The atmosphere that Jurgen Klopp had requested was not forthcoming. Anfield on Saturday lunchtime was not relentlessly buoyant but, perhaps, it was naive to think that would be the case.
Of course, the situation was not helped by the early kick-off time but something else was also at play: tension. Liverpool have been playing like potential champions in 2022 but such is the quality of the Manchester City team with which they are jousting, one mistake means the chance to make history may be over.
You could feel that in the air against Watford, who had chances to make things testing, not least when Joao Pedro found himself 14 yards out in the 58th minute with only Alisson Becker to beat — perhaps a linesman’s flag would have been raised had the ball gone in but nobody was to know.