A bottle of Jack Daniels from Les might have dulled the ache, but only temporarily.
But Liverpool fans are so used to it by this stage. The 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United last season immediately followed by a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth illustrated the feast to famine nature of the team. The midweek 4-1 routing of Chelsea seemed to herald that the transformation of Klopp's side was complete. Now it's back to Roy Hodgson days.
I have always said to my son that he will have the honour, if he calls it that, to dispose of my ashes in the Mersey when the time comes so that he can think of me figuratively listening to the Anfield roar. If they continue to play like they did on Sunday, there will be little for fans to roar about, more an emittance of a collective groan.
Allison who always gives me palpitations as he moves to play out from his goal line was responsible for the second and third goals. Although he later said he should have just cleared it, Virgil Van Dijk rightly left responsibility to the keeper to clear. The big Brazilian behaved as if he had a glimpse of Jesus as he ran out from his line and rushed to embrace him missing the ball as he proclaimed Hallelujah, leaving Martinelli a tap in that even Darwin Núñez could not possibly have hit the woodwork with. The Flying Dutchman most likely referred to Allison as something less kind than 'holy goalie' in the dressing room after the game. The second howler came when Allison seemed to be auditioning for the role of the Mersey tunnel - his legs so wide apart a ferry could have sailed through.
I have always said to my son that he will have the honour, if he calls it that, to dispose of my ashes in the Mersey when the time comes so that he can think of me figuratively listening to the Anfield roar. If they continue to play like they did on Sunday, there will be little for fans to roar about, more an emittance of a collective groan.
The five of us from the union gathered in the Tolka House to watch the game. Shelley arrived late but she didn't miss much. Kitted out from head to foot in Liverpool regalia, I felt like the skunk at the wedding feast after the match. There was this sense of being stared at by everybody in the bar wondering who the fool was - much as if I was naked. Even the booze and the banter failed to firewall me to the extent required.
Four words can sum up this performance - Horrible, hopeless, hapless, hideous. A headline could as readily have been lifted from the great Laurent Binet novel HHhH.
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| Paddy-Anthony-Andrew-Les |
Roy Keane was right in his view that Liverpool defended like a pub team. Konate was stretched to the limit covering for those in front of him, particularly Gravenberch, and walked the plank after a second yellow card. The midfield failed to create a single chance for Diogo Joto throughout the match. For a short while in the second half there was a sense that some of the Klopp half time magic was begining to show until Allison met Jesus.
The title now seems Manchester City's to lose. Few would bet against them making it four in a row. They just need to win ever game and draw against Liverpool. If Klopp's men win every game and draw against Pep's side, the title still goes to Manchester. The safe money has to be on City steadying the ship for the home strait. There is small consolation in Liverpool running City to the wire just to become runner up. Anfield fans deserve better than to be nothing other than a pace setter for the Etihad side.
Jurgen Klopp has been a great coach but no matter how skilful his artistry, carving from rotten wood does not produce an enduring sculpture. Style rarely compensates for stamina.
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| ⏩Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre. |
I don't know what game you were watching. For Arsenal's 2nd, VvD lets the ball bounce when he could have headed it, then he leaves it for the keeper when he could have put it into row Z, then he gets in the way after Martinelli bumps him and Alisson can't kick the ball. For Arsenal's 3rd, VvD doesn't get back quick enough, then when Trossard shoots VvD gets a nick on it and puts it through Alisson's legs. Without the nick Alisson it saves easily.
ReplyDeleteI'm not decommissioning my guns on this one Peter. Nor use the bleary eyes induced by booze as an exit strategy. The keeper had a panoramic view of play as VVD had his back to play. He knew what to do and fluffed it. I think he lacked confidence from the start.
DeleteThe player nutmegged is always at fault. If you want to perform the splits don't complain if somebody goes right down the middle.
I noticed that VVD's stats were good for the game, not so much in the ratings. Allison got rated 1/10 - that's as low as I have ever seen.
Not that I think VVD had a good game -- far from it but in my view Allison gets to go in the naughty corner if there is only one space.
Oh come on! First rule of defending: don't let the ball bounce. Second rule of defending: don't let the ball bounce twice. VvD had two opportunities to clear the ball. Instead he leaves it for the keeper. He then gets bumped by a 60kg winger and the keeper can't kick the ball cos VvD is in the way. Maybe Allisson should have cleaned them both out but he should never have had to come out in the first place. For the second, Trossard should never have had a shot on goal. VvD should have closed him down, and the keeper would have saved it easily only for VvD's big fucking toe. You should watch the highlights on Youtube.....sober!
DeleteFirst rule of defending is spot the danger followed by the second - clear your lines. VVD had his back to the play whereas Allison could see it all. A clear call from the man on watch could have saved the day. I was very edgy about him from the early stages with some of his playing out from the back. VVD is not blameless, just not as culpable as the keeper.
DeleteReds have been on a very good run , probably tired after their midweek & double cup exertions . Had Brad & Dom started , maybe the 3 points would of been heading north . Too many dropped points against the top # 6 . Imagine a side with Conor & Trent on the right , Robo & Kostas on the left !
ReplyDeleteThe Reds needed a # 6 last summer , not buying one over two windows shows how tight fisted Fenway really are . Midfield should of been rejuvenated a season earlier . As for Chelsea , less said the better .
Fuck sake Chelsea we're back to being a Cup team. At this stage we could win the League Cup and FA cup and the season would still feel like an unmitigated catastrophe.
ReplyDeleteYep, slipped into the bottom have of the table. Yous need Putin's lap dog back!
DeleteThen we rip apart Villa on their own turf. This Chelsea team really gets my goat with the inconsistency.
DeleteAside from Anfield , Reds eyes will be on Leverkusen V B Munich tomorrow # 5 point gap ?
ReplyDelete