Loud ‘n proud

Fans and club deserve a big hand
By ROBERT MARTIN

LIVERPOOL may have escaped from Tynecastle with a crucial first-leg lead.

But Charlie Adam reckons Scottish football was the REAL winner as Hearts showed they could mix it with the Anfield giants.

Andy Webster’s unfortunate late own goal saw the Reds claim an unmerited 1-0 victory.

But it was John McGlynn’s Jambos who took all the plaudits as they pushed the Premier League side all the way.

And for Adam, their display provided further proof there IS life after Rangers for the SPL.

Celtic’s win over Helsingborgs earlier this week saw Neil Lennon’s side put one foot in the lucrative Champions League group stages.

Hearts then made amends for their 5-0 humbling by Spurs last year with an all-action performance that very nearly earned them what would have been a deserved draw.

And the ex-Ibrox star insists their spirited display shows clubs can continue to thrive up here without his old club in the same division.

He said: “The result Celtic had the other night was terrific for Scottish football. If they do the job right in the second leg they’ll be in the Champions League.

“I know Motherwell lost to Levante but Hearts did well enough against us.

“It just shows the qualities the other clubs have got.

“We knew Tynecastle was going to be competitive. They were obviously disappointed about what happened against Spurs last year and wanted to do something about it.

“And we knew the crowd were going to be on top of us. I thought the Hearts fans were terrific. They egged their team on and at times they caused us some problems.

“But as the game went on we took control and we got the win.”

Boss Brendan Rodgers left out stars Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Martin Skrtel with one eye on tomorrow’s trip to Manchester City.

But he still expected the side he put out to be good enough.

And Adam admitted it was a case of job done for the Reds even if they rode their luck at times. He said: “We were coming into the game on the back of a disappointing result at West Brom last weekend. And we did the job we came to do.

“We’re looking forward to the return leg now.”

Hearts’ chances of progress now appear slim — especially if Rodgers chooses to play more of his big guns at Anfield next week.

But Adam insists Liverpool are NOT through yet, and is taking nothing for granted in Thursday’s rematch.

He said: “For us, it’s about getting into the Europa League. We need to beat Hearts to try and get there. We’re not home and dry. A corner, a free-kick, anything can happen at Anfield. So we’ll need to be at it again like we were at Tynecastle.”

Adam’s own impressive display against the Jambos suggests he still has a place in Rodgers’ Anfield revolution.

The Scotland star has been linked with a move away, with rivals Everton a possible destination.

But Adam hopes his Tynecastle performance may see him get the nod when his side travel to take on the English champs at the Etihad.

He said: “Everybody is fighting for their place and it’s about putting yourself in the picture.

“So beating Hearts was good for us all.”