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This, after all, is a player who has battled with Mohamed Salah to be the face of the league over the past eight seasons.

Admittedly, Salah has pulled way clear this season, with time and injuries beginning to catch up with De Bruyne.

Perhaps Alexis Mac Allister or Dominik Szoboszlai will be able to step up, taking on slightly different roles and responsibilites — but as far as insurance policies go, it doesn't get much better than De Bruyne.

Alexander-Arnold has played 8.67 progressive passes per 90 minutes for Liverpool in the league this season, behind only Martin Odegaard and Bruno Fernandes among players to have played at least 1500 minutes.

De Bruyne completes the top five (behind James Maddison), having averaged 7.89 progressive passes.

Incidentally, Harvey Elliott has averaged 9.67 progressive passes, albeit from just 267 Premier League minutes.

Thinking about some of the specific passes Alexander-Arnold has in the locker, the Man City star is the only one who comes to mind who could match his repertoire stride for stride.

When it comes to expected assists, De Bruyne remains the league leader on a per 90 basis, again when looking at those to have played 1500 minutes or more.

But as a break-glass option when Liverpool is struggling for ideas, that's a trade-off Slot may be willing to accept.

Consider the League Cup final: a game without Alexander-Arnold, as it happens

But being able to summon De Bruyne would have made Liverpool an entirely different proposition.

There is perhaps a whiff of Thiago, who was meant to be the player Liverpool "deserved" to reach new heights, but who ended up spending most of his time in the treatment room