"Liverpool are back."
Three words from Gary Lineker that are sure to spark joy among every member of the Anfield faithful after seeing the Reds' home fortress penetrated time and time again this season during an atrocious run of results in the Premier League.
Indeed, Jurgen Klopp's side have endured a disappointing top flight campaign so far - losing six consecutive home matches against the likes of Fulham, Brighton and Burnley to leave their title defence in tatters and hopes of a top four finish hanging by a thread.
However, on the continent things are very different. Liverpool have won every single game in the Champions League this season, apart from a dead rubber group match against FC Midtjylland in December, scoring 16 goals and conceding just once in Europe's premier competition.
Their love affair with the European Cup continued on Wednesday night as they downed Bundesliga high-flyers RB Leipzig 4-0 on aggregate after a two-legged tie at the Puskas Arena in the last-16.
The Reds came into that match having only beaten Premier League strugglers Sheffield United in their last seven domestic games, but showed absolutely no signs of ill-effect while producing a confident display to put Julien Nagelsmann's side to the sword.
One goal each from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in both matches were enough to see Liverpool home, though Klopp's attackers were wasteful during the second leg and the players may wonder how they weren't out of sight by half-time.
Leipzig, however, were unable to make them pay and goalkeeper Alisson was rarely troubled in Budapest.
The defending Premier League champions were helped during the game by the reinstatement of Fabinho to midfield, a position he has not taken up since October due to a number of serious injuries suffered by each of the senior centre-backs among Klopp's ranks.
The Brazil star showcased his world-class quality in his favoured No.6 position, screening the inexperienced defence with Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips in the centre while handing Thiago Alcantara the freedom to play and breaking up play to give the front three a platform of confidence from which to go out and attack.
However, it was the overall performance from the team which prompted football pundit Lineker to claim on Twitter that 'Liverpool are back'.
And Reds fans the world over will desperately hope the former striker's verdict rings true and if Klopp's men can start making more of their chances while producing displays like they have on the continent, there stands little reason why it won't.
As the old saying goes - form is temporary, class is permanent and class is something Liverpool have in almost unrivalled abundance which may well worry their European Cup rivals, particularly given the Reds' storied history and experience in chasing the most highly sought-after prize in world football.
