As he came out for the second half on Tuesday, Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso gave the ‘This Is Anfield’ sign a quick tap. A memory evoked.

Arne Slot vs. Xabi Alonso had the makings of an epic battle. In the end it was the Liverpool coach who cruised to victory against the man many believed was destined to take over at Anfield this season.

There was widely regarded to be only one man for the job when Jurgen Klopp announced his departure from Liverpool in January and on that day none outside the club were suggesting that it might be a Dutch coach from the little German border town of Bergentheim.