Saturday 3pm, Red vs. Blue, misty conditions, no television cameras, a rowdy, snappy atmosphere – Saturday was like a game from yesteryear, before TV companies pumped their money into British football.
Before the match, it was probably played down a lot just how big this game was.
The return of Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool looking to extend their 100 percent record and a Leicester City team in form that found themselves in the top four. It had the makings of a high-quality encounter.
Instead, Liverpool came out on top in a game where they had to dig extremely deep.
Caglar Soyuncu and Jonny Evans kept Mohamed Salah at bay, all be it by trying their best to literally remove his top from him.
Liverpool just couldn’t really get going – yes there were some chances, but ultimately, it was an opening half-hour that caused frustration and nail biting among the fans.
With such a high expectation of the team to deliver, it is a little abnormal if there isn’t a Liverpool goal inside the first 20 minutes.
Finally, Sadio Mane, with the help of James Milner, unlocked the Leicester defence and the Reds were 1-0 up going into the break.
Into the second half, as the game went on, Leicester never really looked like they posed a threat, and apart from a few chances, Liverpool looked like they were heading towards a well-earned 1-0 win.
Then, a James Maddison equaliser turned the whole mood of the ground upside down, as the 100 percent record threatened to go up in smoke.
Liverpool persevered, though, and in the 94th minute, a challenge on Mane saw the referee point to the penalty spot.
As soon as it happened, I felt a bit of karma had been paid back from last season, when Liverpool were denied a clear foul on Naby Keita at the Kop end, costing them a valuable three points in the Premier League title race.
In the Kop, as Milner struck home the penalty, the sense of relief, joy and utter happiness was unparalleled, and for a Saturday 3pm game at Anfield, block 306 was like a European night.
It’s only October – not even a third of the way into the season – but it’s moments, decisions and last-minute clinchers such as these that make you think it could well be our time.
What was to follow at the Etihad on Sunday has made Milner’s goal seem all the more vital.
Looking back, it has huge similarities to Gary McAllister’s penalty against Barcelona in the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2001, in terms of the stature of the player and the old guard pulling us through.
Saturday was a huge game and it will remain massive as the season goes on.
Leicester are going to be in and around the European spots come the end of the season, but Milner’s spot-kick on Saturday could end up being the reason why Liverpool finish the top of the pile come May.
