I went to the Boxing on Saturday with the lads from work and with the exception of my dad and lad, those we went with were United, City and Everton supporters
We’d watched City earlier in the day and then saw Everton snatch a late 3 points. Pressure was on wasn't it
Inevitably, we spoke about Liverpool, United and the game on Sunday and it seemed everyone was confident Liverpool would do the job
Everyone, except me
We were the form team, two exceptional forwards playing in front of a well-oiled machine, a team where everyone understands their roles and fights for one another like they would a family member
And they’re, well, just shit
It’s United though, you see. Them down the road, it’s what they do isn’t it? They put that doubt in your mind, dreading the game or crushing any hope you had built up because, y’know, they’ve just done it so many times over the years. If I had a cat, I’d have kicked it more than a few times after playing that lot, seeing them get the decisions at ‘The theatre of dreams’ and having to dread the usual nobheads I know who support them and have only ever had it good
Sunday morning though, I don’t know what it was, maybe the ale from the night before but I woke up with this feeling that we were going to snot them, the sort of embarrassment that Everton, Arsenal and Spurs have felt in equal parts this season
It’s just not the same team is it? It’s not Fergusons side, it’s not a side that gets 97 minutes to get that late winner, it’s not a side that has referees afraid to give 3 penalties against them at home. This is an outfit that should arguably be stronger with the addition of Juan Mata that looked like they hadn’t played football together before, square pegs in round holes with no conviction at all. Teams now going there full of confidence that they can be got at, that they can be beat and invariably coming away with something too
This was the same side that Ferguson lead to the Title last year, a side that had won the title by 11 points. After 29 games, they were top with 74 points and we were languishing 7th with 45 points. They’d scored 68 goals compared to 46 this season with the same strike force. They conceded 31 compared to 34 too. Think about that for a moment. There has been a 38 point swing. 38 points
One year later, we’re challenging for the title with very similar credentials. After 29 games, we’re on 62 points, not as many points admittedly but enough to be in touch with the top of the league with them to play at home, having scored 76 and conceded 35. That is a colossal performance by anyone’s standards and it’s been largely with some very young players too, Henderson, Coutinho, Flanagan and Sterling. How good can this side become?
The Liverpool name carries so much weight around the world but there were times during the summer that I felt we would never get back to Europe’s elite table. City and Chelsea can compete financially with any other team in the world, I’ve learned to accept that but there was a changing of the guard at United and Everton, Spurs had just lost Bale and Arsenal were being refused by every player they went after until they broke the bank for Ozil. They say football is cyclical so I guess we’re due a turn. I felt we had a chance and it’s almost symbolic of our resurgence that we stood resolute over Suarez. Standing our ground and proving that we’re still a footballing powerhouse has almost made everyone believe again. Anfield is a fortress, 5 points dropped there all season, competing and putting our main rivals to the sword and a general cohesion and togetherness between these players that I’ve not seen in years. There is literally no dead wood, no Downing, Joe Cole or any other player you might have guessed would be a name in those envelopes, only players who are ready to die for the shirt
Maybe United feel the same way about Rooney and his new contract. If he had left what is considered to be a sinking ship, it would have been terrible for them as a club but there are two main differences. Rooney isn’t Suarez and United don’t have a Brendan Rodgers
Yesterday just felt like it had this huge significance associated with the game. It’s our turn now. It was proving what we have known all season, to a man, we’re better than them and to go to their backyard and prove it so convincingly made it all the sweeter
I’m a glass half full person most of the time but I’m a bit of a shithouse when it comes to watching the game, I couldn’t enjoy the game until the final whistle went and then all I wanted to do was watch it all back. I have never watched a penalty in my life. It’s a superstition (that clearly only works sometimes), I’ve never seen my lad take a penalty either, mostly because I think if I do, he will miss but he does occasionally miss, just like Gerrard whether I watch or not so why do I still do it?! 3 peno’s meant I was up and down like a tarts knickers yesterday conveniently going to the kitchen for a top up waiting for the cheer from the living room meaning the sword was being twisted a little further. That 3rd penalty going in was hard to take. The first player to have scored a hat-trick of penalties in the Premier League, a hat-trick at the Stretford End and another goal towards making me £810 richer. My lad had said we’d win 4-0 all week so I couldn’t resist a flutter at 80-1. In the end, 3-0 was alright, I’ll settle for bragging rights instead and them looking up at a 14 point gap
Our gaffer said nobody has ever gone from 7th to 1st and until yesterday, I'd gone with that same outlook but listen to our captain yesterday, he believes we can do it, the players believe we can do it and clearly so does our gaffer so who am I to argue with them
Maybe it will take more than all of the planets aligning for us to win the league this time around but, fuck me, I haven’t half enjoyed the ride
Thank you Brendan Rodgers