That 3-0 win at Wolves was Liverpool’s first clean sheet in seven games and last night’s 1-0 victory over Fulham at Anfield added to the impression of new solidity.
What is solidity?
Well, I don’t know, but they just looked like the Liverpool of old, a team with a rugged workmanlike shape, strong players like new right back Kelly, compact, durable, resilient, close to each other, no big gaps, powerful forward runs, good habits, a variety of ideas.
I love solidity. Can’t define it but I know it when I see it.
After putting £20 on Liverpool to beat Fulham, I heard that Fulham’s last two visits there had ended 0-0. That stat made me nervous and I didn’t watch the game.
Didn’t watch Birmingham-West Ham second leg either.
Just saw the first half of the Sevilla- Real Madrid cup game, then watched Posh and Posher, an Andrew Neill documentary about the collapse of the grammar school meritocracy that gave us Harold Wilson, Ted Heath, Thatcher and John Major. Once again we are governed by clueless toffs.
I’d been thinking about that recently. Toffs go to the best schools and learn the best things and meet the best people and get the best jobs and hang out with the best bankers. But they know nothing about the most important cultural expressions of the last 50 years : rock music and football.
Sorry, I digress.
Liverpool needed lineswoman Sian Massey last night when Fernando Torres made the most perfect diagonal run I’ve ever seen. He sprinted into the D and took a slide-rule pass from Mereiles and scored. But the linesman gave him offside. He wasn’t.
The winning goal was scrappy, an o.g by Pantsil after Torres hit the post in 52.
The Almeria keeper had a nightmare at Barcelona, where CFB won 5-0, Keita’s fifth being the best goal of the night.
Pep’s maestros could meet Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey final. A tasty Benzema goal was the difference in Sevilla. It was a physical first leg.