The Hollies were still playing over the ground's public address system for a few seconds after the football started, as Aymeric Laporte sized up the first square ball of the night, and that felt entirely fitting at Goodison Park.
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother had filled the air as a teary Oleksandr Zinchenko sat on Manchester City's bench, overwhelmed by the reception inside this ground.
The response to recent events in his homeland, Ukraine, was exceptionally moving and had been for some time before Zinchenko was offered an embrace by fellow substitute Kyle Walker.