“SHOW them the way to go home.
They’re tired and they want to go to bed.
They’re only half a football team,
Compared to the boys in Red.”
Few stanzas as beautiful as that.
Before a ball was kicked there was talk of City’s strength. On our Friday show we talked to David Mooney and he was saying how he only really had two Liverpool players in a combined eleven.
But half a football team. There’s two things here – firstly a football team can often be greater than the sum of its parts. And it only needs to be that in key moments, not across a full ninety minutes.
Secondly sometimes football teams are defined by their weakest links, being the weaker side in a specific position or in a key moment means a side can flounder. Can thrash about. Those two things can be absolutely deadly. It can make a fool of pre-match predictions. Football can make a fool of us all.
“We’ll drag them down to our level. And then we will kill them.”
Manchester City 0 Liverpool 3. Dragged down? Not sure. More on that later. Maybe tomorrow. Killed. Almost certainly. What else? Only half a football team. Compared to the boys in Red. Yes.
Frankly, it should be four.
It’s strange but I fancied it. We had chatted away to David, Robbo was nervous but I fancied it and the closer it got to kick off the more I fancied it.
I fancied it given that Liverpool’s manager had had time to work with his key players all week. I fancied it given Liverpool had shown nous at Chelsea. I fancied it because one side would be the boys in Red and the best thing about boys in Red is you can always fancy them.
Half time though and I’m nervous. Very nervous indeed because they are good – Aguero has just scored a worldie and they have good players.
Plus my calf is dripping with blood from a cut elicited in one of those intense celebrations in this bizarre bowl.
They are selling aggressively, selling in a ground which isn’t sold out. Selling from 4 minutes in when a graphic went round the electronic display on the pitch hoping to see us again soon. Selling an idea, an idea which is Manchester City. They are selling it well. Selling it better than it perhaps deserves.
This becomes clearer coming out from the ground. No one gutted. No talk. No grief. I know, I know, but no grief and no beef. Walking out from Anfield all you hear is fury. Walking away from the Etihad it is flat as a pancake. Imagine walking away from Goodison or Old Trafford. Imagine walking away from Maine Road. 1-4 lads. Come on.
Back to half time. Back to nerves. We should be 0-4. We are instead 1-3. You’d have taken it, but the nerves kick in.
And there is no reason for them. Four players arguably have their best day in Red. Firmino, Lallana, Milner and Lovren.
Lallana the most interesting, his second half dummy is sumptuous but the better the opposition and the better his teammates the better he looks.
Firmino the most exciting. Sheer class all over him. Milner the most reassuring. One blip aside he is excellent. Lovren the least convincing, however unfair it may be not least because he’d die to convince me, die to convince you.
He’d die for the shirt.
But then tonight which of them wouldn’t? Playing and winning and running for Liverpool, doing it for the Red shirt. They won the game by three goals, Emre Can’s backheel gorgeous. But it could have been more, much more, in the ground of the side which should win this league at a canter.
This league. We’ll talk about this league in the days to come but there is nothing to be scared of, no team, no ridicule.
By 72 I had no more nerves. We’d seen them off and the question was how much more we deserved, a Skrtel thunderbolt getting me all nostalgic for a team on the march.
An end on the march. Across three tiers Liverpool’s hordes were on the march in Manchester. It felt clattering along on the march. Wonderful fayre.
At the final whistle they played, very loudly, a song by some of theirs.
“Don’t ever stand aside
Don’t ever be denied
You ought to be who you be
If you’re coming with me”
Few stanzas as beautiful as that.
Going home.
Hitting town.
You should do likewise.
Because when the Reds win, we all win.
Really, really, REALLY want Lovren to come good. Don’t even know why, but I do!
Seconded, Wal. Must be the Kloppo good vibes.
‘he would die for the shirt!’ you can’t ask more than that.
magnificent today. The Fans brilliant, Kloppo hugging everybody. hahah
Roll on boys, roll on.
The reds are coming up the hill boys…
Neil I have no idea how you compose yourself to write this and no doubt host The Pink in the car somewhere but for me captures the key item that this was a TEAM with a PLAN and PASSION.
God that was so much fun
100% agree with Lee. No idea how Neil can write something as coherent and insightful as this after a performance like that. I watched it on the telly and am only now calming down enough to write this short comment. I can only imagine how exciting it must have been for Neil and the other LFC away fans to be in the stadium! Respect to you, Neil!
