The victory against Chelsea, snatched in the dying seconds by a goal that was equal parts luck, skill, and sheer, unadulterated willpower, had sent a jolt of pure, electric confidence through the Liverpool squad.
They weren't just winning matches anymore; they were bending reality to their will (or at least, that's how Julián Álvarez had explained it, involving a complex theory about 'positive emotional energy influencing ball trajectory').
The AXA Training Centre in the days that followed was a happy, buzzing hive of energy. The air was crisp, the sky was a rare, brilliant blue, and the sound of footballs being struck perfectly echoed across the pristine pitches.
