I was on that train. Got a seat eventually but away from my mates and opposite a middle aged, middle class Dutch couple in brand new Liverpool scarves who spent the journey reading and drinking coffee. Further down a lot of people on their own in this season’s home Liverpool kit. Obviously easier to get singles if you want the home end.
The journey was livened up a bit from Crewe by some very cockney (and funny) Dagenham fans.
When you’re doing a long away, half the fun is banter and drinking on the train there and back. Not sitting on an overbooked sauna watching a Dutch women drinking an overpriced hot beverage and multiple Londoners on their own, glued to their phones.
I appreciate it's quite niche, but I'd rather enjoy this. Each to their own.