It was perhaps the perfect example of the midfield malaise in which Liverpool have found themselves this season.
With Wednesday’s matchwinner Fabio Carvalho having become lost among a typically hectic Merseyside derby, the youngster, employed in the three-strong engine room, was given the hook at half-time.
His replacement? Roberto Firmino, a player long recognised as an attacking fulcrum who had netted three times in his previous two games.
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Given Harvey Elliott again started in a surprisingly progressive Liverpool line-up here at Goodison, it left Fabinho as the only player in midfield with any semblance of ingrained defensive awareness.
If the first midfield experiment lasted 45 minutes, the second got as far as 10 minutes from full-time before, with Everton beginning to press for a winner, James Milner, brought on after an hour at right-back, was pushed into a more accustomed role in the centre of the field to help shore up matters.
Everton were hardly pouring forward, but the need for greater defensive cover had become increasingly clear.
Indeed, the latest injury to Jordan Henderson has underlined the weak point in midfield – options in the anchor role – Liverpool hope will be plugged by loan signing Arthur Melo.
Watching from the bench having been granted international clearance in time to be involved, the Brazilian will know game time won’t be long in coming.
And there were some signs of general encouragement with Joel Matip back as a late substitute alongside Diogo Jota, who was making his first appearance of the season after a hamstring problem.
The frustration, of course, is that in attempting to take the game to an Everton side who began in expected uber-cautious fashion, Liverpool were left scoreless in the Premier League for the first time since losing at Leicester City in December last year.
They weren’t without chances – Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz struck the woodwork while Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was named man-of-the-match – but it was only when Firmino was introduced that Liverpool began clicking, the in-form Brazilian hinting he could also be an option as an attacking midfielder.
Unlike against Newcastle United midweek, there was to be no injury-time drama, and nor could there be any real complaints with the final outcome. But through circumstance or otherwise, Jurgen Klopp’s pursuit of an effective midfield blend continues.
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