CITY 1 LIVERPOOL 3

THE Human League will never sound the same again.

Is it ever possible to listen to that tune without personalising the lyrics to “Stephen Darby baby”?

As Darby appeared once again at a chock-full Valley Parade, it reverberated with a passion of the biggest nights from that League Cup run that etched his name in City folklore.

In these darkest times for the man himself, fighting with Motor Neurone Disease, this was fans of both clubs showing how they would continue to wrap an arm around such a favourite son.

Football tends to get a bad reputation and on occasion that may be justified. But this was wonderful evidence of a sport looking out for its own.

Impressively, this fund-raising fixture was watched by the biggest crowd at Valley Parade since it was rebuilt after the fire.

An attendance of 24,343, narrowly eclipsing the previous best set for the FA Cup quarter-final clash with Reading in 2015, included owner Stefan Rupp making a whistle-stop weekend trip from Germany.

This was a timely sign for him about how good this club can be; how passionate a stadium this will be again if he can help deliver a team to match.

Writing in the programme, Rupp once more underlined his commitment to reviving City’s fortunes after the mess left by allowing Edin Rahic’s ego to run riot.

There was also another dig at his former ally. “I am devoted to righting the wrongs of the last 18 months,” he said. “I hope our loyal supporters can see that the work to re-find our identity is well under way.

“No individual will ever be bigger than Bradford City and I want this football club to be about the right things going forward.”

Certainly, no football club is bigger than Liverpool right now after their glory in Madrid and the sight of so many fans milling around outside the ground more than three hours before kick-off showed the pull of the European champions.

It had a surreal air ahead of a pre-season friendly in mid-July but so many wanted to see City once more lock horns with such iconic opposition – and do it for such a worthy cause.

On top of the gate receipts, the Darby Rimmer MND foundation and the Motor Neurone Foundation will be swelled by a further £40,000 raised by James Milner’s own charity. The half-time cheque presentation another indication of football’s social conscience.

Darby was in the building early, offering a cheery wave for the staff and looking remarkably relaxed and chipper.

His demeanour was a stark reminder of how horrible things can happen to very good people – and why his situation has brought such a spotlight on such a crippling condition.

While both sides saw this as another useful preparation towards their new season, nobody lost sight of what really mattered. As Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp remarked: “It’s playing football for the best reason in the world.”

Seeing Darby and close friend Chris Rimmer, the armed forces veteran now reduced to a wheelchair by the debilitating disease, on the pitch before kick-off put all the perspective needed on the afternoon.

After the rousing reception – and that chorus to accompany it - that greeted their arrival, you could have heard a pin drop as Darby addressed the audience.

“You didn’t hear the words Darby and attack together too often when I was here,” he said. “But we’re going to attack this disease.”

It was highly emotional stuff.

For the match itself, both managers chose to field different teams for each half. Only Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet stayed on virtually for the duration.

As Valley Parade paid tribute to one of its favourites from the 2013 history makers, there were two players in opposition with their own share of top-flight history.

First-half captains Milner and James Vaughan remain the youngest goal scorers since the Premier League was formed.

But Vaughan had the dubious honour of netting first in this contest, just 13 minutes in diverting Milner’s shot past his own keeper Richard O’Donnell with a textbook diving header.

Gary Bowyer had joked about taking the ball away in training because they wouldn’t see much of it against Liverpool.

That looked a fair assessment as the visitors capped their impressive opening with a quickfire second.

Ryan Kent was bundled down from behind in the box and Milner’s penalty was too precise in the bottom corner despite O’Donnell guessing right.

Liverpool’s speed of thought and feet was frightening – a world away from what City will come up against in the muck and bullets of League Two.

It was attack versus defence for the first half hour, O’Donnell stretching to keep out a Harry Wilson effort as the Bantams remained pinned deep in their own territory.

Bowyer whirled his arms towards the home fans urging more noise as Vaughan won a rare free-kick in the opposing half. Ben Richards-Everton put the ball in from Matty Palmer’s delivery – only for the celebrations to be dashed by a flag for offside.

The alert assistant ref frustrated City once more when Vaughan’s header from another Palmer set-piece was pushed on to the post by Mignolet.

But normal service resumed with a third Liverpool goal three minutes before half-time.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain found space to shoot from the edge of the box and though Jackson Longridge slid across to block, the loose ball was tucked in from a tight angle by Rhian Brewster. His shot went through O’Donnell, who probably should have done better.

It was all change at the interval with City’s reworked line-up including trialists Chris Taylor, Lionel Ainsworth and Nortei Nortey. Liverpool called on the likes of Fabinho, Divock Origi, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez.

It became a lower key affair, although new keeper Sam Hornby had to be alert to deny Liam Millar. Fabinho snapped into the occasional challenge but it had more of that pre-season feel.

But at least City can claim the honours for winning the second period courtesy of Eoin Doyle’s 81st-minute spot-kick.

Clayton Donaldson’s heels were clipped by Adam Lewis as he chased Connor Wood’s cross and Doyle got the Kop on their feet with a well-struck penalty.

The scoreline, though, was immaterial. The real result was the awareness and money raised for such a vital cause.

CITY (first half): O’Donnell, Henley, Mellor, Richards-Everton (O’Connor 32), Longridge, Gibson, Akpan, Palmer, Scannell, Vaughan, Patrick.

CITY (second half): Hornby, Nortey, French, O’Connor, Riley, Ainsworth (Morris 82), Taylor, Devine, Wood (Shanks 82), Doyle, Donaldson.

LIVERPOOL (first half): Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Larouci, Milner, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilson, Kent, Brewster.