Hello all you wonderful people… and we’re back! The season is on and I don’t know about you, but I spent a good part of the weekend in front of the box!
But before we go there, I just have to get something out of my system; if you know me, you know I don’t like Liverpool, but I respect the football they play and am a big fan of Jurgen Klopp, both as a man outside of the game and as a coach.
But that respect has disappeared regrettably. Why has he stooped to the levels usually associated with the likes of Jose Mourinho? It’s out of character.
On BBC radio last week, criticising the Blues’ £230m transfers, he said: “We can’t just behave like Chelsea, you cannot bring in the 11 best players in the world and hope they just play the best football.
“For some clubs it seems less important how uncertain the future is. Owned by oligarchs… we’re a different kind of club.”
Really? His mother’s poodle…. they sold Philippe Coutinho (like we sold Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata) to spend huge money on Virgil van Dijk, Naby Keita, Allison and the likes.
How is that different?
Then, while Chelsea utilised their hotel for doctors and nurses and handed out 200 000 meals during the height of the pandemic at no charge, the Scousers furloughed some of their staff!
Let’s not begin to talk about knocking down houses and kicking residents out around the ground to build the new stand!
Frank Lampard must have really pissed him off at the end of last season when they argued pitchside.
I mean in 2019, Kloppy was quoted as saying; “Liverpool is an ambitious club and if we didn’t spend the same amount of money as the others, we wouldn’t be able to compete.”
He should keep his fat, horse-denture mouth shut. I really do hope they trip over their arrogance this season.
Right then… on to the football itself and what a cracker at Anfield!
Many pundits have tipped Leeds for a top-six finish this season, but I’m not so sure myself.
I did expect them to take a bit of a hiding from the champions, but they proved me wrong with what can only be described as a performance that showed heart, character and skill.
Hard to judge from one game, but my prediction is that they’ll be “found out” as the season goes one.
Liverpool’s backline resembled Chelsea’s – easily breached and lacking coordination, but of course up front, looking as strong as they did last campaign.
I got into it on Twitter following a remark I made when Liverpool won the game through a late penalty.
My tweet: “Cruel, naive, dive, 3pts.” Not sure why anyone would ger upset by that?
Cruel, naive, dive, 3pts
— Nick Feinberg (@thehonestnick) September 12, 2020
Yes. it was a penalty. Yes, it was a dive. Yes, it was cruel and yes, it was naive? Naive of a player to stick his leg out in that situation.
The modern day footballer anticipates the slightest contact and “dives” appropriately. It’s not a Liverpool thing, all players do it.
Sticking with my social media irritation (I don’t know why it gets to me?), but I ended up arguing about Willian again.
What a bore, but still just can’t understand why so many Chelsea fans were pleased to see him go.
I agree with the club’s stance, the three-year contract demanded by his agent was too much (considering his age), but I was disappointed to see him go.
What a tremendous talent and what a great player he was for the Blues.
After setting up the Gunners’ three goals yesterday (two official, one unofficial), Chelsea Twitter knobs started with their k@k: “One good game and he’ll have 10 bad ones”, “first good corner he’s taken in years” etc.
Have they been watching the same Willian as me? Am I wrong about this? Don’t bother answering, because I know I’m not.
Anyway, by the time you read this, Chelsea will have gone to Brighton and I’ll still be celebrating Timo Werner opening his Premier League goals account.
Stay safe good people, do the right thing, chat next week. Give me a shout. e-mail: [email protected] Twitter: @thehonestnic