As the Premier League season has reached its conclusion, and with it a second straight top-four finish for Liverpool, there have been plenty of memorable games. Today, I'm going to narrow it down to a top five favorite matches of the 2017-18 league season.
Honorable Mentions: 2-1 vs. Leicester, 5-0 vs. Swansea, 4-1 at West Ham
Number Five - Liverpool 4: Brighton and Hove Albion 0:
Yes, this happened under a week ago. But this final league bout was the culmination of an entire season's worth of expectations, and a month and a half of pressure. Liverpool had taken just six points out of their previous five matches, including draws to two relegation sides in Stoke and West Brom, the latter in which they held a second half 2-0 lead, and a loss to the fast-approaching Chelsea who had hit a nice patch of form. Now ultimately even if Liverpool were to have been handed a loss, Chelsea would have gifted them fourth. The Reds, however, did not back into the top four put kicked down the door and made the statement that they earned their spot in next season's Champions League. Between Mo Salah's record-breaking goal, Dejan Lovren's majestic header, and Dominic Solanke and Andy Robertson's first goals with the club, there were plenty of memorable moments. A loss would have sapped momentum from this side heading into the Champions League final in just about a week and a half from now. Instead, they finished their league campaign off with confidence and precision and gave the Madrid side they'll be squaring off with something to think about in the build up to the match. Why is this on my top five list though? It was the relief I felt when the job was finished. Over the aforementioned five game span, it seemed like Liverpool were squandering golden opportunities and quite literally limping towards the finish line as more and more key players went down injured. The four goal home victory over a side that Liverpool knew they had more quality than was sweet catharsis. The pressure was off. The only future was, and currently is, the match in Kiev.
Number Four - Liverpool 5: Watford 0:
Mo Salah had played 30 games in Liverpool red. He was the leading Golden Boot candidate. He had no hat trick yet. No Liverpool player had in the league since Luis Suarez in 2014. How could this be? With Jurgen Klopp's free-flowing attack, it seemed unbelievable that a man in the league could not find the net three times. First, the fourth minute. Mane sends Salah through to goal. Salah sends Miguel Britos to the grass. Goal. Number one. Next, the 43rd minute. Mane to Robertson. Robertson a swerving low cross. Salah is too fast for the Watford back line to track. Goal. Number two. The 77th minute. Salah gets the ball in the box, attracting three defenders. All three go to his right with him. All three are completely befuddled by his sharp turn back to his left. He's falling down now. It doesn't matter. It's in the back of the net. Goal. Number three. The hat trick is achieved. He's not done. The 85th minute, Salah is generous now. He plays Danny Ings through. His shot is saved. He'll get his fourth instead, he reckons. He blasts it with his left foot into the roof of the net. Goal. Number four. It's not just the fact he got four goals in a game, it's how he did it. Twice did Salah make Watford, a very comfortably mid-table club with players of good quality, look completely under his league. But, perhaps, no one is in Mo Salah's league. How could anyone be when he scores goals like the ones he did on that night?
Number Three - Liverpool 2: Burnley 1:
Burnley were surprise Europa League qualifiers this season. No one expected a run quite like theirs this season, even with the difficulty of playing at Turf Moor for opposition sides. Liverpool had already drew 1-1 earlier in the season and with this match taking place in the extremely busy festive season, it seemed the Reds had their work cut out for them. This was the final league match in a span of three in a week, the first two Liverpool won, first thrashing Swansea 5-0 at home then nudging out Leicester 2-1 at Anfield. This was a Liverpool side that was resting players, no Firmino, no Salah, Adam Lallana seeing a start in his spell of total fitness this season, a tough stretch of the match list was nearing its end. Sadio Mane scored first in the 61st minute and as the game continued at 0-1 in favor to the Reds, things looked good. Then they took a hard left. Johann Berg Gudundsson leveled in the 87th minute. It seemed it would be another 1-1 Liverpool/Burnley fixture. The stages of grief were playing out. Shock: no way did that happen. Denial: how could this happen now? Anger: how could someone not have stopped this? Bargaining: well, a point at Turf Moor isn't a bad result! Depression: another two points dropped, another chance for our rivals to catch up. Testing: maybe someone could save the game? And someone did. Ragnar Klavan's diving header in the 94th minute gave Liverpool a late, late winner. Suddenly, the only Acceptance necessary was that Liverpool had rescued all three away from a tough away fixture. The drama was present here, perhaps at a season-high for a one-game level. But it felt worth it by the end.
