How great was that? Absolutely made up to have footy back at Anfield. 18 months. It’s hard to believe we’ve had to go that long without being inside Anfield watching the lads.

I know some got to attend last season but that’s not the same. I had no interest in going last season and I always said when I went back it would be in a full stadium.

So this was my first time inside Anfield since Atletico Madrid. So much has happened since then and not much of it good. The tribute before kick off to those no longer with us brought a lot of that home. Really emotional, poignant stuff. I feel like we were denied the opportunity to pay proper respect to some of those we lost and although this went a little way towards doing that, it’s not really the same is it?

The whole day was a bit surreal. Although it’s been a year and a half since I’ve been to Anfield, when I got there it didn’t feel like it had been that long. It was still a familiar feeling. This whole covid period has fucking flown by though. It’s hard to get my head around it. A year and a half since life was normal. It’s still not normal now but at least it feels like we’re getting closer and being back at the match is a huge step towards it.

Initially I was annoyed at being told I had to be in the ground so early but on reflection it was a good thing as I just loved being back in my seat. I was in an hour before and just sat there looking around, savouring it. I was on my own as my Dad has packed it in now as the winter games and night time kick offs are too much for him, plus he fucking hates VAR to the extent it’s ruining his enjoyment of the game. 

So it was a little strange being on my own but not completely alien to me as I’ve been going to the cup games on my own for years. I rang him when I got in the ground and he said he was regretting his decision to stop going. We’ll see if he feels the same when it’s -2 degrees and we’re playing Brighton or Norwich in February!

Being in early meant I got to watch the warm up for the first time in years. I used to do that all the time in the days before I started the fanzine so it was a nice change. Not something I want to do all the time though, as warm ups ain’t what they used to be. Back in the day it would just be a few sprints then everyone blasting shots at the Kop goal. Plus big Jan trying to hit the giant Crown Paints tin from 50 yards away. This wasn’t as much fun.

It went quickly though and before I knew it the game was kicking off. I liked the team selection mainly because I was giddy at the prospect of Harvey getting a start. I’m so excited about what we’re going to get from him over the coming years but I wasn’t expecting him to be getting the nod for this one so it just added to the sense of anticipation. With Fabinho, Ox and Milner unavailable he got his chance and he certainly took it. Fucking brilliant that lad.

I didn’t think we started the game too well and Burnley gave as good as they got in the opening 5-10 minutes. That didn’t stop them immediately going into time wasting mode though. We hadn’t even played four minutes before Pope was at it. Taking an age over a goal kick and helping himself to a drink while everyone waited around for him. This was after they’d been fucking around at a throw in too.

Mike Dean was on it immediately and had a word with Ben Mee. After that it wasn’t as bad, but then we scored after 18 minutes so there was no point them time wasting when they were behind. The goal put paid to that and saved Dean from having to deal with it.

There’s been a lot said about Burnley’s ‘robust’ approach to the game but I can’t say it bothered me at all. In fact, I fucking loved every minute of this game and I’d even go as far as saying that Mike Dean actually contributed to how enjoyable the game was. Aside from one or two obvious fouls he missed, he generally gave free-kicks when they were needed and he let all the little stuff go. 

Refs are definitely making a point of “letting them play” this season and the games are much better for it. I don’t know how long it will last but so far so good. They’re not going to get everything right but overall Dean called it pretty well (no I can’t believe I’m saying that either). It’s fair to complain that he didn’t produce any yellow cards but again, I don’t really care about that as long as it’s consistent for both sides.

Last season was pissing me off as we were conceding twice as many fouls as the opposition and our lads would get booked for next to nothing. There was a stage when Thiago was getting booked just for stepping onto the pitch. It was a joke and the opposition knew all they had to do was fall down in the vicinity of a red shirt and they’d get a free-kick. That wasn’t the case here, and Sean Dyche was losing his shit about it from first whistle to last.

I’m sure it will have been evident to anyone watching on TV that he was pissed off but you won’t have seen just how ridiculous his antics actually were. I was watching him closely all game as I’ve got a good view of the benches from my seat, and honestly, he moaned non-stop the entire fucking time. He was just kicking off constantly and wouldn’t leave the fourth official alone.

It was funny hearing him complain about the “penalty” they didn’t get though when McNeill and Trent went shoulder to shoulder, because when that happened I instinctively looked towards him expecting him to be going ballistic. He’d been ranting and raving about everything before that so I naturally assumed he was going to explode. He didn’t though. He was shouting at his players to get back into position to stop the counter. So for him to start moaning afterwards that he thought that was a penalty, nah, he’s lying. He knew it wasn’t and he didn’t even appeal for it.

He’d spent a good couple of minutes crying about Gudmundsen not getting a free-kick when he thought he was body checked by Tsimikas though. Maybe if he hadn’t rolled around holding his face for two minutes when he was barely touched he might have gotten something? Burley players don’t do that though, apparently.

There was a very similar incident in the second half when Cork completely flattened Jota by barging into him off the ball. in the box Nothing was given for that either but Dyche is overlooking that one. As I said, at least Dean was consistent.

