24 Kitchen Street is a venue which finds itself in Liverpool, and it holds countless memories for so many locals. One of those being SPINN’s frontman: Johnny Quinn. As his band took the stage of the venue, The Frontman referred (on a couple of occasions) to being a teen and enjoying raves and other musical events in that same place he was performing. It must have been one of those ‘pinch me’ moments for the four band members, who have achieved a great deal since they became a band.

This year, Christmas is undoubtedly going to be a tough time for so many people in the UK. The rising cost of living has come at a time where mental health issues are at an extreme high as it is, and things don’t seem to be progressing under the Tory rule. The band did more than its part with their Christmas show. In the days leading up to the event, a plea from the band was released: kindly asking fans attending to bring along food and toys to be donated to food & toy banks across Merseyside. Those in attendance well and truly got the message. Boxes filled with items more valuable than any gift we may receive this year. The band, and the crowd alike, deserve huge plaudits for this generous effort during the festive period.

The ‘Christmas Spirit’, as it were, could most certainly be felt in the packed-out crowd. The drinks were flowing, Christmas tunes blasted out of the sound systems as the crowd waited with anticipation for the show to kick off.

The perfect support act kicked off events, with a tremendous performance from ‘Pet Snake’. Having little prior knowledge of The Act made for a great experience for myself, as her tunes most certainly did the job of ‘warming up’ (excuse the wintery pun) the Liverpool crowd.

9 O’clock rolled around and it was time for the SPINN lads to play their set. And what a set it was, too. The four-piece haven’t played to a live audience since their UK tour earlier this year. Having seen their brilliant, vibrant indie-pop show in Bristol, I expected great things. It’s safe to say that the lads didn’t disappoint.

Since the release of The Band’s second album ‘Outside of the Blue’, their gigs have been opened- so fittingly- with their great track ‘Hello’. If you’ve not had a chance to listen to it, do so now, or after you’ve finished reading this. A perfect introduction for a gig, as it progresses from slow, indie grooves to a full-throttle, jangly, Smiths-esque crowd mover. There was no sign of rust in their performance at all, despite their break from touring.

The Group then had the audience in the palms of their metaphorical hands. The set-list was jam packed with SPINN classics, from ‘She Takes Her time’, to ‘Sunshine’, even the inclusion of, as Johnny put it: “OG SPINN” in the form of their tune ‘Bliss’. For me, though, the take home tracks of the set were those which the audience had never heard before. The band debuted two new tracks, named ‘Alone’ and ‘Anytime’. For those not in attendance, let me tell you: you should be excited for the release of these ones. The latter of the two really felt as though it could be a tune which bolsters the band’s career. If the tracks are to be a part of an upcoming EP or album, then we are all in for a treat.

The set was over all too soon, but the crowd were treated to what was labelled a ‘Christmas cracker’. The band called upon their support act to join them for the conclusive song of the evening. ‘Fairytale of New York’. It was, to say the least, perfect. The crowd took it up a notch and the noise was deafening. Friends held each other and belted out the words to the Christmas classic.

With that rendition, the gig was over, and the band moved over to Jimmy’s for a DJ set, and all those who had come for an evening of indie music with great riffs, groovy basslines with tight drumming and some excellent lyricism were more than contented.

Many thanks to SPINN, who kindly provided myself and a friend with tickets for the event. I’m sure all fans of the band hope for news of a tour, along with new music in 2023!

SPINN’s Set-List from the event.

If you’re local to the South West region, you’ll know Thekla as the indie epicenter where most up and coming bands/artists start out. If you’re not local, you probably know it as the boat from the hit TV show ‘Skins’…. It’s regarded as one of Bristol’s best venues, and for good reason, with individuality in abundance. Visiting artists never cease to be amazed at the fact they’re playing on a ‘literal boat’. Nonetheless, as venues go, Thekla is up there.  

On Thursday 5^th May, the venue played hosts to Liverpool’s Indie Royalty: SPINN. Having followed the band since the release of tracks such as ‘Bliss’, it was somewhat surreal to finally see the lads performing their cult-classics to a live audience.  

