Luckhurst: Why Manchester United beating Liverpool was my best moment in the press box

Liverpool fans were finally starting to file out of Old Trafford when this correspondent unplugged his laptop adaptor. A folded teamsheet lay on the table. Usually, it gets left behind. Not this time.

Yesteryear, every teamsheet would be stuffed into my messenger bag. The attic would have to be reinforced to store them all and the thousands of programmes collected as a supporter and a reporter. So teamsheets now often linger in press boxes and press rooms, a potentially priceless memento for the security staff who politely usher us out.

Cup final teamsheets are carefully kept inside the programme. A quick sift through a picnic basket shows the last two standalone teamsheets stored away were from the FA Youth Cup final in May 2022 (its value doubtless enhanced by the names Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho) and Cristiano Ronaldo's homecoming against Newcastle in September 2021.

A couple of United-Liverpool teamsheets are stowed away somewhere. The line-ups documenting Juan Mata's matchwinning afternoon at Anfield and Anthony Martial's debut are under lock and key. The novelty of collecting the odd teamsheet during the Covid-19 pandemic meant the A4 sheet for the FA Cup fourth round tie between Britain's biggest clubs in 2021 was a worthy keepsake.

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March 17 is a date that already struck a chord with United anoraks: Paul Scholes's equaliser at the San Siro and Wayne Rooney's goal-of-the-season breakaway against Bolton. St Patrick's Day may be renamed Amad Day by those of a red persuasion.

"I don’t think OT was that good since Scholes Barca," a friend in attendance messaged. "It's the best Old