John achieved some long-overdue fame in the 38th minute of the game when – with the Reds leading 1-0, thanks to Juan Mata’s opening goal – Romelu Lukaku cranked up the power to ease Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta off the ball, knocking him off the pitch and hurtling in the direction of John and his cherished equipment.

The Blues’ captain tried all he could to stop his momentum, but the sloping pitch sent him spiralling into John, who had no choice but to take evasive action.

“I was a bit sore yesterday, I have to tell you!” John told us the following day. “I was a bit bruised! I’ve got the video on my phone – someone sent it me – and I think I was a bit lucky really. He’s a stocky lad, but if it had been someone bigger I could have been dead!