Saturday Morning
We haven’t got a point out of Liverpool in our last six encounters and haven’t even managed a goal in any of them. So, I think it’s more than time for a change and I fancy us to get at least a point this afternoon. It was great news for us that Gerrard and Torres won’t be playing but the rest of their side are no slouches with Kuyt being the danger-man if he’s not having one of his off-days. I was also really impressed with Mascherano in the away match last season and we’ll have to watch his overlapping runs. I don’t believe this stuff about Kenwyne going missing and will be disappointed if he’s not lining up at 3 o’clock. Result? 2-2, which will set us up nicely for Birmingham away and the Hammers at home.

The Match
When I got Radio Newcastle on I was pleased to hear that Mascherano was on the bench and that Kenwyne was playing. I was amused to hear that the ref was Mick Jones, who happens to share his name with a mate of mine who’s a Liverpool fan, but he favoured us after four minutes when Bent scored and there was an awful wait before the goal was finally confirmed. Reid was crucial in the build-up yet again and it makes you wonder just what you have to do to get into a World Cup squad these days. Liverpool pressurized strongly about ten minutes later and our defence wobbled horribly before Bardo cleared Babel’s shot off the line. We came back into it and Malbranque sounded like he was having a cracker. On a crime note, the commentator informed us that Glen Johnson was arrested a few years ago for stealing a toilet seat. Aurelio went close with a long-range free-kick and then Kuyt was yellow-carded but Agger avoided a card for a more blatant foul. Cana had already picked up his fourth booking so I imagine he’ll be having a few weeks off soon. Around five minutes before the break Bent nearly made it two when he ghosted in to head just wide but within seconds Spearing went close at the other end. There were more than four minutes of added time and I thought that whistle would never go. Referee Jones was booed as he went off and he’d made several dodgy and inconsistent decisions.

Half-time analysis revealed that Reina in goal had been wrong footed by some kind of balloon when Bent scored. If they’re going to gripe about that, why didn’t Reina stamp on it when he had the chance? Apparently it was a Liverpool balloon so it serves them right for desecrating our sacred turf. As the second-half kicked off I was fairly confident we could pull off a win as apart from a few of our characteristic defensive howlers, we’d done well with Reid and Malbranque sounding outstanding. Surprisingly there were no changes for Liverpool but for us Henderson had replaced McCartney and he soon created a good chance. He looks like he’s going to be a real asset. About ten minutes in Zenden made his debut when Cattermole was stretchered off, ominously. On the hour Bent nipped in behind the Liverpool defence and hit the post. Next thing Kenwyne was stretchered off too while Benitez and Bruce had to be separated on the touchline. Which of them would you fancy in a scrap? Yeah, me too. Anyway, Campbell finally came on for Kenwyne. There was clearly going to be plenty of stoppage-time. Our fans were chanting to Benitez, “You’ll be sacked in the morning.” With twenty minutes left Malbranque went close and then Liverpool brought on Mascherano and Voronin for Skirtl and Spearing as they went 4-4-2. My tension was rising as usual as the minutes ticked away and when the post came through the door at 4.40 it gave me something to fiddle about with and pass the time. I could’ve won a gurning competition with the faces I was pulling when Liverpool went forward and things weren’t helped by the radio signal, which kept cutting out for a few seconds. When the board went up it showed a whopping seven minutes of stoppage-time and as Liverpool pressed strongly I was up on my feet pacing around and picking dead leaves off plants. At last that bloody whistle went and we’d done it, going above Liverpool in the table in the process.

This was a great win, especially as we lost two players through injury, and what could be better than beating one of the big four in front of a full house? See you at Birmingham.

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