MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 9, 2017: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp looks dejected after his side's 4-0 defeat during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

DON’T know where to start, don’t know what to say.

A result like that hurts — and so it should. On the fourth Emre Can was punching the turf in frustration. And so he should. Many of the travelling support had long since left and headed for home. And you can’t really blame them either.

After a positive enough start in which Liverpool were causing City problems, particular through Mo Salah, whose decision-making and end product repeatedly let him down, The Reds handed them a goal on a plate. It was far too easy to open The Reds up. A theme for the match with the ball hitting the net seven times. Fortunately, the worst word even if it’s the right word, only five counted.

The game hinged on the sending off — from a match Liverpool were having a say in, to a game that was all but over. In the ground, from the vertigo-inducing third tier, it looked like Sadio Mane made an honest attempt for the ball. A man on a mission to nick it and score rather than a ticking bomb hell bent on injuring an opponent. By now you’ll know better. Dozens of angles, many more replays. So you tell me.

Whatever, it was done. And at 10 v 11, Liverpool rolled over. The second was an action replay of a disallowed effort minutes before. The Reds all over the show defensively, City sensing blood. A young right back will have days like these. A third-choice centre back likewise. The first-choice lads didn’t do much better. The questions about the transfer window remain. No better defenders out there, or hanging on for Virgil van Dijk in January? Already it looks like time to roll out the prayer mat and speak to the big man about making it the latter.

The rest? Back to knowing what else there is to say. Salah’s substitution was a strange one given he had caused so many problems. He was an outlet. His pace disguises a poorly-hit pass (and there were plenty of those). To see him hooked suggested a white flag. Many fans thought 2-0 down with 10 men away versus the favourites to win the league was too much to ask. It appeared players and staff decided the same.

It’s easy to say we should just write this off. One of them. We move on. We focus on Sevilla. There is loads of merit and sense in that view and ultimately that’s what will happen from now on in.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 9, 2017: Liverpool's goalkeeper Simon Mignolet looks dejected after his side's 4-0 defeat during the FA Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

But when standing in torrential rain waiting for a tram surrounded by crowing Mancs, forgive me if I wanted more. Some pride, some passion, some sorting things out so the scoreline doesn’t end so embarrassing.

And on their fans, well I’m going there. Why are they singing about Steven Gerrard seconds after kick off? How is that relevant? What is it for? It’s a tad small-time for a club that loves to tell us how big it is.

Then the “victims” song. Belted out with vigour. Over and over. Including on the final whistle after winning 5-0.

What does the song mean? What’s the purpose of it? I asked a few City fans and got blank looks. So why are you singing it? Liverpool fans were the victims at Hillsborough. It wasn’t our fault. Fact set in stone. What else is the song referring to? Never our fault? Some Liverpool fans were culpable at Heysel. Some were tried and jailed. Again, fact. I just don’t get it. We’re having a chat about 1985 and 1989 when you’re having the perfect day here and now in 2017. Ignorance or being just plain thick? I’ll leave it up to you.

All Liverpool can do now is look to Wednesday. Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez have watched their stock rise without touching a ball. Coutinho must be considered. If there are positives to take, and please, really, I know — then Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Dominic Solanke did OK. But you know, 5-0.

If you’ve got this far well done. We’ll have better days. Hopefully Wednesday is one of them. Up the fuck off City Reds.

READ: Manchester City 5 Liverpool 0: The Final Whistle

READ: Manchester City 5 Liverpool 0: Match Ratings

READ: Manchester City 5 Liverpool 0: The Ref Gave Pep The Reprieve City Needed

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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo

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