There are various endeavours across Merseyside, which Barrett believes highlights a “heightened determination to stick together” because Liverpool “are pretty much on our own politically and emotionally.”

He points to the fundraising for Sean Cox - a father-of-three who was attacked outside Anfield before the first leg of Liverpool's Champions League semi-final against Roma in April - as one example.

“The bucket collections were driven by Spirit Of Shankly who deserve an unbelievable amount of credit for what they did and so does everyone else who has supported the Cox family,” Barrett says.

“BOSS Night have staged fundraisers, pubs around Anfield have done their bit, taxi drivers gave free lifts to the Cox family and any number of ordinary people have made donations on Go Fund Me sites. Again, this is about individuals acting as a collective.”

Everton defender Seamus Coleman made a £4,300 donation, explaining at the time: “I think football is great for sticking together. Rivalries go out the window with stuff like that; you don’t see a crest or a jersey, you see a man who came to support his team and unfortunately it didn’t end too well for him that night.”

And as Dave Downie from the award-winning Blue Room podcast puts it: “No matter how heated and divisive football gets in Liverpool, the people of this city will always come together to support causes far more important than what we see on a Saturday afternoon at Goodison or Anfield.”

Spirit of Shankly chair Jay McKenna agrees.

“We feel we’ve got a role to play in our local communities,” he explains.

“We know that in this city football is an anchor, regardless of your circumstances. Whether you’re struggling, just getting by or doing well, it’s likely that you understand football, it’s likely that you’re a Red or a Blue and if you aren’t, you will know people that go to the match and are passionate about either club.

“It’s a constant in people’s lives, it’s a positive in people’s lives.

“We stand by each other in times of adversity, there is a sense of camaraderie amongst Scousers. We’re a proud city, we know we’ve got our faults and failings, we’ve been through incredibly difficult times, but people don’t want to show that they’re down and that they’ve been beaten.

“It’s that pride in our city and in our fellow citizens that makes us want to help - not so we can feel good about ourselves, but because we care. This is just what we do as a city - not just as football fans, but as individuals who believe in building a better society.”

Ordinary people going to extraordinary lengths to make a difference seems to be the norm in Merseyside.

Take, for example, An Hour for Others, who count Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold as an ambassador.

Founded in 2014 by painter and decorator Kevin Morland alongside his partner Gillian Watkins, it encourages individuals and businesses to share their time, skills and resources as well as engage in acts of kindness to uplift the community.

From Richie Clayton and Peter Graham decorating the bedroom of a family in need, to former Reds defender Rob Jones and his wife paying for the full Christmas shop of a mum with two kids, the breadth and variety of help they provide is astonishing.

Five years ago, another great concept was launched. Vorny Redmond, who experienced the perils of being homeless first hand, endeavoured to assist those on the street through Christmas, leading to the Shoebox Full of Love campaign.

“Initially, the collection of boxes started in her mum's front room, but it has grown so much that we have been able to help organisations who deal with all kinds of vulnerable people and families,” explains volunteer Sam Armstrong.

“Some are homeless, some are coming out of care, some are children still in care - basically a lot of people who would not receive any gifts at Christmas without the donations.

“The campaign also has other requests throughout the year, particularly from domestic violence cases who have to leave a situation with nothing. As an antithesis to the ‘Everton wives, run for your lives’ shout, which I despise, we ask for items to help these individuals.

“We also ran a School Supplies campaign this year for uniform and stationery items to go to the same organisations and families.”

Rent A Space have provided storage solutions for Shoebox Full of Love, while BOSS Night raised in the region of £400 during their post-United gig.

Through the Owen McVeigh Foundation, meanwhile, local children suffering with cancer are afforded unforgettable life experiences.

The charity was founded by Mark and Joanne in memory of their 11-year-old son - a regular at Anfield - who tragically passed away just three days after being diagnosed with leukaemia in December 2015. It has been supported by Liverpool, who carry a tribute range of merchandise in the club shop with all proceeds going to the foundation.

“The city has a well established history of solidarity and it’s always most evident during bad times,” Barrett says.

“There is a willingness to stick together that has probably been forged by a collective feeling that if we don’t help one another no one outside of the city is ever likely to help us, not willingly anyway.”