Number Two - Liverpool 4: Arsenal 0:
Just the third game of the season, it was a sign of things to come for the rest of the year. Liverpool love a home match with Arsenal. This was further proof of that. This was more than just one game though, it served almost as a catalyst for the season. With Mo Salah's breakaway goal in the 57th minute to make it 3-0, Liverpool were off and running. This match was before Coutinho was sold. Before Virgil van Dijk was brought it. Before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain felt the love of the Kop and instead felt its wrath as a member of a side entering Anfield as a visitor. Liverpool, immediately after this game, saw a dip in league form with just six points from their next six games and only one win. This game served almost as a showing of their potential in those gloomier days. There was class in the side. You must take the ebbs and flows of the season. Following that stretch, almost on cue, Liverpool reeled off 14 unbeaten games in the league. This game was brilliant not just for the joy it brought on that one afternoon in Liverpool but also because it showed just how could this team could be in the latter stages of the season. And they have certainly showed it.
Number One - Liverpool 4: Manchester City 3:
How could it be any other game? Liverpool were out for blood. The 5-0 defeat at the Etihad, Mane getting sent off, the hype around unbeaten City, it only seemed to make the home crowd and home side more unstoppable. The talk among fans was almost a knowing that they had what it took to beat City, perhaps they were the only side that did. After all, everyone else had either been handed defeat or, in the cases of Everton and Crystal Palace, held on for a draw. Liverpool were down a man for nearly the entire game. They had the better of the game before the red card despite the 1-0 scoreline at the time. Well now it was time to prove it. Oxlade-Chamberlain found space in the ninth minute and scored. It was 1-0 quickly, the pressure was on. But City had a lifeline in Leroy Sane, who beat Loris Karius near post just minutes before halftime. 1-1. The early portion of the second half was a feeling-out process. Then, just like Liverpool's offense could do, the action punched you in the mouth. Firmino was too strong for John Stones, won the ball, and finished a delicate near-chip off the post and in. 2-1. Sadio Mane hit the post almost immediately following. His next chance he didn't miss. From 1-1 to 3-1 in just three minutes. You blink, you miss it. Ederson decides to clear a through ball in the 68th. He regrets it nearly immediately. It lands at Salah's feet. From 2/3 to half-pitch he fires, and it's in. Three goals, under ten minutes. Welcome to Anfield. The game ended 4-3, City would not give in. They got two goals back late in the game, but no one remembers that like they remember the Liverpool onslaught. This was just a sign of things to come for when these teams met in the Champions League. But that's a different story for a different time...
Tweet at me @RMABTweets your favorite matches from this Premier League season.
Honorable Mentions: 2-1 vs. Leicester, 5-0 vs. Swansea, 4-1 at West Ham
Number Five - Liverpool 4: Brighton and Hove Albion 0:
Yes, this happened under a week ago. But this final league bout was the culmination of an entire season's worth of expectations, and a month and a half of pressure. Liverpool had taken just six points out of their previous five matches, including draws to two relegation sides in Stoke and West Brom, the latter in which they held a second half 2-0 lead, and a loss to the fast-approaching Chelsea who had hit a nice patch of form. Now ultimately even if Liverpool were to have been handed a loss, Chelsea would have gifted them fourth. The Reds, however, did not back into the top four put kicked down the door and made the statement that they earned their spot in next season's Champions League. Between Mo Salah's record-breaking goal, Dejan Lovren's majestic header, and Dominic Solanke and Andy Robertson's first goals with the club, there were plenty of memorable moments. A loss would have sapped momentum from this side heading into the Champions League final in just about a week and a half from now. Instead, they finished their league campaign off with confidence and precision and gave the Madrid side they'll be squaring off with something to think about in the build up to the match. Why is this on my top five list though? It was the relief I felt when the job was finished. Over the aforementioned five game span, it seemed like Liverpool were squandering golden opportunities and quite literally limping towards the finish line as more and more key players went down injured. The four goal home victory over a side that Liverpool knew they had more quality than was sweet catharsis. The pressure was off. The only future was, and currently is, the match in Kiev.
Number Four - Liverpool 5: Watford 0:
Mo Salah had played 30 games in Liverpool red. He was the leading Golden Boot candidate. He had no hat trick yet. No Liverpool player had in the league since Luis Suarez in 2014. How could this be? With Jurgen Klopp's free-flowing attack, it seemed unbelievable that a man in the league could not find the net three times. First, the fourth minute. Mane sends Salah through to goal. Salah sends Miguel Britos to the grass. Goal. Number one. Next, the 43rd minute. Mane to Robertson. Robertson a swerving low cross. Salah is too fast for the Watford back line to track. Goal. Number two. The 77th minute. Salah gets the ball in the box, attracting three defenders. All three go to his right with him. All three are completely befuddled by his sharp turn back to his left. He's falling down now. It doesn't matter. It's in the back of the net. Goal. Number three. The hat trick is achieved. He's not done. The 85th minute, Salah is generous now. He plays Danny Ings through. His shot is saved. He'll get his fourth instead, he reckons. He blasts it with his left foot into the roof of the net. Goal. Number four. It's not just the fact he got four goals in a game, it's how he did it. Twice did Salah make Watford, a very comfortably mid-table club with players of good quality, look completely under his league. But, perhaps, no one is in Mo Salah's league. How could anyone be when he scores goals like the ones he did on that night?
