Amid the mass postponements, the fear and uncertainty over the inexorable spread of the latest Covid variant, a football match broke out and it was one to remind us all why this game of ours has us in thrall.
There was drama from start to finish, contentious incidents – a case for Harry Kane to be sent off for Tottenham in the 20th minute (he was not) and Andy Robertson to go for Liverpool on 76 minutes (he did). There were goals, including a long overdue one for Kane – only his second of the Premier League season – and misses, with Kane the biggest culprit.