Football - FA Premier League - Norwich City FC v Liverpool FC

A LOT has happened since I last wrote one of these. Sunderland have happened. Twice. And we opened a poll for goal of the season among other things.

Naive. There will always be more goals. There will always more great goals. Sterling obviously. The second. Christ the second. Bom. Bom. Bom. Bom. Bom. Bom. Bom. I could go on. Bom. Bom. Bom. Bom.

Bom.

But Sunderland. What a gang of lads. Just burrowing beneath the foundations of City and Chelsea, their houses left subsiding.

Bom.

Norwich looked to do likewise. Their performance was huge. The manager seeing their lads off, a handshake for each, was spot on. It was deserved. That’s when you show yourself to be Liverpool manager. I wanted to pat their lads on the back. I may be tired and emotional.

Bom.

The second half of the first half and straight after the break they turned Liverpool around and caused chaos. They showed an intensity I didn’t think possible. They were tactically inventive and could have been the better side from when it was 0-2 onwards.

Bom.

But it was 0-2. And this is a Liverpool side which combines resilience with its endless pace and energy.

Bom.

Mignolet came for something he shouldn’t and that was their reward. Certainties are important in football. The goalkeeper has been told he should come for more. But knowing where you stand counts. He came for nothing because he wasn’t great at it. He ends the day Mingolet.

Bom.

At some point the old men will accept we’re passing it round the back. Because we will. We really will. I’ve played at the back. You have. Kicking it as far away from the goal is thing you want to do more than anything. I reckon Dr Steve might need to do house visits to everyone over fifty. Apart from my dad. Who is fine with things.

Bom. GOAL!

So what else.

Football - FA Premier League - Norwich City FC v Liverpool FC

Raheem. Wowzer. Sublime performance. Endlessly on his bike. He could play anywhere.

Skrtel and Sakho did the defending brilliantly. Johnson and Flanagan less so but both had strong periods. Moses was a great change I disagreed with. As ever I’m wrong.

I don’t know what it is but I love it.

Allen was splendid first half. Endless aggression off the ball, composure on it. Leiva found it harder to impose himself.

I don’t know what it is but I want it to stay.

Coutinho struggled as well. But all this is testament to Norwich. They made Liverpool struggle. Not many have done that.

But I love it, love it, love it.

It’s been exhausting. Been draining. Sapping. Liverpool won. They gritted their teeth when everyone around them has slipped and slid and subsided. They dug deeper than anyone else has managed. They’ve done this now as well.

Odds on. Gnarly. Champions elect. Now they say it as well. Out there. They say it. Champions elect. You knew all along. Champions elect.

I don’t know what it is but I love it.

I don’t know what it is but I want it to stay.

So do they. The Mighty Boys In Red.

Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda.