It was April 2011 and I was sitting at a computer in a backpacker's hostel in Melbourne.
It was early morning, and I was buzzing. Why? Liverpool had just beaten Man City 3-0 at Anfield. The Reds were back and spearheading the charge was £35m man Andy Carroll.
The big Geordie scored twice - a thumping header and left foot rocket - either side of Dirk Kuyt's goal to give Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool all three points.
I'd flown to the other side of the globe in the midst of Roy Hodgson's reign at Anfield when hope was in short supply. Now this long-haired, record signing was banging in the goals and here I was on the far side the world completely sold.
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"I reckon we've signed the next Alan Shearer," I told my mate without a hint of irony.
"He has everything. An excellent left foot, aerial presence and so much aggression. He looks a real player."
It's fair to say Andy Carroll didn't have everything. But he did have his moments, at least.
My judgment is mildly embarrassing, but I'm not the only one who has made such a footballing faux pas.
We opened the question up on social media and received some hilarious replies.
The next Dalglish/Gerrard/Zidane
Football fans have a habit of labelling players the next big thing.
And at Liverpool there are some big boots that weren't quite filled by some signings.
Take Robbie Keane, a great goalscorer for Tottenham and a £22m signing in the summer of 2008. Could he be the man to fire the Reds to the title?
One fan on Twitter admitted he had very lofty hopes for the Irishman.
"I'm telling you, Robbie Keane could be the Dalglish to Torres' Ian Rush".
Keane was back at Spurs six months later.
Another fan predicted Harry Kewell would be the next Dalglish... the Aussie didn't quite reach those heights.
What about filling Steven Gerrard's boots? Or replacing Alonso?
"Alberto Aquilani or Nuri Sahin to boss midfield along side Stevie G is probably my two worst (predictions). Did not go well."
That did not go well at all.
"Jay Spearing - Gerrard's long term replacement..."
Jay is currently with Blackpool.
"Salif Diao would be the next Patrick Vieira"
Not quite.
"Djibril Cisse was twice the player of Didier Drogba and would massively outscore him as "Drogba's only had one good season"."
Nope.
"I thought Markovic was the new Nedved and Babel would be as good as Thierry Henry. I also thought Lucas Leiva was going to be as good as Luka Modric is now."
Erm..
What about the next Zinedine Zidane?
Liverpool have had two.
My fellow reporter Sean Bradbury wasn't the only one taken in by Bruno Cheyrou after his debut against Lazio in a summer friendly. Gerard Houllier was too, along with quite a few other fans.
Sean predicted Cheyrou "would unlock many a defence" during his time at Anfield. Chelsea might be the only one.
Anthony Le Tallec was another man to not benefit at all from the 'Next Zidane' tag.
"We'll be fine without Alonso/Sterling/Suarez.."
A pattern emerged among fans confidently predicting that Liverpool would be absolutely fine when a big player leaves the club.
Jordon Ibe was one man that hopes were pinned to, with many fans predicting that he'd outshine Raheem Sterling after he departed for Man City.
Other than that we had:
"Confidently asserting that we would be fine without Xabi Alonso when I saw Alberto Aquilani spray a 60 yard pass at The Emirates."
Ouch.
"I fully expected Balotelli to bag 20 goals a season for us. Believed he'd fill the Suarez void."
Just the 19 goals out, then..
"Anyone who says Ricky Lambert won't be a success doesn't know football."
Right, well..
"I predicted that Benteke was going to fill the void left by Suarez."
Perhaps not.
"Charlie Adam was Xabi Alonso’s replacement."
We want whatever he's having!
"Adam Bogdan to replace Pepe Reina.."
You didn't actually think that, right?
And the worst of the lot..
"When it was announced that Roy Hodgson was going to be manager I thought maybe give him the big stage,perhaps given the chance he will do well."
What are you trying to say? That his methods didn't translate? They have translated from Halmstad to Malmo to Orebo to Neuchatel Xamax to the Swiss national team...
