Short-sighted Dalglish failed to see big picture

Last November, less than 24 hours before he would utter those infamous words to Patrice Evra, Luis Suarez posed for photographs with one of the world’s most famous athletes, who also happens to double up as one of his bosses.

LeBron James, the NBA megastar, was over for Liverpool’s home game against Manchester United to take in Anfield for the first time since he’d bought a minority stake in Fenway Sports Group.

Twenty years ago such a scenario was unimaginable. Few people outside North America had any interest in the NBA. Few Americans had any interest in the Premier League. No Uruguayan played in the Premier League. Come to think of it, the Premier League, or Premiership as it was known then, only started that year. The world was a much different place.