Last week’s Newcastle game was wonderful.  Midweek, we had a little more difficulty against Porto despite the 4-0 scoreline.  Today it was back to days of wine and roses, with a 4-0 thrashing of hapless Bolton, stuck a hair’s width out of the drop zone.  How bad was it?  Nicolas Anelka missed an empty-net shot from no more than 10 yards.

Steven Gerrard was masterful, involved in all of the goals in one way or another, with spot-on passing.  And Torres…I’m trying to think of another EPL player whose dribbling is of the same nonchalant excellence….I can’t think of any.  Henry, before he moved to Barca, maybe.  It’s not only his dribbling, but his touches in general: witness the header across to Crouch in late time — knocked down cold, all speed taken off, right into the tall man’s path.  Pity Crouch missed the shot, but we do seem to be more active when Crouch starts the game, and I’m as big a Dirk Kuyt fan as anyone.