Still Writing Their History
League Season Review: 2019/20.
Trying to kick the ball about in the garden has just made me want to write this; a little reflection on the season so far.
It was when Bobby put Mo through, against Newcastle at home, with that exquisite back-heel, that just encapsulated the skill which comes to my mind, which led to the winning of the title.
Then, I would say it was that game, against Villa. That was the most crucial win. There was a stage that afternoon when Man City were winning and we were losing and the gap was down to 3 points. They would play us next and if it stayed that way, anything could happen. Was it no wonder that I exploded in joy and relief when Robbo scored the equaliser and then went ballistic when Sadio scored that last gasp-winner. For the first time I really felt fear before Robbo’s equaliser, fear that we would be caught. Yes, I know we beat City the week after and moved 9 points ahead of them but it could have been oh so different.
Sweets – every game, always the same ones and if they were not, then we lost and also me trying to park my car always in the same spot when I go to Davie’s to watch the game! As if I’m superstitious – you bet! Then also trying to write-up about every game we won so that Liverpool may keep the incredible run going.
As I pick this piece back-up, the season is over now. I thought at one stage that the ‘Null and Voiders’ were going to have the last laugh – but we did, Liverpool FC. It is incredible what Klopp has achieved. Writing this I will be disappointed if he does not win ‘Manager of the Year’. The team has been relentless. Playing some fantastic, attacking football along the way, in spurts at times. It was like they were setting their own pace. In some games, just doing enough to win. Always I felt we could move-up another two gears.
It is hard to pinpoint one particular player as everyone has played his part, from Adrian, to Ali, to Robbo, Gini, Mini, Sadio, Mo and Hendo! I feel though that we can’t do without Virg – who has played every minute, of every league game for the last two seasons. He was almost the final piece of the jigsaw as Ali was the final one. Though it is doubtful if we could have won the league without Sadio. He has been nothing short of brilliant for the last two years. He has pace to burn and just so accurate and cold-blooded in front of goal. And that smile! It lights-up any ground. I would love it if he won the Players Player trophy.
Yesterday I was trying to figure out how many League doubles we have completed and so here goes, from my head; Aston Villa away – 2-1 (Robbo and Sadio), Home 2-0 (Mane & Jones); Chelsea a 2-1 Trent and Bobby, Chelsea h 5-3 Naby, Trent, Gini, Bobby, Ox, Crystal Palace a 2-1 now I know Bobby scored the winner! Palace h 4-0 Trent, Fabinho, Mo and Mane, Leicester h 2-1 Mane and Milly pen a 4-0 Bob 2, Millie pen, Trent. Norwich h 4-1 own goal after an Origi cross, Virg, Mo and I’m not sure if Sadio scored the 4th, a 1-0 where Sadio came off the bench and turned to hit it home from close range. Southampton a 2-1 I believe when Sadio deffo scored and I can’t say with certainty who got the other but I know Adrian cocked-up! H 4-0 Ox, Hendo, Mo 2. Spurs H 2-1 when we were a goal behind after about a minute. Hendo and Sadio got brought down with Mo converting the spot-kick. Bobby scored the winner at Spurs, 1-0. Sheffield Utd a 1-0 when Gini squirmed a hopeful ball in, h 2-0 where I think Mo and Mane scored. West Ham a 2-0 Ox and Mo, West Ham h 3-2 and just don’t ask me who scored as I’ll just guess with Sadio and Mo no doubt! Bournemouth a 3-0 Ox, Naby and Mo h 2-1 after the Watford defeat, where we again conceded early with Mo scoring a scuffed equaliser, Virg putting Sadio through and Millie acrobatically clearing off the line – the most important piece of action in 30 – Years. Wolves at home was a 1-0 win, thanks to a Sadio goal then Wolves had a legit goal VARRED out. Also, we won 2-1 away where Hendo opened the scoring, they equalised before Bobby again popped-up with a last gasp winner! I forgot Brighton. We beat them 2-1 at home thanks to two identical Virg headers and then nearly collapsed as Ali got sent-off with the visitors scoring to make it a back’s against the wall last few minutes. We won the away game 3-1 after winning the league. Mo was it and Hendo who put us 2-0 up before we again got slack at the back and they scored a whizzing low shot to make it 2-1. Mo though scored a near post header to make it 3-1.
Crumbs – so that’s at least 12 doubles – 72 points in current currency. I wonder where the other 27 points came from? I know we beat every team in the league this season so lets start with Arsenal at home when Matip rose highest to score with a Kop End header before Mo was pulled back by Luis and he converted the spot-kick and then ran and ran firing home a low shot to make it 3-0. They scored a consolation late on. We beat Burnley 3-1 was it, away? Where Mo and Sadio had a bust-up? Deffo Bobby scored and Trent as well from a ridiculous ball which looped into the top corner of the net! Then there were wins over Watford at home when Mo cheekily back-heeled twice and the visitors missed sitters. Everton were thrashed 5-2 where Origi scored two spectacular goals along with Shaq and Sadio with Gini scoring late on. We beat Man City with Fabinho firing in a fantastic long-ranger howitzer, Trent sending Robbo scampering down the wing before crossing first time for Mo to head home without breaking stride – that could have been the Championship, there and then. Sadio’s bullet header made it 3-0 as City scored late on. Man Untied were beaten 2-0 at home with Virg heading in early as Bobby had a superb goal chalked-off, as did Gini before Mo ran half the length of the pitch and slotted home with the Kop dusting off their old ditty of ‘We’re gonna win the League’.
We drew 1-1 at OT with Divock being fouled before United went up-field, crossed the ball and someone scored. Lallana though preserved our un-defeated league record which stretched-back until January 2019, by ghosting in and prodding in the equaliser as a parting gift. Somehow, we let Burnley back into the game at Anfield after Robbo had scored a powerful header from the right-hand side. In all fairness, the visitors should have won. It stopped us from recording 19 home league wins but the result helped us go 3 League seasons un-defeated at Anfield which is apparently a record. Also, there was that 0-0 draw – the only one of the entire League Season, at Everton which is instantly forgettable except for the fact it nudged us closer to the 5 points required at that stage to win the League.
And to the losses. Only 3. Make that 4 out of 76 over a two-season period. Incredible. The 3-0 defeat at relegated Watford was thouroughly deserved. Awful, sloppy defending. Should have been more conceded as well. Then when the Title had been wrapped-up we pressed Man City for twenty minutes and did not take any of the numerous chances we created and got punished 4-0 in the end and it could have been more. They let-us off lightly if truth be told. When we went to Arsenal and went 1-0 up through Sadio I felt that we would at least get a point but two gifts from Virg and Ali, gave Arsenal the points in a game where we again did not convert a hat-full of chances we created!
I am led to believe that this Liverpool 2019/20 team, have beaten the points tally of our 1978/79 team, who lost 4 games and scored 80 odd goals and conceded a miserly 16 goals over 42 matches. I don’t judge Liverpool on other sides but our own past teams and it is debatable if there was a greater Liverpool team than that 78/79 team which contained Clemence, Neal, A. Kennedy, Thompson, Hansen, Souness, McDermott, Case, R. Kennedy and David Johnson and a certain Kenny Dalglish. Now though, you can instead read Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, A. Robertson, Virgil van Djke, J. Gomes/J.Matip, J. Henderson, G. Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Mo Salah, Bobby Firmino & Sadio Mane – for these men have earned their place alongside the past club legends; they are still writing their history…
27/07/20
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