Even from a distance, Luis Diaz was easy to spot on the Wembley pitch. Not only because the Liverpool attacker was one of the few players wearing short sleeves on a bitterly cold evening, but Diaz also decided to play no-look passes at a rather amusing rate.
It was probably easier to count the number of occasions the 25-year-old did actually look at the ball when knocking it off to a teammate. However, it certainly didn't hinder Diaz's performance as the Colombian was a constant pest down Chelsea's right flank during the Carabao Cup final.
Diaz was arguably Liverpool's standout performer – Caoimhin Kelleher deserves an honourable mention – at Wembley in what was just his sixth appearance for the Reds since a January move from Porto. No adaptation period has been required.
It was a similar story for Diogo Jota, who has thrived at Anfield since his move from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2020 summer transfer window. The Portugal international has netted 30 goals in 63 games for Liverpool and has overtaken Roberto Firmino as the No. 9 in Jurgen Klopp's system.
It's well established that Liverpool's recruitment team is one of the smartest around. Under Michael Edwards, they have married football knowledge with almost unrivalled data analysis and understanding. And it's enabled the Reds, along with the coaching of Klopp, to ascend back towards the summit of the European game.
There is a clarity of idea at Liverpool. That isn't the case at Chelsea, nor has it been for several years. In the summer that Jota arrived at Anfield, Timo Werner was recruited by the Blues alongside Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech. That trio added to an attack that already contained Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Christian Pulisic, and Tammy Abraham.
Romelu Lukaku then arrived last summer from Inter Milan for a club-record fee of £97.5million and Abraham departed. The expectation was the Belgian would prove the reliable goal threat Chelsea lacked during the 2020/21 campaign.
Lukaku has struck ten goals this season but has struggled for form, especially since his ill-advised interview with Sky Italia in December. Rather tellingly, the 28-year-old has started Chelsea's last two matches – the Champions League Round of 16, first leg against Lille and the Carabao Cup final – among the substitutes.
In the striker's place has stepped Havertz, who it shouldn't be forgotten was brought to Stamford Bridge for £71million from Bayer Leverkusen. With the German leading their attack, Chelsea have rediscovered their attacking verve. Chances are being fashioned once more and the Blues are no longer a turgid watch.
The issue is the majority of those chances fashioned have not been taken. Christian Pulisic missed an early opportunity at Wembley before Mason Mount skewed a shot wide from 12 yards. The England international then contrived to hit the post having been put through on goal by Pulisic in the second period.
Thomas Tuchel, to his credit, was measured and positive in his post-match assessment. "We can't have any regrets," he said. "I am proud of the performance and the team. There are a lot of good things and I told the guys we should not lose sleep about this.
"It was an entertaining match of football that was full of intensity and I am very, very happy to have had the chance to be part of this. It was excellent."
Tuchel has experimented with his frontline throughout this season but it's become clear Chelsea function best when the German deploys a fluid and interchangeable front three.
That is far from ideal for Lukaku – although he did well off the bench at Wembley – and also for Werner. Whether Ziyech and Hudson-Odoi thrive as 10s is also a matter of debate.
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The upcoming summer transfer window is going to be an important one for Tuchel. Only two first-team signings have been made since he took charge at Stamford Bridge and his squad remains a hotchpotch of players recruited under different head coaches.
It must be streamlined and tailored to a stricter football vision, constructed to ensure there is no significant drop-off in performance when injuries to key players strike.
But first Tuchel must settle upon the default setting of his side. And based upon all the data and evidence to date, that should be the one he used in the Carabao Cup final.
Then and only then can Chelsea build a squad capable of challenging Manchester City and Liverpool and enjoy the seamless integration of new signings in much the same fashion the Reds have done with Diaz.
