I was surprised with myself on Saturday evening
Conceding an 89th-minute equaliser, especially in such a huge game would normally have put me in a horrible space. I was alright with it?
Yeah, it was the best game of football I’ve watched this season and 1-1 was a very fair result.
Liverpool probably missed a couple of easier chances than Chelsea, but that’s part of a big game and part of what makes a great side.
If a player loses focus in front of goal, that’s a mistake, like giving away a penalty or playing a man onside.
The beauty of this game is that it defied the standard approach deployed in matches of this magnitude.
Where top-six fixtures often disappoint with midfields cancelling each other out, or, one side sitting deep and playing on the break, this was different.
The likes of Eden Hazard, Jorginho, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino weren’t man-marked out the game.
Both sides played to their strengths.
Creativity was allowed to flourish and it was a proper high-quality affair with some lovely neat football, which, on another day, could have produced five or six goals.
I quite liked the commentators half-time summary: “It’s Chelsea’s technically brilliance against Liverpool’s energy”.
Roberto Firmino and Eden Hazard had freedom. Photo: John Walton
Daniel Sturridge’s equaliser was phenomenal, he’s one of the best players England has ever produced, only injuries have hampered what should have been a golden career.
I don’t understand why Liverpool fans in Cape Town don’t like him? I remember sitting a couple of rows from the pitch at the Bridge and watching him dazzle defenders, quickest feet I’d ever seen. Got a real soft spot for the kid, deserves a lot more.
When I woke up on Sunday and looked at the league table, it read as most people would have predicted.
I won’t be surprised if it ends out that way come May.
For me, despite Scouse expectation, Manchester City were always going to be the team to beat.
Liverpool were always gonna be the closest chasing side. Chelsea, despite undergoing a style revolution were always gonna be third followed by their London rivals (Spurs not investing and Arsenal undoing 20 years of Wengerism) with United out of the running
“Why out of the running?” you ask, well the obvious truth is there to be seen throughout Europe, look at Spain; Barca and Real.
Italy; Juventus, Napoli, Germany; Dortmund, Bayern and France; PSG, St Etienne.
You may say that’s more or less how it usually is, but the thing that all of these clubs have in common is an all-out attacking style of football. Jose Mourinho hasn’t followed suit.
His rigid philosophy, built on fear of mistakes rather than freedom of expression is killing his team, hence Paul Pogba publicly stating that they need to “attack attack attack”.
NEGATIVE FOOTBALL: Mourinho Photo: Ian Walton/PA Wires
The substitution of Pogba during Saturday’s pummelling by West Ham probably signals the end of the Frenchman at United on a long-term basis. I’ll be surprised to see him at Old Trafford next season (unless Jose goes).
There’s no doubt Mourinho has the ability to manage a world-class side with world-class players.
He’s proven that over the years, but what is glaringly different is his ability to get the best out of his side look at the squad on paper.
It’s early days, but we’ll be a quarter of the way through the season in two weeks and while Bournemouth, Wolves and Watford sit above United, Jose and his players are gonna need to group together to stop the rot.
United host struggling Newcastle on Saturday, giving them a chance to relieve the pressure with a convincing win, then a break, followed by a trip to Chelsea
On Sunday, Liverpool host City at Anfield! Massive!
Before I sign off, got to say BIG UP to Benni McCarthy and the boys making Cape Town proud on Saturday, Cape Town City MTN8 winners 2018.