Another weekend shattered for me.
Another weekend witnessing the glorious return of Manchester United and another weekend closer to the title for Liverpool!
I mean, I can take a loss and given the change of management at Chelsea, I’m not expecting great things this season, but to lose to those Arsenal w**kers man it’s a hard one to swallow.
Especially in the manner in which we did. I get “Sarri-ball” I want us to play football that way, but it’s just slowed right down.
The whole concept of that style of football is precise, fast interplay, loads of good movement, loads of energy. Something that seems to have dissipated recently.
On Saturday, it looked like it was the Gunners who were under the tutelage of Sarri as they hustled their way to a deserved three points.
We’re still in a good position, but all of a sudden, United are neck and neck with Arsenal and just three points behind us.
It’s strange, I’m still not convinced that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are looking good.
But the results keep coming and from the depths of Jose Mourinho-driven mid-table obscurity, there they are, peeping over the wall at a possible top-four finish.
As much as we’d all like to see United fail, I’m happy for the Norwegian. Can you imagine the pressure he was under, taking over from (who was) one of the world’s best managers?
They looked dodgy nailing down the points against a never-give-up Brighton side, but as the weeks go on and the wins keep coming, the atmosphere at Old Trafford will increasingly lighten up.
I’ve recently got into a series on Netflix, Sunderland Till I die. The story is based on the famous Tyneside town, ravaged by the economics of Margaret Thatcher’s Britain.
Faced with overseas competition, coal mines (and the world’s largest ship building port) were completely shut down, leaving the once-thriving working-class community broken.
The football club provides the only glimmer of hope, a place where the community stand side-by-side.
But over-investment in mediocre players set off a swift decline.
Relegation from the Premier League with huge salary contracts to honour was followed immediately by the drop to League One.
It’s really worth a watch, amazing insight into the daily running of a professional club and (back to my point), an illustration of the importance of a positive vibe throughout the club.
It’s something that I think worries Liverpool fans, as the pressure increases at every game.
Although the feeling at Anfield is that this could be a huge season, the nagging doubt just won’t go away, all too often mirrored on the pitch with the closing down of games.
I’m not sure I’d bet against the Scousers winning the league this year, but I don’t think it’s as clear cut as the table may suggest today.
Anyway, back to Cup football for the next week, with Chelsea hosting Tottenham in the League Cup and Burton at home to Manchester City, hoping to turn around a nine-goal deficit.
From Friday, it’s FA Cup action. Kicking off with a massive one at the Emirates as Arsenal face Man United.