Having approached the start of the January transfer window with full steam, Liverpool gradually ran out of it the closer it got to deadline day.
The Reds felt the benefits of Julian Ward's intense Christmas schedule, when the sporting director concluded proceedings with his PSV Eindhoven counterpart, Marcel Brands, over the course of three days between December 24 and 26 to sign Cody Gakpo.
The news that the Eredivisie's top scorer was on his way to Merseyside only added to what was a buoyant mood for the club in the dying embers of December when back-to-back victories over Aston Villa and Leicester City followed the return of domestic action after the World Cup.
READ MORE: January transfer reality has left Liverpool and FSG with no other option
READ MORE: Liverpool in talks over Melwood purchase as major move planned for women's team
Having registered four successive Premier League victories - two either side of the World Cup - it had appeared as though a corner had finally been turned after an indifferent first half of the campaign.
But while the £37m forward Gakpo has helped ease the burden somewhat on a frontline without Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino, the glaring issue of midfield remains unsolved for Jurgen Klopp.
Matheus Nunes has his admirers at Liverpool but the Portugal international was never likely to be signed in January given he has already turned out for both Sporting and Wolves this season. Under FIFA rules, players cannot play for three clubs in the same campaign.
Jude Bellingham remains a long-term target but Borussia Dortmund almost certainly never gave any inclination they would be prepared to discuss a mid-season deal and the England international is likely to cost in the ball-park of £100m regardless.
It was telling that Sunday's game at Brighton was the first one since Fabinho's debut in September 2018 that neither one of the Brazil midfielder or captain Jordan Henderson had started for three successive matches. That alone is an indicator of where the problems have been of late.
The fact that Stefan Bajcetic - a £200,000 signing from Celta Vigo two years ago - became the youngest midfielder to start three Liverpool fixtures in a row at Brighton, aged just 18 years and 99 days, only increased the scrutiny on the engine room and the performance of its senior members.
The only real storyline of note in the departures lounge was the potential for Nat Phillips to leave the club but despite talk of interest in the centre-back from Turkish giants Galatasaray, he was told he would be needed to stay put after it was revealed Ibrahima Konate had suffered a hamstring injury.
With Virgil van Dijk already sidelined and the fixture list set to become more populated for Liverpool in February, it put a block on any possible move. Allowing Phillips to leave was deemed too risky ahead of a vital month of action that includes games with Newcastle, Everton and Real Madrid.
Given the need to conduct surgery on the midfield, it was always far-fetched that January would bring about a real resolution but the failure to add to the options in the centre of the park is another recruitment gamble taken by Liverpool.
Emergency, stop-gap additions have rarely worked for the Reds in recent years. Two years ago, Ben Davies joined at the height of a centre-back crisis and didn't play a single minute, while Ozan Kabak's short-term deal was not made permanent - even when he was later offered by parent club Schalke for half the fee of the original £16m asking price. Arthur Melo has played just 13 minutes since his own deadline day deal was struck with Juventus in August.
But despite those missteps, Liverpool's move to keep their midfield powder dry is still a curious one. With the club's Champions League status - and the financial rewards that follow - in real jeopardy of not being in place next season, that decision undoubtedly represents a substantial risk.
It's one owners Fenway Sports Group will be left to sweat on between now and the end of the season as the uncertainty around their long-term ownership continues. A lack of Champions League football next season would be far from ideal for an ownership group exploring the merits of both investment and a full sale.
Whether Klopp would freely admit it or not, the end of the January transfer window now sees Liverpool hurtling towards a major midfield rebuild this summer and a sizable kitty will be needed to implement it effectively, regardless of their European status.
READ NEXT
Why Chelsea are spending millions on transfers and the big future risk Liverpool are avoiding
Liverpool can't ignore Nunez and Gakpo problem with Jude Bellingham plan
Jurgen Klopp may have quietly found Liverpool's long-term Roberto Firmino replacement
Julian Ward putting plans in place for transfer window as Liverpool search for successor
Marcel Sabitzer move should spark Liverpool response to shock Manchester United again
