POOL 4, MARSEILLES 0. The blog silence ends. When the Reds face something so painful I cannot imagine it happening (such as failing to advance from the CL group stage, or like last year the possibility of going out in the semifinals to Chelsea), I abstain from posting until the threat has passed. This year the posting fast began immediately prior to the FC Porto 4-1 win, and now ends with today's thorough shellacking of Marseilles.

The immediate 2-0 nil lead thanks to Gerrard and Torres made the match considerably more fun to watch, although I was (needlessly) nervous until the Kuyt's goal. Torres is an absolutely magnificent player -- I had wanted Pool to pick up Tevez, and was disappointed before the season started. But Torres has got me convinced that he was the right choice. His goal today was a beautiful bit of maze work.

Will the futbol gods greet my glee by sending the lads packing in the round of 16? We'll see...but that's not nearly as humiliating as not getting out of the group stage would have been.

FF