By CALUM CROWE

Published: 21:51, 31 March 2026 | Updated: 21:51, 31 March 2026

Walking around Liverpool city centre, it can often feel like you are never any more than a stone’s throw away from some kind of tribute to The Beatles.

Whether it’s a statue, a shop selling merchandise and memorabilia, a busker in the street or a tribute band in the famous Cavern Club, Beatlemania is inescapable in these parts.

At the end of a turgid few days for Steve Clarke, one of The Beatles’ greatest hits felt like it rang true for the Scotland manager.

Can’t Buy Me Love. Certainly, so far as Clarke and the Tartan Army are concerned, he’s finding affection hard to come by at the moment.

Even with a World Cup to look forward to in the summer, strained relations are coming to the fore. It was evident against Japan at Hampden last weekend, and it was evident here in Liverpool once again on Tuesday night.

Ivory Coast's Nicolas Pepe celebrates the only goal of the game against Scotland

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