Melissa Ident“WE made it clear from the first second that it will be very difficult for City.”

Park the scoreline for a second. Wait a minute with the goals. Just hold off on the fact it could have been more. 

Breathe in the dominance. Stretch in the dominance. Shake in the dominance. First to the final whistle dominance. It’s our ball and our game dominance. We don’t care who you are dominance. We beat you with sweat to spare dominance. DID YOU SEE THAT DOMINANCE?

Liverpool were angry against Manchester City at Anfield on Wednesday night and annihilated them in every department. They were authoritative in the press, energetic in attack and uncompromising in the tackle. The Reds denied the visitors a sniff — City couldn’t catch a cold let alone a break in the game. My nose ran more at Anfield than they did. 

Jürgen Klopp had demanded his side “strike back” following their League Cup shootout heartache against Manuel Pellegrini’s men and all Liverpool’s disappointment from Sunday was converted into glorious determination in midweek.

Okay, back to the scoreline. 3-0. The league double over City done with a 7-1 aggregate. There’s no trophy for that, but not all that glitters is gold. It doesn’t undo Sunday’s hurt, but it offers some hope for the rest of the season and the next one. Liverpool are capable of extraordinary things. They did to be capable of it consistently.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, March 2, 2016: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp celebrates after the 3-0 victory over Manchester City during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

To the goals then. All at the right time. Adam Lallana with an opener that shocked everyone after 34 minutes of superiority. Wildly grinning, Klopp had his hands out in confusion. “I was surprised… he didn’t shoot too often until now!” the manager admitted. 

Liverpool needed their mastery reflected on the scoreboard and Lallana made sure that happened. Seven minutes later, he supplied Roberto Firmino, who played in James Milner to double the advantage. Let’s never ever talk about the former City man’s celebration, but there Liverpool were, deservedly 2-0 up at half-time. 

Would they be too comfortable after the break? Would they drop off? Would they allow City back in? 

Would they fuck! 

Firmino with number three on 57 minutes. The Brazilian not just signalling City’s death in the fixture with a fantastic finish, but announcing an upcoming birth as well. 

Lallana instrumental again. Lallana the best he’s ever been in the Red shirt. Lallana starting fires, putting out fires and simply showing the visitors flames.

After the third, Liverpool completed a masterclass in killing off the game. They did not let up or lose focus, they kept pressing and strangling any fight out of City.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG0s05tV5gw

Watch Kolo Toure thwart Sergio Augero on repeat. Watch the desire with the match long won. Watch what Klopp described as his moment of the encounter. Watch, watch, watch.

Now Liverpool have to listen to their manager again and repeat, repeat, repeat.

“We have to take what we can get, we have to stay angry, we have to strike back in each game for whatever reason we need. That’s how it is,” Klopp said.

“We have only two tournaments left — that’s good news. Losing the final is big, it’s rubbish, but to only be in two tournaments is now really good. That’s what we have to use.

“We have brilliant games against Manchester United in the Europa League. Both teams are not in the worst moments, so that’s really exciting. And Crystal Palace next, then Southampton and so on. We have no points to waste and no time.  

“Where it ends, I don’t know. Anything can happen. This is a difficult season for us, it was a difficult season, and now we have to show that we’ve learned in the first eight months of the season.”

On Wednesday night, Liverpool showed they had learnt from Sunday night. Long may that continue.

Long may the angry Reds go BOOM!