Jurgen Klopp, like most of his Premier League counterparts, has good reason to curse the disruption caused by the forthcoming World Cup.
But there is potentially one reason the Liverpool boss should be grateful for the tournament.
Roberto Firmino's hugely impressive form will bolster his hand should he choose to pursue a contract extension at Anfield with his current deal due to expire at the end of the season.
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More pressing, though, is Firmino's desire to make the cut for Brazil ahead of next month's finals in Qatar, with Tite's side among the favourites to become world champions on December 19.
Having been overlooked for more than a year by his country, the Liverpool man benefited from a number of absences when recalled to the squad for Brazil's final friendlies against Ghana and Tunisia last month, although he failed to make it off the bench in both games.
"The past doesn’t matter anymore," said Firmino at the time. "I dream of being at the World Cup, I want to be there. I'm anxious and very hopeful to be, too. I’m working towards it. Of course, I have to keep doing my job here at Liverpool. That’s what I’ve been looking for."
Certainly, Firmino couldn't be doing much more for the Reds at present.
His well-taken brace in the Champions League romp at Rangers in midweek moved him on to eight goals in all competitions, only Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur having scored more times for a Premier League club this season. Indeed, with Firmino averaging a goal every 88 minutes of playing time, just Haaland has netted more frequently.
Firmino reached a century of strikes for Liverpool during the 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth in August when he scored twice and contributed three assists, with his overall total now standing at 106 - just two behind John Barnes.
And his sublime backheel to create a goal for Darwin Nunez at Ibrox moved him level with Steven Gerrard and James Milner as having provided the most Champions League assists for the Reds with 12.
When the talk in the summer was of Nunez's big-money arrival, the new contract for Mohamed Salah and the ongoing progression of Luis Diaz, few would have expected Firmino to have been so integral for Liverpool during the opening months. The issues of all three, along with the injury to Diogo Jota, have underlined the Brazilian's importance.
But on the summer tour to the Far East, the word from within the Reds camp was Firmino, who turned 31 earlier this month, was sharp, fully fit and intent on atoning for a difficult previous campaign hampered by niggling injuries.
So it has proved. What has also benefited the player has been the recent tactical shift away from 4-3-3 that has provided opportunities either in an attacking midfield role or as a second striker, both positions overlapping to a certain extent.
The increased ability for Firmino to operate between the lines - and more readily drop into midfield to help out defensively - has allowed him greater space and the chance to approach attacking situations from deep, such as his finish when arriving to convert Joe Gomez's low cross for his second goal against Rangers. It has also taken some of the defensive attention away from Nunez, who is starting to find his feet with Liverpool.
With Jota, who started in the role for the previous two games, needed on the left flank given Diaz is sidelined until the Premier League season resumes after the World Cup, the opening is there for Firmino to claim the position should Klopp persists with the formation change.
But whether it's up front, playing off the striker or from the bench, Firmino is in his best form for years. Which could be good news for Brazil - and most definitely for Liverpool.
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