THE Reds. Top of the league. This:
– They deserve to be.
– Only 11 games gone.
– Book nothing for March and April and May.
Make no plans. Expect to travel long distances. Prepare to resolve all situations.
There is nothing but this right now. How do they expect you to concentrate in work? How do they think you can complete the simplest of tasks? Because these Reds. These Reds.
We need to take succour from them. When you need to box some admin, think you’ll match Jordan Henderson in centre mid. When you need to look at KPIs think about Bobby Firmino ticking boxes. Looking after the kitchen on your dinner. Channel Joel Matip.
There is nothing but this. Eleven games on the clock and Liverpool aren’t top by default or accident. Liverpool are top because they have been the best team in the country and look the best team in the country. What will change?
You tell me. They could be tidier when they tire yet Watford today deserve credit. They never let themselves be bent by reality. They kept working. Liverpool were just better. Yet they do concede when they shouldn’t. Could be more ruthless when on top. Think about that. Contemplate it. Could be more ruthless.
More ruthless! Astonishing, that would be a suggested improvement, that would be on your whiteboard. More ruthless. Imagine the carnage.
Today saw this: full-backs who don’t stop and always have a better touch than their opposite number. Forwards always likely, always one more. Adam Lallana and Emre Can who have only threat, imagine playing against them. And the captain, everywhere and talking to everyone, congratulating Mane, bollocking Lucas, encouraging Ejaria.
All over the pitch Liverpool. Philippe Coutinho marvellous, Firmino brighter than the sun. Daniel Sturridge unlucky. Sadio Mane gorgeous. All over the pitch Liverpool. The shape working and one more man, always one more.
I met a young man today called Cillian. It was his second game watching the Reds in the flesh. I wanted to grab him and hold him and tell him, it isn’t always like this you know. It can’t always be like this. And yet this season it might just be. I said to him – Cillian, we will meet again and be champions.
I hope I am right.
I might be wrong. We all might be wrong. But right now, this:
– It will take a serious team to beat these lads. Serious teams are around us and all the best to them.
– If that happens they deserve it.
– If that happens then all the best. Let’s make sure we have a ball and keep having it.
Because these are the days. Not striving and being sixth and never having a hope, never letting hope in. These are the days. Not fighting amongst ourselves or battling an ownership. These, here, now, are the days. Cillian doesn’t know this but you do.
Go to town. Be alive. Feel it in your fingers. In your toes. It is here and it is now and you decide what you do, feel and think next. You decide.
Up the top of the league Reds. May that never end.
Much love. See you after Southampton. That won’t be easy. But what a set of lads.
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Amazes me how you produce such brilliant writing so quickly. I have only just stopped dancing.
He spent 20 minutes after the match doing a Facebook live too, it’s bonkers. Neil’s on something! ;D
Here is a theory about Neil. Exactly 24 hours before kickoff time, he looks at his crystal ball to see the pattern of the match one day ahead (not the result, just the pattern of play and overall mood), he then lights his pot/grass (whatever)… while drifting in and out of Song of Solomon era in history, he writes these beautiful lyrics down, ready to be posted immediately after the match….
“Because these are the days. Not striving and being sixth and never having a hope, never letting hope in. These are the days. Not fighting amongst ourselves or battling an ownership. These, here, now, are the days. ”
Spot on, Neil. Spot fucking on.
Up the Top of the League Reds! #WTRWWAW
It could have so easily been 26-1….
One game a time.
again great piece Neil!!! i wish people would stop comparing this team to 13/14 cos for a start we’re defensively better!! loved it today we caused carnage and make no mistake we beat a good Watford team today…sorry murdered a good Watford team! up the impressive, majestic, exciting, crazy, incredible reds!!!
Timmo, agreed with you about Watford team. These guys will finish at the top half of the table for sure. I appreciate their spirit and their play (which is not an easy opponent to beat ; but we were just unplayable today)
Spot on Josh, they kept going mate and have just read they kept 3 clean sheets up to today! i think that says it all.
Not good to let in 6. But based on their overall play, they probably beat MU 3-0 at home with well deserved play (I didn’t watch the match so I am just guessing). Anyway enough about our opponents. We were really really good and long may it continue.
yes mate, and i’ve just read they kept 3 clean sheets up to today. think that says it all!!
To be honest I did think about 13/14 today. Tough to deny there are comparisons to the free flowing attacking play. It’s quite clear the lack of European football is a big plus. However, what I’m loving about the team now is the ease of the goals. Not saying they are actually easy. But the ball is put in the area at the right place and time and the finish, often, doesn’t have to be spectacular. It’s often the finishing touch to beautiful team play. This is where Daniel doesn’t seem to quite fit in. He sometimes tries to do it all himself. To be the star rather than a wheel in the cog.
If not fitting in involves coming off the bench for 20 mins, hitting the post twice and getting an assist, I can live with that.
It’s ridiculous isn’t it. Just a shame we can’t start with a few more up front. Perhaps klopp should try that sometime this season. 10 upfront.
I think rather than bring Sturridge on after 60, we should start with him ahead of Karius. Bring on Karius in the last 30 when we need him. Milly can play rush goalie meanwhile.
