So, tonight, I believe because I have to.

Up the Reds. Let’s have one of those Anfield nights that live forever.

No more BlueSky for today.

#LFC

It’s completely a to-each-their-own and I only really start to get aggravated when the negativity is so relentless, avoidable… so this isn’t a criticism. It’s just not for me.

I guess I have the ability to choose hoping - which may speak about the level of my support or not. Not really bothered.

I get the pessimism; it’s completely justified. And I also understand how naive - deluded - optimism might seem - but I just feel like you have to, you know?

What’s the point otherwise? I’ll eat the disappointment later if I have to and then be hopeful again.

Imagine a resigned Kop from kick-off…

Leaflet of three candidates, white blokes with limited hair, all in glasses. --- **GATESHEAD IS BROKEN. VOTE REFORM UK TO FIX IT** Introducing your Reform UK candidates for Low Fell leaflet text: **ATKINSON, John** Reform UK John has lived in Low Fell for 30+ years. His background is in civil engineering, policing, teaching and transport. He wants to bring back a sense of community, listen to residents' concerns and focus on local issues such as crime, roads and streets, and better services. --- **HENDERSON, Iain** Reform UK Iain has lived and worked in Gateshead all his life. Now retired, he wants to give something back to the borough. With a positive outlook, Iain is looking forward to making a real difference to the lives of the residents of Low Fell and to working closely with them. --- **MURRAY, Arthur** Reform UK Arthur has owned several businesses for many years. He has lived locally for 50 years and employs local staff, servicing the northeast and Scotland. His priorities are to see the ward and area prospering once again, caring for the old and infirm and maintaining our parks and open spaces. ---

This Reform leaflet from three Gateshead candidates looks like a timelapse of the same person

Beat the Bloos and City pick up the three points and we march on.

Get in!

Thoroughly deserved goal. Lads have played well. Graft and intent.

“This is the place we like to take free-kicks from, isn’t it? Down I go.”

Gyokeres did it in the same place on the other side. When he didn’t hear the whistle, desperately tried to force it with feigned contact.

Thought the football was pretty bad last season. They’ve taken that and ran with it.

Their identity has become ‘route one’ and ‘dark arts’. They’ll be remembered for finally winning, not because of their football.

Plenty will say ‘who cares’ but Arteta’s basically assembled a group who are happy not to play football and embarrass themselves - with Declan Rice. So much talent too.

The desperation is ridiculous. I get it - from Arteta’s POV and the players. The pressure to finally succeed, to not bottle it, to not be the generation of ‘nearly-there’s. But there’s been a complete abandoning of principles: you can tell they’ve been told ‘by any means necessary’.

We didn’t play well, but it was not entirely different to last season apart from the fact that they scored and we didn’t. Feels like some people have just forgotten what European football is about. I still think we’ll get knocked out, but we’re heading to Anfield still in the tie. That’s ok. 2/2

No one is going to change anyone’s mind about anything with #LFC this season. Don’t remember the fanbase being so divided since the end of Benítez. PSG are the defending European champions & will probably win it again this year; as they should given they have a nation state behind them. 1/2

Don’t know what I was expecting. Didn’t enjoy a moment. But we’re still in it. Have to believe.

On target, Kev. Wirtz and Ekitike.

This is still doable. A goal would be nice but you never know at Anfield. They’re a better team so we’ll need the other factors going for us.

Fair play to Ibou. Aggressive, physical, putting a shift in, trying to be progressive. He had a few moments this season but he might just be on the other side.

Big Joe with the kind of challenge we need to see and gets booked for winning the ball (and nothing else) and now he needs to worry about being aggressive.

Daft, man.

‘The City of Lights, of course, named after the Trojan prince Paris from the Iliad, Coisty. He was actually responsible for the Trojan war by eloping with Helen.’

‘Aye, very much so. He caused quite a stink as I recall.’

‘It shows just how much Liverpool are struggling.’

‘Great point, Fletch.’

He’s on a yellow, right? And that was a yellow, right?

Up the Reds.

Mate, you’re a part of a small pocket of sanity on here for me.

Why didn’t Slot come on and take the penalty? What is he hiding from?

I still don’t see how the manager stops Wirtz being a shithouse, Salah from being a tribute act and whatever the fuck the captain’s trying to do.

They’re hiding behind the manager’s pressure. Hiding like the shithouses they are.

Blame Slot for the defence switching off, Wirtz not tracking and Van Dijk being dumb. Go on.

That was Wirtz, by the by. Seeing others being scapegoated. He just didn’t bother tracking the run, which drew out a CB who would’ve intercepted the cross in his natural position. He’d had a cracking opening to the game but he’s culpable there.

There’s another 45. Go again.

Yellow for Semenyo? What’s he doing?

Where was the yellow for the obstruction in the Salah counter-attack? On Dom wasn’t it?

Decent counter-attack that comes from not letting Doku have a moment. That’s how it needs to be.

Good start. Up the Reds.

I think we can digest the Mo news without adding to the Slot hate. Two things can occur separately.