FeatureGirona diary: What it's like to cover a Champions League trip with Liverpool

Monday

11am: The AXA Training Centre is where our journey to Spain begins. It's the meeting point to collect equipment and carpool our way to John Lennon Airport. The squad are already in the building and they'll be out on the pitch in around an hour for their MD-1 (matchday minus one, as it's called in the business) session. Meanwhile, a quick peek at the forecast in Girona tells me I'm right to have packed my coat. Weather we're more than accustomed to here is what awaits us in Catalonia.

1.30pm: And we're off! We're joined onboard the advance flight by Gary McAllister and Liverpool's U19s squad. The youngsters conclude the opening phase of the UEFA Youth League on Tuesday morning (11am GMT kick-off, watch live on LFCTV GO and LFCTV). As for in-flight entertainment, I opt to catch up on last night's NFL action (I went to bed early, the professional that I am) before enjoying a spot of reading (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, if you're curious).

3.40pm: Well, that two-and-a-bit hours flew by. We're greeted by rain and very welcoming fans hoping to see a glimpse of their heroes a little later on. Around the same time as we touch down at Girona-Costa Brava Airport, our colleagues back at base publish the story of the confirmed 19-man travelling squad. Isn't it lovely to see Alisson Becker back amongst it? He nurses a mate tea as he takes his seat on the flight.

Other members of the media department are travelling on the team flight and were kind enough to share some details of what everybody else was up to. Curtis Jones was taking a particular interest in our video department's ongoing edit of Inside for this trip and offering his feedback, while Trent Alexander-Arnold was up to some mischief by hiding Ryan Gravenberch's tablet computer. Harvey Elliott and Caoimhin Kelleher were seemingly locked into whatever they were listening to as others opted for a bit of shuteye.

5:45pm: We're off for our first glimpse of Estadi Montilivi, where Arne Slot and Gravenberch are speaking to travelling and local media at a press conference.

8.30pm: Our stories from an entertaining media briefing are filed. Taking his place at the top table following the typically smiley Gravenberch, Slot provides the biggest news line in revealing Alisson is available to start after a two-month absence. Back at the hotel, meanwhile, attention turns to the plans for the rest of the evening. Everyone is in full agreement that tapas should be tonight's choice of cuisine and arrangements are made to find the best place.

Tuesday

9am: Given the early kick-off for a European game, we're up early to make the most of the day and take in as much of the delights Girona has to offer. An aimless walk is on the cards to see some of the lovely architecture in this historic city. My research tells me the stunning, gothic-looking entrance to the cathedral here was a filming location on season six of Game of Thrones. Oh, and we'll be hunting down some more tapas, even after filling our boots last night. You can never have too much.

It appears the squad have a similar plan today – minus the food, obviously. They're staying on UK time and a stretching session not long after they wake up is followed by a walk outside. They'll go back to the hotel for a rest before heading down for their pre-match meal three hours prior to kick-off. That's also the time we'll be setting off for the stadium. It's been a brief but lovely visit to Girona and hopefully this evening's encounter is just as good.