That said it was worth every second. Last season the Geordies booed their manager and our captain relentlessly whereas they applauded our man off the pitch this time. How could they not? He was outstanding and as much as the press can moan about their injuries, Ashley or the ongoing Owen saga (ah, those were the days) the fact remains that Liverpool absolutely destroyed them. There were pluses all over the pitch. Lucas shook off the criticism that looked like taking him down, Insua looks like the best left back we've seen since Riise's first season and, significantly, Torres, Keane and Bert weren't missed. Well, Keane wasn't missed by the press who had a camera trained on his every grimace throughout the match.
Keane had already had his stroll around in the Bolton match. Both of his goals were superb and it's easy to see why we paid the money. He's craved that role and delivery since he got here. I love it when a striker points at the pitch and tells his player that he wants it 'there'. The last time I saw that was at St James Park when Andy Cole walked around an aging Steve Nicol on his way to a hatrick. The third goal was a beauty too. It's great to see Reina actually attack. A word too about Bert's goal. A lovely finish that will be lost in the annals of time thanks to Robbie's goals.
So we're three points clear thanks to Scolari's stubbornness. The Chelsea fans point the finger at Deco who they adored in August and September but surely it can't just be that. Could they be just a trifle alarmed that the Red men are coming up the hill, boys? I'm sure they thought we'd cave in by now. I did, if I'm honest. Meanwhile United sit on our shoulder and expect our worst. I fear them more than Chelsea and expect them to beat that lot next month. Then we'll see where the real challenge is.
Isn't it great to be even wondering where the challenge will be? At this stage of the season we're normally thinking 'we've still got a chance in the F.A. Cup' but now we genuinely seem interested in the League.
Things are going well but as I type we've just entered into the second day of Gerrardgate. I know little of the facts as do most journalists but that doesn't stop them hysterically screaming from the rooftops (red tops?). My favourite item came on the BBC yesterday when a witness said that Gerrard was happy and chatting about the match. The witness then said that he left before the incident. That's the sort of witness we need - a man running to the press, telling them that he was nearly there.
I like Steven Gerrard. That's an opinion which I've been pilloried for in the past. There's either a fanatical devotion to him or a savage hatred based on the Chelsea flirtation but I'm in the middle. He's a man who by his own admission doesn't like talking to strangers and finds small talk difficult. That description could be levelled at many of us. He's not rude either. I was lucky enough to be invited to the Player of the Year Award last week where 'that man from You Tube' did impressions of him, Carra, Owen, Rafa and Crouch. When Gerrard accepted The Emlyn Hughes Award he held the mike mutely, smiling to himself, before asking the lad if he'd like to make his speech. I have a personal reason for liking him too. When he and Alex Gerrard found through a friend that I was ill a couple of years ago they sent me some signed LFC memorabilia. He doesn't know me from Adam and he didn't release a statement about it either. It wasn't until seven months had passed before I found that he had been so kind.
As I say, we won't know the facts but I think it unlikely that he'd deliberately attack someone. Let's watch it be blown into a season-wrecker by the press and,sadly, our own fans in the coming weeks.
Oh, we're three points clear, took seven points off the big three, won the derby and have scored eight in two. Bloody Gerrard!
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