Jurgen Klopp had kept his powder dry long enough. Now Liverpool have been given a first glimpse of what they hope will be a bright future for their midfield.
Having this summer splashed out £35million on Alexis Mac Allister and £60m on Dominik Szoboszlai, the Reds boss paired the new boys together for the first time in this glamour friendly against Bayern Munich.
Much is being invested in the duo, who Klopp had earmarked as the priority of a necessary midfield rebuild even before Fabinho and skipper Jordan Henderson moved to Saudi Arabia.
The Reds boss spoke of this season being an opportunity to introduce a “new culture” at the club with vice-captain James Milner also departing. And while it would be wrong say Klopp has pressed the restart on his team, he has in the engine room.
Szoboszlai, understandably, isn’t quite as much up to speed just yet as Mac Allister, lacking the Premier League experience of his new team-mate and having missed one earlier friendly with an ankle problem.
At least the former RB Leipzig man was up against familiar opposition here, and quietly impressed with his mobility, strong pressing and tidy play.
Mac Allister, meanwhile, had enjoyed the midfield skirmish until taking a heavy blow to his knee that saw him helped off hobbling after the half-time whistle, cutting short the first outing with Szoboszlai.
