From the unforgettable high of lifting the Champions League trophy in June 2019, Liverpool's next encounter at the Estadio Metropolitano eight months later served as a sobering experience.
Beaten 1-0 by Atletico Madrid away from home in their Round of 16 clash, Diego Simeone's side grabbed an early goal through Saul Niguez and deployed streetwise tactics to see out this result.
Jurgen Klopp was left frustrated at the full-time whistle by the antics of Atletico, particularly their attempts to see Sadio Mane sent off.
Despite disappointment being the overriding emotion once the dust had settled, the Reds' boss was fully aware there remained plenty to play for in the return leg at Anfield.
"It's half-time (in the tie). We're one-nil down and we don't only play a second half - we play it in our stadium," he said.
"That is completely different to this stadium here. Second leg, I'm looking forward to it. Our people will be ready.
"Welcome to Anfield, it's not over yet."
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Simeone, however, saw it as no surprise that his side had prevailed in the first leg - for he was adamant that the home supporters had determined the result before a ball had even been kicked.
"I think we started winning the game when our bus turned at the roundabout and we saw the reaction of the people. It enthused us. Something beautiful woke up in us," he said.
"The feeling that came out of the people, the reply of the people, I’ve rarely seen from our fans at this level. They were there the whole game. It made me want to put my boots on and go on the pitch.
"It was the whole match and the truth is it was exciting… I think the word that comes to me is calm. Calm of knowing when you work as a team as group you can do it, the team responded with a great effort.
"It’s not the best night because we’ve not won anything but it was exciting. It was unusual.
"It was a match people won’t forget – to beat the best team in the world, who’ve won a lot of games. We’ve not got past them but we’ve beaten them because in a match everyone has a chance."
Talk of a global pandemic sweeping across all four corners of the world somewhat dampened the mood ahead of the second leg as uncertainty began to grow over what lied ahead.
It proved to be the final football fixture played in England for quite some time, leaving Klopp with plenty of time to dissect this eventual damaging defeat.
Liverpool's reign as European champions was over at the Round of 16 stage, and Atletico's style of play did little to ease the pain of a premature exit.
"I don’t understand with the quality they have that they play this kind of football. I don’t understand that. But the winner is always right," said Klopp after the game.
"When I see players like Llorente, Koke, Saul…they could play proper football but they stand deep in their own half and have counter-attacks."
The sides were reunited in the group stages of this season's Champions League, though Liverpool made light work of their Spanish opponents on this occasion.
Beaten both home and away, Simeone's side were on the receiving end of the Reds' European revenge and were bystanders for much of the Reds' 2-0 win on home soil in November.
Atletico qualified for the knockout stage after securing second spot in Group B, though the fact they secured just two group stage wins out of a possible six perhaps hinted at the bigger picture.
Currently fifth in La Liga, Los Colchoneros are 15 points adrift of league leaders Real Madrid and face a battle on their hands to guarantee another year of Champions League football.
This has been a dismal title defence for Atletico, who have already lost four more matches than they did in the entirety of last campaign and have shipped nine more goals in 14 fewer outings.
To make matters worse, they have also been knocked out of the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup and succumbed to a new low on Wednesday evening after losing at home to bottom of the league Levante.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are challenging on all fronts for silverware and stand a real chance of producing a memorable end to 2021/22.
Atletico's fear-factor is dwindling at an alarming rate, whereas Klopp's men have only strengthened their status as the side opponents wish to avoid at all costs.
