It was the moment Liverpool hadn’t experienced in almost exactly 12 months, or had they?
And it underlined for Jurgen Klopp the continued improvement of his Premier League leaders.
Anfield was stunned when, 11 minutes into the game against Arsenal on Saturday evening, the visitors went ahead through Ainsley Maitland-Niles, only the eighth league goal the Reds have conceded this season.
Not since Jamie Vardy struck for Leicester City on December 30 last year had Lierpool been behind at home in a Premier League game.
The Reds fought back to win 2-1 that afternoon. And against the Gunners, Klopp’s side were ahead within five minutes and out of sight by half-time before sealing an emphatic 5-1 triumph to move nine points clear at the top-flight summit.
“The reaction was absolutely brilliant,” said Klopp. “We haven’t conceded that many goals this season so we didn’t really know what the reaction would be, especially with it being the first goal of the game.
“But it was just outstanding. We increased the intensity a little bit and put them under pressure.”
In remaining unbeaten after 20 games, Liverpool have been behind for just 85 minutes this season, with Arsenal joining Chelsea and Burnley as the only teams to go in front against the Reds.
The Gunners were made to pay for it, Roberto Firmino scoring a quickfire double and in the second half completing his first Liverpool hat-trick from the spot after Sadio Mane and a Mohamed Salah penalty put the Reds 4-1 ahead by the break.
And while delighted with result, Klopp admits his team can improve in many areas.
“The second goal was brilliant defending, Sadio comes inside, put the defender under pressure, wins the ball back and bam, Bobby scores a fantastic goal,” he said.
“I loved the third goal because was again a second ball after a set-piece. For the penalty, Mo in a one-on-one situation in the box is difficult for any defender.
“Could we have played better in the first half? Yes. Could we have defended better in the first half? Yes.
“We changed that at half-time, and then needed Hendo to come on and close the half-spaces where Ramsey was having the ball.
“A lot of things we can do better, but I like the game because it was clear beforehand that it would be a big fight. It was wild, bouncing from right to left. When you can control it you had to immediately, and we did at times.
“But winning 5-1 is obviously an exceptional result against Arsenal.”