LFC Forever 2017/18

Liverpool 4 (6-3) 2 1889 Hoffenheim

MotM- I honestly don't think I can pick one or two players. It was the machine of all the players, the manager and of course the fans working as one almost perfect operation.

Although of course the defence were still more than happy to keep us on our toes especially Mignolet and his juggling!

Oh my footballing gods! We've made it, we're back, we're Champion's League!

Nagelsman, this is what you get for claiming "I don't really make a difference between home or away matches, so I don't really care!" and "I am not overly in awe of this club!" How are ya feeling about us now, mate?

Ian St John was right when he said there's no noise like the Anfield noise. Tonight was one of those that I desperately wished I could be there making some of that noise as soon as I saw pictures of crowds meeting the buses never mind seeing and hearing inside the stadium.

I had no idea we'd find a match to rival the Dortmond game quite so soon although Dortmond is better because we had a real fight on our hands to win but this one was the best in showing off what we do if you give us any chance to attack. We didn't even have Lallana or that little Brazilian lad that seems to be causing a bit of bother!

From the moment we kicked off we were unbelievably ready for the attack. I was blown away with it and Hoffenheim certainly were too.

Trent Alexander Arnold gets another go at a free kick (to equalise Everton's all time European cup goals) he hits the wall but that goal is coming.

Mane runs clear down the left, feeds Can on the edge of the box and his shot is deflected in off the hapless Nordveit into the bottom corner. Cheering that hirt my throat already and the game's just begun! We've got the goal and most importantly we've proved we can cut apart their defence and give them a real up hill struggle.

Hoffenheim have no choice but to try to score goals and we've got no choice but to attack because attack is the best form of defence we've got! We've been doing so much lightning speed attacking that I don't believe the commentators when they say only 8 minutes had gone after that goal. It felt like so much more because so much had happened in those 8 minutes and we showed no signs of slowing down.

10 minutes of high speed action from the first comes the second. Firmino wide on the left crosses for Wijnaldum, who hits the post but Salah is there to convert the rebound. FFS Gini, but we've got someone capitalising on rebound shots!!!

The next one comes along three minutes later with a Mane backheel to Firmino, who crosses for Can to bury. Can's got himself a double and Hoffenheim just need 4 goals to come back... 

So three nil, needing three goals 24 minutes in and now the footballing genius that is Nagelsman decides to make a change. To be fair to him it did work as the sub Uth got one back, again. It did actually make me nervous because it's us but I also knew there was no need.

Mane got booed by the away fans so he gets us lot to make even more noise and that's not even talking about all the times his runs have made us roar!

Somehow it's only 3-1 at half time, their keeper's doing a good job. Now THAT was Klopp's heavy metal football!

We have to have a quieter second half, right? We come back showing a bit more composure. They aren't bombing forward and the half-time break has, for the moment anyway, calmed things down a bit. Until Hoffenheim start showing they aren't averse to putting the boot in. Firmino was on the receiving end of one from Vogt.

It's been a while since the last goal, Bauman's making save after bloody save!

Hoffenheim takes off Gnabry, interesting move taking off the person who's been closest to scoring those goals you need.

We take off TAA for Gomez.

Henderson closes down the defender, runs through, steals the ball and unselfishly squares for Firmino to bury it home to make it 4-1. THAT was absolute theft, amazing work from Hendo there.

Firmino celebrates his goal and all he's contributed to the match with a dance, BT sport tweeted "Roberto Firmino's celebration has us scratching our heads" It's called dancing, what's confusing about that?!

Hoffenheim's fans seem to be having a really nice time of it despite the score, if only we could be more like that when the team needs extra support rather than crossing arms and moaning.

Just to stop us getting too carried away Hoffenheim score again. It was a cross from the left in swinging from Kramaric, and Wagner outjumps Lovren to head home.

Now we get to run out the game in the only way we know how, more attacking but their keeper's all about trying to save their embarrassment. Any kind of complaint we might've had from previous matches, it wasn't shown here, well maybe that defence but oh well we're going right ahead with scoring more goals and I don't care cos it's not too bad to watch it, is it?

Hey, Nagelsman can we play your team every week?

Tonight is the 20th time LFC have scored 4 or more goals at Anfield in the European Cup/Champions League. Standard Charter is celebrating Liverpool in numbers and we just gave them some pretty good ones to think about.

The draw is at 5pm tomorrow and we have made it in it. I've doubted if we deserved this place from other performances but we said no, we worked hard to get here and we've proved it when it counted. We're Champions League once again. What a night! 

Next up Arsenal at home Sunday 27 August, 16:00

More of the same please!