This was the best Saturday I’ve had in a while football-wise.
After the boredom of the international break, I woke up with three games in a row I really wanted to watch. What a pleasure.
Mind you, the missus got a bit pissed off as she arrived back from a week away and, I guess, expected to spend the weekend hand-in-hand walking around in some kind of romantic bubble.
Well, we went out for dinner Saturday night and spent Sunday doing our thing.
I’m not a complete d**s, and in my defence I did tell her 11 years ago that football was part of my life and pretty much everything else stops when it’s on. When she’s reading all day in the garden with a G&T, I don’t start moaning
Anyway, Spurs v Liverpool was a mouthwatering proposition and it definitely delivered.
It wasn’t completely clear whether Liverpool put in a very good performance, disabling Tottenham, or Spurs were just having a very average day?
I’d say Red boss Jurgen Klopp had the game under control. The Scousers didn’t allow Spurs to settle into any kind of rhythm, with Mr Golden Boot himself, Harry Kane, looking like a scarecrow standing still in a field with no service and little to do.
Conversely, Klopp’s side were organised and solid, and despite the front three nowhere near the cohesive force they were last season, never really looked in trouble.
Klopp will, however, feel that too many chances were squandered through bad decision-making and really should have closed the game off with decisiveness.
Finishing off was a bit of a theme this weekend, Arsenal made hard work of their trip to Newcastle and Chelsea, despite running out 4-1 winners in the end, really should have put the game to bed within an hour.
I was hugely frustrated at 2-1 up against a plucky Cardiff side, who could have shocked with a setpiece before Eden Hazard’s penalty sealed it.
Perhaps it was all about game management and conserving energy?
Either way, intensity wasn’t maintained, they became complacent and allowed the Welsh side to believe.
It was very much the same at Watford, as Manchester United looked in complete control in the first 45, only to sit back after going 2-0 up, allowing the Hornets back in.
I never understand why managers do that.
Jose Mourinho in particular has always taken the foot off when in the lead, bringing on defence-minded players and grinding out results.
That’s the difference between Man City and the rest. The excellent 3-0 dismantling of Fulham was indicative of their relentless, attacking culture.
Next weekend is a bunch of “should win on paper” fixtures for the “big” sides.
In the meantime (yes, it’s early days), it’s a wonderful sight seeing Tottenham, Arsenal and United sixth, seventh and eighth, propping up the battle for mid-table supremacy!
As for now, girls and boys, after all the pre-season “Stamford Bridge is Falling Down” piss-taking, I’m not getting carried away.
I still think we need 20 or 25 games under the belt to lock in “Sarri-Ball”. But look up at me, yep, on my perch, we are top of the league, we are top of the league.