BIG TRIP
Liverpool fans can be forgiven for floating on air right now, feeling a little woozy, spaced out, positively trippy. Partly because they’re currently top of the league, unbeaten, with half a chance of … well, OK, a quarter of a chance of the title. Partly because they’re somehow through to the knockout stage of Big Cup having played the sum total of one decent 45 against notoriously flaky travellers PSG. But mainly because they appear to have a proper, fully functioning, dependable, diligent, decent, grown-up goalkeeper. By our reckoning they haven’t signed one of those since landing Ray Clemence from Firewall FC in 1967, so this abrupt reality shift is bound to scramble a few heads. But relax. Open up your mind.
Alisson’s point-blank injury-time stop from Napoli substitute Arkadiusz Milik on Tuesday night has already gone down in the Modern Pantheon of Memorable Anfield Saves (est. Dec 2018). Straight in at No1 in a series of one, it earned the handsome Brazilian a big cuddle from Jürgen Klopp, who later said he would have been happy to pay double for the £67m keeper. You can see his point, sort of, given Alisson has just guaranteed Liverpool at least another £10m from participation in the next round simply as a result of staying big in the middle of his goal, a basic tactic yet one that’s been seemingly beyond … ah, let’s not riff on Po’ Simon Mignolet’s pain any further, especially as the poor man, watching on from the bench, will have coupon cramp from smiling and pretending everything’s great, though his eyes, dead and defeated, give it all away.
Liverpool are joined on their kaleidoscope cloud by Tottenham Hotspur, who also squeaked through thanks to a brave draw against some chancers who seemingly had all the right documentation and were given the green light to legitimately represent FC Barcelona. Their achievement at Camp Nou gave a welcome boost to the poorly Glenn Hoddle, their legendary former player joking that the game “just wasn’t good for my recovery!” on social media disgrace Twitter, the service spreading some love for once by transmitting Hoddle’s first public statement since his heart attack.
Both teams go into the pot for Monday’s draw along with the two Manchester clubs, who had already made it through to the Round of Arsenal and are participating in a couple of irrelevant form-completing events on Wednesday. Once the Is have been dotted and Ts crossed, everyone can concentrate on domestic matters again, starting with a certain Sunday stramash at Anfield, a game set up so perfectly, the story writes itself. Mr José, who has freewheeling Liverpool’s number, brings his giddy hosts back down to earth yet again, ending their unbeaten run with a tactical masterclass, one of the most outrageous 1-0 smash-and-grabs in history. You can already see him skittering up the touchline in deranged celebration, can’t you.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“He was kick and rush and didn’t want to hear about the youngsters” – former Everton midfielder David Henen lifts the lid on Sam Allardyce’s six-month managerial masterclass at Goodison.
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“If the Premier League is supposed to be the greatest all-conquering league in the world with no equals, why is it that, when it gets to Big Cup games, players are expected to step up to this level when, using that argument, it should be a step down and the equivalent to a kickabout in the local park?” – Alistair Moffat.
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Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. And you can always tweet The Fiver via @guardian_sport. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’the day is … Tony Clewes.
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
Cardiff’s Sol Bamba says that until racism in everyday life is stamped out, black footballers will continue to face discrimination. “I’ve experienced being in my car and driving to the shop, and when I parked my car someone said to me ‘you must be a footballer or a drug dealer’ because I’ve got a nice car. It’s offensive,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dundee United left-back Jamie Robson could be sacked after an image appeared of him in blackface at a fancy dress party. “The club will deal with it in-house,” said manager Robbie Neilson.
Harry Kane reckons Tottenham’s very un-Spursy draw at Barcelona should give them the belief to go deep in Big Cup. “We can be as good as anyone on our day,” he cheered. “Thankfully, the football gods were looking down [on us].”
Bolton’s chief suit Ken Anderson will pluck a wad of notes from his own pocket to pay players’ outstanding wages and end the latest pay dispute at the club.
Peterborough boss Steve Evans described the FA Cup penalty shootout win over Bradford after a 4-4 draw as “organised chaos”. “We should have had this cup tie done 10 days ago,” he sighed. “The only pleasure I have out of all of it is that we have gone through.”
Fernando Llorente wants Athletic Bilbao to rescue him from the dusty shelf he’s been sat on for some time at Spurs’ training ground. “I would like to go back to Athletic,” he blabbed on Spanish radio. “My priority is to feel important in the team.”
And the new Rugby Football League president is … Tony Adams.
STILL WANT MORE?
If every racist at football was silenced stadiums would still be full of racists, writes John Barnes.
Barry Glendenning has watched Sunderland ‘Til I Die. Here’s what he thought.
Barney Ronay heaps praise on Liverpool’s “cartoon kangaroo”, Mo Salah.
Luton’s U-11s were the best in Europe back in 2009 – and some of those whizzy tyros are helping the Hatters’ current resurgence, reports Ben Fisher.
What is the smallest ground a European champion has lost at? The Knowledge keeps it nice and nerdy for you.
Zack Steffen’s Manchester City move: why, asks Graham Ruthven.
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