Steven Gerrard strolled down the tunnel with barely a backward glance or a moment's acknowledgement for the Liverpool fans so keen to serenade their legendary former captain.
Gerrard could not have made it clearer that was he very much Aston Villa's manager and supremely uninterested in a sentimental journey back to old territory from the moment he walked out at Anfield until the conclusion of Liverpool's hard-earned 1-0 win.
As fans queued to get into The Kop before kick-off, they were treated to some golden Gerrard moments on the big screens as memories were revived of a Liverpool career stretching over 710 appearances and 186 goals.