THERE are two important things to take from the game of football:
1. Liverpool are currently the best team in the country.
2. Liverpool think they are the best team in the country.
Both of these things are equally important. Don’t get me wrong – Liverpool have a ton of question marks still. That’s both football and life. Perfection is fleeting, rare. In football it should be impossible. The reason why this game is still rightly played by 11 is that it remains a man too few. The reason why this game is so pulsating is that your blanket can never be big enough.
Liverpool can be better. They can improve. They are the best team in the country. Do you think they will improve?
They dominated Crystal Palace in the first 45 minutes, yet they conceded two and needed to score two from set-pieces. Palace had seen this sort of Liverpudlian domination before, when Liverpool turned up needing to win the game by 10. All this Liverpool side needed was to win.
But the quality was evident. The shape deceptive. Philippe Coutinho deeper but constantly involved. Sadio Mane joining Roberto Firmino. Adam Lallana constant, smothering and probing. Liverpool rampant but not converting. Nil-three at half time wouldn’t have flattered the Reds. But they took two-three in their stride.
Dominance unconverted rattles many sides. Not this Liverpool, not tonight. They came out second half assured. The next goal was going to make all the difference and while Palace tried to pile the pressure on, Liverpool looked all the more likely. They looked like the side who would spring. And they sprang through their captain and most important attacker – the ball sumptuous, the finish divine. Two-four.
The scoreline is only half the tale. Because Crystal Palace played well. They are a decent side with some exceptional performers. Christian Benteke was excellent. Wilfried Zaha dangerous. James McArthur scores two. But what’s interesting is how Liverpool’s quality led to Palace compromising first half and led to Palace wobbling then, too. One close up through the screens on Scott Dann or Martin Kelly or Joe Ledley told a story – playing these Reds is a living hell for seasoned pros. They drain you physically and mentally. They take everything from you. There is always one more man and one more ball. The men in toxic thunder don’t stop.
The Reds are the best team in the country. This isn’t a result to thumb noses at. It’s a serious game of football in a serious ground and Liverpool dominate proceedings. For weeks, this: Liverpool are going to make mistakes. For weeks, this: how they cope with mistakes is what matters. For tonight, this: Liverpool can make mistakes and win well. Liverpool can make mistakes and win deservedly. Football teams will always make mistakes but Liverpool can still be so much better.
Liverpool’s level currently looks highest. Liverpool’s ceiling currently looks highest. Walk around that.
There remain 28 football matches and those games are now about one thing and one thing only – Liverpool reaching their ceiling and winning those games. One of the pressures of being the best side in the country is being the best side in the country.
Liverpool look up to that challenge.
It’s Saturday night. Liverpool are serious. Liverpool are the real thing. We know that now if we didn’t know before. Time for the night of your life. And plan for 28 more of them. Twenty-eight more nights of your life. Liverpool already are planning for that. These Reds want you to get naked and have a disco. Imagine looking Bobby Firmino in the eye in May if you haven’t.
Suddenly, overwhelmingly it is a joy to be alive my friends. These Reds.
Let’s go Liverpool.
Up the serious Reds.
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The background is white. If you’re seeing anything else it’s because the page hasn’t loaded properly.
Stylesheets sometimes don’t load on here since the “upgrade”. Still crap on mobile. Love the content but hate the new design.
Same, driving me crazy.
I have I read in my laptop now
Nobody writes like Neil. Thanks Mate
Somebody can. I forget who but there was a parady shopping list in the comments section last year. It was probably my favourite TAW ‘thing’ behind the ratings and Gibbo’s Home & Away.
Brilliant… if I could write stuff half decent I’d want to write stuff like Neil, up those serious Reds..
Hi Neil, Great article and great match!!!
Your point should stand for the remainder of the season:
“Liverpool can make mistakes and win well. Liverpool can make mistakes and win deservedly. Football teams will always make mistakes but Liverpool can still be so much better.”
Rob Guttman wrote the other day that “if Liverpool want to be the mightiest Reds then Palace aren’t going to stop them being so.” We must repeat this every game, one game at a time. No team should be underestimated at any point or we will get “burned” by Burnley again. Btw watched the Mancs and their $300 million dollar traffic cones desperately trying to beat Burnley today. Really enjoyed watching that.
I was angry when we conceded silly goals, but wasn’t bothered about it for too long, just wanted the Reds to rise up mightily and shrug off the cheap shots. CP had no real game, we seemed to make it look like they did.
Not easy, but the Reds played exceptionally well today. From no-look passes to thumping set-piece headers. They did it all and more. Very proud of this team and Jurgen, and all the fans.
Watford up next. Please steady the ship Jurgen, grease those engines, as the Red Machine needs to be in full effect soon!
Up the Reds!!!
Have a look at Firmino and his smiley face. Can`t imagine that come next May, regardless of how you may have let him down, he will not be willing to give you a smiley hug and tell you it is ok.