It was an impressive turnout that gathered to watch Johnny Quinn (Vocals and Guitar), Luke Brickett (Lead Guitar), Sean McLachlan (Bass) and Louis O’Reilly (Drums), especially since the gig fell on a Thursday night!  

For me, one of the best parts about indie gigs is the support acts. Always extremely friendly, and usually the epitome of a perfect ‘warm up’ to the main act. On this occasion it was no different to exactly this.  

The lads from Liverpool brought with them a whopping 3 support acts: Enter Red, Pentire and Stay Lunar. Of the three, it must be said that the fan favourite was Pentire. Heavy riffs, great melodies and a real ‘tight’ feel to the band. As an avid follower of the indie-rock scene I would strongly advise any like-minded readers to follow them now, listen to them and get on board with them before they blow up. Purely because this feels inevitable: their perfect promotion of their new tune ‘Fading out’ encapsulated a savvy side to the band. Free posters at the merch stall pushed the crowd in the direction of the band even after they’d seen the act they came for. Really clever. Their set was fast-paced and quite literally moving. People on shoulders (I know!) as well as the crowd bouncing. Not what you would expect from a support act at a small gig. This recount of Pentire’s set feels completely fair, as I’ve given myself a little while before writing about it. Had this have been done the day after the gig, myself and my two friends would have been far more enthusiastic (If you can believe that) about the superb support. Myself, Dylan Hams and Alfie Lowe spoke to lead singer Jack Morgan after their set the humble young man gratefully received our praise. Definitely a band for the future. Keep an eye out. Their latest track opens with a guitar riff beautifully resembling a Fontaines DC tune that I can’t for the life of me remember the name of… Ultimately, the support perfectly worked up the crowd ahead of SPINN’s entrance to the Bristol stage.  

The time for the main act rolled around and it’s safe to say that SPINN didn’t disappoint. The band brilliantly opened with the first track from their second album, appropriately named ‘Hello’, and the crowd lapped it up. From this point onwards Johnny Quinn had the crowd right where he wanted them: playing cult classics such as ‘Sunshine’ and ‘She takes her time’, the latter saw my good friend Alfie Lowe up on shoulders shaking hands with Johnny. There’s a video somewhere and it’s brilliant. The beauty of the gig being in such a compact venue was that the crowd interaction was relentless. The scousers certainly brought warmth in their conversations with the packed venue. One occasion involved Quinn explaining that he had only just arrived in Bristol due to him graduating University earlier in the day (Congratulations, by the way.) The elation undoubtedly felt by Quin was shared with the crowd, to say the least. The band worked their way through a joyous set and got people moving despite it being a Thursday. Quinn’s dancing deserves it’s own shout out, seeming like a homage to Morrissey (obviously without the unpleasant bits). The set seemed to fly by and the band should be chuffed with what was a great set. Having a strong cult following, I hope that the future brings more success to SPINN, their tracks are perfectly constructed and are just generally lovely. Not to mention how well the band put themselves forward: seeming like really nice lads.  

The evening’s entertainment concluded with one of the band’s biggest tunes: Notice Me, which was the perfect end to an outstanding evening of music. I, along with many others I presume, can’t wait to see what’s next for SPINN. 

Whilst COVID has rained down a fair share of suffering to many people’s careers, one section of society most notably affected has been musicians. The past two years they’ve faced scrutiny from the top dogs in Parliament, with some (fools) claiming that entertainment occupations are less than a ‘proper’ job. Musicians and those in the entertainment world have been looked down upon whilst they extended their arms in need of support, and they have been, on many occasions, denied any support from the government. Thankfully, the tides have begun to turn, with gigs and shows all back up and running (in familiar frantically brilliant fashion). Normality at last. 

One band more affected than many others has been The Night Café of Liverpool. 

