Sixty years ago the BBC documentary programme Panorama produced what has become a legendary piece about the Kop terrace at Anfield. Still viewable on You Tube today it shows a swaying mass of almost exclusively male humanity singing Beatles and Cilla Black songs. Later it interviews both gentlemen and ladies in the pub about what makes football so popular in Liverpool. A number of the answers seem very tongue in cheek, a fact the interviewer appears blissfully unaware of.

As the 2024/25 season swings into action the Kop is a vastly different place, both in terms of its structure, facilitates and inhabitants. Today I am in the ground early full of anticipation for the games and drama of the campaign ahead.

As kick off time approaches I take my seat or as it is nowadays my rail seat which allows for safe standing while the game is in progress. The traditional rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ is impeccably and loudly observed. I have been watching Liverpool from in here since the late 1970s and although there has been much debate I believe the singing of YNWA is generally as loud as ever.

I look across the ground at the Anfield Road terrace opposite. Back in the day this was where any fighting between rival fans would take place, while if you were fortunate you might have been able to buy a greasy sausage roll and weak tea for your pre-match meal. Nick Alt chronicles much of the ‘Road End’ culture in his brilliant book ‘The Boys From The Mersey’. In the present though the new breed are enthusiastically joining in with YNWA many of their number having enjoyed gourmet dining in the numerous executive boxes that have appeared recently.

As the game begins I’m quickly reminded a massive change has taken place in the dug out during the summer months also. It seems like only yesterday that we were waving a tearful goodbye to Jurgen Klopp after nine unexpectedly trophy laden years. Jurgen’s modus operandi on the touch line varied between very animated at the calm end of the scale to apoplectic with rage at the other. The apoplectic phase could be initiated by something as simple as a disputed throw in but often served to ignite the crowd to drive the team forward.

New incumbent Arne Slot seems to be cut from a different cloth. Having already caused a stir at Ipswich amongst the travelling support last week by not acknowledging them at the end he barely flickers today when Liverpool take the lead. He does come on to the pitch as the game finishes though to almost apologetically wave to those that remain. He clearly wants to be or more probably already is his own man.

Half time quickly arrives. In the pre all seater (or rail seat) era even if it was possible to leave your position it would be almost impossible to get back to it for the second half. Frustrating if you had been guarding your spot in front of a crush barrier since the turnstiles opened. Now exiting is a relatively simple operation.

Below stairs although it’s certainly no gourmet operation (unlike the corporate parts of the ground) and none of it would be recommended by a dietitian there is food available and a choice of drinks that even stretches as far as wine rather than just the football staple of lager. Sky television screens and booths for bookmakers and programme sellers are another reminder of how times have changed. Although you can now have your programme delivered digitally to your mobile phone. Something that would have seemed fantastical when Panorama were making their programme.

It’s worth mentioning the saturation role of advertising at this point as well. This even extends to posters on the walls in the gentleman’s toilets extolling the virtues of a Liverpool Football Club membership. I remember another legendary Liverpool manager in Bob Paisley being unimpressed when Liverpool become the first team to have a sponsors name on the front of their shirts. He described it as the ‘thin end of the wedge’ and as with most matters he has been proved right.

The second half proves to be a rather routine affair. Another goal sealing the victory with rather fewer alarms or less excitement, whichever way you decide to perceive it, than we have become accustomed to in recent seasons. The attendance is 60,107 which is a record for any league game in the clubs history. I imagine everyone of them is far more comfortable than those in attendance when Panorama filmed. As always it takes me a while to get out of the ground. Many of the people around me have sat in the same seat since the Kop became all seater in 1994 and have become my friends. Hopeful that will remain the case for many years to come.