”Liverpool top of the league, Liverpool, Liverpool top of the league” was the sound coming out of the Shed End at Stamford Bridge at the weekend.
It was 5:15pm on Sunday afternoon and Liverpool had just made it six in a row. six wins from Six. 18 points from 18.
Five points clear at the top in September. What a football team.
The day started off in Manchester Piccadilly station with the 9:30am train to London Euston, a quick dart into the Sainbury’s to pick up something for the train. Chilli Heatwave Dorito’s was the food of choice.
Start the day off right, you know?
Unfortunately, Budweiser would have to make do for the way down. Don’t ask, we’ll just move onto the rest of the day.
Arrived in the capital for 12:15pm, straight out of Euston to the Dorich Arch for a pint. Amstel was the choice of larger for the day, not really due to choice more due to the prices.
A £5 note was handed over for a pint… no change was given.
No one really understands the London tube map do they? It’s one of my great fears of this world, how can a map look so complicated?
I’ve had European trips where three flights are needed to get to a destination and let me tell you that is less stress than the tube. You’ll not be seeing me in London anytime soon again…
After some negotiation, and lot of time staring at multi-colored lines, I finally found my way to West Brompton station.
Relief.
Sunday’s weather had put a downer on the day. Shorts were the plan, jeans were the reality. My dream of shorts every game until Bournemouth in December had quickly been shattered before it had even started.
Anyway, into the ground.
A huge test for the Liverpool and a chance to put down a huge statement so early in the season.
Twitter: Here we go, Six in a row
https://t.co/rd0UEJGj9A (@LFCMK1)
The Shed End is where the away fans are placed at Stamford Bridge, teams are placed in the upper and lower tiers. We were in the lower right by the corner flag, it was a good spec.
There is no sweeter feeling in the world than seeing the the ball fly into the goal, sending fans into bedlam and sheer ecstasy. That’s exactly what Trent Alexander-Arnold did, a truly unbelievable strike into the top right corner.
The moment between the ball leaving Trent’s foot and the ball bulging the back of the goal seemed like a lifetime. In reality it was probably one second if that, but it felt like it took an absolute age.
But the ‘let off’ as soon as it nestled into the top corner was incredible, it’s what we do it for. The spontaneous hugging of strangers, grabbing one another like family as those in that away end’s each week embark on the same journey, trying to push Liverpool to glory, week in week out.
Twitter: If you wanted to watch it again… FROM EVERY ANGLE
https://t.co/5bZZgekmAP (@LFC)
And those are the moments we do it for, the moments that define a season. I’m sure the goal’s from Sunday are ones we are looking back on at the end of the season with huge gratitude.
The let off for Firmino’s goal was equally superb. 2-0 up at the Bridge.
Dreamland.
The goal made all the sweeter by Chelsea’s goal being ruled out moments earlier due to Mason Mount’s little toe being offside.
The faces on those Chelsea fans… absolutely priceless. The Shed End broke out into a endless rendition of ”Si Senior’.” The party had begun in the away end. The Reds were cruising.
As the Reds felt the full effect of their trip to Naples midweek, Chelsea had us under the cosh for the final quarter of the game. Liverpool were hanging on, desperate to keep their five-point gap intact.
Andy Robertson picked up the ball in the final seconds of the game before going on one of his 50 yard sprints, before being brought down.
The Shed End erupted, greeting the foul as if it was a goal. There was no more time once that free kick was taken. That was the game.
Liverpool had done it. Five points clear.
Jurgen and his boys showed ‘signs of champions’, a phrase that all of the pundits love to throw around and use every Sunday.
It’s not your 8-0 wins that make you champions, its the gritty 1-0’s and 2-1’s away from home that help your quest for the most sought after trophy in English football.
The commute home was made all the sweeter by the train being full of Manchester United fans drowning their sorrows for the long journey back to Piccadilly station following their embarrassment at the London Stadium.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.
16 hours after leaving my flat, we finally arrived back at at 1am. We go again on Wednesday at MK Dons.
Liverpool, top of the league, Liverpool, Liverpool top of the league.
See you Wednesday.
