Hot Damn
This really does feel a bit too easy.
A few years ago, some of the same players went on an epic run that led to the Reds gaining 79 of the first 81 available points in the league. It ultimately to the earliest-ever Premier League title won in a season and a remarkable seven guards of honor. Sadly, that title, the one that broke a 30-year barren streak, had to be celebrated in front of an empty stadium due to the worldwide pandemic. This Liverpool, this year, is starting to give off similar vibes. The rest of the league is struggling in different ways, or perhaps just equalizing a bit. Were it not for the darkest of dark horses in Nottingham Forest, the Reds would truly be in a league of their own.
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In any competition, it’s always good to have someone pushing you, so we should be thankful for Forest. Still, odd as this may sound, the upcoming game against them at City Ground can end up as a title decider of sorts. As in, if Liverpool wins it too, it will take an astonishing collapse from the Reds to not win the title after that. Yes, there’s the business of dispatching United at Anfield in between. But jinx or not, I’m going to out and say it: Liverpool is winning that one. It’s just a question of how many.
Six past Spurs just a week ago, and five past the Hammers. In both games, Liverpool could have easily scored many more.
A young-ish player who is finally starting to peak in his career was both the biggest threat and waster-in-chief. I mean, you tell me: does this description not fit Mo Salah to a tee? A goal and two assists for him today, a massive impact on the game, yet he could have easily banged in five himself. At one point he laid one off to Jones who was so surprised by the fact of the pass that the ball rolled right past him to the grateful arms of Areola. So I won’t give young Salah my man-of-the-match; he’s got many more years of improvement ahead of him anyway.
Seriously, how can he possibly be 32?
Speaking of Areola, he had to collect five from his net. Despite that, he also managed a couple of contenders for save of the season. It really can be hard to be a keeper some days.
Luis Diaz opened the scoring after a nice one-two off Coufal, essentially assisting himself. I can’t imagine defending against Lucho when he’s at his trickiest. Gakpo was brilliant throughout and scored a perfect finish off a ridiculous play and setup from Salah. Trent got on the score sheet with a deflection. The shot was good and Areola may have been challenged to save it. Once Jota came on, you could see on his face that he was going to score. He ended up doing so after Mo, who knew exactly how another striker would want it, set it up for Jota just so.
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Virgil, another youngster who is coming to his peak, was his imperious self once again. Everyone else played well, and the only concern was when the ever-quietly-excellent Gomez limped out with what looked like a stretched hammy. One player other than Mo, though, truly stood out: Alexis Mac Allister was so good in a box-to-box role that at some point, I found myself wondering “What is he going to do next?” every time I saw our number 10 anywhere near the ball. Mac Allister today had the presence of a Gerrard or a Hendo at their peak. He bossed the midfield like it was personally theirs as if everyone else was their guest and had better be on their best behavior. He was the engine of this dominating display, and for that, he gets my man-of-the-match nod.
Today’s display from the Reds was so fire that one could be forgiven for forgetting that West Ham are in quite a good moment themselves since Lopetegui was brought on. It’s a joy to watch a team going through the motions the way Liverpool are right now. As a lifelong Reds fan, I can only be grateful.
See? I made it through with not one word about contracts.