Fucking ace. The first match I decide to watch in a pub for about 2 years. This felt very 2014-ish…in more than one way.
Hey Raheem! Shoulda stayed with a real club, la.
Different country. Same experience, same feeling.
The Redmen are coming up the hill !!!
And it’s not even Xmas. Felt like it though! And yes my head is going to hurt tomorrow.
Brilliant. I am just so happy right now! Our away fans are fantastic and you can see the players responding to them and our amazing manager!
I swear to God if you guys don’t get Steve Graves on this week talking title challenges I’m gonna go mad!
Well worth injuring calf for the 4~1 win, Neil, but get well soon.
This result and 3~1 won at Chelsea just have converted many doubters into Belivers again I am sure…Just hoping no slip ups in home games…
How huge was Lucas, playing on a yellow? He’s he biggest x-factor for me, and he’s starting to earn plaudits from the larger footballing world.
Dancing in the streets, Portland, OR!!!
Agreed, huge for a bit now, took one for team and done it early whilst city player hasn’t even crossed half way line,
Gets better the more he plays and Klopp believing in him has obviously helped his head,
We need the likes of him and Skrtel to become the seasoned leaders they should be.
The nerve of that Klopp. Playing without a recognised centre-forward, at the home of he billionaires. 3-0 up after 30 mins. Fans singing ‘show them the way to go home’. And the home supporters did. In their droves, by 1-4, it was the Emptyhad. Fantastic performances across the team. Nobody failed to contribute to what was a wonderful effort. Yes, City were poor but LFC exploited their weaknesses and scoring four was lenient. It showed belief.
And finally a word on Raheem…..actually, nah, I can’t be bothered.
Of course this couldn’t have been the Anfield team. Could it? I mean shrimp Sterling has already loudly declared that in City he plays with stunningly brilliant world-class players when once he played at Anfield with just some good players – good but never in the class of his ‘pals’ now. We must have feiled a team of ‘ringers’ then to have so humiliated them (and him). I only hope that his manager was in the crowd too!
A stunning display and we can but hope for more to come. A delight. Thank you to the entire team. What an end to the week this has been. Who is going to be able to sleep tonight? Sterling????? what goes around comes……….
Brilliant Neil.
De Bruyne came from the Bundesliga.
Firmino came from the Bundesliga.
Who got the better deal??
Klopp should get a hockey assist for telling Firmino to do his job. Firmino sets up Coutinho. On the back of Skrtel’s jersey it should say THE ROCK
Watched the game broadcast nationwide here in the States by NBC. My (American) wife was gobsmacked by the performance. “Poetry in motion” she said. Too right.
she sounds like a keeper mate
Nah, she’s a right back!
Absolutely Chuffed with this result! I’ve been very tough on Lovren, but he played his heart out today, and I hope he can continue to be as effective as he was. Skrtel, what can you say, boy wakes up on the edge of the box and decides anything Phil can do I can do better. Great match, great day to be a red! YNWA!.
Great day. Great win. Great to be Red.
Thanks Neil, great write up.
Neil nailed it. It was all about the team. Brilliant team performance and great individual performances from all the front 6 and, amazed and delighted as I am to say this, Lovren. Thanks to Jurgen, LFC as a team are now better than the sum of their parts – and we have some very good individual parts too!
You missed out ‘for a wank’ in the song.
Hahahahaha, gone at that!
Nothing like an old favourite getting an airing – “for a wank” was so audible as well
Then I saw their pace
Now I’m a believer
Not a trace
Of doubt in their minds
Brilliant performance from the men in red. We have the best manager in the league. He’s simplified the game for all our players. Believe!
I’ve been trying to put my finger on it Paul but that’s it “He’s simplified the game for all our players” – look at Dejan, Albe, Lucas, Emre – they look comfortable, confident and composed. Who’d have thought? I love that big smiling German bastard
Me too!
The Reds had tricks today. I’m not saying a certain nickname needs to be resurrected, but the Reds were the best kind of tricky today.
Thank you Simon dejan Alberto nathaniel martin emre Lucas Adam Phillipe Bobby James Kristian Jordom and kolo. Thank you jurgen you are a miracle worker
Is the sides, Spurs 2013 moment…..hopefully season ignites and kicks on from here….
Ya it certainly has a bit of that vibe,
Healthy bench also considering the still large injury list.
