If Rhian Brewster’s withdrawal from Liverpool’s squad last night served as confirmation of his impending departure, the team named in his absence offered an insight into the reasons why he might be keen to leave.
Even without a striker considered one of the leading English talents of his generation, Jurgen Klopp found himself able to put out a side capable of claiming a thumping 7-2 win over Lincoln City .
Yes, it was League One opposition, and yes the presence of a partisan home support would no doubt have made the tie trickier, but that is an impressive scoreline in any circumstance.
What’s more, it is hard to see where Brewster would even have figured in the starting line-up – a state of affairs that just won’t do for a gifted young player entering a delicate period in his development.
By full-time on Thursday it was apparent that there is no shame in the 20-year-old looking to move on for regular football when, clearly, the alternative is scrapping for minutes as part of the strongest Liverpool squad ever constructed.
While that claim may appear somewhat outlandish at first, it is worth remembering that the club’s previous eras of success came at a time when a settled XI would contest the majority of a season.
And what is without doubt is that, since the advent of the Premier League, the Reds have never had such strength in depth across the park.
The intriguing part, of course, is that things could change slightly on that front before the transfer window comes to a close next month.
Take, for example, the scorer of the opening goal at Sincil Bank: Xherdan Shaqiri.
Making his first start for the club since December, the Swiss offered an early reminder of his quality as he arrowed an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner.
But, had things gone to plan this summer, he may not have been there to score it.
With injuries having served to wreck the forward’s second season on Merseyside, a clean break at the end of the campaign was considered the best and most likely outcome prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
Yet the €30m offers Liverpool had hoped for have yet to materialise and, with Klopp happy to keep hold of a player whose ability has never been in doubt, it remains to be seen whether Shaqiri will be the subject of a late raid.
The same can also be said of Divock Origi, who again struggled for playing time behind an unmovable front three during the last campaign.
You do not have to look too far on social media to find examples of fans suggesting that the Belgian, whose legendary status is already assured thanks to his exploits in recent seasons, should be jettisoned ahead of Brewster this summer.
And he perhaps showed why during a largely ineffective showing on Thursday evening that was capped – somewhat customarily – with a late goal.
It is that ability to find the net regardless of performance level that meant Liverpool anticipated plenty of interest in acquiring Origi services, particularly among the club’s Premier League rivals.
As things stand, however, he is expected to stay put until January at least, vying for a starting place as part of an attacking pool that has had Takumi Minamino and Diogo Jota added to it over the last two windows.
It is this remarkable level of competition for places that has led to both Marko Grujic and Harry Wilson looking to move on this summer after impressing during loan spells away from Anfield in recent seasons.
But, while those expected departures won’t do any real harm to the depth of Klopp’s squad, the remainder of the window is sure to offer an insight into whether hopes of competing on all fronts are realistic or not.
