I'm enjoying being in a title race a lot more now compared to even a month ago. The nerves are still there, of course: golly, they're still there, not just jangling but playing full-on hardcore death metal. However, through taking a step back, and concentrating on my breathing, I've actually learned to enjoy the noise.
"How?", I hear you bark. Well, here are some of the many reasons to be cheerful:
1. It's actually brilliant to be challenging for the league. How many times have we been completely out of the race by mid-February?
2. We've got Mo Salah
3. We're second favourites for the league anyway, so there's no pressure
4. We've got Sadio Mané
5. We will beat last season's points total and finish less than 24 points behind the champions: any way you look at it, that's progress (I've always thought that the only barometer we need is ourselves.)
6. We've got Virgil
7. We play such exciting football
8. We've got Alisson Becker in goal, and he plays guitar
9. Our manager is a great dancer
10. Andy Robertson
11. We support Liverpool. Imagine supporting anyone else?
12. We've got Bobby Firmino
13. Our injured players are coming back, most notably Gomez, Chamberlain, and Lovren. That's Ł100m+ of talent, right?
14. Gini Wijnaldum is a Red
15. We haven't had such a good defence for years, perhaps ever (if they could stay fit).
16. Fabinho plays for us
17. Our team spirit seems to be fantastic
18. Naby Keita has just started playing well
19. Jurgen Klopp knows how to win number 19, cos he's
wunderbar.
I hope you've all started to enjoy it as much as I have, or if not, I hope you can join us and learn to enjoy it.
Also, if you're lucky enough to be able to attend matches, please cheer on the boys like a gin-soaked mother on Sports Day.
Up the Reds!!