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After a season that has been mainly dedicated to filling gaps, a sense of normalcy for Liverpool resumed at Manchester City on Sunday.
Even if only briefly, from a defensive point of view.
There has been no secret about the Reds’ troubles at the end of this period.
Prior to the 1-1 draw at the Etihad, Liverpool had conceded 27 Premier League goals since winning the title in June.
No other club had sent more in that time frame and it included the toughest loss in nearly 60 years at Villa Park, where they were beaten 7-2.
On top of that, Jurgen Klopp has also watched in horror as his defenders have fallen like flies around him.
Injuries to Joel Matip and Joe Gómez at Chelsea forced Fabinho to be temporarily re-elected as center-back in a 2-0 victory in September.
The midfielder will be asked to reprise the defensive role for a full series after that now infamous incident at Goodison Park.
Jordan Pickford’s reckless creeper in the 2-2 draw against Everton has practically ended Virgil van Dijk’s season with the £ 75m colossus now recovering from a successful surgery in London earlier this month.
Such a dearth of central defense options has given birth to the careers of Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams of late, with dominant and assured displays in victories over West Ham and Atalanta, respectively.
But after a turbulent few weeks in their defensive ranks, Klopp will have been forgiven for thinking that those problems had been hastily withdrawn after Matip’s return to the Etihad.
The sight of Trent Alexander-Arnold limping with a calf injury in Manchester means the corner is yet to be bent. But at least it seems the core concerns have subsided, for now.
With Matip riding alongside Gomez for the England international’s fourth different partner in as many games, Klopp’s 37th pair of center halves curiously first came together to keep City at bay.
It was a step forward for Klopp, as his goal is to restore some consistency and stability in the area where those qualities are most in demand.
And as Klopp sent what many would now consider his first choice in four, given Van Dijk’s prolonged absence, it was interesting to note the difference to the opposition at the other end.
Matip, a free transfer in 2016, and Gomez, who joined at 18 for £ 3.5 million a year earlier, were part of a wider back of four that was assembled on a modern budget.
Much has been made of famous Reds full-backs like Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
They are two players who have redefined how a full-back is viewed and judged in English football over the last few seasons and have cost Liverpool £ 8m combined in transfer fees.
Get the latest updates on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury, plus the latest news and reaction to the draw with Man City.
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That modest sum means that the Reds’ entire bottom line was merged at a cost of just £ 11.5 million in contrast to City’s, which was put together to the tune of more than £ 230 million.
Such a point does not seek to denigrate what Guardiola has built on the Etihad, but perhaps it helps to accentuate the progress Klopp has made with his own system without having to break the bank for anyone outside of the club’s record signing Van Dijk.
The weary baseline held its ground against the power of City’s offensive arsenal in the second half, showing that Liverpool can still toughen up when their best defenders are on the field.
That, frankly, hasn’t been the case for a long time this season.
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