FeatureUSA tour diary: A dog called Jürgen, spotting Lewandowski and Bon Jovi, and the NYC experience

Sunday, Chicago

Just hours after kicking off their pre-season games with a win against Sunderland in Nashville and returning to Illinois, Liverpool’s busy schedule continues with morning work back at Chicago Fire’s training facility.

It has taken a while but the annual media team debate (argument) about whether on time is late ensues when a few of us board the bus at the precise moment of agreed departure.

On time is on time, in my view.

Anyway, before the squad head onto the grass here, several Fire players can be seen completing a session on the far side. As they finish up and leave the pitch, we spot that one of them is none other than Robert Lewandowski, who moved to the MLS club in June after leaving Barcelona.

The Polish striker offers us a pleasant nod and wave. Nice.

After pre-activation and a meeting indoors, the Liverpool lads emerge to very humid conditions; the temperature gauge shows 31 degrees Celsius, though it “feels like” 32. Oof.

A spot of keepy-ups today includes goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, alongside regular combatants Dominik Szoboszlai and Kostas Tsimikas.

Of course, the headline is the return of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz after their participation at the World Cup earlier in the summer.

Their first session back wearing the Liver bird concludes in a finishing challenge drill with those who played fewer minutes in Saturday’s defeat of Sunderland.

The exercise sees the ball teed up by passes from teammates to a small rectangular space around 20 yards from goal.

A quite brilliant Isak scissor-kick deserves better than clattering off the post and Calum Scanlon earns himself applause from his peers courtesy of a lovely curler into the very top corner.

Sunday, Nashville/New York

For those of us in the second travelling media party, we’re up following matchday the night before and making the move to New York, where Liverpool are due to play Wrexham, after a pleasant few days in Music City.

The southern hospitality certainly lived up to its reputation on Broadway – as did the hot chicken tenders! – and there’s even a group chuckle raised while waiting at Nashville airport as an announcement asking if anyone has lost a cowboy hat booms out on the speakers.

Let me check mine is in my bag...

Ian Rush is also asked for a selfie by an excited Liverpool fan, who spots him at the check-in desk. Standard procedure when moving around with Anfield royalty.

The wheels are up and we’re off, and after days of having Johnny Cash on repeat – his museum just off Broadway is well worth a visit, by the way – it’s an NFL podcast for me.

Landing into LaGuardia Airport is certainly an impressive first impression of the Manhattan skyline and how dominating it is.

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There’s an immediate desire for a slice of pizza upon arrival, so it’s a quick bag drop and out onto the streets of New York, where the sights and sounds are exactly how you’d expect.

Sirens, car horns and shouts for hot-dog stands aplenty. The group learns quickly that crosswalks really are an every-man-for-himself situation.

Pizza shop located. Pizza slice acquired. Though as we’re getting served, an LFC badge is spotted, which results in one of the two men behind the counter excitedly screaming “Mo Salah!” repeatedly.

An explanation of what we do and an accusation of a picture with the Egyptian King being an ‘AI filter’ and we’re on the way with our bellies full.

A walk around the landmarks is suggested and we end at the Top of the Rock viewing platform, with views of Central Park, the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty in the distance. They did not disappoint.

There was also a mention of Birkenhead Park from one colleague… a fair comparison?

Monday, New York

There are early-morning rumours circulating the media room that music superstar Bon Jovi was spotted signing autographs for fans outside the hotel.

A quick search does say he had played a headline show at Madison Square Garden the night before – so there’s legs to this story… - and that Bruce Springsteen made an appearance on stage too.

Jealous. The Boss is in town.

A coffee run for the group also sees a couple of local fans take the time out to introduce themselves – one hurriedly ends his phone call to explain that he has a dog called Jürgen and shows us a picture. He used to have another called Shankly, too!

Meanwhile, an Empire State Building visit is on the agenda for Rush, Robbie Fowler, Phil Thompson and Natasha Dowie, with comedian and Liverpool fan John Oliver joining them.

There’s also chat of what’s going on in Chicago – and the players have been taking on a cup stack challenge after training.

It turns out Szoboszlai is pretty good and the winner among the players. But, it must be said, not quite as good as one member of the media team, who beat his time with an impressive 1.88 seconds!

The day in Illinois also finishes up with a Gravenberch interview: “I want to be more of a leader now for the team,” he says upon his return.

Tuesday, New York

A colleague reveals they spotted Tony Danza on their walk of New York the day before, who was sat eating at a café before standing up to join a swing band and give an impromptu rendition of Mack the Knife.

That’s NYC, baby.

Today is mostly centred around the away kit launch and soon enough we’re heading to The Refinery in the shadows of the Williamsburg Bridge. An impressive location with the Manhattan skyline providing a memorable backdrop to the reveal.

Once the night draws in, there’s also a special nod to the Reds from the Empire State Building, which lights up its peak in club colours.

A classy touch, you have to say.

Someone also informs me that the opening credits to TV show Brooklyn Nine-Nine were filmed around the corner; Captain Ray Holt remains one of my favourite sitcom characters.

Wednesday, Chicago

After thunderstorms on the eastern coast of the States affected travel on Tuesday, an early departure for the Reds sees them land in the Big Apple shortly before lunchtime.

UNO! was the game of choice for a few of the squad to pass the time during a flight of just over two hours, and it appears Szoboszlai was victorious again...

Wednesday, New York

It’s matchday morning, of course, and for media staff a stroll to Central Park is in order before we lock in for covering the clash with Wrexham.

See you at Yankee Stadium, Reds.