This is an issue I frequently run into, painting myself into a corner by saying something like “there are five key takeaways from this match” and then realising that there were several others and having to go back. I’ll spare myself some blushes by refusing to commit ahead of time. Instead, we’ll walk ourselves through a few takeaways as we enjoy a few more hours (perhaps more?) top of the league. I’m sure we’ll all be praying for a draw accompanied by a raft of cards to both sides at Anfield but will stop short of hoping for injuries. Let’s just focus on ourselves, shall we?

We Are Top of The League!
Okay, yes, this is probably only temporary, whether that refers to LIverpool or Man City winning on Sunday to overtake us or to a longer-term regression to the mean that sees Man City—remorseless, mirthless Man City—yet again seize the Prem title. Still, I think we can give ourselves permission to enjoy a few hours looking down on them and on the rest of the Prem for the first time since December. In fact, if anything, it’s too early for us to fully claim top-spot. As I mentioned in the pre-match, chasing top-spot feels more comfortable than defending it. With ten matches still to play, and with three sides so tightly packed together, anything can happen. Right, then. Anfield: 0-0 draw, each side reduced to 8-9 men.

Ramsdale’s RIP and Redemption
You could almost see Ramsdale’s soul escaping his body as he watched his botched clearance, blocked by the sliding-in of Yoane Wissa, screw its way into the back of the net. It was a clanger of epic proportions, completely unforced and completely against the run of play. It was a moment of madness in an otherwise-stellar outing in which he showed flashes of the kind of quality that made him to vital just a season ago. Not only did he come with several crucial saves, he might have come away with at least two assists had Martinelli been on the left. Ramsdale’s long throws to Trossard were sublime, but the Belgian just didn’t have the pace to make the most of them. Weighed against that one clanger, it’s hard to know which one carries the day, but the bulk of the coverage will focus on how horrendous the howler was.

Havertz continues his purple patch
Kai has now notched four goals and two assists in his last five outings (and just two yellow cards. Cough). Even as we admit that a few of them—scoring our fifth in the 0-5 demolition of Burnley and our fourth in the 0-6 evisceration of Sheffield United—he scored what ended up as the winner against Newcastle and assisted on the goal that put the match to bed. His goal against Brentford was vital; we just couldn’t find any other way past a massed well-organised defense. While Thomas Frank probably has a point in insisting that Kavertz should have seen a second yellow for diving, it wasn’t egregious and a sending-off would have felt harsh. Despite that blemish, Havertz seems to be shaking off the two years he spent in exile over in West London.

A very different kind of result…
…and I’m not just referring to the contrast between this one and the four or five that preceded it. Cakewalks are fun and even confidence-building, but we had to play a more-patient, determined style against a Brentford side that doggedly refused to concede any clear-cut chances. Yes, it’s something that West Ham, Newcastle, and Sheffield United all attempted to varying degrees, and it’s the age-old way for an overmatched side to at least earn a point against the bigger sides from time to time. For long stretches, it looked like Brentford just might pull it off. It would have been easy for us to get flustered and frustrated as our attack crashed fruitlessly up against Brentford’s recalcitrance. Instead, we showed patience and determination enough to manufacture the winning goal.

You could see and hear what it mean to just about everyone inside the Emirates. While our time in the catbird’s seat, may be short-lived, it’s a perch that suggests what’s possible between now and 19 May. In the shorter term, we host Porto on Tuesday needing a two-goal win in order to advance to the UCL quarterfinal, and postponement of Chelsea’s visit due to their involvement in the FA Cup means we’ll have a break of some 19 days to ponder our trip to the Etihad. Whether that represents rest or rust will be an interesting question…