When Stoke were winning 1-0 at Anfield, I was screaming at the telly.
The old beatnik was shouting: “Give it to Adam!”
And Liverpool did, actually.
Klopp knew that Chelsea, Arsenal and City had all won the day before.
And he had just won back-to-back away games at Middlesbrough and Everton.
In football, though, your fixtures can occasionally be strange.
Liverpool had not played for eight days,while Stoke had not played for 10 days.
History was against Mark Hughes because Stoke had not won at Anfield since 1959.
After 12 minutes, Stoke scored when left wing-back Eric Pieters crossed to the near post and Jonathan Walters headed in.
This was only the third goal Stoke had scored at Anfield in 30 years.Could history now be turned upside down?
My favourite Adam Lallana didn’t get a kick in the first 15 and I was annoyed and started shouting,”Give it to Adam!”
After 18, Simon Mignolet made a great save with his foot from Joe Allen to prevent 0-2
In this period when Liverpool were losing, the speed and urgency of their counter-attacks was quite remarkable
Pep Guardiola, wearing a grey cap and an overcoat, was watching from the stand.
Because Man City play here on Saturday.
After 24, Firmino had a shot kicked off the line and eventually, ten minutes later, Liverpool equalised.
The speed of the attack overwhelmed Stoke in their box and when the ball broke to Adam Lallana, off XXX Johnson, he scored from a narrow angle.
In 38, Lallana squared to Firmino but his shot flew just over the bar.
Liverpool’s style excites me because so much of their energetic support running is close to the ball, although they also make plenty of sprints in front of the ball – and behind it too.
One obvious reason for Liverpool scoring four goals is that they have a lot of possession high in your half, and when they miss a chance they just keep coming and coming again.
After a short pass from the evergreen Milner, Firmino fired a left foot shot that hit the inside of the post, rebounded off the far post and rolled into the net.
Liverpool 2 Stoke 1
After his drink-driving arrest over Xmas, I thought Firmino has nailed-on to score.
By now the home team were leading 14-5 on a goal attempts.
The other thing I really love about Klopperpool is that they mix it up.They hit long passes as well as attacking in swarms of five and six players.They score a lot from 5 and 12 yards but also shoot from 25. They sometimes attack with three men on one one flank but also come through the middle with five or six – and if they lose the ball they can often win it back and create a chance that way.
The variety and ferocity of Liverpool’s attacking threat makes Arsenal’s ensemble play look rather middle-of-the road and predictable.
After 59, Henderson found Origi on the left wing and his low crosss was a good one for Mane. But defender Imbula got there first and scored an own-goal.
Liverpool 3 Stoke 1.
Diouf’s hand hit Lallana in the eye, one of those accidentally-on-purpose fouls.
Emre Can replaced Lallana and Sturridge came on for Origi in 69 and centreback Shawcross then made the sloppiest backpass of the season, straight to Sturridge, who twinkled round keeper Lee Grant and slotted for 4-1.
Liverpool’s firepower has been impressive since the first day of the season when they went to Arsenal won 4-3.
Under Klopp, Liverpool have already scored 100 Premier League goals.
Liverpool can stumble and stutter a bit but have the ability to improve a lot during a match.
After 18 games, it’s clear that Liverpool and Chelsea have the biggest appetites.
Those clubs will finish one and two.
Spurs, Man City and Arsenal are competing for third place.
Also on ANR : http://arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/wp/remembering-george-michael-at-earls-court-london-1988/