The Old HeadClosing stages of the match against Man Utd again. We need cool heads and we need to stay compact. We need to torment them and do things like put it in the corners, as Gerrard was having to remind senior pro Martin Skrtel at the death. Well, purist wise, maybe we don't. But we're born again hard.
Luis Alberto and Raheem Sterling, both spring chickens, already have it in their blood. Enrique toes it clear as Man Utd pour forward in search of an equaliser. It falls to Alberto.
He rolls it into the path of the Sterling. Meep Meep.
Sterling (we know he's special, or we should) holds up the ball as defenders close in, and Alberto ghosts in behind in support. Sterling checks, and finds his man, and again, he rolls it into the path of Sterling. Meep Meep.
Carrick goes through the back of Raheem, the clock ticks on. Tick tock tick tock.
The Man Utd players, heads somehow not in the game, berate the ref and argue the toss. But Gerrard and Alberto are awake, and Gerrard beats the cameraman in rolling it to Alberto, who keeps going with the torture. Tick tock.
The Centre Of GravityAnd the lightweight Alberto, who needs to beef up quick if he's going to cut it in English football, first rolls Cleverley (admittedly no behemoth)...
All that's missing is the red cape. Ole!
Nani closes in...
Old faithful - the outside of the boot...
This time things break down, two more defenders covering.
Wisdom seconds later demonstrates the same strength and control of his centre of gravity with Evra and Wellbeck pressuring him in the opposite corner. Wisdom's held out as a young man who already has the physical power to cut it. There's an argument to be made that balance is enough, if you know how to use it.