From the dying embers of their burnt-out title defence, came the sparks of European revival.
On a night when Mo Salah proved himself once again amongst the burning lights of world football, there was finally some redemption for Liverpool, and hope now of some glory still, this season.
Salah inspired a remarkable Champions League victory, with a devastating performance that reduced the Leipzig defence to a shivering, ruined wreck.
And he was ably assisted by the electric Sadio Mane, with the pair producing two goals in five outstanding second half minutes that suggests they can yet be a real factor in this competition.
Not only did they put one foot into the quarter final with an accomplished performance, they also hinted that the worst of the troubles of the past shocking two months are perhaps behind them.
There were hints of triumphs past too, not least in the deadly impact of their forward line. On the last two occasions they have met German opposition at this stage, they went on to lift the trophy. And those are omens to cling to, with this quality up front.
Certainly, the dream opening hour indicated they believed in them. After a shaky opening, when the midfield was far too open given the gravity of the situation - this is the only trophy they can now win - suddenly, they looked like the real Liverpool again.
All the verve, all the energy, all the zeal in the pressing was there, and with Leipzig’s central defenders, and particularly the Bayern-bound Dayot Upamecano, looking shockingly uncomfortable on the ball, they had real chances to take the tie by the throat.
Salah, inevitably, had the first big moment, his pace on the break causing such jitters in a German back line that resembled a cat in a kennel full of dogs, and he capitalised when he raced through, but his clever chip was brilliantly saved by home keeper Peter Gulacsi.
The chance though, came as the home side gave the ball away under pressure. It was to be a recurring theme of the night.
The two goals just after the break to swing the tie firmly in Liverpool’s favour were a case in point. It was a calamitous five minutes for the Germans, a shambles of a defensive display encapsulated by two schoolboy howlers.
Can Liverpool go on to win the Champions League this season? Have your say in the comments.
The first was peak Salah. As another swift Liverpool move broke down, Marcel Sabitzer turned blind to feed a ball back towards his keeper. The blur was of a Red shirt, number 11 shirt, anticipating the play like a mind-reader.
The finish was calm and precise, dumping former Liverpool keeper Gulacsi on his backside as he put the ball in the other corner.
It was coming, all through the first half, Upamecano giving the ball away so often, you felt he was a gift horse (or donkey), with Roberto Firmino, Mane and Andy Robertson all coming agonisingly close.
The second was a carbon copy of the first, this time Nordi Mukiele seemed to step on the ball and himself allowing Mane to accelerate away, before producing a finish as equally delicious as his strike partner.
The task from there was to hold out, and Liverpool showed a defensive strength in the face of the inevitable Leipzig fight back, with Robertson and Alexander-Arnold produced fine clearances, and Alisson a fine save.
As omens go, that is probably far more important than any stats...and Liverpool may now start to hope for more success in this competition.
Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.
