It’s the 94th minute and Sadio Mane is clean through on David Ospina’s goal with an opportunity to wrap up a vital Champions League win against Napoli.
Having already won the race to the ball and broken away from the nearest defender, all that was left to do was find the net. On a night where he could and should have had a hat-trick, he pulls it wide.
Rather than let his teammate dwell on an unfortunate miss, Mohamed Salah was at hand to push his fellow frontman back into defensive mode as Liverpool fought to maintain their 1-0 lead.
So often one to lead be example with the ball at his feet, it proved a refreshing sign of conventional leadership from a man desperate to win for this club. A vital Alisson save later and Mane’s miss was irrelevant.
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As for Mane, you have to feel a run of scoring form is lurking around the corner.
The Senegalese forward is without a goal since his brace in Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Cardiff City in the Premier League on October 27.
Recent weeks have seen not only Mane, but Liverpool’s entire front three threaten signs of returning to their explosive best on the counterattack.
An impressive outing in midweek saw outstanding movement and transitioning in the final third let down only by poor finishing.
They are just beginning to kick into gear.