Thursday, Chicago
After arriving back into the Windy City in the early hours following the win over Wrexham at Yankee Stadium, we’re up bright and breezy for another trip to Chicago Fire’s training complex.
Andoni Iraola sits down with the media, alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, as the pair each hold a press conference.
“It’s been really nice,” the head coach says of Liverpool’s experience in Illinois. “Really, really nice.”
We couldn’t agree more.
For half of the club media team, this is a first taste of the city, and for the other half they’re well versed in how this place ticks.
Back in the hotel lobby, an excited fan spots Ian Rush and explains how he knows his grandad. The pair have a lovely conversation about past tales of the Reds’ visits to the Republic of Ireland – with a mention of Sir Kenny Dalglish.
Meanwhile, a panicked text from a colleague asks whether anyone can hurriedly run down to Mr. Beef to grab a sandwich for a player shoot.
These are the glamorous things behind content creation you sometimes don’t see…
As part of a tour of the city, Conor Bradley and Freddie Woodman are due to visit the restaurant – made famous by hit TV show The Bear – but it is due to close an hour before the duo arrive.
So, here we are, sandwich in hand, sat outside on the bench watching the world go by.
Eventually the lads arrive and chaos quickly ensues – very much mirroring the show. The owner, Chris Zucchero, welcomes them in with a booming hello, re-opens to make them a fresh sandwich, despite having just cleaned all the cooking equipment (making my earlier job void, by the way!) and hands out T-shirts to everyone.
He quickly reveals he has “no idea about soccer” and has never watched The Bear (!) but is very much a larger-than-life character.
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A big fan of the show, Woodman is in his happy place, revealing he FaceTimed his other half at home to share the experience.
Close friends Bradley and Woodman also tell us of a coffee club that has been forged in Chicago, which involves a group of players finding local shops to try out. Along with the two, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas are noted for their participation.
A busy afternoon also includes filming for a special feature with Rio Ngumoha and a website interview with Giovanni Leoni.
Check out both on our channels soon.
Friday, Chicago
In a contrast to the weather we have mostly enjoyed since arriving in the States, surroundings for training are a little overcast and rain-specked as the Reds turn thoughts to meeting Leeds United.
Hosts Chicago Fire are wrapping up a workout just prior, and Robert Lewandowski, their new(ish) striker, is dispatching penalties into the back of the net on the far side.
Florian Wirtz is a particularly interested party watching the forward’s technique.
The Liverpool session is streamed live for supporters to watch, and two of our on-tour legends, Robbie Fowler and Rush, are perched in a lofty position to observe and offer comment for the broadcast.
One balcony, 1,029 appearances and 529 goals for the Reds.
Back at ground level there’s a challenge between several players post-training, too. And Federico Chiesa produces something phenomenal…
Nice touch.
To finish the day, several of the squad make a visit to the Chicago Bulls’ United Center facility. Gomez is pushing hard to gift the local basketball franchise a shirt, and persuades the kit man to go back and grab one.
Selfies at the Michael Jordan statue are on the agenda, as is shooting some hoops on the court.
Amid the fun, a colleague reports to us how goalkeeper Harvey Davies produced a save of a slightly different kind.
Just as a basketball was heading directly towards a media camera at pace, Davies’ natural quick reactions kicked in to block and spare us a hefty bill.
Cheers, mate.
Saturday, Chicago
Matchday-minus-one and our penultimate day here. That went quickly.
The weather continues to take a downward turn and it’s raining cats and dogs. That can’t dampen the enthusiasm for Sunday’s match, however, with plenty of chatter in the area about the Reds playing at Soldier Field, plus growing numbers of gatherers outside the team’s hotel.
At training, the buildings downtown that are usually a beautifully visible backdrop keep disappearing in and out of the mist, which adds to the effect.
We grab a chat with Calvin Ramsay – or ‘Rambo’ as the squad call him – before heading back to the drier environs of the hotel to set up for an extended interview with Iraola.
Once the news stories and clips from the chinwag with the boss are filed, a final night in Chicago awaits.
Fair to say we’re grateful for the warm welcome we’ve received from the locals during the past fortnight.
A few of the media crew are looking to enjoy some live baseball, namely the Chicago Cubs versus the New York Yankees at Wrigley Field.
Elsewhere, Chicago Fire have a home MLS fixture scheduled against Charlotte FC.
We have got to pack up our suitcases too, of course as it’s not long now until we head home.
It has been a blast.
