TWO GAMES IN TWO DAYS ON TWO CONTINENTS? NO SWEAT

SPORTSMAIL’S HARRY SLAVIN set out to watch two Liverpool games in 24 hours — covering two continents and 4,500 miles. Here’s how he got on…

▪ TUESDAY, 5.30pm Twenty-four hours before Liverpool kick off their Club World Cup semi-final, I arrive at Birmingham New Street. There is the small matter of a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa first. Around 5,000 have made the trip from Merseyside. A handful will also be in Doha tomorrow morning.

▪ 9.35pm Full-time. The away end are on their feet despite the 5-0 scoreline. Villa boss Dean Smith waits to shake the hand of every player in a white shirt. I don’t have the luxury of hanging around that long.

▪ 9.55pm The race back to the hotel begins. The offer of a lift eases the fear of a marathon trip but the traffic is nose to tail.

▪ 10.40pm With the byways of Witton finally navigated, I’m back in the hotel room. The alarm is set for 5am, but that doesn’t stop the periodic moments of waking up in a panic throughout the night.

▪ YESTERDAY, 5.05am It feels like I only went to bed three hours ago, not six. Time to drag myself out of bed and to the airport.

▪ 5.40am First setback avoided — the flight is on time. The plane is full and check-in snakes around six corners, but there isn’t a flicker of red in sight.

▪ 6.25am Get some cash. The bureau de change has just 300 Qatari riyal left (£87.78). Hardly prepared for the football rush.

▪ 6.35am One supporter sporting a club cap is the only nod to Liverpool’s presence.

▪ 7.12am Ki-Jana Hoever, Sepp van den Berg and Caoimhin Kelleher — who all played for Liverpool at Villa — are seen heading through the airport with members of Liverpool staff. They go straight past the economy queue at the gate and on to the plane. They’ll be joining up with Jurgen Klopp’s side at the other end.

▪ 7.24am It wouldn’t be a time-pressured trip without at least one hiccup. The boarding pass won’t scan. A Qatar Airways assistant is sent to print a paper version to get me on board.

▪ 7.50am Taking off on time, this is all going seamlessly. Is it too early for a celebratory beer?

▪ 8.30am Two supporters are sitting next to me. They were at Villa Park as well but took the sensible option — they left at half-time.

▪ 2.40pm The flight is a little bumpy, but not enough to miss out on catching up on some valuable sleep. Before I know it, we’re touching down 3,329 miles away in Doha.

▪ 3.10pm We are through an empty security hall and on our way to the Metro.

▪ 3.30pm I’m now heading for the Sports City Metro stop, via Msheireb. There’s a bit of a squeeze as the crowds grow nearer the stadium. Those in Gold Club class don’t look impressed at having to share their space with your unrefined football fan.

▪ 4.11pm With more than an hour to spare, I’m at the Khalifa International Stadium. Fans filing out from the Metro fill the station with chants of ‘Mo Salah’. There is one last detour.

▪ 4.45pm I head to Ladies Hall, a 10-minute walk from the stadium, to secure my ticket. With it finally in my hands, it’s just a case of making it into the ground.

▪ 5.11pm In the stadium, in my seat. A celebratory water will have to do, though.