You bounce around inside Anfield as the home sections empty quickly. You watch the United players come over, pushing Maguire — the hero — forward to receive his due adulation. You watch them head back into the dressing rooms and you don’t move, you just carry on singing.
In the concourses, figures flock down the staircases, friends who had been stood apart spotting each other and bursting to one another to celebrate. Slapped handshakes, big bear hugs, more screams of delight. You might bounce across Stanley Park, some making phone calls to friends and relatives not there. The sky is dark, but the world seems bright.
You’re soon on a train back to Manchester, with Reds sat on the floors or standing squashed up against one another, but happy nonetheless. Some are full of praise for Amad, De Ligt, Mount or Yoro, as well as Maguire, and others for Lammens, Mbeumo and Cunha. That’s the sign of a good team performance, but it’s fair to focus on the latter three. We know the players United sign have talent, but to wear that shirt, you need character, too. There’s no better test of that than at Anfield, and they passed with distinction.
