Train (Sheffield-Liverpool): £21
Bus to Anfield: £4
Match ticket £41
Programme: £3
Tea: £1-85
Total: £70-85
Second game of the season at Anfield, and it was against newly promoted Crystal Palace. After the disappointment of the Southampton game, we were not sure what to expect of this one. We sat in the Anfield Road end, almost directly above the away supporters, who we could hear but not see. This may explain why a steward at the turnstile thought it necessary to confiscate a bottle lid from me – meaning that I had to quickly drink half a litre – and there went a trusty ground hopping tool for the season!
Today was definitely colder and wetter than our September visit, and it threatened torrential rain – before breaking into odd moments of bright sunshine. In a terrific 25 minutes spell at the start of the match, Liverpool raced into a 3 nil lead, with an angled goal from Sturridge, a poked goal from Suarez. This was what Liverpool could play like, and it looked like today might turn into something similar to the 5-0 win over Swansea and the 6-0 Newcastle win last year. This Liverpool side are like a rusty racing car which can struggle to get going at first, but when they do hit top gear, they really do get going. Today typified this, with an astonishing start gradually slowing down to a somewhat pedestrian performance, as Liverpool knew they were winning comfortably against a poor (if spirited) Palace side. It could have been more, but you can hardly complain at being 3 nil up at half-time!
Proving the point that they struggle to maintain intensity for 90 minutes, Liverpool really took their foot off the gas in a flat second half. Disappointingly, the clean sheet went to pot when Palace scored a consolation, and put on a determined performance. It seemed churlish to boo a 3-1 win, but most of the ground seemed non-plussed to be honest. Still this was another 3 points wrapped up, and hopefully showed that this Liverpool team were able to finish off games much better than last year. The highlight of the second half was listening to the groans of an old Irishwoman behind us (who had apparently not seen a football match before) – making it sound as though Liverpool were losing poorly. So a bit of a strange day out, all in all, and not a classic game. The next time we’d be back here would be in November, when winter would be nearly upon us….
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