Peter Anderson ⚽ Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is quoted as saying "If you want to win big, then you have to be prepared to lose big." 

Never a truer word. And I thought City were going to lose big, yet again, on Sunday afternoon. 

All season I have seen a weakness in City during the big games. Games we dominate without finishing the job. In the three games against Liverpool, despite dominating the possession, we were wide open to counter attacks. It was the same against Real in the UCL. Lots of possession, passy, passy, ticky, tacky but no oomph. No Agüero to poach a goal, no Kompany to shut the door or (young) Fernandinho to break up the counter. 

On Sunday morning I was feeling pessimistic. I said to my two Liverpool mates over "mid ride" coffee that I thought Liverpool would nick the league. I was sure Liverpool would beat Wolves at home, but wasn't sure of us beating Aston Villa. I said that if we didn't score early we would lose or draw the game. Last week against West Ham was looming large in my mind. Dominating but not scoring; open to the counter. I thought we were going to "lose big", a la Bernabéu. And so it was, Villa scored against the run of play, then scored again. We had the ball, passed it around, forward and back, side to side but did sweet F.A. with it. 

At Anfield Wolves had scored first, but Liverpool equalised. It was a matter of time before they would get another. Liverpool, at home, shooting into the Kop end, always score! Pep brought on Gundogan and Sterling and they made an immediate impact. Sterling got to the bye line and crossed perfectly for Gundo to head home. Game on. A few minutes later and Rodri scored a peach. Relief set in. A few more minutes later and Gundo had his second and yet another final day comeback to win the league was complete. 

There isn't much joy in watching your team suffer, but as Klopp says, that's what it takes if you want to win big. After the game Pep said to the reporters, "I want to thank Liverpool for making us better", I concur. The league duels between Klopp and Pep are the stuff of ages. Fergie and Wenger weren't hitting 90 + points every season. Klopp and Pep have raised the bar to incredible heights. Long may it continue.

I have to also add that Leeds stayed up, against the odds too, it has to be said. Wracked by injury and bad luck all season, they looked damned after Burnley and Everton surged in the closing weeks of the season. But Burnley's surge petered out at the wrong time for them, and the Leeds miracle happened. After the trouble they had escaping from the Championship, it is wonderful to still have them in the top flight next season.

And finally, good luck to Liverpool in the UCL final next week. I hope they get revenge for 2018.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

Raised The Bar To Incredible Heights

Peter Anderson ⚽ Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is quoted as saying "If you want to win big, then you have to be prepared to lose big." 

Never a truer word. And I thought City were going to lose big, yet again, on Sunday afternoon. 

All season I have seen a weakness in City during the big games. Games we dominate without finishing the job. In the three games against Liverpool, despite dominating the possession, we were wide open to counter attacks. It was the same against Real in the UCL. Lots of possession, passy, passy, ticky, tacky but no oomph. No Agüero to poach a goal, no Kompany to shut the door or (young) Fernandinho to break up the counter. 

On Sunday morning I was feeling pessimistic. I said to my two Liverpool mates over "mid ride" coffee that I thought Liverpool would nick the league. I was sure Liverpool would beat Wolves at home, but wasn't sure of us beating Aston Villa. I said that if we didn't score early we would lose or draw the game. Last week against West Ham was looming large in my mind. Dominating but not scoring; open to the counter. I thought we were going to "lose big", a la Bernabéu. And so it was, Villa scored against the run of play, then scored again. We had the ball, passed it around, forward and back, side to side but did sweet F.A. with it. 

At Anfield Wolves had scored first, but Liverpool equalised. It was a matter of time before they would get another. Liverpool, at home, shooting into the Kop end, always score! Pep brought on Gundogan and Sterling and they made an immediate impact. Sterling got to the bye line and crossed perfectly for Gundo to head home. Game on. A few minutes later and Rodri scored a peach. Relief set in. A few more minutes later and Gundo had his second and yet another final day comeback to win the league was complete. 

There isn't much joy in watching your team suffer, but as Klopp says, that's what it takes if you want to win big. After the game Pep said to the reporters, "I want to thank Liverpool for making us better", I concur. The league duels between Klopp and Pep are the stuff of ages. Fergie and Wenger weren't hitting 90 + points every season. Klopp and Pep have raised the bar to incredible heights. Long may it continue.

I have to also add that Leeds stayed up, against the odds too, it has to be said. Wracked by injury and bad luck all season, they looked damned after Burnley and Everton surged in the closing weeks of the season. But Burnley's surge petered out at the wrong time for them, and the Leeds miracle happened. After the trouble they had escaping from the Championship, it is wonderful to still have them in the top flight next season.

And finally, good luck to Liverpool in the UCL final next week. I hope they get revenge for 2018.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

3 comments:

  1. On Sunday morning I was as pessimistic of our survival hopes as you were of City's title dreams, Peter. I do understand where you are coming from Peter as both Citeh and Leeds have the unerring ability to put their fans through the emotional wringer! It was relatively painless for me in the end as I avoided all coverage of the last day of the Prem season until stoppage time just in time for Jack Harrison's winner at Brentford! Congratulations, Peter..

    ReplyDelete
  2. It was a test of City's character but as in 2012 they rose to the occasion.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Until they win the C L , City aren't a great team . LFC will need to be very streetwise on sat night . Powers that be want R M to win #AtAllCosts

    ReplyDelete