They were the near-£100million duo brought in by Liverpool to revolutionise the midfield.
This season, though, Naby Keita and Fabinho have found themselves like ships passing in the night.
Only twice this campaign have the midfield duo been named in the same starting line-up, for both Champions League wins over Genk in the group stage.
When Keita hit his purple patch in December, Fabinho was sidelined with an ankle problem.
And as the Brazilian returned, so his team-mate was ruled out with a groin issue.
Now, though, both are vying for a start in Monday's Premier League clash at home to West Ham United with Jordan Henderson the one on the sidelines for a number of weeks with a hamstring problem.
The composition of the midfield is the one area likely to give Jurgen Klopp greatest pause for thought as Liverpool aim for a 26th win in 27 Premier League games and once again move 22 points clear of Manchester City at the summit.
Fabinho and Keita started 14 games in the same midfield last season but their last in the Premier League came at home the Chelsea in April.
Victory will extend Liverpool's club record unbeaten league run to 44 games.
And there are two other major landmarks that will be reached by downing the Hammers, who the Reds beat at the London Stadium 2-0 only last month.
Liverpool have won their last 20 home league games, just one short of the English top-flight record of 21, which the Reds set between January and December 1972. Klopp's side are unbeaten in the last 53 league games at Anfield, with 43 wins and 10 draws.
Liverpool have also won each of their last 17 league outings to equal their club record set only last year.
It means they are one win short of Manchester City’s all-time English top-flight record of 18 – set between August and December 2017.
