On Sunday evening 13 April I went to my usual “pit stop” at The Den, thinking it would be quiet on a Sunday night. It was full house and I was wondering what was going on with all the Chinese having a red T-shirt.

Then the soccer match started between Liverpool and Manchester City, at the Anfield stadium. I did not know the Chinese were big supporters of Liverpool, cheering and jumping up as Liverpool scored two goals in the first half. They finally won by 3-2.
There was also a minute of silence at the start of the game, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 of their fans died during an FA Cup semi-final, one of the darkest days in the history of English soccer. The supporters lost their lives in a crush at the Leppings Lane End of Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough ground at the start of the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989.
The Den is probably the oldest and best known sports bar and restaurant in Beijing, frequented by a mixed crowd of Chinese, expats (most being pretty close to retirement), the occasional girls of the night looking for business, and tourists. Families with kids are also regulars. It is