It wasn't just Jurgen Klopp's squad disappointed at their failure to secure Champions League qualification this season.
By finishing fifth, Liverpool not only consigned themselves to Europa League football next term, but also prevented their Academy players from putting their wits against the continent's leading young teams.
For five of the last six years - there was no tournament in 2020/21 due to coronavirus restrictions - a top-four finish in the Premier League has opened the door for Liverpool's next generation to play in the UEFA Youth League.
READ MORE: Luis Diaz injury problem becomes clear as two Liverpool players leave squad behind
READ MORE: Jorg Schmadtke on why he joined Liverpool, new FSG plan and transfer budget
While the Reds have twice reached the quarter-finals - in 2018 and this season, when they were beaten 1-0 at Sporting Lisbon in contentious circumstances - it is in offering a stage to some of their most promising up-and-coming talents that the competition has truly proven beneficial.
Curtis Jones featured for three years and was arguably one of the players of the tournament in 2020, while the likes of Rhys Williams, Neco Williams, Rhian Brewster, Harvey Elliott, Stefan Bajcetic and, this season, Ben Doak all made their mark sufficiently to subsequently break into the Liverpool first team.
With the majority of the eligible players for the UEFA Youth League - which is an under-19 competition - playing for Liverpool U21s this season, previous boss Barry Lewtas once again took charge of the team. And he admits the Reds are considering their options regards extending the experience of their Academy players next term.
"There's no getting away from it - the UEFA Youth League will be missed," he says to the ECHO. "We've had a real good run in it, and now we're having what we hope is only a one-season break.
"We have relied on the qualification of the first team to get there, so we have been unbelievably grateful to them for the work they've done over the last few years.
"It's now up to us to be a little bit creative with the programme. We have the Premier League International Cup, which is an exciting competition and benefits us a bit as opposing teams tend to be a little bit older. When Neil Critchley was in charge of the U23s, Villarreal came here and they were a really good team.
"We will still be able to get that exposure. But maybe the glitz and glamour of what the UEFA Youth League brings, such as the television cameras and more people coming to watch and the travel, we'll certainly miss that experience. We won't be able to replicate that.
"There's only so many things you can replicate, whether it's additional friendly games against European teams, or more tournaments we can enter away from the Youth League. That's something for us to look at."
U18s coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson had coached Liverpool in the UEFA Youth League in the 2021/22 season. And he says: "The UEFA Youth League is a unique competition for the U19s. Those experiences are important in the development of youngsters.
"The different mentalities, styles and culture of teams from abroad, it has given boys a lot of experience. I was fortunate enough to watch Curtis Jones when he was in the UEFA Youth League and he was a top player in that competition."
READ NEXT
I don't want Mason Mount at Liverpool because of one big reason but we can't ignore Chelsea warning
Jorg Schmadtke set for busy start at Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp transfer hints
Liverpool may be about to abandon transfer strategy as multiple options emerge
Liverpool could make 'third attempt' to sign player for two positions who is available for free
Join the Liverpool ECHO's LFC transfer news and top stories WhatsApp community
