Liverpool’s performances have waned in the past few weeks, but the contract news has kept us buoyed – then Trent Alexander-Arnold had his say…
I LOVE a bit of theatre.
I love how life can throw up improbable endings that would be considered far-fetched if written as fiction. After all these years, football still has the ability to surprise.
Last week was Virgil van Dijk Week. We knew it was coming, but it was gorgeous all the same. We’ve been stressing about someone letting him write his name on a bit of paper and then when he did, we all got the big let off. An unwelcome drama played out over a long, long performance, but one where we all enjoyed the last scene.
Earlier this month it was Mo Salah Week. A ‘will he/won’t he/what the hell are you playing at’ play with another happy ending.
But Trent Alexander-Arnold? What does Trent get?
Trent gets on a plane having typed out a final Instagram message. No pomp and circumstance.
That’s up to him, of course, but given what he’s done for us, it seems a bit unfair. I never thought we’d have Trent Week.
And then he pulled his left leg back on a pitch in the East Midlands and won us the league.
Look, alright, fair enough. The league might already have been won or we might need three more points or whatever, but his goal means that Arsenal have to be perfect and Liverpool the exact opposite. We’re just waiting for maths now, waiting for snookers. All three of them get their moments.
There are a lot of people who aren’t happy with Trent, a lot of people who can’t see why he would want to leave and play for that team in particular. There were even boos there yesterday albeit from a minority and though I get the anger, I can’t join in. I just can’t.
He’s played for us forever, he’s won everything and wants to try something new before he gets too old. What’s more he’s never let on that he’d be definitely signing a contract for us unlike other former Reds who went there.
He’s also clinched the league title for Liverpool. A lad from L12 pretty much boxing it all off and adding relegating Leicester City into the bargain. A side we haven’t relegated there since last time we played them.
I can’t boo that and God knows I love to shout at a player. I really hope he stays, but I can’t summon up the anger even if he goes there. Maybe I would do if I were younger and we weren’t really in the conversation about major trophies and felt like we’d be further away without their assistance. See Michael and Fernando for details.
I also get the ‘we don’t get a fee’ issue, but it’s not my money and the club let him run his contract down so…
In any case, that goal, that corner flag (again), Liverpool picking up a 20th league title and matching Manchester United’s haul. I can’t vent spleen there.
(Incidentally, fair play to the lad on the TAW Telegram group who posted that United still haven’t reached the points total we got to when we beat Spurs 6-3 four months ago. We got our 39th point that day, Utd have 38 today. That’s insane.)
Nearly there. Just the vapours in it. Arsenal have to be perfect and though I love what they did to Madrid, that’s too big a leap. The difference between fact and fiction is that fiction has to make sense.
I love this club. What plots we throw up.
I’ve always liked Crystal Palace.
