RIP Gary.
Just absolutely horrible news about Gary Speed. Shocking. Nothing else to say really. Absolute nightmare.
So let’s cut the pleasntries. I’m live-blogging this game. Let’s do it.
FIRST HALF
1: Moments of silence for Gary and Brad Jones’s lad past, the game’s on, massive vibe.
2: I’m sure I’ll regret saying this, but Enrique over Clichy was such an outstanding choice by LFC. Bargain of the year.
3: Good movement from both sides, I still think Joe Hart looks like a cock.
4: Lucas (the thinking man’s “The Principal and the Pauper” oh damn foreshadowing) cleans up after Enrique makes a minor mistake. Crap what hath I wrought.
6: City could well be ahead. Ping pong (my name is Craig, Mister Simpson) in the box after a corner and Yaya skies over.
7: Roberto Mancini turns 47 today. His weave turns 12.
8: Black gloves with a light kit let the world know you’re a douchebag. Also being Samir Nasri does this, so demerits for redundancy to the Frenchman.
8: Speaking of Frenchmen, I reek of cigarettes and chicken right now.
9: City controlling possession. I am scared.
10: Martin Skrtel: competent tackler? THIS WILL NOT LAST.
12: Liverpool looking moderately careless on the ball at the moment. Luckily City don’t have the ammo to punish that ……
13: Fuck you Kompany. Yellow card for the captain with the misshapen head.
14: Glen Johnson runs the ball out of play following Liverpool’s best buildup of the game. Yeah let’s play him at right mid, said the morons.
16: Liverpool in the ascendancy. I just got a request for a game on Facebook called “Castleville.” I’ve got to get smarter friends.
16: Reina out forty yards to make a scrambling clearance. Ascendancy.
18: Hey Umbro, get some more piping in these City kits. They don’t look like a hobo’s blanket quite enough.
19: Suarez loves hounding the keeper. I’m a firm believer that pressure should be rewarded.
20: Kun squirms the ball out of play, one too many moves. Horrible missed foul on Adam.
21: Martin Atkinson is a dick. Also Oasis are really overrated. OHHHHH I’M A TORTURED GENIUS, no you’re an alcoholic playboy punk. Shuttup.
23: City are going to score. This sucks.
23: Ah of course Charlie Adam is whistled though. I hate the FA with the passion of a Catholic hating reason.
24: The atmosphere really is nuts. Dangerous free kick for Liverpool.
26: Atkinson botches call in Liverpool’s favor in Merseyside Derby, Atkinson atones by blatantly getting calls wrong in City’s favor. Sun rise, sun set.
28: Short corners: here, you have the ball back, we don’t want it.
30: And there’s the game. Kompany in from a glancing header on the corner. Blouses.
31: What the hell Dirk Kuyt? Card for Gareth Barry for ruining Martin O’Neil’s career.
32: A BULLET PROOF VEST, WHO’S THE BEST COP NOW??? 1-1, Lescott own goal off a Adam shot from distance.
35: If there isn’t a sending off in the game, my name isn’t Mayor McCheese. These teams do not like each other at all.
36: Joe Hart just kept City level off a great scrambling move back, Suarez skies from the resulting corner. This game is nuts.
37: Glen Johnson has got big old brass balls, which would explain why he steals toilet seats, those things aren’t cheap to replace when you’re cracking them with those things. Goes close out of nothing.
40: So City put on a diving clinic but Suarez is the asshole. Okay. Manchester City, Floppish Dandy FC.
42: Martin Atkinson is the honey badger. The honey badger is bad at his job and a prick, right? I get memes mixed up.
44: Samir Nasri, unlikable at any speed. One minute of stoppage time.
45 + 1: I will say City are doing a great job of shutting down Suarez. Aguero goes close at the death.
HALF TIME Y’ALL, 1-1!
I’m back, after a few tortilla chips and a pumpkin cookie. I see Chinese food on the horizon for me.
SECOND HALF
45: And we’re off! City challenge early. Yikes.
48: As we sit here I’m forced to think of the last time these two met. I was teaching a class on George Orwell and missed the game, following on my phone while ignoring the students. I still love Andy Carroll. Corner!
