Carnivale (Man City 1 - 4 Liverpool)

Well then, that wasn’t bad was it?
Liverpool emerged 1-4 victors over Manchester City at the Etihad in Saturday’s late kick-off, the then league leaders certainly weren’t their usual selves (missing the likes of Kompany and Silva will do that to you) but then again, we were so astoundingly brilliant that I’m not convinced it would have mattered. This wasn’t heavy metal football, this wasn’t total football, this was a Brazilian inspired carnivale.

That’s not to say we didn’t do the dirty stuff right, no no. The Lucas Resurgence continued in fine form as he along with our industrious German in the middle of the park absolutely dominated the pitch; pressing, harrying, playing the simple passes that allowed our more creative players the opportunity to tear City into shreds. Lucas is my favourite Liverpool player, and he continues to make a mockery of both the fans who wrote him off - over and over again - and unfortunately, even Brendan Rodgers who was apparently contemplating selling him off before the season began and injuries hampered those plans. He’s a tackling machine (best stats in the entire league at 5.3 tackles per 90, Aanholt is a distant second with 4.7) who isn’t scared of getting stuck in and picking up a card or two when necessary (Lucas also commits the most fouls in the league at 2.7 per 90). He’s the boiler room, the engine that allows the fancy guys at the front to operate. He was the security guard at Carnivale that stops those 11 annoying blokes ruining it for everybody else. This metaphor may have gone too far.

But oh, what a Carnivale it was.
Firmino had his single best game in a red shirt, deft flicks and sumptuous passes that carved open City’s defence like a hot South American knife through mercenary butter (not likely to be endorsed by John Lydon). He once again played up front in the absence of both Benteke and Sturridge - the line up matching that of the Chelsea drubbing - and if he had brought his shooting boots along with his ridiculous-passing-skills boots he’d have probably walked away with the match ball. It’ll come with time, of that I have no doubt.
Coutinho too continued his fine form as of late, abandoning the shackles and misery that had stymied his play under Rodgers, this is a man enjoying his football once more. Sprinting into the box, laying off gorgeous little passes and once again adding to his goal tally - of which he has more against City than any other player, can we play them every week?

If I was to list every player who shone against City we’d be here all day - hell, even the oft-maligned Dejan Lovren was a proverbial rock at the back, barely giving the likes of Aguero a sniff all game. We pressed and harried and our fitness and desire and more importantly emotion shone through. Klopp suggested as much, stating that it’s not possible to beat the likes of City if you don’t show that passion and that desire - well we showed it in bundles.

Perhaps the best moment came after the game though, and it was a moment that summed up our upturn in style and results under Klopp. Adam Lallana (who was also phenomenal, rarely gets the headlines but puts in an incredible shift) was conducting a post-match interview and dropped three small words that should give hope to any Liverpool fans. There’s going to be bad results, days when Palace ruin the party, days when the Carnivale hits a bit of a road block and our battering ram Benteke can’t quite break it down. But Liverpool are back with style - no matter how early the days are - we’re playing with a freedom and intensity not seen since our ill-fated title charge.

All Adam Lallana said? “It was fun”