LEICESTER City came into the game second in the table.
They are undoubtedly one of the three best sides in the division so far this season.
They were decimated by Liverpool on their own ground. They were taken to the cleaners by The Reds. The Champions of Europe, the Champions of Earth.
There was no room whatsoever for them to play football. Liverpool absolutely smothered them in all areas of the pitch. They outworked, outthought and outplayed Leicester in every area, in every position on the pitch. You and I – we watched it. We saw it. We loved it.
We both will be received.
This game absolutely stood out. Stood out a mile away.
It was ringed in ours with red pen for months. We’ll know a thing or two on Boxing Day, I thought in June. That’ll be a day out. A night of significance.
Ringed doubly for weeks. Leicester away will be something. For this side? Now? Wow.
Coloured in for days. Leicester away will mean everything. Leicester away will be a measure. It’ll let us know if they are bounding.
Transpires that wasn’t just me but that was the mighty boys in Red. Transpires Liverpool had it marked, time to make a statement, time to send a message.
What happened tonight at the King Power is a performance for the ages. It is a performance which defines this campaign to date and clarifies the road to come. A performance that rings out. It was the performance of Champions.
It is difficult to keep keeping it under, like trying to wrap a bicycle to put beneath a Christmas tree. However much paper you put around it there are the handlebars. There are the pedals. Just look at the thing. A bike wrapped in paper is still a bike.
The best side in the country are the best side in the country, however much we say there is a long way to go, however much we act like there’s no complacency.
There is no complacency whatsoever. They are just that frigging good. They have just won 17 of their first 18 and drawn the other. You can’t disguise it, the pedals stick out.
We’ve reason, more reason than we have ever had, to believe we all will be received.
A certain efficiency and absolute majesty. Regal. Stellar. It was an almost perfect performance from The Reds, upturning years of history in which Boxing Day has been a hangover game. Games to forget. Games watched through the fug of the cold and the indigestion.
Not anymore. These boys weren’t hungover. If anything, they looked fresh. How are they not more tired?
Jürgen Klopp loves these boys and they love him and tonight it showed. They played his game to perfection. They were calm on top, they controlled and passed and played and found a way to win. Confidence and control. Find the way. Never panic. Hold the ball. Believe in each other.
Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum and Naby Keity made constant contact, sharing the ball between them, most importantly robbing Leicester of any chance to break out. A team smothered. A team left empty, a team bereft.
Even at 1-0, the control was so absolute the pace could slow down to almost a standstill, almost no movement, but still Liverpool held onto that ball.
Not a player on the pitch played badly at the King Power tonight. Liverpool were tremendous. Trent gave us his world. His goal was a magical glide on ice, a slice of brilliance crowning a joyous trip around the world. That final goal topping off his place as man of the match with grace and elegance.
Allison isn’t tested. Not by Jamie Vardy, not by anybody. But he is always present. Always in the game. Shining like a National guitar.
Kasper Schmeichel is found wanting. The different roles played in this game by the two keepers is all you need to know to understand what went on at the King Power tonight.
That Liverpool’s defence were as forceful in attack as they were certain in the face of threat is all you need to know. That Liverpool get a penalty on the 71st minute, then score on the 74th, and on the 78th is all you need to know. Once the dam was breached, Leicester fell, and Liverpool dominance was absolute.
Bobby Firmino’s eyes lit up as he and Mo Salah jumped in unison, the ball falling squarely for his head and careening into the back of the net.
The first goal is followed by a ton of chances before the break, including brilliant runs by Mo as he consistently beats Leicester’s backline. He and Sadio could both score on a number of occasions, but it just doesn’t fall quite right for them this evening.
It has to be remembered that this team is second. These are not mugs. Leicester have overtaken Manchester City in the title race because they are good. Vardy and Maddison are a force, and they have the moves to make, even though they just could not impose themself on this game.
Similarly, on the other side, Ricardo and Barnes are quality. You can see how much they challenge and force themselves into other sides. They are fit and strong. Ricardo a lovely footballer; the second best right back in the country, the second best right back on the pitch.
But no match for The Reds tonight.
The handball is as clear as day, and it comes at the perfect moment, just as Milner has run onto the pitch. No man you’d fancy more with his first kick of the game. Milner strikes the penalty and Schmeichel’s night is ruined. They are done for. Bobby’s number two and Trent’s beauty comes shortly after and that is that.
It is a truly great Liverpool performance. One for the ages. One for the books. One for town tonight.
