4am Monday, Manchester
For a small group of media staff travelling out from Manchester Airport slightly in advance of the Reds squad leaving Merseyside, it is a very early alarm call after a short nap. We had to stay up for the World Cup final, though, right?
Or multiple alarm calls, to be precise; I set up around a dozen on my phone to reduce the risk of sleeping in. Mission accomplished. With a yawn or two, and a real yearning for a cup of tea, our journey to the Windy City, as Chicago is known, is under way. Exciting.
Buy tickets for the Reds’ three USA pre-season games here
6am Monday, Manchester
As body and mind begin to wake up, we find ourselves mingling with familiar faces from the football fraternity in the airport. The sight of Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray shuffling past us as we wind through the security area alerts us to the presence of the Championship outfit. They are off to Portugal this week. Also spotted are League Two’s Port Vale.
11.30am Monday, Heathrow
After making our connection at Heathrow, off we go now towards America for real. “Smooth skies,” lay ahead, the pilot assures us. Fingers crossed. “Chicago, here we come!” enthuses one young passenger near me. Too right.
My personal pre-packed entertainment options include the gripping documentary World War II with Tom Hanks and, very fittingly given our destination, the latest series of Chicago-based drama series The Bear. Both are highly recommended.
Other fellow passengers include Ryan Fox, newly crowned winner of the 154th Open golf championship at Royal Birkdale, and the Claret Jug trophy he lifted on Sunday. Not a bad piece of luggage for the New Zealander.
1.30pm Monday, Liverpool
A 31-player initial travelling squad boards their flight from John Lennon Airport. A journey of around eight hours’ duration awaits Andoni Iraola’s men over the Atlantic Ocean to the Midwestern of the States. It’s going to be a first visit to Chicago for the club since 2014.