In retrospect, the only way was down for Dejan Lovren.
An impressive showing in Liverpool's Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid almost 12 months ago was followed by a key role in Croatia's run to the World Cup final.
For any player, such games are the undoubted pinnacle of their club and international careers.
Lovren's confidence was such that he could last year declare himself among the best defenders in the world.
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Even his biggest critics wouldn't begrudge the much-maligned centre-back his deserved moment in the spotlight.
This campaign, though, has been markedly different.
Since stepping off the pitch in Kiev last May, Lovren has started just 13 games for Liverpool.
Of course, it hasn't always been his fault.
The defender had played through a stomach problem during the closing weeks of the previous term and, as a consequence, wasn't seen until October, with Joe Gomez having forged a strong partnership with Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Reds defence.
Lovren started three successive Premier League games, and then suffered another setback with a concussion.
His return coincided with both Gomez and Joel Matip being sidelined through injury, and the Croat was then a regular until limping off just minutes into the FA Cup third round defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers on January 7.
He has subsequently played three minutes of Premier League football with Matip becoming the man in possession alongside Van Dijk.
Lovren, though, was given a first start since January in last week's Champions League quarter-final first leg win over Porto, and was no doubt being considered for a similar role in tonight's return until it emerged he wasn't training at Melwood on Tuesday.
“Dejan is ill,” explained Jurgen Klopp. “He had a bad night, the Doc was there and he had no chance to travel. That is the reason for that.”
Again, not Lovren's fault. One of those things that could happen to anyone.
But the worry for Liverpool is they have happened too many times to Lovren. And the concern for the player is what's happened in his absence.
Consider what Klopp also said when discussing why Lovren failed to travel to Portugal.
“We have Joe (Gomez), so should be fine for that, we have Fabinho for the position,” he said. “So that should be okay.”
Klopp undoubtedly sees Gomez as the long-term partner to Van Dijk, while Matip's impressive form has seen him leap ahead of Lovren in the pecking order.
Lovren hasn't done anything wrong, and Klopp's admiration for the Croatian is clear. Liverpool have no plans to move him on, although interest from Italy is rumoured.
But player, who turns 30 in the summer, may have to take a step back at the end of the season and consider where his future would be best served.
