The more things change at Liverpool, the more they stay the same for Jurgen Klopp.
That statement is just as applicable to the raft of alterations in Klopp's starting XI here at St Mary's just as much as it is for the fate of his Premier League title quest.
Nine changes were made in total for this 2-1 win over Southampton as the manager rested and rotated some key names after Saturday's exacting, draining FA Cup final victory.
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But the outcome was exactly the same: Another Liverpool triumph. One that takes it to the final throes of a remarkable season.
For the second time in just four seasons, the Reds will head into the 38th game locked in a tussle with Manchester City for the biggest prize in English football.
It's just the ninth time the destination Premier League crown has been decided on the final day since its inception 30 years ago and while no team who have ever headed into it on top have faltered, there is certainly a first for everything.
Just like three years ago, Klopp's side will host Wolves at Anfield as they keep their fingers crossed for a shock stumble from City elsewhere. This time around, Pep Guardiola's men entertain an Aston Villa team that will head to Manchester with Steven Gerrard at the helm and former Reds Danny Ings and Philippe Coutinho in the lineup.
If there is to be a dramatic, 11th-hour twist in the tale then it will be a story penned by the Hollywood script writers themselves, clearly. Gerrard's Villa couldn't, could they?
If it is even possible for the iconic former captain to cement his legend further at Anfield, then this is it on Sunday afternoon at the Etihad. For now, the hope is there, even if the expectation is not as firm.
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But just like 2019, Klopp and his players know that a Champions League final will await them later in the month even if they come up fractionally short on what has been a year that will never be forgotten at Anfield.
Only Ibrahima Konate and Alisson Becker kept their place from the FA Cup final. It was a first league start for Takumi Minamino since he opened the scoring in a 7-0 hammering of Crystal Palace in December 2020. Once more he found himself on the scoresheet in what was an eye-catching performance.
Despite finishing as top scorer in both domestic cup competitions for Klopp, the Japan international has understandably found game-time limited, particularly since Luis Diaz was signed at the end of January, but he showed no sign of rust as he rattled one home to make it to double figures for the season in the first half.
Before that, though, Nathan Redmond gave the Saints the lead inside 15 minutes when he cut inside from the left before curling a superb effort past Alisson Becker. There was little the Brazil international could do to stop it.
It perhaps could have been easy for an unfamiliar Liverpool lineup to have lost their way after Redmond's rocket, but this is a squad that is built of sterner stuff.
Minamino levelled superbly before the half-hour mark after textbook centre-forward play from Diogo Jota with his back to goal. The Portuguese laid in his Japanese colleague and he fired into the roof of the net past Alex McCarthy.
The rest of the half was all Liverpool, but they lacked an understandable cutting edge even though Roberto Firmino and Jota were beginning to make the ball stick up top.
Liverpool were rocked with another injury setback when Joe Gomez was forced off at half-time with a suspected ankle issue when Mohammed Salisu landed awkwardly on him. Jordan Henderson replaced him and James Milner went to right-back. The sight of Gomez limping away from the stadium on crutches was a sad one to see. When will his luck change?
Harvey Elliott, who was making his first Premier League start since that serious ankle injury at Leeds in September, thrashed one into the side netting with his weaker right foot after the break either side of two good opportunities for Jota inside the penalty area. With over an hour played, Divock Origi was sent on for Elliott as Klopp went 4-2-3-1 with Firmino as the No.10.
Liverpool's winner arrived in odd circumstances when Kostas Tsimikas swung a corner in and Joel Matip attacked it. Kyle Walker-Peters jostled with the Reds defender but there was enough on it to loop over McCarthy and into the net.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's side slung in a number of crosses in the closing stages as nerves began to fray in the away end but the visitors held firm to record a 19th win from 20 against teams in the bottom half and, more importantly, keep hope rolling along.
It's now 61 games played and just three defeats, one of which - at home to Inter in the Champions League - was made redundant anyway by the first leg victory.
And given the way this Liverpool have been so carefully constructed in every facet of the club - with an elite manager on board until 2026, a squad full of world-class talent and some of the most knowledgeable people in their field in key roles throughout - there is it little doubt that they will be back again, even if they just miss out to City this weekend.
Domestic double winners, Champions League finalists and refusing to give up their Premier League dream; these are special times right now for Liverpool.
