The tranquil hum around Anfield was more akin to the first days of summer at Lord’s than the climax of a title race.
Liverpool were 2-1 up against Queens Park Rangers as title rivals Aston Villa protected a comfortable two-goal lead over Norwich City, with the outcome of the championship seemingly destined to roll on to the penultimate match of the season.
Spectators were nervously listening to bulky transistor radios when Liverpool’s Ronny Rosenthal missed a sitter, smashing over from six yards, but the win over QPR was all but secured.
Then, 30 seconds later, Anfield exploded as if the striker had found the top corner as word spread that, following a Derek Mountfield own goal, an equaliser from Norwich’s Robert Rosario had changed everything at Villa Park.