Back to posting on the blog after a short Summer break. Needed some time off and a couple of trips, but now that school is back in session, so is the blog. And good timing too. While the F1 season is still on its on summer break, this weekend the English Premiere League season started which means my beloved Liverpool is back in action. More on that later. First, coffee.
The team behind Greenway Coffee owns one of my favorite coffee shops in Houston, Blacksmith Coffee. I've known that team for a long time, and even once upon a time many many moons ago hosted a beer education class at their home. This particular coffee is their Contemporary Blend, kind of their everyday blend. Nothing crazy, but just a beautiful roast and blend of beans from around the world. A smooth fruit forward chocolatey cup. You can't go wrong with it at all.
Recommendations
As I mentioned before F1 is still out on their summer break, however, there is a new F1 book out. Grand Prix the Illustrated History of F1 by Will Buxton has recently been released. If you've ever seen the Netflix series Drive to Survive, or watched any F1 Televesion than you are VERY familiar with Mr. Buxton. His sense of humor and level of detail shine in the book, as do the amazing illustrations. It's a great book that goes into good detail on rules and regulations, as well as a decade by decade review of F1's history. While some of it is very basic and most F1 watchers would know it, some of the details were new to me and some of the history especially the stuff back in the 50s and 60s was extremely interesting. Worth a pick up should you see it in your local book shop.
EPL
The Reds are back, but they aren't the same Reds of the last few season. The change starts at the top of course. Long time manager Jurgen Klopp has stepped away and new manager Arne Slot has taken the reigns. While Liverpool hasn't picked up anyone over the summer break there is still some time before the 30 August deadline so I won't go into a full predictions yet. That being said with Arne at the top, he has made some significant changes. Out is Clops standards format of play and in its place is a 4-5-1 that puts more emphasis on a single striker. How will that play out, only time will tell. To open the season up they played newly promoted Ipswich Town. As has been the case in recent years, the Reds started off slow, you could tell that they were still getting used to the new formations and how Arne called a match. The first half was very uneventful, with a few chances here and there, but nothing that was a sure footed fire at the net. However that all changed after half time. Slot made some adjustments, and team started to gel. Diego Jota scored first at the 60th minute with a beautiful shot. However, it was seeing Liverpool legend Mo Salah score at the 65th minute that put a huge grin on my face. Without his familiar flowing hair, Salah made a now familiar goal, and a record 9th season in a row where he has scored in the first game of the season. Mo looked truly happy out on the pitch, so here's hoping that he sticks around at least another season. While LFC should have easily beaten Ipswich, Arne Slot becomes the first LFC manager to win his debut, so it wasn't a sure thing by any stretch of the imagination. I have hope that LFC can finish near the top of the table this year. Not predicting a League win, but at the top, and maybe a trophy in one of the other tournaments they will compete in would be a great way to kick off the Arne Slot era.
