A quick glance at the Liverpool squad for the forthcoming season swiftly reveals a notable absence.
Not necessarily in terms of personnel. New signings Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have taken the number eight and 10 jerseys respectively, while Luis Diaz has switched from 23 to seven.
However, another Liverpool shirt number with similar weighty significance remains unassigned. And it's perhaps symbolic the position remains empty given the battle that will shortly ensue within Jurgen Klopp's squad.
The number nine jersey has long acquired special meaning at Anfield, having been worn by the likes of Ian St John, Steve Heighway, David Johnson and Ian Rush, all the way through to Premier League favourites Robbie Fowler, Fernando Torres and, for the last six years, Roberto Firmino.
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In truth, Firmino hadn't been a regular for the final two years of his time at the club, starting only twice in the Premier League since November last season and managing only 10 over the entirety of the previous campaign.
And the audition over who can best fill the boots of the departed Brazilian has actually been ongoing for almost two years.
With Firmino crocked early on in the 2021/22 campaign, Diogo Jota was the first player to lay down a marker and remained the regular spearhead of the attack even when the Brazilian regained fitness. The need to fill the gaps left by the absences of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to Africa Cup of Nations duty in the New Year saw the Portuguese move to the flanks until an untimely injury threatened his League Cup final participation.
In the meantime, Mane was pushed into the central position and stayed there for the remainder of the campaign, before his subsequent departure 12 months ago invited new signing Darwin Nunez to lead the line during the first half of last season with Jota and later Firmino injured.
That, though, changed again in January with the arrival of Cody Gakpo, who swiftly moved from the left flank to the forward position where he was a regular for the remainder of the campaign.
Now Gakpo, Nunez and Jota will once again do battle for the central striking role. And while each offers something different, all will go into the new term with renewed confidence.
For a start, Nunez has a full year of adaptation under his belt. His English has improved, allowing for greater understanding with his team-mates and coaching staff. And the obvious desperation to succeed that impacted many of his early Liverpool appearances has abated, even if the Reds will undoubtedly want him to continue channelling the chaos he often brings to games. With his physical presence and willingness to shoot on sight, Nunez often affects proceedings, with Klopp no doubt hopeful an extra calmness to his game will allow the Uruguayan to convert more of his chances.
Jota, now free of the injuries that hampered him last season, is of a similar ilk in terms of his non-stop style - certainly when it comes to pressing opponents - but if anything is even more direct when the goalposts come into view. A confidence player, Liverpool will want his goal-laden end to last season - seven strikes in his final nine games - to prove a portent.
By contrast, Gakpo is the nearest Liverpool have to a direct Firmino replacement, revelling in the false nine position with his intelligence and technique - along with an easily-overlooked physicality and pace over longer distances - allowing him to drop into midfield and help initiate attacks as well as finish goals of his own.
Of course, Liverpool's increased tactical flexibility means they won't always play with one centre forward, be that in a regular 4-3-3 or other formation, such as the tweak that saw Trent Alexander-Arnold flourish in an inverted right-back role during the closing weeks of last season.
And that Gakpo, Nunez and Jota can play in different positions - all three on the left, Gakpo and Jota also as a second striker off the main forward with the latter capable on the right - means they will all have plentiful minutes when fit and available.
But the desire to impress Klopp and earn the right to spearhead the attack on the opening Premier League weekend at Chelsea in a month's time will be one of many intriguing subplots this pre-season.
