Nights out at the match don’t get much better than that. L’pool finally awaking to something like the top side we still are. As predicted, reacting to a wild Anfield. And ruining the Ev’s Cup Final, yet again, in what
hopefully,
, as we sang to them, will be there ‘
last trip to Anfield' for
a LONG time.
I don’t know how it looked and sounded the telly, but the long lost pq‘official’ ‘
flag day’ had the desired effect on the Kop. Just a wondrous sea of flags from top to bottom. Producing a boisterous atmosphere the mighty reds bounced off to shut the naysayers up and, God willing, get things back on track. The manager is more than welcome in his thanks. He knows how special we are. We know how special he and his players are. Why the support at the match has never wavered. You stick by your side through the hard times as much as you revel in the good ones. And man have they needed us this year, and no less last night, more than at any other time through his reign. And when we come together as one entity, on and off the park, we are an irresistible force.
Confidence is a really funny, finite thing. Even at the very top level we play at. The worse this horrid runs been, the lower its got and top footballers have looked like amateurs nobody wants to watch. Last night was by no means the perfect game. But man alive the marked difference in confidence levels after they scored that brilliant first breakaway goal was palpable. Buzzing off the crowd, the energy was back and they weren’t afraid to try things again and just start playing with the verve thats been sorely missed in probably our best display since the CS opener to that end. For last night at least, Klopp’s L’pool was back with a vengeance.
The trick now of course is taking that on to distinctly average, one trick pony, dour Newcastle side next Sat’day tea-time. There’s been WAY too many false dawns with 2022/23 L’pool to take that as a given. But, hopefully, as discussed a lot recently, last nights massive confidence booster, along with the three returning big dawgs, two of who so on-field minutes; will be just the spark we need to ignite this season and have a second half watching what we know we have. Still one of the very top sides in this league and all of Europe when they’re fully on it and firing.
Hard to pick out individuals when the overall team display was so good. Bajetic is the obvious standout continuing his outstanding, boys own stuff season. What a gem of a midfield talent both ourselves and Spain have on our hands. Dominating the game that matters in this City more than any other. At 18-years young.
Kudos to the while midfield for, yanno’, just doing their collective jobs again and being ‘midfielders.’ Holding their position, cutting off space, giving it simply. How hard has that been to rediscover?
Gakpo continues to greatly impress each and every game the more used to us, and us he, we get. Tantalising to think what he’ll be like in a side full of confidence around him to allow him to do his thing. Who said he had to ply out left again?
But the biggest shout out goes to the madly maligned Joe Gomez. My personal MOTM in a near flawless, dominant defensive display that never gave the S a sniff all night. He’s been woeful at times this season and has rightfully been taken to task over it. But the WAY OTT criticism talking about one of Englands best young defensive talents like he’s washed up and done has been frankly ridiculous. Last night showed just why he was extended for the long term and just why the manager fully believes in him. Hopefully thats his confidence raised again now going forward.
And in amongst all the brilliance of sending the blue S another step closer to relegation, amid a wild Anfield, came the poignant reality of just what is REALLY important in this life with the raucous minutes applause on 30 for the tragically short life of young James Bulger. Not sure where the past 30-years have gone, but they were hammered home last night. God rest mate. Your memory will NEVER die in this City.
*Sings ’…..
And now yers gonna’ believe us, the S are going DOWN!’
Up the ‘It’s just boss to be happy after a game again’ Reds!
FTT!!!!!