The approach to Australian cricket's Mecca in Melbourne is tantamount to a batsman striding towards the crease. The monument to Dennis Lillee is suitably imperious, the seamer, ball in hand, immortalised at the point of delivery.
Swerve Lillee and to the left stands the insouciant genius of Shane Warne, a lone can of Victoria Beer placed in homage to one of the coolest cricketers as of Friday afternoon.
Lillee and Warne painted the town red in the baggy green and the Melbourne Cricket Ground turned red for United. In the East End district, banners from the New South Wales United supporters' branch were pinned to the walls of a bar on Friday night as fans went through their repertoire of anti-Liverpool chants.
One accent was Mancunian. Also read: Eriksen explains why he's joined United On the upmarket Collins Street, a goal kick away from the Yarra River, fans proudly wore United shirts during their morning walkabouts.