please log in to view this image Nine weeks after my hip operation, I had a setback today with my operation scar starting to look infected. Luckily having got antibiotics, the pain I’ve been having seems to have subsided, so fingers crossed I’ll be able to manage to climb the stairs and do one of the exercises I’ve been struggling with again tomorrow. Just as I was thinking of heading to Leeds early for the game, I was contacted by BBC Radio 5 Live for a voice memo only for them to change their minds and ask me to appear live on the programme instead. My tongue in cheek prediction of us doing the double over Liverpool obviously didn’t work but having that gallows humour is important as we put tonight’s defeat to the back of the mind and move on. As fans we have no control over our destiny, but until we cannot change where we are in the table, we must live in hope that we can survive. It’s a good job there are other teams still having the same predicament as us though but as long as there are other teams in the bottom three at the end of the season, I will be happy. Thanks for all the chats today which were appreciated, even finding out some of those people lived in the village where I was born. Team: Meslier, Koch, Struijk, Firpo, Aaronson, McKennie, Roca, Harrison, Rodrigo, Sinisterra, Kristensen. Subs: Summerville for Rodrigo (66), Rutter for Aaronson (66), Forshaw for Sinisterra (77), Gnonto for Harrison (77). Subs not used: Robles, Cooper, Wöber, Greenwood, Ayling. Leeds lost the game 6-1 with Sinisterra scoring our goal (47). Attendance: 36,657 with approx., 2,900 Liverpool fans. Referee: Craig Pawson. No Leeds bookings. Leeds started off on the attack with Rodrigo having a couple of chances, the first after a Harrison free kick, but gradually you could see that Liverpool were biding their time, waiting for their chance to attack us. Sadly, Liverpool got the rub of the green with a handball that VAR should have picked up, scoring their first before getting a second to go in at the break two goals in the lead. Once they took the lead, we stood off them giving them too much respect, instead of getting stuck in and battling. We look to have a soft underbelly now with not a lot of fight. The Leeds fans though at the start of the second half were chanting their displeasure at the lack of VAR so it must have been an obvious handball. It may not have made much difference to the final score, but we will never know now. That said at the start of the second half we came out meaning business and pulled a goal back with Sinisterra scoring within two minutes of the restart. As we were celebrating, what was missing with the goal was the no celebrations amongst our subs at the side of the pitch. I know I saw something recently saying clubs should stop celebrating as much just in case VAR rules out a goal but whether it was anything to do with that, I’ve no idea. Whatever happens it is ludicrous saying you can’t celebrate a goal, but it also stops that togetherness as a team and fans as they looked like strangers. We need to take advantage of every little pleasure we have at the moment as these are now too infrequent. If we thought that was the start of our revival, we were sadly mistaken as Liverpool scored a third. Leeds did respond as we tried to get back into the game with Aaronson unlucky as his hit the upright/crossbar. Once again, we were hit on the break as they got a fourth, then not long after a fifth. At that time, I knew the final score could be even more and we have had a disastrous couple of games for our goal difference, as we lost 6-1. There can be no complaints from us as the gulf in the teams was overwhelming. I don’t care who we are playing, but you don’t just give up without a fight and throw the towel in. Many fans didn’t even expect anything from the game but why can’t we at least try to prove everyone wrong? We seem to have lost that fighting spirit and camaraderie that we once had as it all seems to be too nice. Seven games left and despite only concentrating on Leeds United, my coping mechanism has already kicked in as I’ve put the game to the back of my mind. With an early morning call for Fulham on Saturday, I will do what I do all the time which is take one game at a time. I want our fate to be in our own hands though and not have to rely on any other club like last season but as we are gluttons for punishment, no doubt I’ll see you at Craven Cottage. See you then, LUFC – Marching on Together! please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
