The final whistle at Anfield marked the start of what was no doubt a busy old shift for those in Liverpool's PR department.
After Mohamed Salah's stunning goal had given Jurgen Klopp's men a huge victory against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon, the real work was just beginning for those off the pitch.
The first of two strongly-worded statements was released at around 7.30pm in response to yet more chanting from City's followers in relation to the Hillsborough and Heysel tragedies.
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"We are deeply disappointed to hear vile chants relating to football stadium tragedies from the away section during today’s game at Anfield," read the Liverpool FC response. "The concourse in the away section was also vandalised with graffiti of a similar nature.
"We know the impact such behaviour has on the families, survivors and all those associated with such disasters. We are working with the relevant authorities and we will also work with Manchester City in order to do our utmost to ensure these chants are eradicated from football altogether."
Senior Anfield sources also disclosed a handful of images relating to the graffiti that was scrawled all over the concourses and toilets in the away end. The ECHO took the decision not to publish the disgusting images.
It's the third time in six months that City fans have been called out for mocking the deaths of Liverpool supporters at the Leppings Lane end of Hillsborough in 1989. An investigation was launched after a pair of City fans were filmed making obscene gestures referencing the disaster that claimed the lives of 97 fans after the final whistle of the 2-2 draw at the Etihad in April.
City have since said they identified the offenders and handed down "significant bans". The opportunity to make that decision more widely known as a warning for future match-goers was seemingly missed, however. It has certainly not been broadcast as a deterrent.
The FA Cup semi-final at Wembley later that month also saw similarly distasteful and deeply upsetting rhetoric as Liverpool and their exhausted supporters were once again having to push back against the mindless toxicity of it all.
Back to Sunday and around two hours after their first statement was issued, Liverpool had once again firmly made clear their intent as they threatened banning orders for anyone found to be throwing coins at City boss Pep Guardiola.
A club spokesperson said: "We are aware of an incident involving objects being thrown into the technical area at today's game. This is totally unacceptable behaviour and not the standards of behaviour we expect at Anfield. This incident will be fully investigated using CCTV and those found guilty will be punished, including a lifetime ban from Anfield and a possible football banning order."
It was a question put to both managers in their post-match press conference. Klopp said: “It's horrible. I’m sorry. I apologise for that. I had no idea about it. That never should happen. I didn’t see them thrown, no, of course not. I saw Pep [reacting]." Guardiola added: "Next time they will do it better. They didn't get me. They tried but didn't get me. They got it on the coach years ago but not this time."
For their part, City, as a club, have so far remained silent, officially at least. The ECHO has learned they are awaiting a report from both Merseyside Police and their own security officers before deciding to take action, but perhaps their most striking response came in private briefings to certain sections of the media on Monday.
It has since been reported that they viewed Klopp's comments on Friday about their club's limitless wealth, incredibly, to almost be inciting such sickening chanting.
"You have the best team in the world and you put in the best striker on the market, no matter what it costs you just do it," Klopp said on Friday. "I know City will not like it, nobody will like it, you've asked the question but you know the answer.
"What does Liverpool do? We cannot act like them. It is not possible. Not possible. It is just clear and again you know the answer. There are three clubs in world football who can do what they want financially. It's legal and everything, fine. But they can do what they want."
To essentially declare, indirectly, that chants about football tragedies are subsequently fair game because of such faint criticism is wildly irresponsible. Passive inaction at this stage is how such horrendous incidents are allowed to continue.
There is a persecution complex that exists around the Etihad with regards to how their success has been funded for much of the past 15 years. Taking extreme offence at Klopp's fairly matter-of-fact analysis in his Friday press conference reveals a fragile ego at the heart of all their power and might within football in 2022. It is a disconnect from reality.
And while there will always be a mindless minority willing to plumb new depths in the misguided aim of stoking up some footballing rivalry, the club's apparent refusal to call out such idiocy speaks volumes.
Given the swiftness of Liverpool's statements on Sunday, it's expected they will be similarly quick to respond if City's allegations that their team bus was attacked by Reds fans on Anfield Road hold weight. Merseyside Police say no incident has yet been reported to them.
"We have also been made aware of an allegation that a Manchester City team coach was damaged," Merseyside Police said on Monday. "However no incidents have been reported to us or that items were thrown at the coaches, and we are now working with MCFC to establish the circumstances of what happened and the allegation that damage was caused."
That City feel the need to privately brief journalists they are familiar with while steering clear of releasing anything on the record themselves regarding such a serious and important issue within the game is a dereliction of duty.
That important figures within the Etihad have decided that no public response is needed about the chanting of their fans - and the subsequent condemnation of it from Liverpool - is spineless in the extreme. This is not leadership.
The ECHO have contacted Manchester City for a comment but still awaiting a response.
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