Looking at these photos seems like looking back on another era – but it was only three months ago. I had just watched the Egyptian King – Mo Salah – score a goal at the Kop end in Liverpool’s 2 – 0 win over Manchester United. In celebration he took his top off and ran toward ME. I was sitting in the corner. THAT CORNER – ie the one where a year earlier local boy Trent Alexander-Arnold had taken a very cheeky corner to assist Origi’s final goal in the 4 – 0 unpicking of the mighty Barcelona. We subsequently went on to win the Champions League.

The 2019-2020 season was gearing up to be the best season ever. We were sailing away at the top of the Premiership – a record 22 points clear. Liverpool in over almost thirty years had never won the Premier League – a weird thought. Then it sort of, well, came…unstuck. We lost to Watford, got kicked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea, booted out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid and then, well Covid 19 sort of finished off the Premier League for us. Sort of, the final outcome is – like everything else at the moment – uncertain. I know thousands of people have died in the pandemic and there are certainly many bigger problems than LFC not taking home the league, but it’s a bizarre subplot to watch unfold. I also know for Liverpool haters – and there are many – this is giving them much pleasure.

For me, the season was gearing up to be vintage. Watching Liverpool was the gift that kept on giving. The football played was exhilerating, text book, no weak points, an overtly touchy feely and huggy coaching style by the God-like Juergen Klopp. The dressing room and hence pitch exuded with positivity, confidence and panache. The players clearly loved him. Watching how the ball was moved around felt poetic and note perfect. World class players from top to bottom. New signings growing into their roles perfectly. I’d watched most games with my two sons, the proud dad showing them their team absolutely smashing it. I’d even taken them to the first game of the season at Anfield to watch them beat Norwich City, the first time I’d been back in almost twenty years. They experienced the religous experience of a Kop rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ thereby cementing in the marrow of their bones what I anticipate being a lifelong connection with the club. And then.. it all went a bit Pete Tong. Oft and overused, but you really couldn’t make this shit up. Things aren’t over yet, there’s still decisions to be reached on how to treat the rest of the season, worst case scenario being it’s ‘cancelled’. If that happens it will be a travesty. We will certainly never forget this season – and hopefully not for all the wrong reasons.