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Two things happened right after the final whistle against the Wolves that emphasized how special the night Anfield had seen was.
First, Jurgen Klopp approached the Kop and exploded in a blast of rapid fire from his trademark fists.
They haven’t been on display for quite some time.
But there was no doubt that the boss would be greeting the followers at the end of this particular encounter.
Klopp has been emotionally in sync with fans since he arrived, and he quickly got into the club’s habit of winning silver as well.
Once again, he took advantage of the feeling inside the stadium and captured the moment perfectly.
Then, seconds later, when the 2,000 spectators present began to leave their seats and walk through the aisles, the presenter of the day George Sephton interpreted All Things Must Pass by George Harrison on the tannoy.
It stopped people in their tracks and sent the ideal message to everyone on the ground and to spectators around the world.
Much work remains to be done in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. But it is a fight that will be won.
Just as those two flashes summed up the nature of the occasion, two big statements were made that may have a broader impact in the weeks and months ahead.
For starters, Liverpool looked absolutely dominant on the pitch.
The Wolves are a strong team, but they were widely outscored in a 4-0 win.
The pressure was on the Reds with the other top teams around them winning over the weekend, but a depleted starting eleven showed that they will continue to be the team to beat this season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Naby Keita returning from the bench offered good impulses and ominous signals for opponents.
But perhaps much more significant was what happened in the stands.
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I was one of the very, very fortunate to be successful on the ballot and headed to L4 for the game.
And for everything I experienced and witnessed, the organization was top-notch.
He felt safe before, during and after the game. There were many butlers inside and outside to answer all questions and meet all needs.
A mandatory temperature control upon entry, with an electronic ticket required for access and cashless payments only for all food and drink, were additional measures that increased the sense of security.
We all know that football without fans is nothing.
And it can be an empty show when you lack the wit and warmth of the fans.
For the past few months, it has been difficult to really feel the connection to your club when memorable and magical moments cannot be shared.
The Kop restored that in an instant midway through the opening period, releasing a two-minute rendition of the Roberto Firmino song.
There was no doubt that it was deliberate and intended to cheer him up.
Things have changed for the Brazilian now that Diogo Jota is breathing down his neck.
But his performance on Sunday suggested he is ready and willing to meet the challenge.
It should be remembered that players have also experienced these difficult times.
Like the rest of us, their rhythms and routines have been disrupted.
The short races were affected by the uncertainty and were suspended before a new normal could emerge after the restart of the project.
Jota said recently that the only “sour” note from his great start at Liverpool was “not being able to feel the atmosphere at Anfield.”
Now he has applauded Kopites and enjoyed his adulation for the first time.
Jordan Henderson has continued to lead on and off the field during the Covid-19 crisis.
He was imperious once more as his screams sounded audibly across the floor; a walking, talking and pointing personification of high standards that must be met.
And Klopp himself admitted last week that “everything has been more difficult without the fans.”
His punches in the night air full time showed the depth of meaning behind those words.
Much more remains to be done before it is feasible to completely fill the stadiums again.
But the sport that shapes our days, evenings, weekends, years, decades and lives has taken a progressive and positive step with the small-scale return of fans.
It has been an enormously painful year for many people.
Now, perhaps more than ever, soccer has a vital role to play as the world turns to 2021 with more hope in its heart on the path back to normalcy.
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