The afternoon had started as everyone hoped. A sea of red, a carnival atmosphere, the party roars through the hall.
Even when the name of Trent Alexander-Arnold was read between the substitutes, there was no indication of what would come. Why would there be?
Anfield would welcome the Premier League champions. A day that would live in memory for a long time. We only have that for enormous different reasons.
Even now, 48 hours later, it seems surreal that the head split and the party ended abruptly, with fingers pricked and faces in anger.
What happened when Arne Slot introduced Alexander-Arnold in a competition that led Liverpool with 2-1 was unprecedented, a level of anger in some circles that is usually reserved for opposition players who take on the role of Pantomime Baddie.
Alexander-Arnold would always be informed of local hostility, six days after he announced that he would leave when his contract ends. Many took the chance to ventilate. Others are ashamed of standing next to a baying.
First, the explanation: the anger comes from how Alexander-Arnold and his camp have handled this situation, taken his contract, not publicly spoke about his future and making statements that he wanted to win a balloon d'Or more than another Champions League with Liverpool.
Everyone is free to make choices in life, but it is difficult for the locals to understand why you would walk away when Liverpool looks ready to flee. One thing you don't do in this city is getting too big for your boots, and some feel clear that he has done that.
I don't agree. I know different players who have brought down tools and have shown terrible postures in the training to try to remove the movements. Alexander-Arnold has never missed the training or a foot shocked.
However, that all mattered, because the anger spread like a paint fire.
Each touch was greeted with a cacophony, each Boo divided it in the stands.
It was clear that the evil younger supporters were; Older heads despise the idea that someone is being stuck in red.
Soon the division changed to hostility. In two separate incidents, stewards had to stop breaking out Scuffles. Some got up and walked away. It was a terrible experience.
It also influenced the players, such as Dominik Szoboszlai – one of the best friends of Alexander -Arnold in the team – shook his head when the couple walked to the head at the last whistle and the husband of England was greeted with more anger.
So the day ended in a way that nobody wanted. A game that should have been won was signed, a player who should have been a hero was hit out of the city.
It was made clear to my generation that you never turn one of your own when the world looks. The landscape has unfortunately changed.