THE Blues. The fucking Blues. And I guess that’s why they call them The Blues.
I just cannot be arsed with them right now. And annoyingly, inevitably, they will be so invested in this weekend’s derby.
Blues, blue men, blue people, you may well get your win, that win, this time, but you can’t make us really care. Of course, we hugely need the points. But we don’t need the spoils. You Blues are simply not our business.
I think this Everton team has enough to become the best Everton team in a generation. It’s a team that, in the finest traditions of 21st century Everton, can, on their day, be “a handful”. Liverpool will not get it easy on Sunday. I’d love easy, but nothing about this season feels care free.
I like this Everton side. I think Richarlison is a footballer. The rest are like a who’s who of Liverpool dream signings from five years ago. We shouldn’t sneer. We’ve come along way. There, but for the grace of god, are we regarding Andre Gomes and Yerry Mina as game-changing acquisitions.
I’m just back from Paris and the experience has changed me. I’ve returned with all kinds of airs and graces. All the moules and escargot have gone to my head. I think I might be too good for Everton just right now. I’m ripe for some serious hubris.
League games post Europe are a phenomenon in Liverpool’s history. We have conquered all of Europe, and in the process of doing so have played many subsequent bread and butter games at half cock. Bob Paisley knew it was impossible to reprise the fire and fervour of a season-defining midweek in Europe against the likes of Stoke and co back home.
A mid-80s Liverpool side limped to a forgettable 1-0 win over Sunderland at Anfield after a legendary European excursion. The Kop was fretful that afternoon, but Bob P was sanguine about it all. He expected “flat”, and flat was delivered. He was so at peace with second gear that he even substituted Craig Johnston, who had not been exerted in the European game, for fear that his freshness and enthusiasm might over stretch his wearier teammates. Anfield booed the change that afternoon but wise Bob secured the precious three points.
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Wily and wise Jürgen Klopp must do the same this Sunday. The Blues will be vibrant and straining at their leashes after a Liverpool-obsessed week of preparation at Finch Farm. Gylfi Sigurdsson et al have gone to sleep seeing only red. By contrast, Mo Salah, James Milner and Sadio Mane haven’t thought about Everton. Not even once.
Part of me thinks (hopes) that our indifference will give us an edge. Not that we should need that edge. We are simply better than them. But our two-decade superiority over our blue cousins can partially be attributed to calmness in the face of their frenzy. We have remained productively distracted while they’ve whorled like hapless dervishes around us.
Things were far from perfect for Liverpool in Paris on Wednesday. Not for the first time this season, we failed to find the level that we seemed to rise to at will, last campaign. It could be down to our earnest midfield; then warrior like, now workman like. We need more from the engine room. Naby Keita was bought to provide that. There were hints in the French capital that he may be readying himself to step up to the plate.
The captain, Jordan Henderson, is suspended for this derby, so Keita will start. I’d also like to see Joe Gomez reunited with Virgil van Dijk in the centre of our defence. I’m not seeing what Klopp is in Dejan Lovren. A settled back five is the way forward.
In attack, Roberto Firmino continues to baffle. Last term, our heart and soul, but now too often a flailing passenger. He needs a break. I’d draft Shaqiri in and back him to do his worst. He’s got Everton written all over him and I’d like to see the Swiss given the opportunity to write his name into derby folklore. Big time. In blood. Dripping, drained, blue blood.
Let’s sink some teeth into these, Reds.
Predicted 11: Alisson; Trent, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita; Shaqiri, Salah, Mane
Kick off: 4.15pm, Sunday
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Odds: Liverpool 5-11, Draw 7-2, Everton 7-1
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“I’m ripe for some serious hubris.”
Yes you’ll get some if you keep comparing this group of players with Paisley’s legends.
This game for some reason might be an accident waiting to happen at some point as we’ve had some lethargic and lackluster displays (change in style according to Jurgen).
Me thinks Buvac is missing and Klopp’s just feeling his way through.
City are on par for another title with their latest display today.
Hope the Reds show more than just indifference.
If we want to remain in the hunt for the PL title, then indifference ain’t going to cut it.
Great teams do not lose 2 games in a row. Many keep saying this is a great team. Today we need a performance. Today we need 3 points. Today we need to show that, that game against PSG fucking hurt. Today we don’t need anymore fucking hurt.
PSG rubbed are noses in it long before the final whistle and long after it… do you think the Bitters will do any less??? See how that will effect indifference.
To me to state indifference is to state resigned to the fact, like an acceptance. Sorry but I can’t accept another shite performance so soon after PSG, Red Star and Napoli and definitely not due to indifference
Rob makes totally clear he means indifference to the parochial football rivalry with the bluenoses, not to the need for a solid aggressive performance to take the 3 points as part of an all to rare title challenge.
Jeez some people seem to believe just demanding the best performance every game is somehow the magic formula to success. If only it was that easy.
@Paul
“Jeez some people seem to believe just demanding the best performance every game is somehow the magic formula to success.”
Yeah sure Paul, tell that to Pep Guardiola.
Hi Paul, I think Klopp must have missed that memo on being indifferent then.
Demanding it is easy. Making it happen is an entirely fucking different kettle of fish and what separates amateur gobshites like you and me Sash from people who actually work in the game, at the sharp end.