What a crazy game. Just lacked any sense of structure or order. Liked that palace decided to give it a go at some point, just as well go down fighting, there was only ever one winner today. They are a decent side, Neil’s right. It was an unsettled mess but oh so very fun.
Think moreno did well but he just doesn’t bring the sense of calm that milner creates. As for the keeper, he actually stopped a few today, but like Moreno, he doesn’t put me at ease. Infact, he mostly represents a flapping fucking seagull. Still early days I suppose.
Up the irresistible reds.
Fuck yes! Up the scintillating Reds!
Nice one Neil, but fuck the serious reds bit. We’re not serious, we’re frivolous, unpredictable and inimitable all at the same time.
Oh, you mean we’re serious challengers? Got ya.
Lovely piece ! absolutely agree as a red might well be best time of your of life’s Don’t remember anything near this consistent quality for the last 20 odd years
In tears. It’s a joy to be alive again. Up the Reds!
This Liverpool is about options – on and off the field.
On the field, the switches across the front three/four players is devastating to defend against and those options are increased with midfield and full-back runners.
Off the field, the options on the bench are fantastic- no more benches with Andre Voronin plus the kids or Victor Moses plus the kids – Klopp’s Reds have a proper bench.
Options win games…
Nice one Neil. Nice one reds!
You can pick the bones all you like but fuck me rigid these lads are just bloody lovely. The 13/14 season ultimately ended in tears but just remember how much fun it was, how it made you feel and just how good we were.
I’d argue that right now we’re collectively better than 13/14.
I’d argue right now we’re going to get even better.
I love the reds when they make you feel like this…and if you spend too long nit picking about Albie’s body shape for a cross or Dejan giving them an early Christmas prezzie then it will pass you by and you’ll forget to enjoy it.
So jump on board…strap yourself in again…and just enjoy how boss we are!
Up the fucking gorgeous bastard reds!!
If I look bobby in the eye in may I’m becking him!!
Necking him even
You are a poet, Neil. Excellent stuff. I am just imagining, if you start composing songs and sing, your songs might resemble Direct Straits songs.
It is an amazing feeling to sense the team’s confidence that they can and will win!!
‘Liverpool can be better. They can improve. They are the best team in the country. Do you think they will improve?’
I believe whatever Jurgen tells me.
Walk around him.
Most teams make mistakes , its how you deal with them that counts. That’s the main difference Klopp’s made to our mentality: we don’t let our heads go down. We know we’ve got more goals in us at all times. We know we’re the best team.
The thing we need to improve is not so much our defending (though Moreno remains a liability) but our finishing. We’re not yet ruthless enough.
momentum and confidence is building with every game!!! can I ask who’s in charge of songs these days??? “Adam Lallanna” and “Bobby Firminho” are absolute real classics but we could do with a few new Suarez/Torres calibre songs to get us proper rocking!!!
Know what yer saying. But sometimes simplicity is best.
It must be great hearing your name chanted, but I doubt the players are arsed whether it’s a simple one or a well thought out ditty.
Watching Barcelona pre-Enrique what I thought made them exceptional was not that they pressed incessantly or passed the ball through, behind and beyond teams, it was that if none of that worked the players had the skill simply to beat opponents one on one and do them that way. Liverpool now have players to do all of the above. I’m not saying we are Barcelona in their pomp, of course not, but if Jurgen carries on improving us as a team and as individuals we are going to be bloody good, to match the best.
We are better than Barca, mate!!!
Watched it in a bar on holiday with Jan Molby co-commentator in Danish (Scouse accent). Ridiculously good for much of last night. Beautifully serious Reds indeed.
Henderson, lads.
Henderson.
Neil knows it. We should all know it.
Henderson.
That is all.
Neil, I read your reviews like I would read a telegram back in the day stop keep up the good work stop up the reds don’t stop
Things looking well at the moment but would still try and fit origi into starting 11 and get mingolet back in goal
Especially at home we could accommodate a finisher. Would love it to be DS but figure divock has the game to fit in
One of the central mids to make way
Karius gives me the shivers and not because it’s Halloween Not seen him make a clean save yet , supposed to be good with his feet ? Worse than Simon ever was
Just feel we need to get the keeper back in and more potency up
Front and we can win it this year
Up the Serious reds !
Good one Neil. Best comment to me is the true one that Palace played well and as well as they were allowed. They’ll take points at home off the other contenders.
Yet we never looked fussed.
Never.
Just keep playing football Klopp tells them.
They listen and do. No fuss.
Then score again. And again.
Absolutely Incredible 1st half. Silky soft touches. Whiplash passes. Dynamite shots.
Pure Swarm Football. Mesmerising. Barca under Pep-like.
2 defensive errors aside, we reminded me of how good Dortmund were in the 1st half at Anfield last April. We are at that super speed level.
Lovin’ it all. Now prepare for Watford.