THIS is the greatest day of our lives.
There will be analysis and there will be chat, and there will be talk. But this is the greatest day of our lives.
There is a piece. It is the only piece I have written in advance. I wrote it three years ago. The piece is 800 words about Everton winning at Anfield. It sits there waiting to be shown, waiting to emerge. Because I couldn’t imagine having to write about Everton winning at Anfield and so I have, and it sits, and when I was oddly furious around the 80th minute I started to think the piece may emerge.
I mean, up to 90+4, you could have been furious. Furious with the referee, furious with the old men in the crowd, furious with missed chances and brick-shithouse defenders trampling on Liverpool’s goalscorers.
But on 90+5, let the heavens declare it: the city is all ours. Hosanna in the highest. He only has little arms and Divock Origi is the greatest footballer ever to play for Liverpool.
And whatever did it, we are rejoicing. Whether it is Jürgen Klopp’s genius in the substitutions, whether it was the brutality of the “murderers” chant that demanded an answer, or whether it was Jordan Pickford’s arms that plucked the ball from its direction of travel out of the game and placed it in front of Divock Origi, who the fuck cares?
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Hosanna. Divock owed them that. Divock owed them that for Ramiro Funes Mori derailing his career with a stinker of a challenge years ago. Origi’s scored three goals against Everton but has probably scored more goals against everyone if not for that challenge. The mentality that chants “murderers” at Anfield celebrated that red card.
And all that is unfortunate. Because this is an excellent Everton side. They were great, you know. They showed character and aggression and quality in spades. It’s their best performance since their last win at Anfield, their best performance since before then.
I’ll tell you this now — Marco Silva is already, and will prove to be, a better Everton manager than David Moyes. It is spectacular the progress made from last season’s cowardly showing at our place. Sam Allardyce got one more point but he had no future. This Everton team is all future, all impressive. They get to be good.
It’s what makes the win all the sweeter, the day all the greater, what makes it a joy to be alive. The sheer happiness and the reason this is the greatest day of our lives is because they came to Anfield and deserved at least a point and then that.
Rejoice. Rejoice.
Rejoice in the smart and effective saves made by Alisson Becker. Rejoice in Virgil van Dijk’s leadership (even if at times, Everton’s press got to even him). And rejoice in last minute, throw caution to the fucking wind, decisions by our manager who demonstrates appetite for gambling that would make the mayor of Las Vegas blush.
Our gaffer is incredible. Our gaffer is the best of us, wants to be us, wants to enjoy in the blood and in the bone. Before Burnley away this year I will reflect on being lucky enough to talk to him about Burnley away last year, reflect on how much at heart he is a drinking, swearing, screaming football supporter. His job is to make it a joy to be alive and he does so with aplomb. He believes in the joy. I loved that he took them to The Kop. I love he ran on the pitch to celebrate with the goalkeeper.
It was pandemonium when it went in. It was bedlam. Remember this — these are young men in their 20s. Remember this — they are living their best life. They are getting to live large, live for us. Tonight we need to live for them. They need to get the adrenaline out of their legs, get themselves in shape for Burnley. Be professional. We get to live the greatest day of our lives, the happiest day of theirs because this is the game. The blood and the bone.
Origi knows that I hope. Knows he is a hero. Knows he provoked screams, and pride, and delight, and a little cry from somewhere.
Fuck your hurdles. Fuck your league table at least for a day. Fuck your blue flares. This is the greatest day of our lives. Red resplendent.
See you in town, handsome. See you in town, gorgeous. Let’s go dancing.
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I think you said it all Neil.
Times like this brings us all together and forget the negative crap.
Such an important 3 points thanks to Alisson, VVD and of course Divock Origi who just might be picking up where he left off against Everton that night.
Long may you never need to bring “that” article out!
Have a great time out celebrating!
As an old man in the crowd, let me tell you that a 30 something behind me is the most miserable bastard I have ever heard. He even managed to complain that Milner didn’t come on to the pitch after the game to celebrate with the fans.
In fact, we just witnessed the best football match at Anfield this season. Everton impressively good, and Liverpool dynamic but wasteful. At least we didn’t have to put up with the slow build up against a team parking the bus.
Perhaps we should give up the sense of entitlement and enjoy a real match.
But, what a way to win the derby! I’ll be grinning till Xmas.
Everton GK like something out of Jurassic Park.
Virgil’s swipe looked wasteful to the unexpecting eye, but Big Virge obviously put so much spin on the ball with a mind to dropping it down just out of reach of those tiny, tiny arms. It’s like we watched the first step-over or Cruyuff turn. Pretty soon the local lads at the park are going to be trying the Virge Swipe instead of the rainbow kicks favored by Parisian gobshites from Brazil. Assist of the season, perhaps the century.
Brilliant. :p
I love it when we beat that lot, I truly love it. It is even better when done in circumstances like today.
Personally Neil I hope that article you have tucked away never ever gets to see the light of day. I personally hope that blue shite never gets another win against us during the remainder of my life time and then some. Today is more than bragging rights. Tonight we will live it up and then focus on Burnley next, a team who last season we had an unlikely winner in that game and I think I celebrated it like I did today.
As for the Blue Shite, apart from when they play our rivals, I hope they get beat.
Quiz question!
Just been looking at some stats – and guess what, our record now after 14 games is better than in either of the two seasons I could think of when Liverpool blew everyone away: 1987-88 and (showing my age) 1978-79.
But it’s not quite as good as our record after 14 games in a season when we didn’t win the league: what was that season?
I’ve not seen it go off like that in a very long time. Those scenes with Klopp on the pitch are among the best I’ve ever seen at Anfield. There can be no greater way to win a football match. The very latest of late goals, giving the opponent no chance to respond. It just couldn’t have been better. Felt like it took me 22 minutes to realise the goal had been given. It was only when I saw the manager on the field I properly realised. I want that feeling injected into my veins. I thought nothing could top Mane’s late winner at Christmas and it turns out the only thing that could was an even later winner at Christmas.
It makes it all the sweeter that it came in a game in which Everton had genuinely played well. They’d already begun production on the DVD just before the goal went in. You know, the same time that celebratory flare had gone off.
@Dan “They’d already begun production on the DVD just before the goal went in.”
LOL!
That bounce of the ball! Origi standing where he was!
That was an act of god! Are the football gods with us this season? Finally?
We are an incredible side. We are mature, serious and consistent.
I dont want last season’s team back! Last season we offered great entertainment, but we always had that soft underbelly. No trophies, no consistency in the League, scrapping for top4.
Fans can hang on to the idea that the Reds are not playing well. But the truth is we have evolved into a team of moments. We create decisive moments where we win the game. And in between those moments, nothing much happens, especially in our half!
That’s what most title-winning sides are able to do! Looking forward to Burnley and those moments that hopefully bring us the next win.
Up the winning-moments-creating Reds!
It was said on TAW before the game that 94th minute goal of Virgil’s arse would do… Happy days !!
It was one of those goals. A goal that proves time is indeed a relative concept. The ball hits the bar for the second bounce. Time stands still. Your mind slows everything down. Frame by frame you think all of the following in order-
It’s going to bounce back in. Divock is there. He’s going to head it. Pickford can’t get there. He can’t miss. It’s the 96th minute. We’re going to win. Three more points. It’s Everton.
And then everything goes crazy. Time now runs at double speed to match the heart rate.
Only football can do this. These moments are worth the price of the season ticket whatever happens next. Enjoy it for all it’s worth. Tomorrow will take care of itself.