Liverpool (21-05-2017)

Liverpool 3 - 0 Middlesbrough (Premier League), Sunday 21 May 2017

Match ticket £45
Train £14-90
Bus to Anfield £4
Programme £3-50
Tea £2-20
Drink £1
Total £70-60

So often, Liverpool either massively overachieve (think back to their 2013/14 title charge or even Istanbul in 2005) or underachieve (think of recent 6th, 7th and 8th placed finishes). Today was their chance to change this, and hit exactly what they deserved this year. If Liverpool beat Middlesbrough, they would finish 4th, which will be a real sign of progress at the club under Klopp. They have somehow edged out tight results in recent weeks, and could even afford a bore draw against Southampton and a shock loss against Crystal Palace. I think everyone would have taken this opportunity at the start of the season.

Liverpool are starting to establish a fortress at Anfield again, and started with some energy. But this soon dissipated as the nervousness began to affect the players and passes started going astray. From our position at the very back of the Lower Anfield Road end, we could sense the growing confidence in the Middlesbrough defence as they started to intercept passes and foil the Reds’ attacking play. In recent weeks though, Liverpool have demonstrated some steely determination in seeing off these kind of tactics. There is a greater mental strength in the squad than previously. Their tenacity resulted in a late first half goal for Winjaldum, who ran into the box and smashed in a fierce shot. This settled the tensions around the stadium, where many people were nervously checking phones for the scores at Manchester City and Arsenal.

Within a short space of time, Liverpool scored 2 more after the break through Coutinho (51 minutes) and Lallana (56 minutes). This seems a favourite time to score in the games we’ve been to this year. Liverpool could have maybe had more, but this was more than enough to wrap up the win against the relegated Middlesbrough. While they will have to negotiate a potentially tricky play-off to reach the Group Stages of the Champions League, Liverpool are almost there, and will view this as progress. For once they have achieved exactly what they deserve, and there is now hope that solid foundations are being laid for the future. Let's see what 2017/18 brings!