Maybe I want my cake and to eat it, but I was bordering on livid from 60 mins on when the game was reduced to walking pace. Goal difference may yet play a part and there were more to be had today. I’ve no time for professional respect and such like, if a team is there to have 7 (seven) put past them then do it. The scoring of the 6th placated me somewhat.
However, I’ve booked my hotel in Liverpool for the last game of the season. Going to be a big night and ticket or no ticket for the game, I’m going to be there.
Should’ve been atleast 9. Not good enough…
Messin’.
Don’t think it’s possible to underestimate the importance of these recent performances against the ‘lesser’ teams of the PL. The more we batter teams, surely the greater chance the next team turns up already half beat. And the lads’ confidence, that’s the biggest thing isn’t it?
Next week could be tough. But playing like this it shouldn’t be. I’m not keen on title talk this early on but you have to look at the run of games we’ve got and think, if we win the majority then what a position we will be in come the new year.
Up the could’ve been 10 reds.
The 11 teams we’ve played so far have accrued points at a rate of 1.48 per match in their other games. The 8 teams we have to play have a rate of only 1.22 per match.
Stunning performance all round. Said to my mate after 10 “they’re taking a big chance playing a high line with 2 up top. We could get 6 here if we click.”
PS big shout for the lads at the cycle hub who are genuine nice guys. Easily the best/cheapest way to get to the match. At least till the really shit weather kicks in!
Up the Carnage Creatin’ Reds!
This LFC team are already passing through the opposition as they try to retreat somewhere.
I won’t lie, I still get nervous before any game and sometimes think – is this going to be one of those days. It’s programmed into me based on the past. I need a software update. BUT, I relaxed after 2 minutes today. I knew we were going to win. I also believe in that pointless milestone of needing to score in the first 20 so they don’t grow in confidence and we don’t go start getting impatient. Again, on 20 minutes today I was fully relaxed. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time.
I’m almost used to us playing like this now, especially at Anfield. So, today the things that made me happy was Karius’s performance. Wijnaldum scoring, Can’s performance and Sturridge’s performance. It feels like our squad just got much stronger. Last week I had Wijnaldum over Can in my head. Next game I’m not really arsed which one plays. Karius was worrying me but I thought he was outstanding today (about to listen to the Pink and hope he gets a mention in the back to front / front to back). I worried does Sturridge fit our style. Only fine lines stopped him scoring a hat trick. Really positive game all round.
Just as a side note. My mate took his lad today. He was up at 6am playing Gerry’s YNWA on loop to learn the words. He was still on cloud 9 an hour ago. It struck me that when I was growing up I just accepted we were the best in the land, possibly world. I think our little mate may also grow up thinking that without being wrong. I remember 6 years ago when I started doing kids football how amazed I was that kids in Chester were turning up to training in Chelsea tops. Kids in London will turning up in Liverpool tops soon. We’ve got that much potential under Klopp. Did you see him today when Watford scored. Seething. I suppose I wanted to say, much as we’re all loving this my mates lad enjoyed it 10 times more. These are just great times and the joy is spread much further than what we read on all these forums. Finding it hard to convey but I was buzzing for him.
software update, v good – I’m an Amstrad at this rate and keep crashing b4 a game. YNWA
Haha. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the point where I’m supremely confident before each game. I don’t think I want to be either. I think it would take away the joy of winning.
I mean, don’t get me wrong I expected us to win comfortably but I can’t be blasé. Not in my nature. I always worry pre-match.
But, we’ve had murder on our private fb forum with positivity v negativity and I’m most definitely on the positive side. Don’t know if you’re on fb and saw Gareth from TAW’s rallying cry after the win yesterday. My mate copied and pasted it onto the forum as ammunition in our fight against the nay sayers. Went down well. TAW got a lot of praise from half the forum.
It’s a funny place, though, Chester.
I wouldn’t say that. There was a common theme though. My initial thought when seeing a kid in a Chelsea top was do these kids not have parents and it turned out all the guilty ones didn’t have father figures in their lives. So when they asked their mum for a Chelsea top I presume they were happy to try and please.
“We’re in wi’ a shout” as the great and humble Bob Paisley used to say…but no more than that…. yet
In the 37th minute, Can and Hendo get caught out of position and Watford break and score. In a parallel universe (or in 13/14). In this universe, Mane, having realised that is he is not an option and must therefore be protection, has drifted into the middle of the park and stops the counter before it even reaches the centre circle. Jurgen Klopp – the God of Small Things.
We were just marvellous yesterday. As others have said, the goal was always coming. I have seen it said that Watford were below par. I have seen that said about every team we have played lately. Could be a coincidence you know.
Keep it going Reds. As the TAW boys alluded to a while back, lets have teams coming to Anfield not thinking, ‘keep it tight and try and nick something from a set piece’ but ‘let’s just get out of here with our goal difference reasonably in tact’. As it stands only 3 other teams have the Prem in their own hands and two of those would have to win at Anfield. Keep it that way. Keep it going Reds.
I’m not having the 13/4 shout. I’m saying 1988.I’m saying we WILL be as good as the 88 style. We’re just starting.
If you’re already a bit too excited by title talk, do not, whatever you do, have a look at our run in and particularly the last 8 games after Everton.
Haha, I did last night. Making preliminary plans for a minibus to West Ham to see us win the league though I think we have to keep Watford free too the way we’re going.