Liverpool, it was thought, were set to have a busy transfer deadline day, with plenty of transfer decisions on the table as the deadline ticked closer.
In the end, though, it was eerily quiet at Melwood, with no outgoings taking place. The domestic window is still open for another couple of weeks for internal loans to the lower leagues, but no progress was made on a number of big players.
Xherdan Shaqiri was expected to leave for either Italy or Germany, with the Swiss' departure supposedly set to open the possibility of Harry Wilson staying put. In the end, Liverpool were left with both wingers on their books until January.
Marko Grujic, Jurgen Klopp's first signing at Anfield, who is now 24 and valued at around £20 million by the Reds, was an even more pressing issue to solve, but a move to Werder Bremen broke down when the Bundesliga side could not find the required funds.
As was discussed extensively on The Debrief after Liverpool's defeat on penalties against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, in which Grujic started, where the midfielder's next chance at Liverpool comes is unclear.
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With Shaqiri still at Anfield too, and Liverpool having already filled 17 of their 18 available non-homegrown player slots, someone has to miss out, and the chances are that it will be the Serbian, given the depth Jurgen Klopp has at his disposal in the centre of the pitch.
Reports had suggested both Southampton and West Ham United were interested in the Serbian, and while he really impressed many onlookers against Arsenal, the fact remains that a move away would have been the most logical next step.
He could still move on loan, but Liverpool have insisted all summer that would not be happening. Grujic impressed plenty of regular observers during his time on loan at Hertha Berlin over the last two seasons and regular top-flight minutes are the only thing he should have an eye on as he enters his best years as a professional.
His Arsenal performance was almost too little too late - Grujic is realistically Liverpool’s ninth choice midfielder when everyone is fit, behind, in no particular order, Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Gini Wijnaldum, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Curtis Jones.
Possibly the only reason he started against Arsenal was Milner had to slot in at left-back in the absence of Kostas Tsimikas and Shaqiri, who played in midfield against Lincoln, was left out as he searched for a move of his own.
A few years ago - certainly when Klopp first arrived at the club - Grujic would have been a vital squad member for Liverpool, but the Reds have moved on too much since then and the time was right for him to move on with the best wishes of all involved.
Grujic's trajectory has broadly been what would have been anticipated of him. Ordinarily, the plan to make him a first-team regular when he first arrived from Serbia would have come to fruition, but Liverpool's progress since then has been steeper than expected.
Grujic might today get into most Premier League midfields, but Liverpool's is no longer one of them. The Serbian must just hope now that someone comes forward with an acceptable permanent offer in January to avoid further frustration and hindrance to his career.