 BC (That’s Before Covid, if you’re unsure…) they were forced into the decision to postpone a forthcoming UK tour. Thankfully, any personal issues within the band were resolved and the group were able to reschedule their planned dates for 2020. The year to be forgotten, as some might call it. Obviously, the virus prevented the Scouse, indie rockers from performing to audiences up and down the country. Rotten luck, that. This is a bit of a tangent I’m running off on here, but the point to be taken is that the group have had it tough, and it was evident to members of the indie-rock community that, when this tour was eventually to happen, it would be heavy. 

After the couple of years from hell, it was nothing short of incredible to see bands like The Night Café back on the road, doing what they do best: getting swarms of people dancing, selling the grooviest pieces of merch and just, generally, helping people escape from the monotony of day-to-day life. 

The band arrived in Bristol having already belted out full sets to crowds in: Sheffield, Leeds, Southampton, and London. It was the west country’s turn to feel the force of the group.  

Mighty support acts in the form of The Let Go and Oscar Lang warmed up TNC’s crowd nicely, with the latter insinuating the first of a plethora of mosh pits that would ensue as the night progressed. Overall, the event was the ultimate embodiment of what an indie gig should be: mosh pits, great tunes and memories with your mates. 

The main event came around at around Half 9. The Night Café marched out onto the stage in Bristol wearing smiles, a sight which is always a pleasure for fans. Carl (Drums), Arran (Bass), Josh (Lead Guitar) and Sean (Lead vocals and Guitar) took their places for the next hour and blew away the Southern crowd. 

The North vs South divide is one of the most quintessential things when it comes to Britain, but amongst the crowd of Night Café faithful, this concept was nothing more than a myth. From the first tune (Finders Keepers) the band had their crowd right where they wanted them. Every word to each song was screamed back at the band in the tightly packed venue. Among the most notable songs of the evening were: Felicity, The Way of Mary, Addicted and Mixed Signals. But make no mistake, each of the songs in the hour that the band transcended the crowd ‘kicked off’ good and proper.  

The friendship and close-knit nature of the group showed throughout the gig: the tightness of the songs was impeccable, and the lads made the crowd erupt with laughter as Sean stated (between songs) that someone in the audience’s “weed smelt lovely.” A joke, I’m sure… 

Nonetheless, The Night Café rocked up in the south of England and took it by storm. Their relentless touring is clearly paying dividends and it’s surely only a matter of time before the band hit astronomical heights. If you’ve not heard their debut LP ‘0151’, then do it. The record is a seamless indie classic with an incredible flowing feel between tracks. The same feel was achieved in their set in Bristol, with a vast variety of moods displayed. From the slow and thought provoking number ‘I know (I’m sure)’ to the captivating classic ‘Mixed Signals,’ the band covered all bases.  

Strong riffs and bass lines drove the tunes of the night, paired with highly skilled melodies and drum fills, making many spectators curious as to how the band aren’t more well-known (yet.) 

Not only was the gig top-notch, but the band themselves should feel burning senses of pride for the entirety of their work so far in terms of what they’ve achieved. I know (I’m sure) that many more people than they realise have been moved, motivated, and even helped by their effortlessly classy songs already. 

(The crowd reactions were too good not to include in this little write-up, so here is a link to one of the many extravagant moments of the night: https://twitter.com/mattcn11/status/1492163267397136388?s=20&t=wfG7CRVNYtaIOSMavO1CUQ) 

In summary, The Night Café are boss: big, wavy guitar riffs: what more do you want? Get with them now before they blow up and you can’t say that you discovered them anymore.  

In 1914, Heart of Midlothian Football Club found themselves in pole position in the Scottish League after winning their opening 8 league fixtures (their best start to a season in the club’s history). Sitting pretty as the best side in the country, Hearts looked like the finished article. Meanwhile, Britain was at war with Germany.

The First World War was very different to many conflicts that had come before. It involved everyone, civilians and soldiers alike. There were great senses of duty and nationalism amongst the people of Britain. This was played on by Lord Kitchener, who drummed up the feelings of national responsibility and the necessity to go to war for your country.

