Well that was a belter performance to put pre-season to bed. Funny how when the band's all but back together, along with reasonable temperatures and next to no travelling, everything goes up a couple of levels and L'pool start looking somewhat like the best side in Europe again huh?
Alisson getting an hour back at it, along with Mo and Nabby a half and big Shaq and Bobby, back with a quality goal, getting a good half hour was just the tonic before the big kick-off Sunday. All looking like they'd never been away and not just returned this past Monday. Lallana throwing the fitness concerns of everyone who ridiculously jumped on him for a dead-leg, that cost him a mere one game this pre-season, back in their reactionary faces with another highly assured display as a controlling, play-making #6. In certain games this year he's looking like a cracking option in this new role for him. As always, you caveat it with 'it's just another training session that happens to be a friendly game.' But the real pleasing aspect was the intensity, pressing and creative, inventive one/ two touch football never dropped for the whole 90 after a shaky first 10. Even with a completely new team on the hour.
All the kids doing themselves no harm again. Particularly Hoever, who celebrated his first pro-contract today at 17-years-of-age with another real mature outing:
358760-ki-jana-hoever-signs-new-long-term-liverpool-fc-contract (What a year that young man has had BTW Stolen from Ajax. then a rapid rate of standout progress from the 18's through the 23's to being our third youngest debutant at 16 back in January the Cup at Wolves.). I have little doubt he'll be the de-facto back-up to Trent not long into this season at this rate. If he isn't already. Allowing JMG to resume the best CH partnership across Europe before too much longer. (I'd figure on Matip starting the year as a reward for the second half of last season and continuity. But he's got a serious fight to remain there with Joe's imperious form all summer.). The future-proofing back there with him and Sepp ..... Oranje is DEFO the way forward.
Talking of the future, just how in the heck have Fulham managed to keep Harvey Elliott under wraps? 16-years-old, and playing with absolutely NO fear for the European Champions. Looking like a natural at his boyhood club. (
https://www.thisisanfield.com/2019/...ott-posts-brilliant-throwback-photo-as-a-kid/). No wonder Fulham are pushing for a record tribunal fee for this hidden gem. One touch passing. Beating 3/4 lads at a time. Intelligent decision making/ movement. Rapid ..... At 16? In that environment? ****** ****!!!!! ..... Just stunned I don't even remember Harvey become the PL's youngest ever debutant last season as he looks to have a limitless ceiling. Ridiculous half hour to go along with what he showed Sunday when he came on. No wonder they've got him straight into training at Melwood with the first team like van den Berg.
Special mention to Larouci playing again. And playing well both ends of the park again. A mere 10 days after the brutal assault on him by Sevilla. That was great to see and thank the Lord for him getting lucky there. And a belter of a 30-yard goal for the continually perplexing, if highly talented, Harry Wilson. Still expecting someone to meet the £25 million valuation before next Thursday's deadline and him to move on. Still don't think he's good enough for the very top level L'pool are now at. But man alive all he does, no matter how quiet he is in games, like this evening against Lyon, is score and assist. A real paradox that one.
Two more days intense three a-day's in South-East France and then we can put a nail totally in pre-season 2019. That's seen a lot of positives along with some 'meh' games and results.
Then the proper stuff starts in earnest with what should be a real competitive CS between two managers who won't want to lose face to each other. With a real chance to put down a marker, against the other team, for the only two clubs with any realistic ambition in this league again the coming season.
Oh yeah, and the small matter of our first chance of 7 this season to win silverware.
Roll on Sunday. Europes best are ticking over nicely for the season opener.
Can. Not. WAIT!