I WISH I could be with you.
I wish they’d got a fifth.
Other than that, other than those two things, that was about as close as it gets to perfect.
Two points to go. Two points for heaven’s sake. Two points for heaven.
And next up, our direct rivals. Manchester City. A ludicrous situation, if you think about it. If a scriptwriter came up with it, you would say it was too obvious all this. Tell me this, though. Does the script writer in your head want City to win their game in hand? Are you more desperate to get it done? Or does the story demand a showdown?
I want City to drop points after Liverpool have been this brilliant. Because that is the actual story of this season. Because that would set up something so spectacular when we went to the Etihad. Everyone’s shackles would be off. The game would be about brilliance. The game would be a joy and we are all crying out for that.
Tonight is one more voodoo team out the way. The mythical, in every sense, Crystal Palace hoodoo held over the Redmen left smashed into a million pieces by a four-goal smashing performance at an empty Anfield. Our flags watched over them, flags as the purest symbol, the purest message. We wish we could be there but here, have these cultural artefacts, have these pure red missives.
Liverpool’s back line in the first half is so high it is practically passing out from the Anfield Road. Crystal Palace are attempting to patrol their goal rigidly, vain hopes that they will lock us out.
But the return of Andy Robertson and Mo Salah lift Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. And this quadrangle lifts the ball over the two banks of four with alarming accuracy and dexterity. Liverpool flew into Crystal Palace. They never gave them an inch or a chance and they never let up, but the first goal was still a beauty.
Trent Alexander-Arnold. No question. The timing is perfect, just before the water break and you imagine Klopp’s words of desire, keep going lads, keep going, one step more, keep going. Though Palace really harass us at moments in the first half and they have an attitude that is admirable, they have nothing like the squad to take us on. Wilfred Zaha going off is a massive blow for them.
The other three goals are just as good, to be fair. Mo’s is classic Salah. Finding space where others wouldn’t, bending time and space to get the ball in the back of the net, a mile onside when the brilliant Fabinho ball is played, but so far clear by the time he strokes it home.
Fabinho’s a stunning strike catching Palace defenders napping. And Mané with open shoulders gliding the ball beyond the keeper’s grip having been played in with a Kenny Dalglish style through ball from Salah; the pace and direction sumptuous.
Apart from Trent’s freekick, all the goals are team goals. They are created from front to back, they are shaped in motion by a team that knows each other and understands how their constant motion works as player glides past player to undo tonight’s opposition. It is Liverpool at their compelling best. Beautiful to see. A delight.
And the team always keeps moving on. It’s nice to see Neco Williams and Harvey Elliot at the end. Get them as many minutes as we can in this weird environment. Get them feeling how to be a part of this thing. Williams especially is bright as a button and could have come away with both goal and assist. He has such gumption.
It’s a thing to be a part of, this club. Say it to yourself – how good this is – how wonderful to be a part of it – and you try to find the words in this moment, at this time. It’s strange to say about a side that won what it did between 1976 and 1990, strange to think but this, here, right now could be the best time to have had this.
We have marked days that will truly be days, you and I. We have written and spoken and filmed the times and trust me, tonight is one of the times.
There is something in the chase, something in the fulfilment found in the process, something in the need, in the craving. Something in the sleepless nights and the jokes shared and the heartbreak tasted. There is something in the steps, one after the other until now when there is only one more to be had, only one more left which has been the most beautiful thing to have shared.
At the moment, all I can think of is the people I love. The people I want to share it with where directly we can’t. The people who are gone, for whom I would give anything to have five minutes to tell them. It’s one more step, I’d tell them. It’s one more step, I tell you. Our final step.
The final words could have been tonight. Tonight would have graced them, Liverpool were that good. But the final words will have to wait. What it will feel like will have to wait.
Well that’s alright. We are good at waiting.
Not long now.
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What a glorious night and a glorious game. 4 fantastic goals and more to be had but brilliant performance all the same. None of our players put a foot wrong and it was everything we could have asked for after the Everton match Sunday. It could all be done tomorrow, but with 8 days to prep for City, chances are good it’s this same 11 for the Etihad which will be too much for City to bear.
F**king he’ll Neil, had me crying this thinking about my gramps missing out on this team. 66 years a red. Bob paisley’s plumber! YNWA has me crying last night as well in the empty stadium. Up the title winning reds
Faultless performance and it was the best for a long time, you see the difference with Robertson and Salah back in………..that is the issue we need to fix (the drop off) when they are not playing, I still think a loan deal for Coutinho or Ozil is worth considering?.
Ozil is so far removed from a Klopp player that he might as well be a different species.
I genuinely wish i could write/express like you Neil. Can’t wait for the reds to make it official.
Coutinho or Ozil would not be on the radar 3 months ago, right now all possibilities are on the table due to finances being hit, that type of player on-loan makes sense, not necessarily those two players tbf. Michael Edwards will be revising his targets and drawing up a new list of players, we need additions to help out the chance creation:
Coutinho: £250,000 a week=£12.5m per year, 50% wages £6.25m + £5m loan fee?
Ozil: £350,000 a week=£18.2m per year, 50% wages £9.1m + £3m loan fee?
Signing either player is ‘relatively’ cheap in this market, no commitment beyond next season and by that time we would be looking at more long-term deals?, hopefully the financial climate has settled down?…………..players in the last year of their contracts will also be cheaper right now!.
We have waited for this.
We have earnt this.
We will enjoy this.
We will celebrate this.
We deserve this.
We will win this.
Usually save Neil”s match reports for the morning commute but they are beautiful wherever I read them. It’s a long way from the Pink Echo with the goal report in bold ..’Callaghan cross headed in by St John’ to this. Thanks Neil.
I genuinely didn’t know what I wanted from tonight’s City game until I read this. Now I want them battered at the Bridge. You’re right, it would be beautiful to play at the Etihad as Champions, simple and pure.
Not to mention widening our record Premier League winning margin for the ages. So, great to have clarity to wholeheartedly support a team through the game, thanks Neil – come on Chelsea!