Liverpool's sense of separateness from much of the rest of England is long-established. While not everyone on Merseyside would willingly embrace the 'we're not English we are Scouse' mantra, most would surely concede there are understandable reasons and plenty of historical weight behind it.
Beyond the world of politics, however, the lines can get a little blurred. And nothing sums that up quite like the England football team.
The World Cup in Qatar is a competition happening at an unusual time, in a country many believe should not be hosting it. Across the UK, there is a distinct feeling that the usual enthusiasm for this festival of football has been tempered.