Kitchener quickly realised that, when it came to recruiting soldiers, it was much more likely that men would be willing if they could do so with their friends. This led to the introduction of the famous ‘pals battalions’, where men were able to go off to defend their nation with the people they were closest to. At this point, though, Hearts FC were nothing to do with the war. They were focussed on conquering the division, whilst the German army conquered much of Europe. The continuation of the football season while men lay slaughtered in foreign fields brought about outrage in Britain, and “crazy” football was to blame for “undermining the moral health” of the youth of the country.

Football players and supporters were called upon to play the greater game, the game of war. This was initially rejected by clubs like Heart of Midlothian, who stated that the players were under contract and to sign them to the British Army would be breeching their conditions. This didn’t settle the feelings of those who opposed the continuation of football during the war. This feeling may have been down to the realisation that the war would not be over by Christmas, and the knowing that more and more men would be needed to fight.

Being the leading club in Scotland, Hearts players were subject to the largest amount of scrutiny when it came to pondering why footballers were not signed up to the army. Many of the players were labelled as cowards and the question was now raised in Parliament: Why has the football season not been halted?

On the 25th of November 1914, after receiving more than their fair share of attention, 11 Hearts players signed up to a brand new Battallion. The 11 men joined up with other sportsmen (some amateurs and some professional). They formed a ‘Pals Battallion’, which was named “McCrae’s Battallion” after their colonel. 5 more Hearts players would sign up and, after these men, 500 of Hearts’ fans joined. They had responded to the calls to war. Of course, this made for simply excellent publicity. Kitchener was able to show off the valiant men of Hearts, and their story was used to persuade their followers (and general lovers of football) to follow in their heroes’ footsteps. This is an understatement for what happened. Over 500 men of the region joined as a result of the Hearts team doing so. An act so admiral that it has been honoured around Tynecastle Stadium and Edinburgh.

12 of the players hailing from Edinburgh would never return to the football pitch. Despite displaying the remarkable bravery to sign up, these men were killed in action on the Western Front. There are few stories regarding the Battalion when they reached the Front, but it’s certain that the men of Scotland did their people proud. They have since been honoured in Edinburgh and across Britain.

This is just one of the remarkable stories of the First World War, but it is one that’s most certainly worth knowing.

@mattcn11

West Ham secured a 2-0 win over the unpredictable Leeds United in a game which summed up The Hammers’ style of football this season. Goals from loanee Jesse Lingard and defender Dawson gave the three points to the side from East London.

West Ham fans have undoubtedly been pinching themselves this season, not only are they ‘up there’ in the table, but they’re right up there. On approach to this fixture, they found themselves in the European spots of the league. As for Leeds, it had been a season of ups and downs up to this point. They’ve been a side who have struggled to string together successive wins. Form which must be sorted out should they want Premier League longevity.

West Ham started their in-form threat, Jesse Lingard: since moving from Man United he had brought The Hammers a great deal in terms of attacking power. Captain Declan Rice would start, too.

The Leeds team was as you’d expect. They too had a man in form – Rafinha. He would look to feed Bamford up top.

Early in the game, Leeds netted two goals, with both being ruled out. The more notable of the two was Roberts’ finish which looked pretty close to being onside. Nonetheless, Leeds were denied their goals and the game remained nil-nil.

The home side casually grew into the match, chances were still few in number but West Ham were beginning to turn the tide.

Around the 20 minute mark was when Jesse Lingard got his break. The England international raced into the box at high speed from the left-flank. Luke Ayling was left powerless as Lingard turned inwards. A clumsy foot from Ayling brought down the West Ham man. The referee wasted little time in pointing to the spot and a penalty was awarded.

West Ham had received just one penalty in the league prior to this one. Captain Rice had taken the last… and converted. Yet this time Lingard stepped up to take the spot kick, which he had won.

Lingard’s penalty was unconvincing, as he aimed for the bottom left of the goal. Keeper Meslier got a strong hand to it and pushed it right into the direction of Jesse Lingard, who tapped the ball into the vacant net. The Hammers were 1-0 up.

