KOP'S ROAR EMOTION

Tears of joy for Sven on a day football showed just what a beautiful game it is

- CHRIS MCKENNA

IT is a Bill Shankly quote that has been taken too literally but it was the iconic old Liverpool manager who once said football was a more important matter than life and death.

Of course, football is never more important than life and death.

But what it can do in life is give those who love the sport moments to savour before their time is up.

That's what Saturday was for Sven Goran Eriksson.

At a time which must bring so much sadness for the former England manager and his family, Eriksson's tears were ones of joy.

While the rest of the country seemed to be in a pathetic state of anger over the colour of a bit of fabric on the back of a football kit, the sport showed the good it can do at Anfield.

It was a day which Liverpool got so right. They opened their doors to Eriksson after his revelation in January that pancreatic cancer is expected to take his life in the next year.

Eriksson was a boyhood Red, a love affair passed on by his father.