Another hurdle done. Eighteen down. Twenty to go. This is what she means.
This is it. This is what all the things that we care about feel like. Being together and playing for each other like our team does is what makes for joy and all these feeling of love. You cannot help but love them. You just cannot do anything but love them.
We want to try to play it cool because we don’t want to feel stupid in the end. But being in love isn’t cool. But being committed means you can look an idiot. But this isn’t about poise, it is about roaring at them when they come to you at the final whistle, about telling them they are the best of you, the best of themselves. Champions of the world.
Previously we have been left obliged to defend every love, every ending. There’s no obligation now. No obligation to pretend what is beneath the Christmas tree isn’t a bicycle. No obligation to dial it down. No obligation to say there is a long way to go.
There is a long way to go but we get to have that pilgrimage with Jürgen, Jordan and the lads. There is no obligation now.
There’s just us, poor boys, pilgrims, families. Come here, handsome. Come here, gorgeous.
I promise you. I love you and I promise you. We are going to Graceland.
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“That’s one of THE great Liverpool performances.
“As good as anything I’ve ever seen in my life.” ♥️
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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo
We are going to Graceland. Believe it!
Thank you for your words Neil.
Poor boys and pilgrims with families
And we are going to Graceland.
Was a great performance tonight. Both of this season’s performances against Leicester have been impressive. The game at home for our controlled and sustained pressure. This game added explosive, fast attack. Something which had been absent from certain performances this season. We have been anticipating a performance where we “blew away” the opposition. This could well be a candidate.
Minamino can come into this side in the next few months.
More energy. More skill.
Fabinho will come back.
Chamberlain should recover and be available for selection.
What a mid-field we can have.
Matip and Lovren should become available.
One last thing, what about Bobby’s celebration with Klopp? There was something there. It was a lovely goal. Low-key brilliance. So instead of sharing with his team-mates, it is to Klopp that he runs to celebrate. Now that is an indication of something. I would like to think it was to acknowledge Klopp’s encouragement and continued belief in “our Bobby”.
Two goals to conquer the world, then two to show Leicester what is really going on.
Can’t wait till the next game.
… plus a clean-sheet!
That bike isn’t one bought on Amazon, or in a last minute rush from Halfords. No, it’s custom made from Terry Dolan. Top of the range with the best tyres and gears money can buy with the most comfortable saddle. Everything on this bike is aero-dynamic to provide the fastest most efficient ride possible. It pisses on all other bikes.
To remind ourselves how far we have come so quickly , look at the 2017 match report for Leicester away. I had the misfortune to be at this game on a miserable Monday night kick off. Enough Reds – and Neil’s writing was at the forefront of this- kept the faith in Klopp and could see past the shite of that performance (Neil told it as it was that night).
https://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2017/02/leicester-city-3-liverpool-1-match-review/
After the 2017 defeat they got going again, qualified for the CL and the rest is history. What a fucking joy this team is to behold. Just got to keep them going, home and away. Support sounded brilliant last night!
Quite interesting to go on and read the comments underneath that report ;-)
A few of my favorites. Needless to say they haven’t aged well…
“Very few highs. Man United aren’t. They will spend money and win things. It’s as simple as that. They will spend money and continually win things. We will be forever 6th with a few highlights every now and then.”
“It was awful tonight. But we’ve seen many of these nights under FSG despite various managers being in charge and different squads of players.
FSG are to Liverpool what Wenger is to Arsenal. Not terrible, but we will not be breaking through the ceiling with their recruitment policies. Our hopes are always dashed in the end because the quality of players is never high enough to fulfill our expectations.
Klopp has made mistakes. He isn’t without blame. Tactically he shows too much naivete. But in the end it will be the same under FSG whether it is Klopp or someone else.”
Diamonds on the soles of their boots.
You can call me Al(exander-Arnold)
It is interesting that Bobby’s form has improved dramatically since Liverpool announced the signing of Minamino…he’s not even a Liverpool player yet and he’s already improved the team! I can only see us getting better as the season progresses
A superb article from Neil
I remember when I was going to Graceland for the first time and the anticipation that Paul Simon
experienced was shared with me via that wonderful song
I want to be in the football equivalent of that day come next May
Surely it can’t go wrong now
YNWA
Last night’s game reminded me of the sir Tom Finney game against forest. It felt like that kind of a performance from us.
Best match review in ages, following the best performance in years. With a stunning assist from Paul Simon.