Fans of the narrative were rubbing their hands together in anticipation.
With mere minutes remaining and Fabinho having been dumped to the turf some 25 yards from the Brighton and Hove Albion goal, the stage was set for Trent Alexander-Arnold to end a difficult week with a defining statement.
But that his curling free-kick was kept out by Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez at full stretch was perhaps fair reflection of the afternoon for both Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool in general.
Let’s make no bones it. The right-back had an absolute shocker here, his start in keeping with a dreadful Liverpool opening that saw Jurgen Klopp ’s side given the runaround by the visitors, playing their first game under new boss Robert De Zerbi.
AS IT HAPPENED: Look back on our Liverpool vs Brighton commentary and analysis
LFC RATINGS: Liverpool player ratings as Roberto Firmino mixed bag and Alexander-Arnold awful
An untimely slip allowed Leandro Trossard to tuck away the opener for Brighton after only four minutes, and the same player capitalised again 13 minutes later after Alexander-Arnold’s lack of awareness saw Danny Welbeck nip in and take possession.
The more Alexander-Arnold tried, the worse he seemingly became, resulting in one second-half passage of play when a succession of frantic swipes and miskicks prompted audible angst from the agitated Anfield audience.
Yes, the Liverpool man swept in the corner that deflected in off Adam Webster to complete the home side's unlikely comeback in going 3-2 ahead.
But Alexander-Arnold’s jittery display – even if he wasn’t the only one guilty of a huge shortfall in standards – ultimately contributed to the slipshod defending that saw Trossard become the first away player since Andriy Arshavin in 2009 to net a Premier League hat-trick at Anfield and earn Brighton a well-deserved point.
Alexander-Arnold went into this game on the back of his credentials having been seriously questioned after England boss Gareth Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland once again showed a lack of willingness to understand the unique talents of the defender, casting doubt over his World Cup participation in the process.
From a form point of view, there can be little argument Alexander-Arnold has been poor this campaign. The actions of Southgate, though, have been consistent no matter what the player’s level of performance. They have created this situation, not Liverpool.
But while it would have been no surprise had the defender been the first name on the teamsheet following Klopp’s rousing pre-match backing of his player, Alexander-Arnold cannot afford many more performances like this.
Forget England. It may well be his Liverpool place now coming under threat.
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