They had come in expectation that a former Porto forward would be the difference and, in some respects, they got what they wanted.
But rather than Luis Diaz – fresh from his £37.5million move from Portugal’s second city – lighting the fuse, it was the man who is the closest challenger to Mohamed Salah to be regarded as Liverpool’s Player of the Season.
It is Diogo Jota’s misfortune, perhaps, that he has landed at Anfield at a time when Salah has taken his form to such levels he is viewed as the best in the world right now.