Liverpool 4 Stoke City 0

Well, I can finally breathe again, and Liverpool’s season has officially started.

If I was ‘a little nervy’ before the Spurs match then I was an absolute nervous wreck before this one; I’d even been dreaming about it for the last couple of night (and having a hissy fit mid-dream when Liverpool lost).  Any remnants of football related apathy have certainly disappeared.

Beforehand, the match seemed to be the epitome of a ‘must-win game’, which is absolutely ridiculous for the second game of the season.  It was almost as though I could feel myself drifting in to the realm of hysterical Sky Sports style hyperbole.  Luckily it turned out to be a comfortable victory for the Reds, and my nerves have been restored to their usual placid state.

I won’t be able to give you as detailed a match report as last time, as I watched the game on an internet stream.  It was good enough to just about follow the action, but it hardly compares to glorious Sky HD, and it’s not easy to describe what happened when you can’t always tell who is who.

The game was pretty much wrapped up by two goals in the first half, with an early strike from Torres after 4 minutes (which clearly settled the nerves), and a nice bicycle kick from Glen Johnson just before the break.  Stoke had their moments in the first period, and had a good variety of set plays which looked dangerous.  They also have the not-so-secret weapon of Rory Delap’s long throws; they’re boring to watch but they’re unbelievably effective.  You can’t blame Stoke for using it at every oppotunity, and it’s fair to say that Liverpool needed the second goal.

The Reds played much better in the second half, and limited the number of set pieces for the opposition.  It took until the 78th minute though for the lead to be increased, with Kuyt slotting home after a great bit of build up and an exquisite turn and cross from Gerrard.  The game was sealed by a simple Ngog header (from all of 3 inches out) after yet more good work from Johnson.  All in all a good night’s work.

Unlike the last match there are lots of positives to take from the game.  We kept a clean sheet whilst giving a first start to 18-year old Daniel Ayala, who didn’t look totally out of place in the centre of defence.  There was an impressive display by Lucas in the middle of the park and hopefully people will start to get a bit more behind him as he grows in to the role.  Insua had another good game and is a lively runner, even if he isn’t the finished article just yet.  A goal for Ngog gets him off the mark early doors, and can do his confidence no harm.  And maybe most of all was the great attacking impact of Glen Johnson, with a goal and an assist, and the blossoming of an exciting partnership with Kuyt on the right.  Like I said, it was a good night’s work.

Any result is made sweeter when your rivals lose, and tonight had the lovely bonus of Manchester United losing to Burnley (yes, Burnley);  it’s good when you’re not the only team to have lost early on.  I wonder if the papers will write them off so quickly.  I somehow doubt it.

If I’ve missed out anything obvious, blame that internet stream (although you can’t complain for free).