Monday 9 a.m.: Start of another day with a nice conversation with a former tour player. This morning, Gary McAllister is with us in preparation for the next My Liverpool Story segment. You will soon learn about how the Scot’s life was turned around by two phone calls from Liverpool. As an aside, if you ever get the pleasure of meeting Gary, here’s my best advice: iron your shirt beforehand. He intervened in a colleague’s ironing conversation when they were in the hotel elevator. To be fair, he’s right when he says he ‘always’ irons his clothes, but I did not, as I pointed out. In my modest view, life is too short to worry about wrinkles.
10.30 a.m.: Training is back at “the Linc,” as the locals refer to Lincoln Financial Field. The fun period comes to an end with some 3v2 games that, to my untrained view, are played at breakneck pace. A select handful, including Harvey Elliott, Kostas Tsimikas, and Kaide Gordon, remain outside for a little more shooting practice later. With a cheeky grin, Mohamed Salah tells our camera operators not to worry because they won’t see anything important. Of course, we keep shooting, and unbelievable efforts keep coming in, matched by some stunning full-stretch saves from Marcelo Pitaluga. Before departing, Gordon stops by to chat with us and shares how happy he is to be participating in preseason play again following a 19-month injury layoff. The adolescent says, “It’s definitely the hardest time I’ve been through.”
3.45 p.m.: Now, this is unique. The Reds’ second workout of the day will take place at Front Street Gym, the site of a poignant sequence in the movie Creed starring Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan. In fact, Arne Slot has surprised the team by arranging for them to box this afternoon. Trainer Jarell Quansah’s performance while wearing gloves impressed George Mosee. At the conclusion of the session, Salah gives a Liverpool shirt to our extremely kind hosts.
5.20 p.m.: Keeping with the boxing theme, we stop at the Rocky Steps, a must-see landmark in Philadelphia, on the way back. When the Liverpool team and backroom crew are dropped off at the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s entrance, spectators are taken aback. A woman is heard singing the Slot chant, which was initially created by Jürgen Klopp, when Dominik Szoboszlai becomes the first player to ascend all 72 steps. After a while, everyone arrives at the summit to line up for a group shot and then moves toward the Rocky Balboa statue. I dutifully hum tunes from the movies for the remainder of the day.
6.40 p.m.: A few players choose to spend their leisure time watching baseball at Citizens Bank Park, the nation’s favorite pastime. The watching will include the Philadelphia Phillies versus the New York Yankees, with the guests from Merseyside having the honor of being featured on the big screen. Boys, save me some cracker jack and peanuts.
8.30pm: Ryan Gravenberch joins Liverpool’s Stateside group, expanding the group. After taking a break after Euro 2024, the midfield player walks into the team’s hotel lobby and smiles for our cameras. Ibrahima Konate is now experiencing a long flight delay, but he should also be here.
10 p.m.: Konate and the Reds team finally reunite. Despite the difficulty, he’s in a good mood and glad to be back with his friends from the club. Ibou, get a good night’s sleep.
Tuesday, 9 a.m.: All of the team members will be executing their various community, commercial, and media commitments throughout the next three hours as it is a player appearance morning. Gordon, Fabio Carvalho, and Sepp van den Berg have been taken on a guided tour of Philadelphia by a few members of our staff. After taking in the sights, they visit Jim’s South St. and learn how to make one of their renowned Philly cheesesteaks. Concurrently, the ‘LFC at the Fillmore’ fan event takes place, with appearances by Quansah, Szoboszlai, and Owen Beck, as well as fantastic sets by Jamie Webster. I have to admit, Szoboszlai’s wardrobe selection is kind of intriguing.11 a.m.: As part of a special event organized by the LFC Foundation, Make-A-Wish America, and Dream On 3, a number of Reds stop by the hotel next to our working area to meet four terminally ill children and their families. They each give a brief introduction, including Salah’s name and position, before signing autographs and posing for fake pictures with the kids. When they receive their tickets for Wednesday’s match against Arsenal, there will be one last surprise.
4.45 p.m.: The team leaves for the afternoon practice at the Philadelphia Eagles’ daily home, the NovaCare Complex. A moment of silence is observed at the start to honor everyone impacted by the Southport tragedy. It’s encouraging to see Curtis Jones participating in the practice after his injury scare last week, along with the two returning players from yesterday. This Premier League match between the Gunners and all of us has definitely picked up speed.