Jurgen Klopp is just three games from the Anfield exit door - yet that won't stop him from showing Arne Slot who Liverpool should build around.
Klopp has publicly denied any active involvement in the formal process behind the quest for his successor. But the legendary Kop boss is not daft and after news filtered through that Liverpool had finally struck a compensation agreement with Feyenoord for Slot on Friday night, Klopp's team selection at the London Stadium felt like a taste of the future.
It was as if he was showing the Dutchman the ropes as the Liverpool boss wielded the axe following Wednesday night's stomach-churning 2-0 capitulation at the hands of rivals Everton. And Mohamed Salah, one of five casualties, could not look more disinterested if he tried as he lethargically flicked the ball with his toe during Liverpool's pre-match rondo.
His sulky body language and furious facial expression told its own story as he stood alongside his fellow substitutes. Incredibly, there was even a public touchline spat between Klopp and Salah as the latter stood waiting to enter the field in the 82nd minute after Michail Antonio had equalised for the Hammers - highlighting that relations have undeniably soured in the wake of Liverpool's collapse.
It just goes to show there is no time for sentiment from Klopp in his final few weeks as Liverpool boss - even if that means dropping players that have been cornerstones of his remarkable Anfield story, though any chance to win the Premier League title has now been and gone.
Nobody can deny that by Salah's own exceptional standards, he has been well off the pace during the run in and his omission was once again justified after ghosting his way through the Merseyside derby in midweek.
Liverpool must now be wondering whether they made the right call when rebuffing a monstrous £150million proposal from Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad last summer as Salah is quickly approaching the final 12 months of his Anfield deal and is starting to look past his best.
Harvey Elliott remains as effective as ever and Klopp's one departing regret may be that he has not handed the 21-year-old playmaker more starts in the top-flight this season. Jarell Quansah is undoubtedly a fine prospect while Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch have found another gear in recent weeks in rather timely fashion.
Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister have been the benchmark where attitude, intensity, tenacity and desire has been concerned and they will have big roles to play moving forward. With Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson mentoring this fresh-faced group, Liverpool look in good hands.
Darwin Nunez, who has virtually cost Liverpool the title by himself with his countless glaring misses across the course of the campaign, is among those facing a fight to win over the incoming Slot. And rightly so as there is every chance he might not receive the loyalty displayed by Klopp.
When he announced he would be stepping down as boss at the end of the season in January - few would have been tipping the 45-year-old Dutchman for the hot-seat. However, as Klopp's illustrious eight-and-a-half-year tenure threatens to finish with a whimper, the element of surprise and intrigue surrounding Slot's arrival should be embraced and relished as it's time for fresh ideas and direction.
Not even the German's trademark half-time tunnel dash - that followed Jarrod Bowen's 43rd-minute headed opener - can mask his lack of energy. This is simply a team and project that looks to have run its cause. Slot has a virtually impossible job replacing Klopp but recent weeks have proven the 56-year-old's decision to walk away from Anfield was the correct one.
He has run out of steam, so have Liverpool and now it's time for a new dawn - even if there is every chance the Reds risk going backwards.
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