Liverpool show a profit with Steven Gerrard striking it rich as the middle man

Being starved for nearly three months, I just realised how much I missed football. Cometh the first match of the season, the summer was forgotten and it felt good to be back following the 11 men sporting the Liverbird. Imagine having the same feeling going back to work after a long lay-off. But then again, real life and football are so many times poles apart.

'He looks made up with his place in the middle of the pitch, and he is eager to prove his boss that is where he belongs'

And if anything, the last 10 minutes of the Villa-Liverpool match really defined a roller-coaster. It is a cheap and over-used cliche but for the life of me I can't think of anything more poignant. Liverpool were firmly on track, creating chances and winding down the last minutes on the clock. They were comfortable. Then, out of nothing came the handball in the penalty area with the over-eager Mike Riley snatching on like a hungry cat does on cream, and that sick feeling of deja-vu hits your stomach. So much like last season it felt. Mostly in control, chances created, chances missed, punishment at the other end of the field, valuable points lost.

Two minutes later though the skipper stepped up. He won a free-kick, set himself up, bent the ball over the wall past the keeper's reach and cue mad celebrations. A moment of genius at a crucial time with the chips down.

Steven Gerrard had a superlative game. He seems to be in an optimal frame of mind. He looks made up with his place in the middle of the pitch, and he is eager to prove his boss that is where he belongs - in the thick of things, pulling the strings, and going forward when the chance presents itself. I counted three very good attempts on target apart from his goal, which brought good saves from Stuart Taylor.