THERE is something that is so, so true.
Wherever you were, however you thought, whatever your mindset, you are all in now. You now know, now remember, what it is to be alive.
You felt that. You lived that. You found yourself there. For a lot of us the buildup to this season has been hard. It’s been a massive unknown. You set about a quest, one which has taken 10 or 20 years. It happens. And then what does starting again feel like?
What does it feel like? Well those questions were soon knocked asunder. Because I remembered what one simple thing felt like. The need to get three points at all cost. The need to simply win because that is all there is.
I watched the game with Dan Austin. Dan and I were both in the end when Liverpool made it 1-2 against Southampton through Mo Salah. When nothing had ever felt like that. When it took bedlam to a whole new level. Tonight wasn’t that because the vast majority of Liverpool goals weren’t that. But it was all of a sudden in its ballpark. All of a sudden in the vicinity.
The thing is this: Liverpool shouldn’t concede three against Leeds; Liverpool shouldn’t concede those three. But that they did allowed them to score four. And scoring four put us in the vicinity. In the blink of an eye you feel deeply, profoundly alive. The blood courses through your veins and I will be fucked just as you will be if we give this league up cheaply. Every kick a heartbeat, and it hurts with every heartbeat.
Maybe we can make it happen. Maybe we can make it alright.
You need more. You aren’t alone. Mo Salah is remarkable. He sets off on a trajectory to get 114 league goals putting William Ralph “Dixie” Dean’s 60 in the shade. He’s so prominent in the game despite two of the goals being penalties. He is the match’s defining force, Liverpool’s defining force. This is the season where he could genuinely be the best player on the planet and this is a start.
He makes a fabulous run back to left back to cover, kept beating three when there was need to beat four, kept showing like a man possessed. But he is so certain. When he rattles his open play goal home it is on the verge of being skywriting about these pricks at the back.
They are our pricks. The two centre halves, the goalkeeper, the right back all have a bad night. Andy Robertson is tidy enough and grafts. But let them be our pricks. Let them show shortcomings, let them have a bad night. They get this one. Let’s see what happens next.
I don’t look back.
It was a game which bypassed midfield dramatically. Jordan Henderson drove me mad but worked. Naby Keita started well but drifted. Gini verged on anonymous for 55, should have scored and then was everywhere. We will spend a season talking about the manager’s midfield selection. About his midfield substitutes. We’d do well to be in the results business I suspect.
Every heartbeat.
Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino could both offer more. Just that bit more composure. But they work.
The point is everyone works. Everyone believes. They resist the disappointing first week and instead just offer adrenaline on toast. They remind us to not look back.
Thirty-seven hurdles left. Thirty-seven times to be hurt. Thirty-seven times where we get to live. Where we get to love.
It’s all back. It’s all a sweetheart deal. It’s all the centre of our being again.
Enjoy every heartbeat.
For instant reaction to all the Liverpool news and events that matter to you, subscribe to The Anfield Wrap…
“Say what you want about Liverpool’s errors…”
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) September 12, 2020
“We lived it. We felt every minute of that especially while we can’t be in the stadium.”
📱 Subscribe for all our reaction to The Reds’ first game of the season 👉 https://t.co/LEQrmm7L4w pic.twitter.com/IT3QlkfFKT
Yes, yes, and yes again. That drove me mad. I was almost surprised at how wound up I was at certain points second half. I had a weird sense of the third goal for them a good 30 seconds before it arrived, and I am no clairvoyant. It was a game destined to do your napper in. But it was also our destiny to win it, somehow.
I want it all but I’ll take putting manners on Fwank and co and then avenging the last two ludicrous reversals to arsenal. Atonement. Wins. Points. Let’s shore up the messy stuff at the back, get fucking steely and quit trying to walk it in so much. Let’s knock these fuckers out because we want to retain our title, we want more trophies, we want the lot.
Right on NB; I was a bit surprised at Leeds’ team speed and how difficult it was to get separation from them in the open. There were a ton of blocks from Leeds and on another day, we get more goals than even these 4 with Gini, Naby, and Bobby all having golden chances. We outshot Leeds on a 3:1 ratio so an excellent start offensively and the defense we’ll work on
Fuckin hell Neil, I love your positivity, I really do, and my heart beats hard for these reds. So hard I can hardly breath at times. But your hatred for the Ev sometimes gets the better of you. Come on, leave the comparisons with Dixie Dean alone mate. 63 league goals in a season. Mo will need a steel implant to get close to that!
Mo was fucking brilliant today. I love him. That is all.
Surprised at the criticism of Gomez, I thought he was excellent throughout. Trent had a shocker, Virg had some shocking moments, but also showed why he’s the best centre half in football history for my money.
I thought we were far superior all over the pitch right up until we made some silly mistakes.
Leeds pressed us in a way I’ve not seen for about 3 years. No-one has done that to us home or away. I thought we looked completely shocked to begin with – like “wait, someone actually wants to take us on? They’re pressing me HERE!?” It took us some time to adjust, but adjust we did. If that had finished 6-3 i don’t think it would have been unfair.
Leeds biased our midfield, but drew then our of shape first. So many of their breaks are predicated on Gini or Naby being sucked too far forward, resulting Gomez being sucked into midfield, leaving Virg and a half-fit Trent overloaded. Gaps appearing between Sadio and Hendo for their lads to break into. Not a great from the reds, but laser accuracy, tactically, from Leeds
Bypassed, not biased, soz.