SIMON CRAFT worries that a game that was once a bit of fun is now becoming far too serious

RUSHING home to see which players have been rested in Liverpool’s Europa League game. Trawling through a Manchester City message board to find out why Matija Nastasic missed their last game. Cheering wildly as Southampton take the lead against Reading, despite having no strong feelings towards either team. None of these, one might think, are the actions of a sane person. Yet I have somehow found myself indulging in all of them over the past week. The reason is simple: I am one of a growing ...