COMMENT: So it's over? Unbeaten. Thirteen points clear at the top of the table. Putting four past the nearest rivals - and at their place, no less. This is a cakewalk. Liverpool don't just have one hand on the Premier League crown, they have both and are just wondering when to lift it...
Twenty four hours previous and there was a bit of hope. Leicester City at the King Power. Just days after a week in Qatar. Surely there'll be some fitness issues. Maybe a drop in focus. After all, they'd just won the Club World Cup. Perhaps there'd be a hint of a hangover?
Nope. Liverpool were relentless. Again. And the stark fact is, as far as their nearest rivals this season, they're not only at least four wins better, but also four goals superior - and away from Anfield. This is bordering on the ridiculous. Liverpool are on track to smash the 100 points barrier and end the season unbeaten. The way they're going, this team will make Arsene Wenger's Arsenal Invincibles look like amateurs.
And so what do Liverpool do from this position of strength? Of course, they tap into the spirit of Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan and buy. But not just any old player. Instead, one to put the wind up half of manager Jurgen Klopp's senior squad.
He can pick a player that Anders Lindegaard... no really. It was the Dane, over six years ago now, who declared Takumi Minamino a future star in the making. Y'see, Liverpool's new signing has some previous when it comes Manchester United. The then 18 year-old Cerezo Osaka prospect announcing himself in a friendly against United with a screamer in a 2-2 draw.
In United's line-up was former Klopp protege Shinji Kagawa, but it was Minamino who stole the show on the night. Just as United's former Danish goalkeeper Lindegaard stated at the time: "He (Minamino) was the most impressive player on the pitch.
"I think he can become the future Kagawa. He certainly has the potential to play in Europe in the future."
David Moyes, then manager of United, was also pushed about this unknown from Izumisano and conceded: "He didn't look out of place playing against Manchester United. He has potential."
Six years on and Minamino is being celebrated today - on both sides of the globe. The significance of a Japanese footballer landing at the European and world club champions not lost on those connected to the 24 year-old's career.
At RB Salzburg they're proud. Yes, they've lost money on Minamino's £7.25m buyout clause. But the message this transfer sends to potential recruits is priceless. For the first time, Salzburg have signed, developed and sold a player to an elite team. Indeed, the world's best. While much has been made of the presence of former stars Sadio Mane and Naby Keita, the ex-Salzburg duo had to make their own detours to reach Anfield. For the club's sporting director Christoph Freund, the leap made by Minamino cannot be underplayed.
"When a player from FC Red Bull Salzburg changes to what is probably the best club team in the world at the moment, it shows that we have now made a name for ourselves internationally," declared Freund. "We as a club are very proud of this."
In Japan, the feeling's the same.
Hajime Moriyasu, Japan's national team coach, says the move isn't just good for the Samurai Blue, but for football in his country as a whole.
"As a person involved in Japanese football, I'm happy to have a Japanese in a club that plays at the top of the world," declared Moriyasu. "I want to support him both as a national coach and as a person involved in football."
Minamino's national team captain Maya Yoshida also recognises the significance of his teammate's arrival in England.
"We haven't seen Japanese players at such a level for a long time," said the Southampton defender. "The competition there will be fierce. Very fierce. But if you get the chance, you must take it."
A sentiment veteran fullback Yuto Nagatomo agrees with. Now with Galatasaray, Nagatomo had seven years at Inter Milan and warns the hard work for Minamino has only just begun.
"The transfer to a big club is easy," said the 33 year-old. "It's much more difficult to be a regular for a long time. He'll have to fight against extraordinary players. I wish him the very best."
It'll be that willingness to "fight" that Klopp will be counting on from Minamino. To fight for a place amongst his star front three. To fight for selection amongst the inside forwards. A player who can anywhere across the attack - with the energy to drop deeper if needed. Minamino's arrival will have half the squad on their toes going into the New Year.
And the message from Klopp is simple - for those both inside and outside the club. There'll be no pulling back from this relentless approach. Even with a gap of thirteen points, Klopp's Liverpool will not be standing still.
