Our League undefeated as Anfield witnesses Peak Barclays

That was a simply wonderful game of football. But apparently 16 Conclusions needs more than that. So here’s more than that.

1. The Barclays is undefeated. Our League cannot be matched. What an advert. What a game. Etc. Just a brilliantly batshit game of absurdly enjoyable football. And like all the very best games of football it wasn’t about to let half-time harsh the buzz. After a hot-tempered conclusion to the pulsating first half, how to keep things going through half-time? How about a linesman built like a cruiserweight elbowing Andy Robertson in the mush, Robertson getting booked for his trouble, and Roy Keane calling him a “big baby” live on Sky Sports? Can Your League do this? No, it cannot. Also, and we will get to the football eventually, but when did linos start looking like that? If I were a big baby, I would not be starting a disagreement with him.

2. But what does it all mean? That’s the big question, isn’t it. Because Arsenal are in a title race and Liverpool are… well Liverpool are up to something or other. What does this result mean? Is it a point gained or two points dropped? And is that the case for Arsenal or for Liverpool? Why are we asking so many questions? Why are we still completely baffled by what we’ve just witnessed? Why? WHY?

It felt significant that in the immediate aftermath neither Aaron Ramsdale nor Trent Alexander-Arnold – two of the key figures throughout today’s magnificent entertainment – could convincingly answer the point gained/two dropped question.

The boring truth is that none of us know. And we probably won’t know for another six weeks or so. Right now we’re in the heady, giddy afterglow of a glorious 90 minutes’ entertainment. What it all means won’t become clear for several weeks at which point it will be aftertimed to buggery and sucked of all its joy.

3. We’re not keen on getting splinters in our arse, though, so we’re going to have a go. Our initial gut reaction is that come the cold light of day this will look more like two points dropped than one gained for Arsenal. They were 2-0 up and absolutely controlling the game; the wild nature of what followed should not detract entirely from the fact good teams tend to win from 2-0 up. For what it’s worth, the bookies agree. They are cold, emotionless and soulless creatures. They care not for barnstormers and thrillers and dizzying, baffling entertainment, no matter how many Directors of Mischief they might employ….