I’m trying to write on an absolutely superb, mammoth win that has you bouncing into the International break on cloud 9. But I’m that giddy over the Isak addition, it’s hard to think of anything else!
Yesterdays admin-
Title Defence Countdown:
3 wins down/ 24 to go.
9 points down/ 80 to go.
Current PL unbeaten run:
P 4 W 3 D 1 F 9 A 5 CS: 1
3 Straight Wins/ 1 Straight CS.
Current unbeaten home PL run:
P 19 W 15 D 4 F 45 A 17 CS: 6
2 Straight Wins/ 1 Straight CS.
Yesterday showed, yet again, in glorious technicolor, just why Liverpool are Champions. And will remain that way come May. And just why Arsenal, at least whilst the absolutely gutless Arteta is in charge, will never experience that feeling of being the best of the best. We know more than anyone, through our historical head-to-heads with City, that
EVERY win matters. That you have to go out punching to try win
EVERY game of football you play. And that mantra matters even more when you play the team in direct opposition to you winning the league. That’s the utterly mad levels City and ourselves have raised the bar to. This isn’t any other era in English football history where a point at a title rival was an excellent result. We’ve gone beyond that where historical points totals are being put up and leagues are decided by single point differences. We’ve experienced the wrong end of that twice over against City when not beating them was the finest of fine margin differences over 38 games.Arsenal experienced it first hand in the only season under Lego Head they’ve been in a title race and taken it to the last day. The difference that season two years ago being when they went to the Emirates for a point. Celebrating like they’d won the league when they got one. To then end up ultimately losing the title by the same total. You’d think they’d learn from that …..
But no. Unlike every time we go to City, or City come here, and both teams go hammer and tongs for the the win knowing just how vital it is, Arteta is too weak and gutless to do the same. No matter what attacking talent he has at his disposal. Sitting in and playing to not get beat at the Emirates and Anfield. And he got punished for the same negativity yesterday. From his initial selection leaving Eze et al on the bench. Through the negative tactics to play conservative, time waste, and take their chances on set-pieces. I actually thought yesterday was an excellent game of old school football. With both sides giving absolutely everything they had. With a technical level off the charts. And an absolute Worldie to win it. But from an Arsenal stand-point, Lego Heads continued negativity in running scared against title rivals must be the over riding fume today in that fanbase. It’ll cost them ANY hope of the title again.
First half was a passive affair. We went into it bouncing after the City loss. The boozer before the game absolutely erupted like we’d won the league when Milner scored the pen. God how we still idolise that warrior. His Diogo celebration a mark of the belter fella’ he is. But Arsenal stifle the life out of it. They are brilliant out of possession. Blocking every passing lane and pressing like mad men. We never got a second to breathe. But by setting up to nullify us out of possession, they lost something in it and create absolutely nothing in open play. Their greatest strength, defence, is their greatest weakness in games like this when they win the ball and don’t commit and take risks. L’pool end up recycling it, with no space to attack, in what was a compelling, if frustratingly dull, affair. We sat off them too much which lead to a dire stalemate. The one time we did press them high back, was the one time Arsenal panicked and gave away the half’s only big chance. But Virgil panicked and tried to play in Mo instead of webbing it himself. Arsenal the better side. With nothing tangible to show for it with their passive, slow paced ,attacking display. Playing for corners. Then having Rice try time waste taking them as he slowly jogged/ walked over. Only for L’pool to stand firm and bat away almost every one.
Second half the game changes. Because Slot adjusted where Arteta didn’t. Liverpool change. Liverpool are quicker, start pressing, and are constantly on the front-foot trying to win the game. Whilst Arsenal continue to be happy with a point. For the second straight game after his excellent outing at Newcastle, Curtis comes on and is immense in turning the tide. Adding complete control to a L’pool midfield that had run itself into the ground trying to break down the Arsenal wall in front of it. Chiesa also the perfect change for Ekitike, who gave every last drop he had when he was on the pitch against Arsenals groks. Both giving extra attacking impetuous and control as the game starts to open up, space created, and only one team is going all out to try win this game and set down a marker. With both raising the crowd level to fever pitch. And it’s Curtis who wins the free-kick from which the absolutely immense big Dom hits a Worldie fit to win any game. I’d just said to my mate Ste behind that you rarely see direct free-kick goals anymore. Expecting it to go short. And then the mighty Magyar steps up and webs in an absolute beauty to win it all. And then L’pool’s superior, Champions mentality kicks in as they know there’s still a massive 10 and more to go with the injury time. Fighting for everything. Winning everything. Standing up and keeping out a now desperate Arsenal to continue their perfect, imperious start to the season.
So many heroes all over the park. Kerkez finally arrived. Wirtz could barely walk. Cramping up in every part of his body it seemed after covering every blade of grass in a superb display. AllyMac and Gravenberch the same. Big Dom MOTM and Curtis and Enrico’s superb cameos. With the two CH’s absolute warriors in repelling every set-piece Arsenal could throw at them. Special shout out to Konate for finally deciding to turn up this year in an awesomely dominant defence display. Nice to have you tuned fully in once more mate. For a deserved win and massive early season advantage in our title defence. A
FULLY deserved win as only one team wanted to win the game of football and at least tried to do that against the others graft and negativity.
Thats the major difference between the great managers like Slot. And the perennial also rans like Arteta. Mentality and courage to take risks and play for ALL the marbles. And why it will ultimately leave Arsenal well short again come May.
Superb August with a perfect start to our title defence. Through 3 super hard games and 3 super hard circumstances in context. Some of which had little to do with the actual game of football. To leave us bouncing into the International break as what we are.
The best team in this Country bar
NONE!!!!
Oh yeah, as if that wasn’t good enough for ourselves. And demoralising enough for everyone else …..
Happy Isak and Guehi day everyone.
The Champions just added two players to go up yet another level!
Up the
CHAMPION Reds!
EXCL: Aston Villa closing in on #DeadlineDay deal to sign Harvey Elliott from Liverpool before transfer window closes. #AVFC advancing in talks over season-long loan with buy obligation; #LFC seeking £35m+ for 22yo forward. W/ @J_Tanswell @TheAthleticFC
