A remarkable, unforgettable season was drawing to a close when Jurgen Klopp saw fit to approach Liverpool youngsters Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones.
"I said to them ‘this is only the start’," recalled the Reds boss. "And they were like ‘yes, with us on the pitch’. It’s really nice."
The closing weeks had indeed seen a notable landmark for the duo, who started a first-team game for Liverpool together for the first time when playing alongside each other in midfield in the 2-1 win at Southampton in the penultimate Premier League game.
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And both will be hoping that proves the catalyst for the new campaign having seen their hopes of progress hampered for large parts of the season through injury.
Elliott, of course, missed almost five months after suffering a fracture-dislocation of his ankle at Leeds United in September. Having impressed during pre-season on his return from a campaign in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers, the teenager had worked his way into the starting line-up before the untimely setback. His comeback saw him restricted to just seven outings, although one was as a substitute in the League Cup final win over Chelsea.
For Jones, the tone was set when he suffered a concussion during pre-season that saw him miss the opening weekend. It wasn't until mid-September he gained a run of starts and shone at Brentford and Porto before an awkward eye injury sidelined him for several months. While there were plenty of games after his New Year return - 18 in total - it was difficult for the 21-year-old to build rhythm. He played fewer minutes than last season.
In favour of the pair is their age and homegrown status. Fabio Carvalho, another forward-minded midfielder who will arrive next month from Fulham, has been bought with that in mind, Liverpool's senior options either edging towards or already in their thirties.
There were contrasting fortunes for the pair this week on international duty with England under-21s, as Elliott was forced to withdraw - at least for a short period - after testing positive for coronavirus, while Jones played an integral role in the 2-1 win in Czech Republic on Friday.
Next season is perhaps a more important campaign for Jones who, a couple of years older than Elliott and with a few campaigns now under his belt, will want to grow in influence and, more pertinently, nail down a preferred position.
“What I am really happy about is that we are in transformation," added Klopp. "We have another young exciting player coming in with Fab (Carvalho), we have Harvey and Curtis. You see them in training and they are flying because of the opportunities. So to have these boys around for this transition is important.”
Elliott and Jones have made it perfectly clear to Klopp they want to be part of that.
