Liverpool (01-04-2017)

Liverpool 3 - 1 Everton (Saturday 1st April 2017), Premier League

Match ticket £46
Train £18-15
Tea £1-95
Bus to Anfield £4
Tea £2
Toilet 30p
Total £72-40

Finally Liverpool had a midday home kick-off! After a string of endless 5:30 Saturday and 4PM Sunday kick-offs, it was a nice change to have an early match to go to. Although this meant an early start in Sheffield and the 8:40 train, it also meant that we would get home at a reasonable time (and in time for tea!).

Everton were today's opposition, in what was a key Merseyside Derby. As mentioned in my previous blog, Anfield now towers over Goodison, and the gap between the two sides is widening once more. There was a period in 2013/14 when Everton looked destined for a Champions League place, but now they would just be happy to get into the Europa League.

The start of the match was marked by tributes to the legendary Ronnie Moran ('Bugsy'), with seat signs in the Kop marking out his nickname. The number of trophies and years read across the tannoy was incredible, and just illustrates the historical size of this club.

Today's Liverpool could be going places if they can close out this season. As against Arsenal they started superbly, taking the lead through Mane after a one-two with Firmino. They huffed and puffed, but couldn't blow the Toffees' door down a second time. Everton looked handy on the break and I was particularly impressed with the young Tom Davies - pacey, able to turn quickly and with an eye for a pass. Meanwhile, Ross Barkley (supposedly the great white hope of English football) was having a shocker, fouling at almost every opportunity and unable to put together more than a couple of passes. But, with this being Liverpool, there is always an opening, and Pennington took full advantage when a simple corner wasn't dealt with by Liverpool's back line. The fans were deflated. But within a couple of minutes, the home side took the lead again when Coutinho's effort flew into the top corner.

The second period saw Liverpool further stretch the away side, who looked tired and devoid of ideas. So it was no surprise when Origi made it 3-1 on 60 minutes to confirm Liverpool's dominance, and take the edge off a slightly nervous Anfield crowd. This was another excellent performance, and if they can keep getting results in their final few games, they should be on the way to the Champions League for the first time since 2014.

Liverpool (04-03-2017)

Liverpool 3 - 1 Arsenal (Saturday 4th March 2017), Premier League

Match ticket £53
Train £23-70
Bus £4
Tea £2
Taxi (£10/2) £5
Total £87-70

We are back! After a couple of months away from the football scene - with the arrival of one Baby Groundhopper - we headed back to Anfield for a key match against Arsenal. In fact we should have been here for Spurs on February 11th but that was scuppered by a suicide on the line. Today's journey was circuitous, taking us via a bus from Stockport, due to a landslide which had closed Lime Street. We haven't had much luck on recent travels to Merseyside.

Today was actually the first time we had been in the Main Stand Upper. Needless to say the views are impressive and, while the steps are steep, there is much more leg room than the old Main Stand. The views from the main concourse take in the Mersey and a small blue ground in the distance - oh yes, that will be Goodison Park! With Spring on the horizon, the game almost kicked off in the light, with the sun setting over distant terraced houses.

Liverpool approached this game with an intensity and desire that stunned the North London side. Within 9 minutes, they were ahead when Firmino slotted in at the near post. There was a strength to the attacking play which seemed to shock Arsenal. When the Gunners did have a period of dominance, Liverpool held them at bay well and withstood a mini-onslaught, just as they had against Manchester City in December. There are signs that this Klopp side are developing a tougher underbelly, and are starting to adapt to different situations they encounter. Deservedly Liverpool then made it two through the excellent Sadio Mane from a flowing forward move, on 40 minutes.

The arrival of Sanchez in the second period unsettled the Reds for a period, and they saw little of the ball in a fallow 20 minute spell. Danny Welbeck pulled one back on 57 minutes and then suddenly Liverpool looked a bit ropey. But again they stuck to their task and while there was always a feeling that Arsenal could score, they never managed a breakthrough. Then a fine counterattacking move resulted in Winjaldum slotting in right in front of the Kop in the 91st minute of a cracking game. So honours to Liverpool, whose remarkable results against the top teams continues. If only they could beat the Bournemouths and Burnleys of this world!

Our journey back was beset by delays, with a misprint in the bus replacement timetable - and chaos outside Lime Street - meaning we finally got home at midnight. We shall add this to the list of travel disasters which seem to occur on a semi-regular basis these days. But it was all worth it. Waking up the next day with the sun shining I got a definite sense that this was our last game of Winter.