West Ham continued in their hunt for goals. Just after the first, Michail Antonio broke forward for West Ham, before he was brought down by Cooper. Full back Aaron Cresswell whipped the ball in, only for it to be put out for a West ham corner.

Cresswell was to take this, too. He swung an inviting ball from the right-hand side all the way to the back post where centre half Craig Dawson powerfully headed the ball into the Leeds United net. 2-0.

The second half was all about preservation for West Ham, and redemption for Leeds. Patrick Bamford came dangerously closer to halving the deficit, when his left-footed attempt  just missed the post. The best of the chances for Leeds came to substitute Rodrigo, who probably should have scored when the ball came to him just in front of the goal line. The game would go on to finish 2-0.

West Ham can now look at the UCL spots and feel that they can sneak in there.

Manchester United ended their rivals’ long winning streak with an away win at the Etihad. Bruno Fernandes’ penalty and Luke Shaw’s precise finish gifted the red side of Manchester a 2-0 win that not many were expecting…

As we headed towards this fixture, it seemed obvious that City were the side to have your money on. Over 20 wins in a row made the league leaders the favourites to win the derby. Pep Guardiola’s side had looked unbeatable in their matches prior to this one, particularly against Wolves last week, who came the closest to challenging The Blues in recent weeks. Wolves found themselves a goal down, yet they equalized. It was in vain, though, as City swiftly reminded them who was the superior side as they netted three goals in quick succession.

United weren’t to be overlooked, though. They may not be too close to their rivals in terms of points, but their away record in the league stands for itself. They’re a side that’s difficult to beat when they play away from Old Trafford.

An hour before kick off and the teams were in. City’s rotation continued, with Phil Foden finding himself on the bench. The home side lined up with ball-playing goalkeeper Ederson, as you’d expect. In front of him was his solid partnership of Dias and Stones. This alone would provide United with a challenge, as these two had been defensively sound coming into the fixture. Whenever City play there’s a myriad of big names in the side and the derby proved no different: Sterling, Gundogan, De Bruyne and Jesus all started.

As for United, they used Dean Henderson in goal, a man who hasn’t had nearly the same game time in the league as he did last season. The big name at the back for United was Luke Shaw, whose season has been remarkable thus far. It was pretty much as you’d expect for United lining up: Fernandes, Rashford and Martial all started, looking to cause City some problems…

The game kicked off and an early break left Anthony Martial with the ball in the City box. He seemed surrounded as he ran in from the left, but nobody challenged him, until striker Gabriel Jesus brought him down. An easy penalty decision for the referee which left spectators wondering why on earth Jesus felt it necessary to bring him down. Nonetheless it was a spot kick and Bruno Fernandes stepped up and slotted it into the bottom corner, though Ederson did get a hand to it. 1-0 to United within 2 minutes…

The rest of the first half played out like a chess match as both sides looked to score. Half time rolled around and it was 1-0 to the visitors.

In the second half, it was evident that Luke Shaw was the man for United. The left back seemed to control the pressing for United and the rest followed his lead. They started the second 45 minutes in similar hungry fashion to the first. It took 5 minutes for United to capitalize once more and it was the man Luke Shaw who got the goal. He struck a precise effort from the left-hand side of the box directly into the bottom right corner, leaving Ederson bewildered. 2-0.

City would go on to dominate much of the possession but had little else going for them. Any questions they had, Dean Henderson had the answers for. United weren’t going to let City back into this one.

The game played out and finished 2-0 to United, ending City’s remarkable winning streak.

It looks pretty certain that City will go on to win this league now, but United can now attempt to distance themselves from those below them.

The Champions end their losing streak with a 2-0 win against The Blades who sit bottom of the table. Curtis Jones set The Reds on their way and an own goal from Kean Bryan gave Liverpool their 7000^th top flight goal as well as a vital 3 points.

