JRC

It was only as the video reached the end that I realised that they were all from the one game, not career highlights. I know it should have been obvious from the opposition kit, lack of crowd etc., but the sheer magnificence blinded me to everything else. Pure porn. (Also - the brilliant instant control of the recipients, even under direct pressure. Compare with Maitland-Niles attempt to trap Luiz's pass - although he was offside anyway, of course)

Those last few pre-lockdown games, and post-lockdown/post-title form allowed the doubts to bubble up. Sufficient doubts to validate fears that these early fixtures could prove both challenging and telling (the Ev and City still to come soon, of course) - and could even derail our defence of the title within 5 games. Well f*** me - and f*** you, doubters - we look not just marginally but significantly stronger than last year. Already at our most imperious, technically and tactically awesome, class in depth. Could still all go pear-shaped, but you would wish for a start like this - already psychologically monstering our challengers.

OK I rarely visit the toxic and click-baity Football365 any more, except when there is an assurance I can wallow in admissions of our brilliance - like this week. The 16 conclusions on the game are pretty good and spot on - maybe some points I would cavil at, but I'm biased -, and this sentence made me smile, not least for being so accurate about the game the other night.. " Jurgen Klopp, in truth, has created a monster. Liverpool have so many different ways of hurting an opponent that it often becomes an exercise in plugging bullet holes in a canoe bound for a waterfall in a tsunami. "

There is almost an argument that Hodgson's continued quite goodness at mid-table/looking over their shoulder at relegation clubs proves his total incompatibility with the Liverpool role (and England - if I cared). He may even -seems unlikely - have started to accept that himself.

And has had timely and lucky breaks - PSG away and post-lockdown form. There's little else to suggest he is anything more than the PL relegation and Championship mediocrity manager his CV evidences.

I know. Given the veneration afforded Salah in Egypt - especially by colleagues - I know that what Elneny would have to say about that would be that Tyler was being a t***.

I assumed it was Cole, who has started to be on quite regularly since they changed a lot of the presenters - and has usually been not bad, to be fair. Wasn't listening this morning for long, so didn't hear what he said. Jamie O'Hara rarely impresses, but he was fulsome in his praise this morning.

I have long since stopped giving Football365 regular attention, but felt like seeing what they had to say today. The 16 conclusions are generally good with a couple of points I would disagree with - fair enough, I'm biased - but this made me laugh, not least because it is true - "Jurgen Klopp, in truth, has created a monster. Liverpool have so many different ways of hurting an opponent that it often becomes an exercise in plugging bullet holes in a canoe bound for a waterfall in a tsunami"

I'm happy with the new ruling about the arm out of natural position - after that match v Chelsea when Carvalho got away with at least two handballs when he set himself to block shots with a fair impression of Peter Schmeichel doing star jumps. As has been pointed out, once you 'inentionally' make yourself bigger and create the opportunity to block the ball with your hand, all questions of how close, how hard, whether you could have got out of the way, whether you were looking at the ball etc. are all irrelevant. Which is why I don't understand the new 'deflection' caveat which would maybe have meant the first penalty against Leeds should not have been given. The logic in excluding deflections simply doesn't make sense.

Had to laugh at his response to the MOTD(?) interview about the pressure of the second pen - "I've scored one in a CL final!". Tbf, the injury time one to take Egypt to the World Cup was pretty pressured as well.

He referenced the slight deflection. But the stuff about natural position and body shape render any consideration of deflections or closeness redundant.

I was going to add that coda but it still hurts

Weren't we already in a run of draws, but a couple more followed? Either way, we won more points per game post rant than we did before. Because of the narrative of Ferguson's cool mastery of mind games, what doesn't get mentioned is how insane some of Ferguson's responses were - he talked about how he had had his sports scientists analyse us, he was fuming about it in a number of press conferences; and followed up with the ridiculous stage-managed 'disrespect' thing with Allardyce in the April. (The narrative dissonance is also true of the Keegan rant - that started with Ferguson going mental first)

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Not sure Foden won't have the same dynamic as KdB. Beautiful footballer and great skill, may not be one to drag you to a late winner or dig in in a stand-up fight - not in an aggressive, physical way, just performing at your peak to make things happen. Both Silva's have had that in the past for them, as has Milner. See also Glenn Hoddle in another setting and era.

Actually stayed at Kenny's house at first didn't he? Another reason Harry let him go - he knew Kenny would look after him. If that story is true - I wonder if he still stayed there for long after Kenny left?

For the first time in ages, I have been really enjoying the Snooker, effortlessly wasting WFH time and getting to bed ridiculously late. As I said, the first time in ages....about 30 years I reckon. There is clearly a psychic connection (for me) between us being champions and the snooker being great to watch. Buried somewhere in there is a revelation about the Human Condition, which I am now off to try to perceive. After the snooker, of course Anyone else getting any unexpected 30-years on nostalgia rushes?

Needs to look more like a pirate. If he has half the intensity, passion and commitment of Kyrgiakos that will do for me; if he doesn't have at least twice the mobility and footballing skills it might not work out for him. Does look like he fancies a bit of a barnstorming run, so that's all good.

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Not sure if this has been posted already, but it has set me off tonight. Resonates strongly. I'm the same age as Schofield, and my lad had never seen us win the league in 3 decades until now. Last October, I laid claim on my future Grandson's allegiance (his Dad is a Manc) by taking my pregnant daughter to the Spurs game. "Thanks" to the lockdown, that lad has now seen us win the league at only 3 weeks old. Last week 4 generations of Reds (I hope) celebrated my Dad's 89th birthday; my lad and I now have the 2 Season Tickets my Dad and I first shared over 45 years ago. He took me to the 65 cup final, and he is the first person we ring on the way home from the match - if anything he is more passionate and involved than ever, even if he can't get to the game. God bless these Mighty Reds.

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It was thin gruel for making a defence of Terry, have to accept that

Racking my brains to understand the reference to the "full back" story. On the c*** paradox, Drogba seems to be a genuinely decent person irl, and the club were apparently quite impressed with Terry's actions after the kids got beat at Villa.