitting in my office in Liverpool when I received an email at around lunch time asking if I could cover the match. I was never going to turn it down.
Having shot an FA Cup tie at Anfield earlier this season, I was familiar with the setup. However, with it being a European fixture, there were a fair few changes I hadn’t anticipated.
Photographing a Europa League match
Having watched the Champions League and Europa League on television for as long as I can remember (okay, mainly the Champions League), you obviously notice the changes at pitch level on the TV. As it turns out, there are a fair few differences shooting a UEFA club competition compared to that of a domestic fixture.
Arriving in the photographers’ wire room, the differences are minor. The usual photographers bib is Europa League branded and the passes and lanyards also carry the competition branding. As on my previous trip to Anfield, the wire room was jam-packed full. I set my laptop up, ensured my code replacements were up to scratch and had a scan of the match programme. After that, I was good to go.
Making my way down to pitch side (find more about that at my Shooting at Anfield blog) and the differences soon become apparent. The first few rows of the Kop stand were covered in black material, preventing supporters from occupying the first couple of rows.
From the photography perspective, the usual ‘void’ between the advertising hoardings and a small metal grille/fence at the front of the stand in which photographers usually sit was gone. Instead, larger, taller digital hoardings are placed back against the front of the stand.
Photographers are not allowed to sit in front of the hoardings at Anfield, hence why the usual gap is helpful. On European nights, photographers are instead provided with wooden benches at the front of the Kop. I presume it is the same at the Anfield Road end, but I decided not to venture down there on this occasion.
It’s a little strange to get used to, firstly because you’re slightly higher off the floor than I’d usually like to be for shooting football, and secondly there is no segregation whatsoever from the fans. The supporter issue isn’t a big one, except in the lead up to kick-off the benches became basecamp for some of LFC’s flag-wavers. But that wasn’t an issue for long.
There is usually a huddle of photographers at Anfield before kick-off to get the photos of the managers as they come out for the game. There is a “p” marked on the floor near the dugouts beyond which photographers must not stray once the teams have taken to the field.
On this night, each team poses for a team photograph after the handshakes and immediately before kick-off, so it was quite easy to snap this once the manager shots are done. Afterwards, you have some time to dash up the touchline and get in position before the game kicks-off, although with this one being such a big game, there was some spectacular shots to be had of the flags and scarves in the Kop, as well as some passionate fan shots.
One last obstacle
With all the pre-match stuff covered, it was time to settle down on my bench at the front of the Kop. Photographers tend to gather between the corner flag and the edge of the penalty area at Anfield, as they do at many grounds.
Liverpool is the only ground I have shot at (so far) that has areas designated for use by club photographers only – I’m sure it’s no co-incidence that Liverpool players almost always run to celebrate in those areas (especially for the big games!). The photographers are on to this and so pack the goal lines near to the corner flags.
Anyway, with so many snappers between the corner flag and the area, I chose to pick an empty bench which was much tighter in to the goal. It was a risk, but with pretty much every agency represented at the game, I thought I may as well try and sit somewhere with a slightly different angle to everyone else in the hope of getting a snap maybe nobody else would. It’s always a long shot at a game with so many photographers in attendance.
As I settled down to my somewhat uncomfortable bench, Liverpool were shooting toward the opposite end of the pitch in the first half. This was fine, I was hoping for some action shots of man-of-the-moment Antony Martial.
However, I soon identified another problem I just had not thought about – the fifth official. Yes, parading in front of me constantly throughout the game was the fifth official, his backside managing to find its way in to many shots.
Getting the shot
Going in to the second half, Liverpool led 1-0 thanks to a Daniel Sturridge penalty. Luckily for me, there was more action to come, and it was pretty much right in front of me. A goal from Roberto Firmino was perfectly placed in front of me, and avoided the posterior of one of UEFA’s finest (but no so Adam Lallana’s!).
Firmino also ran and celebrated my side of the goal, and for a brief second focussed his tongue-pulling gaze in my direction. He then continued toward the wing and so the best shots of this will have been for those guys to my left nearer the corner flag. And shock horror, he celebrated right in the corner, just next to the club photographer.
The game finished 2-0, a great result for Liverpool and a great match to be working at. Next time I shoot a European game, I’ll certainly know what I’m looking out for.
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