Liverpool (10-09-2016)

Liverpool 4 - 1 Leicester City (Premier League), Saturday 10 September 2016

Ticket = £53
Programme = £3-50
Parking (Sheffield station) = £7-50
Bus to and from Anfield = £4
Water = £1
Tea at ground = £2-50
Train = £15-45
Total = £86-95

‘Crash, bang, wallop…’. Today’s match against Leicester reminded me of the old Batman series, where painful parts of fight scenes were covered up with cartoon descriptions. Leicester – the reigning Premier League champions – were thumped at Anfield.

If I rewind a little then… The backdrop to today’s match was the impressive sight of the completed Main Stand, which has uplifted Anfield’s capacity to 54,000. Today’s 5:30PM kick-off was the first home match since the renovation work had been completed and we were lucky enough to be able to get tickets for this one. If Gerrard’s last home game against Palace in May 2015 was the end of an era, this one was the start of something.

Liverpool did not disappoint. Within 13 minutes they were ahead through Firmino, and then doubled their lead when Sturridge back-heeled to set up Sadio Mane. They seemed to have a stranglehold on the game for almost all of the first half. Then bizarrely, Lucas laid on a peach of a back-pass for Jamie Vardy to latch onto and plant the ball in. This kid is a poacher and will take advantage of any weakness in the back-line. Lallana re-established Liverpool’s two goal advantage with a 56^th minute rocket, and then Firmino grabbed a brace after a set-up from Mane. 

There were so many positives in midfield and attack, and after this match Liverpool have 7 points from 4 games (3 of which have been away from home). They have hit the ground running – let’s hope this continues through 2016/17.