Neil Atkinson’s post-match review for The Anfield Wrap after Liverpool 1 Manchester City 0 in the Premier League at Anfield…
NO gifts, Liverpool. No gifts.
There were no gifts. No gifts before 30. Nothing daft by half time. Get to 60. The chance will come. Big 10, boys. Big 10.
I couldn’t keep my eyes off the clock. It’s the most that’s been the case since Madrid in the Champions League final against Tottenham. But that was one up.
This was something else. Time is a participant in football matches. In proper football matches.
This was a proper football match. When I wasn’t looking at the clock, I was swooning. It was the best of the sport. It was elite. I loved it and adored it. I have no idea what the league table says, but two of the best teams in the whole world played against each other today and they showed why that was the case.
They are financially doped. They play the game in a different way in the macro sense. They can pull any gimmick they want. But my god they are good. There are sides who have so much money but they aren’t as good as these. They aren’t as well coached as these. They aren’t these.
I watch them and am knocked over by them. They find space. They make you find a way where your best case scenario is Kevin De Bruyne has the ball at his feet. They constantly get Ilkay Gundogan in space. He gets himself in space. They have Erling Haaland and he is terrifying.
I love their manager. I know a lot of you don’t. I love him because he is my kind of weirdo. He’s smart and made out of passion.
But so is our guy. And we are the two best teams in the world. I love them because they frame us. They frame our majesty. And while our majesty may currently be laid low? Absolutely. But today they intensified that even more.
These are the two best teams in the world. The main fella was on the pitch today. His name was Mo Salah. The goal was tremendous. Alisson Becker’s ball was the absolute business and the previous saved effort was forgotten after Joao Cancelo was spinned and there was only the main fella.
He was exceptional and he ran the channels, and he showed, and he scored, and he gave it the big one, and he ran the attacking press, and he found every touch, and he is my favourite, and I love him, and he could prove to the best player ever to play for Liverpool, and the greater the challenge the better he gets, and I just want to watch him forever.
The main fella. My guy. Our guy.
At the other end of the pitch and at our perception, James Milner was like Willy Wonka when he staggers out, on the verge of collapse, with a walking stick and then does a forward roll. It’s mindboggling really. He’s as smart as it gets. Phil Foden is in every way, with the glaring exception of his haircut, the absolute business. But then there is James Milner.
My guy. Our guy.
Joe Gomez will do for me. I love him, you know. He is so full of quality and doesn’t have to play Erling Haaland every week. His passing is piercing. There is a weird issue. Two years ago he seemed physically dominant. That is harder now because the forwards have got bigger. But he is still my guy and showed what I wanted in that regard tonight.
Fabinho was good in midweek and brilliant for periods tonight. He finds a way over and over to get his foot in. I would like to have a big chat about space at some point. Manchester City are so good at it so imagine how good you have to be to deny them of it. He managed that over and over. More on that to come.
Andy Robertson was back and he is also my guy. Our guy. He was left with a series of big decisions between Joao Cancelo and Big Kev and Manuel Akanji, and I think Diogo Jota is in the same boat. They sorted those out. But these are the questions City ask.
Harvey Elliott had a lot to do. But he did it well. It’s playing more than one position. But then so did all of them. All 20 outfield positions. They all had to be multifunctional. What I love about these sides is that every blade of grass is involved. Everyone has to be three players.
What strikes me is that the more things change the more they stay the same. This is football from the future but football from the past. It finishes 1-0. Teams play for territory. You put it in touch. You get what you can. This is the future of the game. These are the best and sometimes you just empty it and you need to win your battles.
I love this game and I love you, and I love the fact that today’s game is settled by the goal it is, and you just win your battles, and show clinical finishing, and you never ever know.
Get what you can, Liverpool.
Get what you can, Libpool.
Get what you can.
That will do for me. To play at this level, though and get what you can. My god.
No gifts.
Eyes on the clock.
Get what you can.
I’m in love. Again.
The main fella. My guy. Our guy.
A joy to be alive.
Well isn’t it a lovely day.
I’m feeling all brand new.
Download The Anfield Wrap’s free app for Liverpool FC podcasts, video and writing all in one place…
“That was absolutely phenomenal! Everyone’s been on a bit of a downer but we just absolutely rose to the occasion. The crowd were fantastic, the players were up for it”
🎙Post Match Pod
1️⃣ Download our app
2️⃣ Enjoy FREE tokens
3️⃣ Get Our City Reaction👉https://t.co/yTcwWU0kX1 pic.twitter.com/AGYWvuHBCN
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) October 16, 2022
And I was convinced we would get a rinsing….
What do I know?
Worst Ref Ever
Would have let the goal stand
Allowed Salah to be pulled, pushed, tripped and barged all day and not a hint of the whistle – surprised the traitor Beglin wasnt saying he went down too easily
Foden falls over his own feet though
What a joke
Our players get kicked in the air every game including inside the box and nothing and VAR does nothing
Oppo players dive and a Penalty is immediately awarded and VAR says nothing every time
Sick of disgraceful officiating
Sick of the disgusting Human Rights abusers and sympathisers (Man City and their abysmal fans)
Sick of people talking up Pep when hes never coached the most expensive team in the league – hes nothing but a whingy whiny loser cheque book manager
I think that liverpool deserved themsels victory.Thank you Klop!