I spent my first couple of day in New Jersey convalescing in the sleepy suburb town. When I say convalescing what I really mean is doing some last minute 'pitching in' ahead of the weekend’s wedding... it’s all hands on deck at the moment.

As for the town I'm staying in, Hillsborough, it's a complete change of pace and scenery from London. Very picturesque. And quiet. Eerily so at times. For example, I decided to take a 15 minute walk to the local pharmacy. It's almost like being on the set of the Truman Show... before the cast has arrived. Every lawn was immaculate. Every house a picture book. On the flight across 'The Pond' I'd watched Downsizing (nothing to write home about), however as I ambled down the street, it felt like I'd been miniaturised and transported to Leisureland.

When they said people don't walk much in the US suburbs they weren't kidding. In my 30 minute walk to the shop and back I saw one other person on the street. A boy. On a bike. Everyone else hurtled by in vehicles, with a lot of trucks and car grills that you only see in America.

'Real football' in America

So come day two of my visit I decided it was time for a change of scenery.

Almost by serendipity there happened to be a football match (real football) happening in New Jersey, involving two of the best teams in England.

Premier League Champions Manchester City were playing my team, Liverpool. The game was being held at the 84,000 seater MetLife Stadium which was an hour’s drive from where I’m staying. I learn quickly that a one hour drive is nothing in American terms. So I rallied the crew, and we decided to go watch the game.

Pre match ritual

In the Stadium, I saw a very British sight. A pair of rival fans squaring up, ready to spill blood for the cause. I'm not sure there was any real animosity, just too much alcohol. I'm not sure where the Liverpool fan was from however the Man City fan was definitely a Mancunian… ‘You can take the boy out of Manchester, and all that…”

The Hype is real

Once we got to our seats, the view was spectacular.

It was clear that the vast majority in the crowd were there to see one man. Mo Salah. A roar went around the Stadium when he came out to warm up. An even bigger one, when he came on as a substitute with an hour played and when he scored 3 minutes later the place went berserk.

The hype was massive and he really lived up to it with his 30 minute cameo.

It promises to be an electric season for Salah and Liverpool.

Uber-licious

We travel to and from the venue by Uber.

The queue to catch an Uber back was ridiculous. We got to the Uber Parking Lot quite early, yet still had to wait over an hour to get a car. It was effectively a taxi rank, you’d order an Uber get a pin and show it to the next available driver. The popularity of Uber is definitely eating up the competition. I don’t think I’ve seen a yellow Taxi cab since I arrived. I’m sure that will change when I hit New York City! Can’t wait.