Burnley’s players were leaving something on Elliott and Kostas and that’s clearly come from the top. Again though, I’m ok with that. If Dyche hadn’t said to them “get stuck into the 18 year old, see if he can handle it” then he wouldn’t be doing his job properly. I’d have done that if I was him too. And I’d also have said to try and rattle Tsimikas a bit because he’s not experienced and might be a bit nervous.

I’m fine with them doing that, it’s football and it’s naive to think it doesn’t happen. It’s up to the ref to deal with it and although I think Dean was overly lenient on occasion, overall this is how I want to see footy played. Give me blood and thunder over tippy tappy anyday. 

There does come a point when you have to produce a card though and Dean didn’t do that. I mean fucking hell, how has Ashley Barnes come off that field with no yellow card to his name when all he did the entire game was barge into Big Joel. How does he get away with it when it’s so obvious what he’s doing? I mean there was one where he just launched himself at Matip, wrapped both his legs around him, grabbed him and pulled him to the floor. Dean waved play on!! Incredible.

You know what I think it is? Barnes does it so often that refs just give up in the end. It’s like, they can’t blow the whistle every fucking time he does it, and they aren’t serious enough fouls to justify cards, so after a while they just think “fuck it, what’s the point”. It was relentless. Every long ball saw Barnes and Wood just barge into Matip and Van Dijk. Wood at least occasionally tried to win the header (and often did to be fair), but the buffering our lads took all day was laughable.

Klopp complained afterwards but I wish he hadn’t. There’s no point. It won’t change anything and it didn’t matter anyway as we won the game. Instead of raving about Elliott or how sharp the forwards are looking, the narrative after the game was “moaning Klopp” and “the big clubs don’t like it up em”. MOTD even suggested he was “playing mind games”. Klopp doesn’t play mind games, he just says what he’s feeling. 

I just don’t see the need in giving Dyche what he wants, because he thrives of this kind of shit as it allows him to play the “downtrodden little club not getting the breaks against the big boys” card. Fair play to him for naming a side that were wearing 1-11 though. That’s the most Burnley thing ever. I keep joking that they’ve had the same side for five years but this is some next level shit. Not gonna lie, I love it.

I really thought we were going to snot Burnley though because we badly owe them a beatdown. After the last two fruitful visits they had to Anfield I fully expected us to set the record straight and spank them everywhere. Had Mo’s goal not been ruled out I’m sure we would have done, but that really set us back as it took the air out of our balloon for the rest of the half.

Thankfully we already had the lead so it wasn’t too damaging, but it was such a shame that goal didn’t stand. Brilliant football and it would have been nice for Harvey to register an assist there. The finish by Mo was quality too.

I honestly didn’t even consider for a second that it might get chalked off. Usually I’m pretty good at spotting possible offsides but that one completely fooled me and I gave it the full, unfiltered celebration. So my heart sank when the VAR review announcement showed on the scoreboard. Fucks sake. You know when that happens it means the goal is almost certainly not going to stand, and so it proved.

It was a fraction offside but it’s a bit galling when they’re supposed to be giving close ones to the attacking team now. Mo must have just missed the cut off point for that benefit of the doubt, but it was offside and I’m not complaining about that specifically. Personally I’d fuck VAR off when it comes to offsides and just let the linos do their job.

I’d let refs use the video for pens and red cards as that’s a great help to them on difficult decisions they may need to see again to be sure. I’m good with those because they don’t ruin the moment. VAR on offsides does ruin it. Either because you don’t celebrate ‘just in case’ or you do and then it’s all for nothing.

If the lino gets it wrong then so be it. That’s preferable to me if it means I can get back to celebrating goals normally.

Anyway, shame it didn’t count as it was lovely football. The opening goal was a nice one too. Great cross from Kostas and a sharp bit of movement and quality header by Jota. He just scores every time he plays. Proper little poacher he is.

We played some great football at times but Burnley did have their moments. They didn’t come to just sit back but with them being shit they needed to pick their moments to attack. When the opportunity was there to get forward they went for it, but the only tactic they seemed to have was to get the ball to Dwight McNeil and see if he could get a cross in. 

It’s hilarious how so many people think that lad is good purely because he’s the only player at Burnley who can run with a ball without falling over his own feet. He’s shite and he only scores two or three goals a season. Dwight Downing.

When that tactic wasn’t working they just resorted to lumping high balls and trying to win free-kicks. It’s something that has often worked for them in the past because Barnes is a master at winning free-kicks despite him being the one doing the fouling. Mike Dean wasn’t falling for that but equally, as I said, he wasn’t penalising him enough either.

Barnes thought he’d equalised early in the second half but he must have been the only person in the stadium that didn’t know he was offside. He was taunting the Kop too, the cheeky cunt. Honestly, I’m outraged at that. I’m fine when a player has been getting shit from the crowd and he gives it back. That’s fair enough.

