Liverpool (21-09-2013)

Liverpool 0 – 1 Southampton (Premiership), 21st September 2013

Train: £21
Programme: £3
Match ticket: £42
Bus to Anfield: £4
Tea x2: £3-70
Total: £73-70

Normally I wouldn’t record a match at Anfield as it’s a ground I’ve been to many times before, and for once, we are not neutral supporters. Mrs Groundhopper is a massive Liverpool fan, and over the last few seasons we’ve been able to get tickets. I bought these tickets back in July, when the club holds a members’ sale, when you basically buy in bulk for half a season. I figure I’ll record this match to be comprehensive with my costings for this year – and it proves a real contrast to non-league costs and atmosphere.

For this game we sat at the far left of the Main Stand, which has to be one of the most cramped stands in the top-flight. Almost immediately as you enter the turnstiles, you end up facing a wall, and have to navigate your way through a narrow corridor and a maze of steps to enter the ground. The block we were in today – MZ – is directly opposite the away end at the Anfield Road end of the stadium, to the point where you can make eye contact with the away supporters.

I won’t go into detail about the game itself as its been reported widely already. Suffice to say that Liverpool had masses of possession, and started the game brightly. How they didn’t score is beyond me, with Sturridge, Victor Moses and even Jordan Henderson looking dangerous. Even without the suspended Luis Suarez, they looked like a team in form and going for a win today. Southampton, particularly in the first half, looked inferior and like they would be in for a tough day today. Still they went in at half-time at nil-nil. This was a bad sign – invariably, if Liverpool don’t score early under Brendan Rodgers, they end up either losing or drawing. I didn’t want to point this out to Mrs Groundhopper as we started the second half!

Liverpool again started the half well, and just seemed to lack incisiveness in the final third. The ball was on the floor, and some great passing followed, but no goal. Inevitably Southampton took the lead on the hour mark. From then, they grew in confidence and, as the frustration began to affect Liverpool, they started seizing the ball in midfield and intercepting more passes. As we approached the final whistle, the ground started to empty, which I’d rarely seen before at this stadium. This was a reality check to Liverpool’s credentials as top four contenders this year. It says a lot that the highlight of the day was being able to use advance train tickets at £21 each for Sheffield to Liverpool (return)!