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The Closer It Gets

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Liverpool-v-Manchester-City-Premier-League-3410189Liverpool FC: what a turnaround 18 months makes. With every title run there is the issue of luck and the champions always have that extra bit of luck. A refereeing decision goes the way of the team at the summit; a goal is scored from an almost improbable situation, a last-gasp tackle from a forward helping out a defence – Liverpool has now experienced almost all the above. At the same time, the champions are almost certainly the team who scores the most goals for that campaign and Liverpool are well on course to do this as well. Lastly, the champions are mostly a team who has ‘done it before’, and this is where it’s getting difficult.

LFC has not been in a situation where they had to go out and beat City, in order to win the league. This is basically new territory for this young and  inexperienced team (in terms of winning a league title). While watching the City game one could feel the nerves, the tension and finally, one could see the title slip away and I was almost starting to ponder the thought that’s been etched into every Liverpool FC fans way of thinking: the inevitable ‘we’ll win it next year’.

Liverpool let it slip. Almost. The simple truth is we were good enough, but we were not good enough mentally! And to be honest, City was the better team in that second half. All of a sudden our expert passing was that of ‘clear at all cost’ and give it right back to them. Only to be under attack. The only thing that kept us from losing that game was a rusty Sergio Aguero and a pass millimetres short of David Silva’s right foot and had that gone in we would’ve been gone.

The nerves were showing and Liverpool were showing the first signs of cracking under the pressure of a title run. For the first time this season our thin squad was showing. Brendan had no player on the bench capable of dragging Liverpool over the line. For fans watching this game over a huge screen in Cape Town, South Africa it was almost too much to watch. A draw simply put, was the end!

But something happened after that equalizer, before Coutinho pounced on the City captain’s mistake. Something fantastic happened. Liverpool, for the first time in months, were chasing a game. It was like a light switch was turned on, a Captain fantastic immediately spurred Flanno forward and when we won the throw in moments before Coutinho’s goal, I noticed Flanno in such an advanced position it was almost Gerrard-like indicating the importance of the experience to remain back and shore up the defensive line, at the same time getting numbers forward.

With Allen pressing Kompany for the clearance and ultimately 18 months of hard work, countless hours on the training field, the power of millions willing the team on. The shear will power from the thousands at Anfield, the power of the 25th anniversary of the 96 loved ones who so tragically passed and the fact that  the Liverpool Captain himself had a personal loss almost to the day 25 years ago all seemed to factor in ultimately causing Kompany to scuff a clearance only to be pounced on with a ferocious right foot of our little Brazilian maestro.

What a shot! He had been hitting shots the entire afternoon pulling it wide or not connecting at all, then out of the blue when it looked like the ball would be cleared, all the above factors came together and only one result was possible from there. The sweetest of connections to the only place at the goal where Hart wouldn’t be able to get to it. This… was fate!

With four games to go, it may just get easier. The squad has a togetherness I haven’t see in a long time. Liverpool can score from anywhere; we are a big threat from set pieces. We have the highest goal scoring attackers in the league, as well as the highest goal scoring defender. The midfielder with the most assists, then contributions all round from Sterling, Coutinho and Henderson. The attitude has been fantastic thus far: one game at a time! Treating Sunderland as they are Barcelona, treating Norwich as they are the mighty Man United themselves (no offence to Norwich).

They are getting closer and closer, and a win against Norwich could be the one – the game LFC were waiting for all season long, this could be the biggest statement yet. Forget the fact that they won 10 in a row, it’s the next one that’s most important. And with Liverpool in this mood, this close, I can’t wait to see them have a real go at Norwich. This is still an away game in the Premier League, and no result is a certainty until the final whistle, so even if we win 1-0 that would be a fantastic result. And one which will be celebrated the world over.

Liverpool are nearly there, let’s not count our chickens. Instead, let’s count down the minutes – there are 360 minutes of football left and let’s hope that the Red army can make it 270 by next week.

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