I can't remember feeling that nervous before an early, early PL match in possibly forever. You get nerves before big games but this felt different, I felt sick and I think it's because we weren't going into this game as underdogs capable of raising their game and pulling off a result. We were there to go toe to toe with them and win the game, and know we could go toe to toe with them and win the game. They didn't play their part at all, and in the end I think it was fairly comfortable.
I said in the pre-match thread that this was easily our biggest test of the season to date and it came in two spells during that game - going out at 0-0 to break a solid Chelsea team down, then how we managed the game after they pulled one back. The last half hour of that game, as with the last 15 minutes against Arsenal were probably my favourite moments of the season to date. To take the ball and be so mature, so calm and not allow them the chance to get into any kind of attacking rhythm where they could peg us back and close us in was fantastic.
They showed a maturity that people thought we didn't have. Yeah we have individuals at the back who can cause individual mistakes and as unit we aren't quite there yet but when Chelsea scored, it felt as though people were waiting for us to fall apart. Maybe expecting Chelsea to force us back and make us defend for the rest of the game, so all we could do was counter-attack. I think LFC fans were thinking back to that last 15 against Arsenal and praying that we reverted to that type of LFC performance, rather than Southampton away last year, or even the Europa League final. And we did - we got the ball back and used it brilliantly, kept our shape and limited them to very few opportunities.
I was so impressed with this team on Friday night - hugely impressed. Maybe lessons have been learned - the lessons that stop us progressing at the rate we want.
Onto the next block of 5 fixtures. We did brilliantly to take 10 points from those - that should be the minimum requirement from the next 5 - none of those fixtures should frighten us but I think after those 5, we will know so much more about this side.
In terms of individuals, I was really impressed with the midfield 3 of Henderson, Lallana and Wjinaldum. After the Arsenal game I was worried, and never wanted to see that combination again but you can see what they are bringing to the table now - especially Wjinaldum who had another impressive game. Delighted for Henderson - hope he continues to add numbers to his game now.
