Fans of the narrative were rubbing their hands together in anticipation.
With mere minutes remaining and Fabinho having been dumped to the turf some 25 yards from the Brighton and Hove Albion goal, the stage was set for Trent Alexander-Arnold to end a difficult week with a defining statement.
But that his curling free-kick was kept out by Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez at full stretch was perhaps fair reflection of the afternoon for both Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool in general.
