Leaky Grinders

Let’s start with stating the obvious: a win on derby day is always happy. I mean, every win is happy, but derbies are what they are, and the result means just that little bit more, whether it’s against the Goodison crowd (yeah, yeah, they aren’t anymore, but it’s going to take me a while to get over that) or the ones from Manchester.

Somewhat less obvious, to me at least, was how clean this particular derby was in the first half. This was exhibited in a frankly shocking single minute of added time – when is the last time you remember a Liverpool Derby not having many more shenanigan-inspired minutes added? The thing is, Liverpool is an insanely talented team that is still adjusting to a large slate of new players, and if you let them, they will play your socks off, which is precisely what the Reds did in the first half. If we’re being fair, Everton were lucky to only be two down. David Moyes saw exactly the same thing we did, and so when the Toffees came back, they started playing the game we always expect them to play at Anfield; scrappy, full of dark arts, and highly disruptive. Against a team that is still forming itself into a unit, these were especially effective, and Liverpool almost disappeared.

Thankfully, this time around, we only leaked one instead of the traditional two, and ground out the result without needing a late goal. Disappointing, perhaps, to the manufacturers of blood pressure meds, although I suspect plenty of scrips were filled anyway. As one of my colleagues pointed out, it’s kind of hilarious that the only team that couldn’t score against us were the Gunners.

That first half, though, was a gem, and it showed what this Liverpool is capable of doing once it fully clicks after a few more games (scary thought, that, if you’re not from merseyside). The creativity, fluidity, and footballing brain of the engine room were on full display, and for stretches there, it was like music was humming through the blades of grass at Anfield. That first goal was so gorgeous, the build up so sublime, the assist from Mo and the finish from Gravenberch so exquisite, it deserves some sort of special recognition. The second was a classic, and ended with Ekitike doing what number nines do; he continues to remind me of Torres.

Grav served it up for that one, and in doing so, equaled his total goal involvements from all of last season.

We are merely five games in.

In fact, Gravenberch was so good in that first half, I am certain he will be man-of-the-match in most, perhaps even all columns. He probably deserves it, but I like to be different, so I’m going to hand it to another player who, to me, was the main reason Liverpool managed to actually hold on to that early two goal lead and see it through without needing last minute drama: Milos Kerkez. The man started the season shakily, but today he was excellent throughout, with perfect positioning and astute defending without getting dragged into pointless tackles or cowering aimlessly below lofted crosses. Without Kerkez, Ali would have had a lot more work to do, and if we’re honest, would have picked a couple more balls out of his net.

Elsewhere, Gakpo was poor again, and Salah appears to have a secret clause in his contract that guarantees he plays all 90 in every game. Towards the end, he could have been fairly subbed for Frimpong, who would have delivered a much needed dose of energy on the right.

In the end, though, we’re five from five – six, if we count Atleti – and the pressure is on the chasing pack. It may feel like luck, but as many will recall, ManU lucked their way like this into many titles.

It is a pretty darn good time to be a Liverpool fan.