Author: John Pearman

Not a lot you can say after a performance like this apart from ‘WOW’.  When you’re away in Europe what adds up to a good result can be argued or not really determined until you play your home leg but I think this one might safely be viewed as a decent one.  Mane getting a hattrick stole the headlines and he needed a few goals but the whole team played well but we still have the second leg to come at Anfield and it would be nice to turn on a show for the 50,000+ who will attend.  The morning after a show like this though, makes you feel proud to be a red.

More or less just what we would have wanted. Bit messy during the first half but with a two goal cushion by courtesy of F&S the second half was pretty routine. Great couple of team goals and it didn’t look like we’d added any injury to the list.  Our support was excellent, which is more than you can say for the home mob.

Controversy apart, what game to watch. Sadly referees decisions will occupy most of the headlines which is how the game now is. I thought the first penalty was right but I was in the Main Stand and didn’t spot the offside but the second one I didn’t really get a view but it seems now as if a player gets touched it can be deemed a penalty yet these things happen all over the pitch and nothing gets given. However, Spurs deserved a draw and we didn’t deserve to lose so maybe its OK.  Mo Salah is now up there with Luis Suarez in my book, a genius. Maybe in the greater scheme of things a point suited us more than it did Spurs, we’ll see.

A return to winning ways after the two defeats. Three vital points obtained in comfortable fashion. We can live with that and adding to the gloss was the fact we netted a penalty, well done Mo.  Emre Can certainly goes from one extreme to another as he showed in this game as opposed to the player we saw on Saturday and if we have lost one Brazilian Magician, Bobby Firmino could be another.

We seem to have gone from one extreme to the other. The scoreline flattered us. WBA looked like scoring every time they attacked and our defence still looks a mess.  We were given a penalty by VAR and duly missed it. They had a goal ruled out by VAR but it didn’t help us. No finger pointing; collectively we were just poor.