50: I’d be lying if I said I weren’t focusing on Chinese food right now. Would I trade a sure draw for having it right now? Yes.
51: Lo-mein? Maybe. Charlie Adam can really spray the ball. Kuyt nearly scores off a crazy angle. This game is going plaid.
55: Aguero getting treatment for his gloves not being black enough.
56: I just want Henderson and Adam to both be on at the same time. Adam is having a fantastic game. Henderson, not so much. Still think he’s got insane potential.
57: Suarez whistled for being Uruguayan in England. DWB, essentially.
59: Downing and Suarez linking up well in these forward runs. James Milner, still a prick.
61: Jesus Christ I hate Martin Atkinson. But I love me some Pepe Reina.
63: Excellent goalkeeping from both sides. This is one of the better games of the season, mind you no insane scoreline because these teams have dignity. Balotelli on. Crap.
65: So if City somehow drop points the storyline of the weekend will be “Chelsea back in the title race!” Yeah, no. Beating the second worst team in England doth not a steady ship make.
66: DAMNIT JOE HART. Brilliant save from Downing.
68: Enrique has made a few questionable touches. Still love him to bits.
70: Banana peel city for Skrtel and Balotelli. Thank the great good god for the latter.
duna-duna-duna
71: Kompany has got to stab a guy to get sent off here. He’s going to stab a guy. And not get sent off.
72: Lescott dying to get another oggie. Guaranteed to score the winner for City now.
73: REINA IS A MADMAN
74: Kuyt goes too close to Hart.
75: I’m so nervous, y’all. Enrique pushing up higher.
76: Balotelli booked for a solid foul. Free kick. Charlie Adam … Skrtel doesn’t get it clean. Bah humbug.
77: Henderson can cross the ball, which makes his position of choice so damn difficult to nail down. Downing just snakebit.
79: All Liverpool right now. Which is all the more terrifying. City on the counter will be the death of me. That and thrombosis.
80: Suarez will never win a penalty again. Whatever. Fuck Ghana.
82: BALOTELLI OFF! Rightfully so, second yellow.
84: Carroll on for Kuyt. This is the most horrible part of the game. Up a man, City nothing to lose.
87: City in possession. Of course. Chinese order in: Sesame chicken and fried dumplings. Tried and true. The Roy Hodgson of lunch orders.
88: Hart. Damnit.
89: My GOD David Silva just blew it. Had Reina one v. one, takes too much time and there are three men on the line to clear. Wow. City look lively.
90 + 1: Three minutes added time. Carroll getting balls whipped at him like so much Cheryl Cole.
90 + 2: Joe Hart keeps out Carroll. DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMNIT.
FINAL WHISTLE 1-1
Can’t be upset about making City drop points. Can be upset about not getting the win when Liverpool dominated the second half. Encouraging for their season potential though.
England
Liverpool-Manchester City 11 a.m. Fox Soccer Channel
France
Lorient-Nice 11 a.m. foxsoccer.tv
Auxerre-Lyon 11 a.m. foxsoccer.tv
Marseille-PSG 3 p.m. Fox Soccer Plus, foxsoccer.tv
Spain
Espanyol-Osasuna noon ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com
Mallorca-Santander noon DirecTV (477)
Italy
AC Milan-Chievo 2:30 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel, ESPN3.com
Mexico
Santos Laguna-Jaguares 6 p.m. Telefutura
Chivas-Pachuca 8 p.m. Telemundo
I think this game as five — FIVE! – goals in it. Allocation of the five depends on David Silva and Martin Skrtel.
That’s a mean, mean header from Frankenstein.
My kingdom for an own goal!
That was a hell of a good game from a neutral’s opinion. Joe Hart was an absolute beast.
Love the Hunt for Red October reference!
It was a good game, and I was glad to see City drop some points finally. Chelsea started ridiculously fast a couple seasons ago and came back to earth around this time of year. I’m hoping the same happens to City, at least to make the title race interesting.
Also, terribly tragic about Gary Speed. Hope the British media can stop obsessing and ratings-mongering long enough to think how they’d feel if they had lost a loved one. Give the Speeds some peace and respect.