The Liverpool substitutes were going through their warm-down routine in front of an almost-empty Estadio de la Ceramica when Jurgen Klopp emerged from the tunnel.
There was a big smile towards the travelling Kop still situated high up in the stands, followed by a celebratory wave that was greeted with huge cheers.
And then, of course, came the party piece, the Reds boss aiming a trademark triple fist-pump towards those who had made the journey to Spain.
It was fully merited. What had been in danger of being one of those nights for Klopp’s side instead transformed into one of those nights, a Champions League semi-final second leg that will be etched in the annals of history at both clubs and a competition which this season continues to conjure remarkable drama.
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Klopp had said before the game that Liverpool would have to be “ready to suffer” if they wanted to secure a place in the final for the third time in five seasons. But even the Reds boss couldn’t have foreseen quite what awaited on a truly astonishing evening.
Make no mistake, Liverpool were staring acute embarrassment in the face after a first-half display that was a textbook example of what not to do when defending a 2-0 first-leg lead. Vibrant, aggressive and quick, Villarreal were everything the Reds were not and had wiped out their deficit before half-time.
Klopp, for once, got his team selection badly wrong here, perhaps too mindful of wanting his players to treat this as a regular game rather than one where they were already winning. By contrast, Villarreal knew their own perilous position and wasted no time addressing it.
But there’s a reason Klopp is regarded one of the best managers in the world. Just like there’s justification for the Reds being arguably the finest team in the world, one capable of winning, of getting the job done no matter what the hurdle. Mentality monsters, you might say.
A tactical tweak here and there, the introduction of the outstanding Luis Diaz and an undoubted collective kick up the backside transformed Liverpool. Once Fabinho shot through Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli for the Reds' first goal, there was only ever going to be one winner.
The sound of the final whistle saw Virgil van Dijk thrust both his arms into the air and throw his head back in no doubt a mixture of delight and relief while, all around the stadium, the Villarreal supporters began waving flags and scarves in tribute to their team.
What a night. This outrageous Liverpool team constructed by Klopp are in another Champions League final.
