There was more VAR controversy – that’s almost a given these days – but Liverpool were able to shake that off and complete a decent 2-1 victory over a resilient Sheffield United side on Saturday.
Well, let’s draw a line under that and move on, shall we!?
When Manchester City’s players gave Liverpool a guard of honour ahead of their clash on Thursday, you could almost see the eye of the tiger on the faces of Pep’s men – they wanted to send a message to the Reds that, next season, they will be doing all they can to regain the Premier League trophy.
There’s the old footballing proverb of the ‘routine victory’, which often turns out to be anything but.
The cliché gets dusted off whenever a team that is high up in the league meets one towards the bottom, especially on home soil, in what should prove to be a straightforward three points.
Well, there’s the easy way of doing things and the hard way.
In failing to beat Napoli on Wednesday we now have to face the pant-shredding anxiety of a Champions League shootout against Red Bull Salzburg.
When you pitch two teams of fringe players and youngsters, desperate to impress, against one another, you’re always likely to witness an energetic and chaotic spectacle.
“Our mentality has improved. That’s grown over the last few years and the gaffer has changed that so much.”
And so we go again: that has to be the message from Jurgen Klopp after the final day heartbreak of last season.
Happily, any fears of a Premier League hangover were put to bed shortly after by victory in the Champions League final over Spurs.
By approximately 4pm on Sunday April 28, we might just know the destination of the Premier League trophy.
The Manchester derby on Wednesday evening, our clash with Huddersfield Town on Friday and then Manchester City’s trip to Burnley on Sunday could well determine the location of the silverware.
There was a moment at Anfield on Sunday when Andy Robertson slipped when in possession and the ball found its way to a Chelsea attacker.
Memories of ’14 were evoked, but happily this time the danger was thwarted and everyone was able to sigh with relief; including Jurgen Klopp, who realising the irony of the situation was pictured smiling away on the touchline.
Two goals, a clean sheet and no new injuries: as Champions League quarter final first legs go, things couldn’t have been any better for Liverpool against Porto.