Rarely has a late Liverpool equaliser at Anfield been celebrated with such delight than when Neil Ruddock powered home a brave header to salvage a point against champions Manchester United.

But for a long while they stayed awake, chatting, recalling the dismay of the doctor, and the delight of the doctor's wife, or running out on to the steps to report on what was going on in the cart.

Back in the car driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits, laughing and teasing each other with hints and clues about what they had bought.