Match of the Day was interesting when I saw it on Sunday morning.
Benteke missed chances and Klopp lost his first game.
Crystal Palace won 2-1 at Anfield with a late header by scouser Scott Dann.
Surprised to hear Klopp say, “You are tired when you think you are tired.”
To me that sounded like old school wisdom, a mantra from the Boot Room, which manager Souness had demolished.
When Liverpool were about to play Juventus in the 1985 European Cup Final, Radio Times wanted a cover story, so I did a phoner with captain Phil Neal.
He’d already won four European Cups and something Phil said stayed with me: “We always tell the young players: You’re not tired, you only think you’re tired.”
Man City’s 0-0 draw at Aston Villa surprised people.
When I saw Pellegrini on the bench near the end his face was plainly saying, “This is a game we should win.”
Expected West Ham to edge out Everton. Rather than draw 1-1.
Lanzini’s opener was a fine goal. But when Deulofeu’s straight ball from the hallway line split the Hammers defence, Lukaku’s was even better.On song this guy is elemental, a force of nature, a defence-wrecker.
Lukaku has scored nine in all comps already.
Chelsea played better without Mourinho in Stoke’s stadium but they were beaten 1-0.
A defensive team needs a centre forward who is a one-man army, as Drogba was in his pomp. As Diego Costa was this time last year.
A bizarre story today: apparently the players want Drogba to come back from the MLS because they miss him in the dressing room.
Huge character? Certainly. Great guy? Yes. Do we admire his prodigious goalscoring feats and ambitious charity work? Of course.
But do Chelsea have no lions now? No personalities? No leaders?
If so, that is a very strange set of affairs. But it’s not one that is unique to Chelsea, I’d wager.
Jesse Lingard’s first goal for Manchester United was against West Brom, a classy shot placed to bounce just inside the post.
Lovely moment of ecstasy for the 22-year old, who grew up in Warrington and joined United when he was seven
Speed king Martial then won a penalty which Mata converted.
But Leicester are third and a point above United.
They beat Watford 2-1 and Jamie Vardy, an electric ferret, has now scored 12 in 12. Wow!
We had a beautiful experience on Saturday night at Sadler’s Wells.
Superb modern theatre, refurbished in 1998 with a deep stage, plenty of leg room, huge red velvet curtains, sounds of the unseen orchestra tuning up, lights down for a 7.30 kick-off.
In Love, the first of three ballets, six dancers concertina into a cluster of arms and legs, then explode outwards in a swirl of sexy elegance. The four boys and two girls mixed it up, and when two boys danced together they found some naughty postures. I like it when they held the girls up, love it when two boys ran rapidly at a girl and she pushed them away fiercely with a hand into each chest. They made it look as if she was very strong.
The dancing was wonderful and I found myself thinking: “I’d love to see this again.”
That never happens. Only twice in my whole life: seeing Jenny Penney in Manon was the first time, then Michael Jackson’s Bad show at Wembley Stadium,
First interval, drinks.
Second interval, ice cream.
Jan said, “Don’t try any of those moves at home!”
I said, “Don’t sprint across the room and throw yourself into the arms of four young men.”
An old blogger can’t really find the words to describe how thrilling this show was. Music, lighting, costumes, ambience – a faaaabulous night out.
We were still flying the next day.