TERRACE TALK: Liverpool - Building a functioning defence the big task now

So it’s next Thursday the season ends… Okay, everyone knows how reverse jinxes work. You warn everyone “expect the worst”, act surprised when it doesn’t happen. It’s like you think God hates you that much He won’t even want you to be right when you predict misery. Man, that’s Sartre-bleak, that.

All a bit devious, but you’ve got to admit drawing with Dortmund wasn’t expected. Were the Germans bad or Liverpool good? That old tactical riddle is as old as time. You watch it emotionless on replay, count the chances you had; weigh it up and judge accordingly.

I thought we did alright. To use the boxing analogy that’s recurring when talking about the new slugger Reds, we battled passionately for 70 minutes and fortunately neither side had much puff left for a knockout as the game limped to its conclusion.