LONDON (AP) - The wife of Liverpool owner John Henry made sure she was ready to mix with the fans on her first visit to the English club after finding a new use for Twitter _ taking singing lessons from loyal supporters.
English supporters are renowned worldwide for their chants and witty repartee. So Linda Pizzuti consulted the social networking site to ask Liverpool fans what she should be singing at Anfield for a match against Napoli.
The suggestions flooded in, and Pizzuti, a 31-year-old from Lynnfield, Mass., was ready to go.
Pizzuti tweeted Friday: “The ’You’re not singing anymore’ chant at the muted Napoli fans once we pulled ahead was a highlight…”
And Liverpool fans had plenty to chant about.
Alongside Pizzuti, Boston Red Sox owner Henry had his head in his hands after Liverpool conceded a 28th-minute opener. But captain Steven Gerrard came on as a second-half substitute to score a late hat trick and secure a 3-1 win over the Italian club.
Liverpool had won a third straight match for the first time in almost 14 months and the home crowd was jubilant.
“Finally experiencing the famous Kop,” Pizzuti tweeted. “Hearing, seeing, and feeling the massive force, spirit, and fun of it is incredible.”
Pizzuti was even ready to serenade Gerrard as the England midfielder tied it in the 76th, scored an 88th-minute penalty and then lifted the ball over the goalkeeper from Lucas Leiva’s pass.
“Wow! Anfield really is a special place! Fantastic match (certainly heard the Gerrard song!) with first class and very fun supporters.”
Pizzuti’s move charmed Liverpool fans, who took to Twitter in droves to compliment her.
Many are thrilled to have patrons who seem to be more in tune with fans than former owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, the unpopular Americans who were finally ousted from the club last month.
Also Friday, Henry said that he did not consult manager Roy Hodgson before appointing Damien Comolli to a new role of director of soccer strategy.
Comolli held a similar role at Tottenham for three years until 2008 and will work alongside Hodgson on matters such as approving player transfers and squad development.
Hodgson has worked solo for much of his career, but Henry said the veteran English coach supported the move to bring in the Frenchman from St. Etienne.
Henry added he would borrow heavily only to fund stadium construction, not make big-money player transfers.
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