I understand when it’s a United or Everton player giving it loads in front the Kop as it’s a local rivalry thing. Who the fuck is Ashley Barnes to be doing that though? Upstart prick. This is almost as bad as Neto doing that knee slide in front of the Main Stand a couple of years ago. 

Barnes will have instantly regretted it when the linesman’s flag went up though and the Kop ripped the piss out of him. He’s guaranteed himself a heated reception next time he comes back too. Tit.

Obviously we needed that second goal but at no point did I ever really worry that it wasn’t coming. It was just a matter of time and after a ropey start to the second half we hit a hot spell where we were creating chances at will. 

Elliott just burst into life and started running the game. It seemed like all of our attacks were going through him at that point and that right hand side was working wonderfully. Harvey, Trent and Mo…. fucking hell, the quality on the ball with that three is something else. Great to watch.

Elliott crossed for Mo to bring it down on his chest and then see his shot cleared off the line. Sadio was then denied by the feet of Pope after more good football and you could tell it was only a matter of time.

Mo seemed like he was enjoying playing with Harvey and that’s something we will probably see a lot more of based on how well it worked here. It was no surprise that the goal came via some great play on our right. Virg switched the play, Harvey killed it instantly and found Trent and he immediately knocked it around the corner for Sadio to finish.

Sensational stuff. It started with the Van Dijk pass because that quick switch of play just gives you that extra second or two to make something happen while the opposition are still shifting across. Elliott’s quickness in getting a difficult ball under control in an instant further caught Burnley on the hope, as did Trent’s first time ball. When we play that fast, and that good, it’s going to be almost impossible for anyone to deal with it.

We had other chances to increase the lead and I was desperately wanting Mo to get a goal. Like Sadio last week really. When one of them hasn’t scored I hate that and Mo deserved it for how good he was. The forwards have all started the season in great nick and if that continues nobody is stopping us.

Bobby got on for the closing stages, as did Thiago. No surprise it was Jota who went off but I think most of us assumed it would be Elliott also making way. Not because of how he was playing, but because that’s usually what would happen. The kid would almost always be brought off, but not this time. Klopp replaced Keita instead (he’d played well, no reflection on his performance) and that was a great move I think. Reward for Harvey and important for him to be able to say he’s got a full ninety minutes under his belt.

Kostas almost made it through the full game too but was replaced in stoppage time. He’d picked up a bit of a knock to his shoulder but he looked like he could have carried on and I think he was subbed purely so he could feel the warmth of the crowd. Great day for him, he played really well and the crowd have taken to him in a big way.

That moment when he was battling for possession and was knocked over but still came out of the challenge with the ball was great. The roof nearly came off the place and it was his “Robbo against Man City” moment. That was when Kostas arrived as a Liverpool player for me. He’ll probably make way for Robbo next week but we now have a genuine rotation option there and that can only benefit both him and Robbo.

For the second week running we needed Alisson to step in late on to protect the clean sheet. Thiago came off the bench and looked like he was playing beach football, he was so fucking casual. He gave the ball way twice in dangerous areas and one of those almost led to a Burnley goal, but the big fella said no. He’s started the season looking like a fucking boss hasn’t he? He might never concede another goal again.

So all in all, just what we wanted. Three points, a good performance, joint top of the table, the forwards all off the mark, no goals conceded and we’re able to go the game again. Can’t ask for any more than this, I’m just buzzing again.

Apparently some Burnley fans booed the taking of the knee. I didn’t hear it, but it seems they did it last week too. Thick fucks. I did hear them taunting Robbo with some song that I believe was something like “Scotland get battered every fucking where they go”. I mean, why would you be that arsed to even bother with that? Fuck me, have a day off you bad Brexit wankers.

Watching the highlights on MOTD and I’ve got beef. How come they showed an early Burnley chance when it was offside and wouldn’t have counted anyway? The only reason you’d do shit like that is to give a false impression that the game was closer than it was. It pisses me off as it happens all the time. We might have 15 chances to an opponents three, but you can be sure MOTD will show three each. Why?

Fair enough if Burnley create a good chance, then by all means show it. But when he’s two yard offside and it doesn’t result in a disallowed goal then what’s the point?

Star man is Harvey. He wasn’t the best player on the pitch, that was either Trent or Big Bird, but he was an 18 year old kid making his home debut against a physical team that wanted to test his mettle. He came through with flying colours and we’ve clearly got a fucking generational talent on our hands here.

I doubt he’ll play next week as I don’t think he’s ready for a test like Chelsea yet. He’s clearly good enough to play in this league but against world class players I’d be looking to go with the more experienced options, preferably Fabinho, Henderson and either Thiago (if he’s ready) or Milner. 

I can’t fucking wait for that one. Anfield will be rocking for that. I thought the atmosphere for this one was great for a 12.30 kick off, but it wasn’t quite as special as I expected after an 18 month absence. It was pissing down and it was Burnley and it was a lunchtime game though, so it was never going to be an “Anfield under the lights” type atmosphere. Next weekend might be though.

Team: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas (Gomez); Henderson, Elliott, Keita (Thiago); Salah, Jota (Firmino), Mané: