He said he was bringing his mother for a look around the place where he has traced the track of so many wonderful years and when he stood apart from others during the warmup, gazing wistfully around in a valedictory way, you sensed he was conveying another of those messages he lands so well.
But Anfield has a way of altering the course of events, shaping its own history, giving more back to those it loves most. And so it was that a first half injury to a wing-back gave Mo Salah his stage back and an hour in which to suggest that he’s not quite done with Anfield yet.