MONDAY
9am, Liverpool: A new season of European travel adventures begins today and it is an early start for the LFC media crew heading to Turkiye. By 9am, we’re all checked in at John Lennon Airport ahead of the staff flight. While Arne Slot and his 21-man travelling squad will fly to Istanbul later on (after their matchday-minus-one session at the AXA Training Centre), we’re joined by Liverpool’s U19s players and staff, who meet Galatasaray in the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday afternoon (All Red Video Members can watch the game live here).
Also aboard is an all-time club great: former goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, who made 628 appearances and won six league titles, one European Cup, three FA Cups and three League Cups. Legend.
4pm, Istanbul: After a comfortable three-and-a-half-hour flight, we touch down in Turkiye. It’s raining heavily (looks like I won’t be needing that sun cream that was packed more in hope than expectation…) and, an hour or so later, we’re on the way to our hotel.
The streets here seem to be in a permanent state of gridlock and a 20-mile journey takes well over an hour. It’ll be a quick turnaround for us before heading back out to RAMS Park to hear from Slot and Hugo Ekitike, who will be speaking at the pre-match press conference.
8pm, Istanbul: A first glimpse of Galatasaray’s home stadium and it’s impressive. While our base is the press conference room, I venture pitchside for a quick look and the Champions League music happens to be playing in preparation for tomorrow night. Consider my appetite well and truly whetted.
