It is just before 7.30 am and we are about to start a tour of Liverpool and the surrounding areas to get an idea of the enormous size of the occasion that waits in Anfield on Sunday.
We go to the training basis in Kirkby to talk to Arne Slot before we go to the stadium, the pubs and cafés of the L4 postcode, before they round the city center and the waterfront, walk along the Royal Lever Building and the Cavern Club.
But the best place to start when you want to paint a picture of how much Sunday means is the back garden. Especially not a garden, but only to think about the back gardens of Liverpool fans.
Why? Because this was the location for thousands of parties in Merseyside on 25 June 2020, when the 19th title of Liverpool was confirmed. The Coronavirus -Pandemic and Lockdown rules meant that it was not possible that fans merge into their usual places, although enough tell us how they have bent the guidelines.
Our opening gambit for every fan we speak to is to ask how much winning number 20 will mean for them – and the answer from almost everyone starts with a story about how the parties, parades and feeling of euphoria were removed by Covid.
“It was only me and my father in our garden and you will never walk alone on the neighbors' fence,” says Abigail Rudkin, a local artist. “It was bittersweet, it felt pretty lonely in a way that we couldn't celebrate together.”
Another fan, a school teacher who asks not to be called, remembers: 'I had bought a decent bottle of vintage champagne and had some smoke bombs. I left them out and drank my champagne from the bottle in the back garden. The three of us who are in the competition held a group conversation and had a virtual drink together. '
John Gibbons, a presenter on the excellent Anfield Wrap -Podcast, says: 'I went to my friend's house, there were four of us in different parts of the garden all on these sun loungers, drinking cans from lager. Although it was a great evening, we missed a lot. We could not go to Anfield to welcome and enjoy the champions.
'What I look forward to Sunday is to just' thank the players'. It's a party, but I want to clap them, encourage them and sing their names. '
It is clear that Liverpool fans never fully enjoyed the last title win. So in many ways, Sunday – if they get a point or more against Tottenham – will be their first right celebration to become champions since 1990. Many of those we speak to were not even born in 1990. Many others are no longer with us. Some then sat on their father's shoulders, but will now have children beside them in the game.
Bril will be raised on Sunday for those who have indeed been lost along the way. This victory will be as much for them as the new generation of supporters.
“What I told my boy this week was to celebrate every trophy as if it were your first and last,” says Terry Burke, with a high-fish jacket on a cigarette break near Anfield. “When I was his age, we were winning machines – I never thought I had to wait half of my life to see another title!”
Another 85-year-old Jim Doyle, will be a 15th league title of his life toast. He remembers that he did a zoom quiz with his two sons when they won it in 2020 and, when he was asked if he would ever wait so long between 18 and 19, says: “Really not.
'If you are considering the players we have had, and I am talking about local players such as Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher, we should have won it once.
'We almost won it under Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers, but it was just a lot close. This places us immediately to Manchester United on the number of title profits, so that is always a good thing! '
A younger fan, the 27-year-old Tommy Harper, says: 'For the most part of my childhood, I thought we would never win. The Roy Hodgson days, the almost -missers with Rafa and Rodgers -it seemed like it would never come.
'Then Covid hit and we ran the competition without fans to experience it – imagine. Now we can win it at home for fans … finally … hopefully … hopefully. '
All these anecdotes are heart -warming and most have happy endings. Our smoke bomb friend has told his neighbor that she can have her washed safely without smelling this weekend because he will be in Anfield.
Abigail will also be present, with her father – and her mother will be in a local pub to record the atmosphere.
“It means everything for me to be in the ground with my father,” she says. “I don't think they can get me out of the ground!”
For weeks there has been a sense of expectation in the city and a sense of fear of Evertonians. Those who go to London before the Toffees competition in Chelsea can best be advised to make it a weekend because Liverpool is painted red.
The home -baked bakery in the shade of the head is being prepared, with a special edition pie that reads 'Champions 20' on the cakes. Pubs are willing to be dry, although a bartender – we will not call the pub to save his job – says: 'I am tempted to draw a sick person on Sunday if we win it, so that I can have a night on the beer in the city! Of course I am kidding, but it will be one of the days of our lives. '
The police are also ready. The Merseyside police refused to comment on Friday when he was asked, but there will be a greater presence on the street. The parties will continue for a long time when Liverpool becomes champion, but the police do not expect many problems.
That will be helped by the fact that the opposition is Tottenham. With a semi-final of the Europa League on the horizon, Spurs fans will certainly not mind celebrating Liverpool, because that means that their bitter rivals, Arsenal, are the almost men again.
Tickets are resale for mega money. The cheapest a post sport could find online, was £ 675, although the club clamps on touts, with lifelong prohibitions for those violating rules.
A man who had to give up his ticket is Peter Clarkson, a main hole of the position of the position of the position since 1990. He is on the marriage of his godson near Middlesbrough and really looked back at Liverpool to make it on time.
It is clear that this is a city on sharp, but in a good way. It is not over until the fat lady sings, but she warms up her vocal cords. No matter how the Anfield will sing and turn off their folk songs.
Fans are all a bit dizzy, but there is one guy who stays calm – Manager Slot. Asked to be an inch of glory, he said, “Yes, but I prefer to think on that centimeter and not on what happens next, because there is still a centimeter to do.”
Slot, whose family will be in Anfield for the competition, has held a low profile in his first year as boss, but is failed by selfie and signature hunters when he jumps out, as he did on Thursday to visit a supermarket.
The champagne is on ice around the city and Corks can perhaps be acted around 6.30 pm. For many it means the end of a waiting time of 35 years to party well and the start of one of the best nights of their lives.