Liverpool 2 Southampton 1
Liverpool win the second game of the Premier League season despite the long week with the incredible victory in the double-overtime in Istanbul earlier in the week. What a relief. And Man City dropped points to Tottenham, a tie. Glorious stuff. Here are the highlights.
Part I – My Evolution into becoming a Liverpool Fan
For all the Americans in the audience, the thing we call football should be called Tackleball. Could we maybe get a campaign to make this change to avoid all the confusion. The thing we call soccer is football everywhere else. There is a reason for this although it has nothing to do with the kicking of the ball with a foot.
In medieval times, there was all this jousting and polo and such. Only nobles could play those games because common folk could not afford the horse and gear to participate. Football, played by common folk, describes any game not played on a horse. And growing up, while there were horses around, we weren’t allowed to play with them.
I discovered the game at around seven or eight because of a boy that lived a couple of doors down. We were the same age, both book smart and adventurous. His parents had been missionaries in Brazil. He loved Pele more than anything in the world.
I learned about the Ginga style of play because of him. This was his passion. Mine was music and art and writing. At the time, I loved the Beatles. They were from Liverpool. That was the seed that ultimately made me the Liverpool supporter I am today.
As it turns out, over the years, Liverpool has been home for many Brazilian players. The current ones are just world-class, one and all.
Alisson, our golden-glove but currently injured, goalkeeper.
Fabinho, a force to be reckoned with in the midfield and getting better every time he plays.
Roberto Firmino, part of the Liverpool terrifying front three who is a playmaker like none other, selfless and with such amazing stamina.