The last month has proved difficult for the reigning Premier League Champions, whose domestic campaign saw them lose to Brighton, Man City, Leicester and Everton. A win at Bramall Lane was a must, even more so because their opposition sit rock bottom with losses in abundance. It’s been a tough innings for Sheffield United in the Premier League this season, that’s for sure. Yet, there was hope for the home side on approach to this fixture: they had a ‘free hit’, as it were, a real chance to take points from the out-of-sorts Champions.

Liverpool’s choice of goalkeeper was limited by the tragedy of Alisson Becker’s father passing away. It was up to Adrian to step up as he was given his opportunity. Liverpool lined up their 18^th center back partnership this season, with Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips stepping up. Both would go on to have good games. It was pretty much as you’d expect for Liverpool everywhere else on the pitch. Scouser: Curtis Jones started in the middle once more and proved his value. The front 3 remained what you’d expect…

For the hosts, they set up with Ramsdale in goal (who would go on to be one of the best players on the pitch). In front of him was 3 defenders who Sheffield would ideally not use every week if they had their squad fully fit. Jagielka, Ampadu and Bryan were the ones who would aim to keep Liverpool quiet. In attack, it was all about McBurnie and McGoldrick, who would go on to cause The Champions some discomfort.

From the opening whistle, it was Liverpool who were on the front foot. Enjoying most of the possession, Liverpool still seemed unable to deliver the knockout blows which had been their trademark moves not so long ago…

Sheffield United are not a side to be mocked, in the slightest. Despite their worrying points tally, the side seems to stay in games until the bitter end. They persisted with their plan and tried to hit Liverpool on the counterattack. McGoldrick had some of the most promising moments for The Blades in the first half. His early header was parried away by Adrian and Liverpool received their early warning.

Just over half way in the first half was when it looked like Liverpool’s first goal was coming. Roberto Firmino’s strike was beaten away by Ramsdale, who would go on to stop efforts of Robertson and Alexander-Arnold: in a flurry of Liverpool attacks which Sheffield seemed lucky to escape un-scythed.

Half time came around and Liverpool were kicking themselves. A dominant display but with no end product…

Liverpool came out flying in the second half. Just 3 minutes in, and one of their attacks bore fruit. Alexander-Arnold’s cross was whipped in from the byline before a Sheffield defender helped it into the path of Curtis Jones who struck a venomous shot low into the United goal. 1-O to Liverpool.

After this, it was obvious that 1 goal was not enough for The Champions to prevail at Bramall lane, as they narrowly avoided conceding with Sheffield’s McBurnie nearly netting with his head.

Liverpool made it to the 65^th minute and then took their opportunity for 2-0. Firmino’s trickery allowed him to beat his man, before his off-target shot was guided in by Bryan. 2-0. Liverpool’s 7000^th top flight goal.

Little else would follow the goal, and Liverpool saw out a big victory in the Premier League. Their dismal run has finally ended. The battle for top 4 is on, and this result sets up nicely a fixture against rivals Chelsea on Thursday night at Anfield. As for Sheffield, well they’ve got an uphill task. 15 points adrift and it seems they are just playing for pride now, but who knows?

Everton conquered their Anfield blues with a 2-0 win over their rivals. Goals from Richarlison and Sigurdsson leave them in control of their Premier League fate. The Champions league is within their reach now…

The home of the Champions has been anything but a fortress of late. Perhaps the lack of a twelfth man is playing its part. Nonetheless, the losses at home for Liverpool gifted The Toffees a golden opportunity to beat their local rivals. A feat they hadn’t managed at Anfield in the 21^st century. It would make for interesting viewing, since the derby was there for the taking of either side.

If you’ve followed the current Premier League campaign, you’ll know that injuries have been countless for Liverpool, particularly in the defensive region. Jurgen Klopp’s side would line up with the back line of Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Kabak and captain: Jordan Henderson. Not the ideal pair of central defenders for The Reds.

Everton’s side was largely what we expected to see: The core of that team seems so much stronger this year than any in recent time: Doucoure, James Rodriguez and Richarlison being some of the regular starters. The game shaped up nicely and kick off arrived.

