With the World Cup, finally, a distant memory and the peak of summer, also finally, gone - it was time to knuckle down and gear up for the first month of the new season.
We started ours still out in the States on our pre-season tour. A comfortable 2-0 victory set us up nicely for the final against our arch rivals Man United. Off the top of my head though, I can't quite remember what happened in that match. Let's just take the biased view and say we won. Upon returning home, victorious, we had one final pre-season game left. A match against Borussia Dortmund at Anfield, where the lads looked like they hadn't lost a beat from the previous season because we destroyed the Germans 4-0, playing some scintillating football in the process.
The game against Dortmund also saw young Javi Manquillo, our latest recruit, get his first run out in a Liverpool shirt. He was subbed late on in the game by Martin Kelly, in what prove to be the Academy graduates last Liverpool appearance as he was heading to Crystal Palace later in the month. His departure was one of several leaving the club including Conor Coady (Huddersfield) Pepe Reina (Bayern Munich) Daniel Agger (Brondby) and Jack Robinson (QPR).
Manquillo wasn't our final signing of the summer though, as we brought in both Alberto Moreno and Mario Balotelli before the window was done - as well as the spending spree we'd done in June and July. Aided of course by the 75 million we raked in for the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona. The three L's from Southampton - Lambert, Lovren and Lallana - were joined by winger Lazar Markovic, central midfielder Emre Can and centre forward Divock Origi (who has been loaned back to his former club Lille as part of the deal).
I think most are relatively happy with the window on the whole. I certainly was.
But the only way to really judge if the window was a success is out on the pitch. Can these players perform to the level we've become accustomed to under Brendan Rodgers and get the results that will see Liverpool Football Club once again become champions of England and Europe?
Opening day of the season was a tricky one against Southampton at Anfield. On paper, it looks like we should be beating them easily but after us taking three of their star players in the summer, it had added motivation for them. It was also their first competitive game under new manager, Ronald Koeman. And we all remember their visit to Anfield last year when they beat us 1-0.
This time though, we did prevail. We looked good for the first 25 minutes and deservedly took the lead with Sterling scoring our opening goal of the season. From thereon in though, we took our foot off the gas and allowed the Saints back into it. They dominated the remainder of the first half and the beginning of the second until Nathaniel Clyne finally got them the equaliser that their play deserved.
This seemed to reignite the fire under Liverpool as our play improved again. We pressed, searching for the winner and within three minutes of former Saints front-man Rickie Lambert coming on, his new strike partner Daniel Sturridge had put the club back in front. We saw off the last minutes and took maximum points from the opening game.
With our tails up, we travelled up the East Lancs to take on last year's Champions - Man City - in what was going to be a real test of our character. And for 40 minutes we passed the test with flying colours. We battered City without ever really troubling their keeper. Then, debutant, Alberto Moreno was a little slow to react and City's Stevan Jovetic snook in to put the hosts in front. We went into the interval one down. If we were hoping the second half would be our redemption, we were very much mistaken. Ten minutes after the restart, Jovetic had doubled his and City's tally. A cluster of mistakes left him free in the middle of goal about twelve yards out. Things got worse though when Serigo Aguero scored with his first touch after a fantastic ball from Navas that split our defence wide open - similar to the ball Kaka played in the 2005 European Cup final for Crespo's second goal.
We got something out of the game when again Lambert came on and gave us an added threat. Our consolation goal came via a Zabaletta own goal, though I think Rickie is still claiming it. Sturridge had earlier had a goal, rightfully, chalked off for offside. We had a chance to make it a nervy last five minutes for City when Lambert had a good opportunity but instead of going for goal tried squaring it to Sturridge but it never found it's target.
A day that started with joy because of the confirmation of Mario Balotelli signing, ended with disappointment because of the result.
But we're Liverpool Football Club and we don't dwell on past failures. We press on and that means a trip down south to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham. A Spurs side who look rejuvenated under new manager Mauricio Pochettino as well a relatively disappointing record at the Lane. Balotelli started up front with Sturridge and the two former City men linked up early on with a Sturridge cross meeting the head of Balotelli but unfortunately the Italian couldn't finish it off. In fact, throughout the entire game he struggled finding the net. One of his efforts was so far off target it even had Brendan Rodgers laughing at it.
Not before Raheem Sterling had put Liverpool one up, however when the teenage sensation knocked home Jordan Henderson's cross after the former Sunderland man combined well with Danny Sturridge down the right hand side. Shortly after the restart, with the score still 1-0, Joe Allen was clearly pulled down in the box by Eric Dier and referee Phil Dowd had no choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped the Liverpool skipper, Steven Gerrard, who unsurprisingly netted the penalty.
A 2-0 lead was more than deserved, and while Spurs had the odd chance here and there they were never a match for us. And a third goal just put the icing on the cake, especially the kind of goal that our third was. Alberto Moreno, who was at fault for the goal that opened the scoring against City, proved why we'd been chasing him all summer. His defending was exceptional all game against Spurs and then when he dispossessed England's latest saviour, Andros Townsend, inside our own half he just went bombing on down the left wing. Townsend couldn't catch him. Moreno continued to storm forward, breaking into the space and then let fly with his left boot to beat Lloris and put the Reds up 3-0.
What a fine way to wrap the month up.
Overall, I'd say the month of August was a good one for Liverpool. In my opinion, it was a successful transfer window and the results have been good, apart from the City one of course. (though many didn't expect us to go there and win so why they're complaining we lost is a mystery). The performances have got better with each game as well.
Also during the month, we discovered our Champions League fate. Drawn in Group B with reigning champions Real Madrid, Swiss side Basel and some no mark Bulgarian outfit called Ludogorets. Top that group with ease.
Now we've got to wait until mid-September before we play again because we've got some pathetic, ridiculous international break just three games into a new season. What joy.
September's fixtures;
13.9.14 - Villa at home - Premier League
16.9.14 - Ludogoets at home - Champions League
20.9.14 - West Ham away - Premier League
23.9.14 - Middlesbrough at home - League Cup
27.9.14 - Everton at home - Premier League
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