So the first one is in the books. Liverpool, on a radiantly hot and emotionally charged afternoon secured a 1-3 victory over Preston at Deepdale. As with most things in our lives over the last two weeks, the football was the least important aspect of the day. As such it has to be said that the pre, during and post match tributes to Diogo Jota (and his brother André Silva), were simply stunning.
I am not ashamed to say that the live performance of “I Can't Help Falling In Love” brought me to tears. I took my son to the ground last weekend to see the sea of tributes from the fans, and thought that maybe I'd gotten out all of my tears. Not so it turns out. This absolutely floored me again, further proof, as if it were needed, that this hurt runs deep. The away end was a roiling ocean of emotion; of wet cheeks and defiant cheers and everything in between. Seeing the players take to the pitch set me off again. Mo Salah, a man acutely aware of how his reactions can influence those around him, lead out the side with a much more stoic than usual demeanour. Kosta Tsimikas though was clearly struggling to hold back the tears, the pain of loss etched on his face. Brutal yet profoundly beautiful.
On the 20th minute Diogo's song echoed around that famous old ground, with the Preston fans joining in with a rapturous applause that elevated it beyond the realms of the usual football chant. For a sport that prides itself on tribal separation and contest, this was another wonderfully disarming moment of unity, another show of class among many on the day from the people of Preston.
This is just game one. We've got a summer of this to follow, perhaps a full season. Time will tell. It certainly won't end here. It can't. Diogo's death has had too deep of an impact on too many. Each new crowd that turns up to see the Reds will want to have their voices heard, their banners seen, their tears shed. I've said previously that Diogo Jota will now be forever more ingrained in the culture and future history of the club. These public displays are what we've got and we will do it well. As an aside, Liverpool choosing to retire the no. 20 jersey was a classy touch.
I'd decided to watch this one at home, and with the choice between LFC TV and ITV for the coverage I'm glad that I chose the former. I've been fortunate enough to work with Liverpool commentator John Bradley on a number of occasions, and having Bradders calling the coverage, a man who truly understands what the club is going through was a blessing. Having Gary Gillespie, a man who experienced the aftermath of Hillsborough alongside him meant that we were in safe and understanding hands throughout. There was a time when I started out on the road of Liverpool coverage where I was often critical of the quality of the club's in-house content. Those criticisms have long, long since been put to bed though. Again, we are lucky to have not just people who "get it" but talented people who care to "get it" in front of, and behind the camera. The pre-match coverage was excellent also, and again very tastefully handled.
So the football.
In my post match video for Redmen I picked out a whole host of names to single out for positivity, and yet somehow overlooked one.
His name is Conor Bradley. Throughout the match I decided to take brief notes on things that caught my eye. My note on him during the first half was as follows...
Conor Bradley looks like a man. A man who is boss at every aspect of football.
Rio Ngumoha looks like he's ready to be a little live wire gem this summer. Early glimpses of Kerkez and Frimpong's pace and determination were very, very encouraging. Seeing Chiesa upfront (and playing quite well) means I'm on the right track with the predictions in my previous article.
Conor, however. Wow.
I'm reminded of the pre-season after Fabinho and Keita were signed and Wijnaldum, Henderson and Milner, instead of bowing out gracefully like a Doctor Who actor hanging over the reigns, gritted their teeth, and went "Nah, you're alright, I'll fight you for this actually."
It is of course early doors, but right now Conor is the man incumbent. Fingers crossed on the fitness front, because if he "only" improves his availability this season he'll be a player and a half. That's before you factor in that he could, and likely will, grow as a player too. Add Frimpong into the mix and the big winners will be Liverpool, and all of us who get to watch our new super vibrant right hand side this season and beyond. Can't wait.
The goals were good too. Rio's dribbling forcing an opening out of nowhere, Chiesa then prising it open further and having the humility (after taking a couple of chances to shoot over the pass earlier on) pulling it back for Bradley to prod it home. The second saw the new look, crewcutted Darwin pick up on a stray back pass to slot past the stranded keeper. The Uruguayan ran to the Liverpool fans and sat down to do the now world famous Jota gaming celebration. Fitting that it be him, the man who was first on the scene when Diogo first unveiled it in front of the Kop. These are the small moments that matter. It seems unlikely that Nunez will be at Liverpool beyond the summer, but what we saw today was a lad getting on about the required business of the day. Score a goal, celebrate your friend. Perfect.
He also had a significant hand in the third. With Preston grabbing a goal back, Liverpool ending the game on a high seemed like the decent thing to do, and Gakpo duly delivered. Ben Doak battled well to recover the ball high before crossing. With a wonderful display of positional understanding, Darwin stepped over it, allowing the ball to run through to Cody to finish. The Dutch man gave us another rendition of Diogo celebrations and the Reds fans a suitable lift in spirits.
So yeah, an emotional first day back, but one that was delivered as tonally perfect as possible.
What were your favourite moments from the day? Let me know in the comments!
Cheers!
Maych
Whatever about the soccerball player trading fund operating as 'Chelsea Football Club' winning the Donald Trump Trophy yesterday, this was the biggest game of the day, because, to paraphrase Juergen Klopp, it was the only one Liverpool Football Club were playing in.
In some ways, when we look back on it next summer, it could be argued that this will have been our most important matchday this season; one that just had to be got through. Endured.
In every other season for the past I don't know how many years I'd have been glued to this first game, analysing everything in microscopic detail, and predicting a Ballon d'Or for some schoolkid I'd never set eyes on before. Ki-Jana Hoever? Well, I wasn't actually wrong. My prediction was correct; it was just that the entire universe couldn't see what I could see.
But not this year. This year is the pre-season to just get through. To try to get back to normal, as far as a group of people can, with one of their loved ones missing.
I'll probably get more enthused/concerned about player performances as pre-season goes on, but for the moment I really don't care. It's all still raw and I will still well up at 'triggers'.
Yes, bless Preston for their part in yesterday's proceedings. I wasn't there but on the telly it came across as totally respectful. All credit to them as a football club and fanbase.
'Man' of the match: Claudia Maguire, who put everything into her two pre-match songs. 10/10
There was a song I was surprised not to hear but it's time will surely come in the next weeks:
"We are the champions!
Champions of England!"
Until then, I suppose we'll just have to muddle along with the best football song I've ever heard, about a lad from Portugal. He's better than Figo doncherknow?
Thought the moment of silence at the start was demonstrated impeccably, showing the class of the Preston fans.
Is Chiesa a CF option? Does Darwin stay? Is Ngumoha worth a go as a senior LW? Who starts over Bradley or Frimpong? We've definitely got a few narratives already. Excited for the next game.