Little time passed before Everton netted the first goal of the game. Under 3 minutes in, James Rodriguez’ beautifully weighted pass sliced the Liverpool defence apart (Ozan Kabak getting some un-warranted criticism for not telepathically cutting the ball out) and Richarlison struck in clinical fashion. His calm finish left Alisson clueless in the Liverpool net as the ball struck the bottom corner. 1-0 Everton. Now Liverpool found themselves in an all-too familiar situation of recent weeks. A goal down, trying to get back into the game.

Things went from bad to worse for the Premier League Champions when they went in search of a leveller. Captain (and acting Centre back) Jordan Henderson went down with an injury around the 30-minute mark. Another defender injured for Liverpool. He was replaced by the largely underrated fellow Englishman: Nat Phillips, who would go on to have a very solid game.

Up until half time, little happened. Liverpool displayed long spells of possession, but with no end product. Everton had set up perfectly to hold The Champions back. This, intertwined with Liverpool’s lack of desire to shoot, took the game to half-time: Where The Blue side of the city were in the driver’s seat.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team selection enabled him to bring on both Gylfi Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin around the 60-minute mark. Some might argue that this won them the game. Making these changes before Liverpool made any (apart from their injury replacement) gave The Toffees the advantage of fresh legs. Calvert-Lewin displayed a brilliant striker’s performance as he frustrated Liverpool’s centre-halves as he held the ball up and put his body about frequently.

With even more possession in the second half, Liverpool still failed to take their chances, or rather failed to MAKE their chances. A lack-lustre display in the final third from The Reds. It was around the 80^th minute that Everton had a counter attack which left Calvert-Lewin through on goal. Un-characteristically, the striker’s shot was saved, and as he raced to pick up the scraps, he stumbled over Alexander-Arnold. Penalty. A controversial one to say the least, but The Reds felt they might get their justice as Referee Chris Kavanagh took a look at the VAR monitor. He took the briefest of glances before sticking with his original decision of awarding a penalty. Gylfi Sigurdsson would not disappoint Everton fans as he slotted his penalty past the outstretched gloves of Alisson as he struck the ball low.

2-0 to Everton.

The last 7 or so minutes were filled with slow passes from a deflated Liverpool side who must’ve felt hard done by after the penalty decision. Nonetheless Everton ran out 2-0 victors, winning away at Anfield for the first time in the 21^st century. Now the top 4 dream is in their hands.

On approach to this last 16 tie in the Champions League, neutrals most certainly had their money on the German side over the Premier League Champions… Which is fair when you take into consideration the form that both sides have been in.

Off the back of two straight league wins, Leipzig arrived on neutral ground (due to COVID restrictions) with high hopes of taking the upper hand in the two legged-tie. Their opponents had lost both of their last two games in embarrassing style and so the game shaped up nicely.

Straight from the first whistle in Budapest, it was Liverpool-however-who looked as though they would capitalise. And on one or two occasions, they nearly did. Scottish full-back Andy Robertson nearly catching Leipzig keeper Peter Gulacsi off of his line with an outrageous attempt. Although the first half ended goalless, it was clear who was in the driver’s seat. Little mistakes from the young defence of Leipzig had provided an insight for things to come.

The Merseyside club had performed like this when they faced Leicester City last weekend, but they had gone on to lose this game. Jurgen Klopp’s men most certainly learnt their lesson and more as they seized the initiative in the second half. Premier league top goal-scorer Mo Salah took his opportunity after a fatal mistake at the back for The Germans.

It wasn’t long before Salah’s equally prolific partner joined in the fun and Sadio Mane’s goal was enough to seal the game… as well as brilliant performances from Liverpool’s back line, especially new man: Ozan Kabak. The game is very much still up for games in the reverse fixture, though, and the German’s will be up for an upset…

Perhaps having to play their home tie in another country played a big part in Leipzig’s loss, or perhaps Liverpool were just too good on the night. Nonetheless, it’s the Premier League Champions who take 2 away goals back to Anfield ahead of the second leg.

Matt Caslin.