Number Three - Liverpool 2: Burnley 1:
Burnley were surprise Europa League qualifiers this season. No one expected a run quite like theirs this season, even with the difficulty of playing at Turf Moor for opposition sides. Liverpool had already drew 1-1 earlier in the season and with this match taking place in the extremely busy festive season, it seemed the Reds had their work cut out for them. This was the final league match in a span of three in a week, the first two Liverpool won, first thrashing Swansea 5-0 at home then nudging out Leicester 2-1 at Anfield. This was a Liverpool side that was resting players, no Firmino, no Salah, Adam Lallana seeing a start in his spell of total fitness this season, a tough stretch of the match list was nearing its end. Sadio Mane scored first in the 61st minute and as the game continued at 0-1 in favor to the Reds, things looked good. Then they took a hard left. Johann Berg Gudundsson leveled in the 87th minute. It seemed it would be another 1-1 Liverpool/Burnley fixture. The stages of grief were playing out. Shock: no way did that happen. Denial: how could this happen now? Anger: how could someone not have stopped this? Bargaining: well, a point at Turf Moor isn't a bad result! Depression: another two points dropped, another chance for our rivals to catch up. Testing: maybe someone could save the game? And someone did. Ragnar Klavan's diving header in the 94th minute gave Liverpool a late, late winner. Suddenly, the only Acceptance necessary was that Liverpool had rescued all three away from a tough away fixture. The drama was present here, perhaps at a season-high for a one-game level. But it felt worth it by the end.
Number Two - Liverpool 4: Arsenal 0:
Just the third game of the season, it was a sign of things to come for the rest of the year. Liverpool love a home match with Arsenal. This was further proof of that. This was more than just one game though, it served almost as a catalyst for the season. With Mo Salah's breakaway goal in the 57th minute to make it 3-0, Liverpool were off and running. This match was before Coutinho was sold. Before Virgil van Dijk was brought it. Before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain felt the love of the Kop and instead felt its wrath as a member of a side entering Anfield as a visitor. Liverpool, immediately after this game, saw a dip in league form with just six points from their next six games and only one win. This game served almost as a showing of their potential in those gloomier days. There was class in the side. You must take the ebbs and flows of the season. Following that stretch, almost on cue, Liverpool reeled off 14 unbeaten games in the league. This game was brilliant not just for the joy it brought on that one afternoon in Liverpool but also because it showed just how could this team could be in the latter stages of the season. And they have certainly showed it.
Number One - Liverpool 4: Manchester City 3:
How could it be any other game? Liverpool were out for blood. The 5-0 defeat at the Etihad, Mane getting sent off, the hype around unbeaten City, it only seemed to make the home crowd and home side more unstoppable. The talk among fans was almost a knowing that they had what it took to beat City, perhaps they were the only side that did. After all, everyone else had either been handed defeat or, in the cases of Everton and Crystal Palace, held on for a draw. Liverpool were down a man for nearly the entire game. They had the better of the game before the red card despite the 1-0 scoreline at the time. Well now it was time to prove it. Oxlade-Chamberlain found space in the ninth minute and scored. It was 1-0 quickly, the pressure was on. But City had a lifeline in Leroy Sane, who beat Loris Karius near post just minutes before halftime. 1-1. The early portion of the second half was a feeling-out process. Then, just like Liverpool's offense could do, the action punched you in the mouth. Firmino was too strong for John Stones, won the ball, and finished a delicate near-chip off the post and in. 2-1. Sadio Mane hit the post almost immediately following. His next chance he didn't miss. From 1-1 to 3-1 in just three minutes. You blink, you miss it. Ederson decides to clear a through ball in the 68th. He regrets it nearly immediately. It lands at Salah's feet. From 2/3 to half-pitch he fires, and it's in. Three goals, under ten minutes. Welcome to Anfield. The game ended 4-3, City would not give in. They got two goals back late in the game, but no one remembers that like they remember the Liverpool onslaught. This was just a sign of things to come for when these teams met in the Champions League. But that's a different story for a different time...
Tweet at me @RMABTweets your favorite matches from this Premier League season.
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