Even by the recent disruptive standards to the footballing norms, this has been a seemingly interminable season. And for Trent Alexander-Arnold, the sheer length of the campaign has allowed him to roll several into one.
How else to assess a rollercoaster term for the Liverpool defender, who began it still smarting from criticism of his part in Real Madrid's Champions League final winner and ended it being praised for his game-defining contributions in a new role.
In between Alexander-Arnold experienced varying degrees of success with his form mirroring that of Liverpool. It may be oversimplifying matters a touch, but the last 10 months has highlighted a truth of this side - when Alexander-Arnold plays well, the Reds usually tend to play well.
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That was rare during the opening months of the campaign. A goal in the Community Shield win over Manchester City proved a false dawn for both player and team, as was evidenced by a poor showing in the Premier League opener at promoted Fulham the following week. Further below-par displays were to come against Manchester United, Newcastle United, Everton and Napoli before the nadir at home to Brighton when Alexander-Arnold was culpable for several visiting goals.
With the Liverpool midfield missing both form and energy, the right-back became increasingly exposed and opponents were more than happy to take advantage. Matters, though, settled after a return from a brief injury suffered during another sloppy showing at Arsenal, even if he went the first half of the season without an assist.
As with many other players, the mid-season World Cup appeared to have an impact on Alexander-Arnold. After the usual heated debate over his inclusion in the squad, injuries to others meant the Liverpool man was included in the squad to Qatar, although he spent his stay largely watching from the bench with his game time limited to a second-half substitute role in the 3-0 group win over Wales.
The feeling England head coach Gareth Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland appear not completely enamoured by Alexander-Arnold was strengthened by the player being left out of the next England squad, although he has been recalled for the forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
Alexander-Arnold started the post-World Cup campaign well enough only to be dragged down by another alarming dip in Liverpool form. The assists finally began to arrive but question marks were - wrongly - asked about his attitude after a grumpy reaction to being substituted in the FA Cup defeat at Brighton, after which came a shocker in the 3-0 Premier League loss at Wolves.
While not a turning point, matters wouldn't be quite so difficult after that. There were encouraging sings in the wins over Everton, Newcastle, Wolves and Manchester United, but it was only after being dropped for the goalless draw at Chelsea following the 4-1 thumping at Manchester City that the campaign finally clicked into action.
It would, of course, take a change in role as Jurgen Klopp decided Liverpool needed a fresh approach over the closing months with one eye on next season. Alexander-Arnold became an inverted right-back with freedom to push into central midfield, and it not only unlocked his creativity but also a return to form from others around him.
Starting with Roberto Firmino's late leveller against Arsenal, the 24-year-old provided six assists in April, the most in a single month by a Reds player in the Premier League. He then ended the season with a thumping free-kick at Leicester City before a final assist in the 4-4 draw at Southampton. If by no means the defender's best campaign, it could ultimately prove the most pivotal depending on how the positional change transforms both him and Liverpool in the long term.
Alexander-Arnold will forever be the most unique talent in Klopp's squad. Finding the right way to again consistently capitalise on that could make the difference for Liverpool next season.
Season rating: 7/10.
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