Kenny Dalglish was the guest of honour as hundreds of fans turned out to witness the Liverpool legend officially open the new club store in Belfast on Friday morning.
The Reds' Academy Ambassador was overwhelmed by the number of supporters that flocked to the new 2,000 sq ft unit on Castle Lane in the heart of the city's shopping district and was quick to point out the importance of what is now Liverpool's fifth official store.
"They must have thought it was Steven or Fernando coming here! When they find out it's me they may be disappointed!" joked Dalglish.
"But I do think it's an important thing for the club to get out and see as many people as they possibly can, especially the ones that can't come to us.
"It's nice that there has been such a big turnout here. The shop can be a fantastic success and is only going to benefit the Football Club. It gives the people of Northern Ireland the opportunity to feel a little bit closer to us.
"There are plans to open other facilities in Dublin and Oslo as well, so it's all very positive."
The store's opening comes just 48 hours before Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with leaders Chelsea.
Roy Hodgson's men head into the showdown having won their last three matches, and while many observers have suggested the Blues look unstoppable this season, Dalglish remains confident Liverpool can continue their recent run.
He said: "They'll come to Anfield and they'll be worried about Liverpool. Everything has settled down a bit now. We've got the new owners and Roy (Hodgson) has been here a bit longer too, so he has gotten to know the players a bit better. I think Sunday could be a good day for us."
He added: "If you finish above Chelsea you are going to be champions. They look the favourites to win the league. When you play against them you need to be concentrated for the 90 minutes. You can't nod off because they will just punish you.
"I actually think Ashley Cole is a big threat for them. It might sound stupid talking about a left-back, but he just bombs forward while others fill in for him.
"It'll be a difficult game but it's also a difficult game for Chelsea."
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