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Sladkovian's avatar

Whatever about the soccerball player trading fund operating as 'Chelsea Football Club' winning the Donald Trump Trophy yesterday, this was the biggest game of the day, because, to paraphrase Juergen Klopp, it was the only one Liverpool Football Club were playing in.

In some ways, when we look back on it next summer, it could be argued that this will have been our most important matchday this season; one that just had to be got through. Endured.

In every other season for the past I don't know how many years I'd have been glued to this first game, analysing everything in microscopic detail, and predicting a Ballon d'Or for some schoolkid I'd never set eyes on before. Ki-Jana Hoever? Well, I wasn't actually wrong. My prediction was correct; it was just that the entire universe couldn't see what I could see.

But not this year. This year is the pre-season to just get through. To try to get back to normal, as far as a group of people can, with one of their loved ones missing.

I'll probably get more enthused/concerned about player performances as pre-season goes on, but for the moment I really don't care. It's all still raw and I will still well up at 'triggers'.

Yes, bless Preston for their part in yesterday's proceedings. I wasn't there but on the telly it came across as totally respectful. All credit to them as a football club and fanbase.

'Man' of the match: Claudia Maguire, who put everything into her two pre-match songs. 10/10

There was a song I was surprised not to hear but it's time will surely come in the next weeks:

"We are the champions!

Champions of England!"

Until then, I suppose we'll just have to muddle along with the best football song I've ever heard, about a lad from Portugal. He's better than Figo doncherknow?

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Thomas Mundy's avatar

Thought the moment of silence at the start was demonstrated impeccably, showing the class of the Preston fans.

Is Chiesa a CF option? Does Darwin stay? Is Ngumoha worth a go as a senior LW? Who starts over Bradley or Frimpong? We've definitely got a few narratives already. Excited for the next game.

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