The Computer, a blueprint and free garlic bread – a tale of Liverpool away
It does not happen often that both sets of supporters leave a football stadium happy with the result. Liverpool 2-2 Brighton was one of those games as it could have gone either way.
The Reds could have been out of sight after 30 minutes but Albion created enough big chances in the second half to win at Anfield for the second year in a row.
We saw four great goals, end-to-end entertainment and two talented sides playing progressive brands of football. It is also only fair to mention that referee Mike Dean got all major decisions right – with a little help from his linesmen and the VAR.
Blueprint for the future?
Has Graham Potter discovered the starting line up and tactics that will take us into Europe next season? Playing Leandro Trossard as a false nine is clearly inspired and was a big success the second half against Manchester City and during 90 thrilling minutes at Anfield.
What was so impressive from an attacking point of view on this occasion? Solly March pops up everywhere across the front line. Enoch Mwepu’s powerful runs into the box are a revelation.
Adam Lallana’s clever scheming in the space between defence and midfield helps Albion to control games. Marc Cucurella and Tariq Lamptey do not stop flying down the wings. It is all so much harder to defend for the opposition than a static centre forward supported by two old fashioned wingers.
Will last week’s game plan work against teams below us in the table? We will have a better idea if Potter fields an unchanged team this weekend against Newcastle United.
The Toon will most likely give us all the possession and sit back to try to catch us on the break. It is not just game plan that Potter has to consider either.
Wil he stick with the same XI or will we see Adam Webster, Tariq Lamptey, Alexis MacAllister, Pascal Gross or Neal Maupay back in the line up? That is the sort of dilemma that every coach dreams off. Competition for places will drive Albion further up the table.
What do you mean best position?
Hands up who thought Mwepu was brought in this summer to succeed Yves Bissouma as our main central defensive midfielder next season, or even this season if a big offer comes in for Bissouma in January?
After the last three games, it is clear The Computer’s main strengths are further up the pitch. Mwepu is a hybrid box-to-box midfielder who knows how to hit the back of the net.
Mac Allister wears the number 10 shirt but seems to play his best games a little deeper in midfield. He grows in games when he can play many passes and has the game in front of him, looking extremely comfortable in that position away at Leicester City and during the last half hour at Anfield when he replaced Yves Bissouma.
And how about Solly March? Winger, wing back or wherever he was playing at Anfield? If Albion fans can’t work out what position March played against Liverpool, then the opponents’ defenders can’t have much of a clue either.
Liverpool the best away game of the season?
Where in the country can you go to a pub on match day that is situated a mere 30 seconds walk from the stadium? A pub where both sets of supporters are very welcome.
It is possible on a visit to Anfield. The Arkles must be the best footie pub in the country. Liverpool fans know and love their football and seem to have a soft spot for Albion.
We come to play football rather than defend and waste time for 90 minutes. Before the game we enjoyed a couple of pints with the locals, but it was touching that Albion fans were still more than welcome after the game to discuss the excitement we all just witnessed that afternoon.
Nobody begrudged us our draw and there were numerous compliments on how Brighton plays the game.
Free cheesy garlic bread for the drive home.
We prepaid £10 to park in somebody’s drive all day, just off Stanley Park, about 15 minutes from Anfield. When we finally left The Arkles to collect the car, we arrived at the same time as the homeowners’ Saturday night dinner.
The driver not only delivered a giant pizza but also a box with complimentary cheesy garlic bread. Our lovely hosts most likely noticed the effect of several celebratory pints (needless to say not on the designated driver) and gave us the garlic bread to soak up the San Miguels on our way back home.
A random act of total kindness. Guess where we will park when we play Everton in January?
