It’s 17 years to the day a Liverpool fan’s Xabi Alonso dream landed him huge money
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It has been 17 years since a Liverpool fan’s dream about Xabi Alonso won him huge money.
On this day in 2006, Spanish midfielder Alonso scored the first of his two famous halfway-line goals that would forever be etched in Anfield folklore.
Under the guidance of Rafael Benitez, the Reds travelled to Kenilworth Road to take on Luton Town in the FA Cup.
Liverpool found themselves 3-1 down after 53 minutes but produced a monumental come back to lead 4-3 as the match approached the 90th minute.
Luton pushed everyone, including goalkeeper Marlon Beresford forward in the last few minutes to search for an equaliser.
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However, Liverpool won possession inside their own half and Alonso decided to unleash an effort on goal from about 70 yards out.
On his left foot, Alonso managed to fire the ball into the empty net to seal a 5-3 victory for Benitez’s side.
The Anfield club eventually went on to lift the FA Cup after a dramatic final against West Ham.
Liverpool fans will forever remember Alonso’s effort against Luton but one supporter in particular has an extra happy memory about that amazing strike.
According to a contemporary report from the BBC, Adrian Hayward of Newbury, Berkshire had a dream in July 2005 that Alonso would find the back of the net from his own half during the 05/06 campaign.
Therefore, the Liverpool supporter placed a £200 bet that the midfielder will score from his own half, at the odds of 125/1.
#OnThisDay in 2006…
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 7, 2023
Xabi Alonso scored this 70-yard goal in the #FACup 😍 pic.twitter.com/N6TaNwomIj
After Alonso’s strike against Luton won him £25,000, Hayward said: “I’ve never placed such a large bet before but I had a feeling about it.
“I was watching the Luton match on TV with my family and I saw the keeper off his line. I was shouting ‘Shoot!’ and he did. It seemed to take an age to hit the net but when it did, I just went berserk.”
Bookies Paddy Power said: “When he placed the bet we thought it was the easiest £200 we had ever made.
“But fair play to him. It’s great when these unusual bets payout and it shows that dreams do come true.”
Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: FA Cup, Football, Liverpool, Xabi Alonso, Rafael Benitez