My little lads 2nd Birthday. I’ll think of that game on this date for years to come. Thanks for the memory you beautiful red bastards.
Said it b4 ill say it again :
Teams like Manc Shity are like kia or hyundai. We’re probably more Lexus than Mercedes. But I hope you see my point: you can buy a few plaudits but real class and reputation takes generations.
And eh TAW, next time you have the filthy blue mancs on ask them what the 3 stars on their club crest mean!
Ok Bob
“Don’t let anybody get in your way
‘Cause it’s all too much for (them) to take”
Has to played pre match on a regular basis. Sent our end bonkers
Lallana interview on match of the day summed it all up. “It was great fun”.
Jurgen Klopp is our manager. Our. Manager.
It’s the little things that make such a massive difference and Klopp knows what these little things are … from a distance when he’s hugging everyone post-match it’s like their dad is on the pitch with them, not their manager… They want to play for him. Long may it continue ;)
^ this ^
Please just don’t wake me up. This is a fantastic dream.
“We’ll drag them down to our level. And then we will kill them.”
If we learn how to not play/support like cunts at Anfield we might just win this league sooner rather than later.
Did they play Pounding by Doves after that game btw? Hoping they did, the small time, Champions League-hating gimps. Get Man Of The People Noel Gallagher on MOTD 2 tonight to talk about ‘The Brodge’ and how every song he’s written after his second album is an embarrassment to life.
A truly magnificent team performance all round. Look at Klopp’s reaction to the goals. He turns to celebrate with his assistants because he knows they’ve collectively done a job on City (Pellegrini meanwhile looks around and sees Kiddo!).
Obviously the score’s the only stat that counts, but how about our 13 fouls to their 4? That’s suggests a team that knows what it’s about. Good times lie ahead.
Sorry to hear about Souey. I know he divides opinion, but he gets into any best Liverpool 11 of all time so let’s hope he’s up and about soon.
I liked the way that LFC players were always looking for a colleague in a better position when they created chances. This was the major difference to the match at Chelsea. I had not expected so many clear-cut chances against a major contender so soon, but the last two weeks obviously paid off. What a grace to watch.
Any update on the welfare of Gareth Roberts?!
Ask Nick Nolte
And the cut aways to the bench showing Jordan Ibe’s reactions to goals and near chances is priceless … Everyone is kicking every ball whether they’re on the pitch or not … That’s the Klopp factor in many ways.
Was a mad away end yesterday. Was in tier 3. We had loads of space with it being a new plastic ground but every goal was a mass pile on. Not seen that since the likes of Old Trafford 2014.
One of the biggest cheers of the night was for Klopp at the end. Had to duck down under that giant French flag to see him but his fist pump to us was the cherry on a glorious red cake.
Individually I don’t rate our squad very highly but look what he can make them do. Imagine what he could do with better players.
Fantastic piece Neil! Pride, passion and belief, we worked as a machine and city couldn’t cope, anytime they got a foot hold we just seen it out and hit them on the counter, the pressing was ace, abandoned headless pressing but almost zonal pressing for want of a better description, we wanted them to have the ball then scared them into submission, a joy to behold! You can stick your Raheem Sterling up your hole, you can stick your Raheem Sterling up your hole, you can stick your Raheem Sterling, stick your Raheem Sterling, stick your Raheem Sterling up your hole!!! Love how we went in hard in every challenge against him, just a pity Agger has left!!
Is it too late to be top by krimbo? The fixtures look tasty and we’re fearing no one. Can’t wait to see Hendo with the bit between his teeth next to Lucas.
This match showed just how wrong the committee got it with Balotelli. Pace, movement, intelligence, and work rate. Firmino telepathic with Coutinho, who also has telepathy with Sturridge. This could get murderous.
Then imagine the joy of seeing Flanagan on the pitch again. Top by krimbo?
When apples in our fruit bowl start to show their age, I take them outside and fling them at a telephone pole about 20 yards from my back door. On Saturday morning I had 6 apples. I told myself if I could hit the pole with one of the 6, Liverpool would beat City.
Apples 1 to 4 were disappointingly wayward. Apple 5 was a peach. Didn’t need apple 6.
Knew at 11.23 on Saturday morning that we’d win.
And we did.
All we need to do now is get the home atmosphere sorted, and top four becomes realistic.
Saturday was the best footy I have seen us pjay for years
Yawn…
And we move a step closer, Bob. Yawn indeed.