During the ongoing debate over where to crowbar the Carabao Cup quarter-final into his team's hectic fixture schedule, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp couldn't resist a trademark quip.
"If they don't find an appropriate place for us - not 3am on Christmas Day - then we don't play it," he said.
When the confirmed date did emerge, it was almost as ridiculous.
Liverpool travel to Aston Villa on December 17 for a 7.45pm kick-off - 21 hours and 45 minutes before the Reds play their FIFA Club World Cup semi-final in the Qatari capital Doha.
Klopp later accepted the club had no other choice than to play the game on its original date, despite the obvious issues.
Most glaring of those are the simple logistics of the schedule. Liverpool will, if they want to fill out the benches fully, need one 18-man squad and another 23-man squad, a possibility of 41 players in total.
Given the recent rumpus over playing twice in three days - Manchester City's Pep Guardiola the latest in a long line of complainants that includes Klopp - it's easy to forget teams often played on consecutive days over Christmas.
And the most recent was in living memory for many Liverpool supporters.
Back in 1986, Liverpool lost 1-0 at home to Manchester United on Boxing Day before winning by the same scoreline at Sheffield Wednesday the following day.
The Reds have never before played on consecutive days in different continents.
But two games less than 24 hours apart? Yes, that has been done.
You have to go back to 1961, though, when Liverpool beat Bristol Rovers 3-0 on Good Friday, March 31, with a 3.15pm kick-off.
The following day, a 3pm game in Division Two at Sheffield United ended in a 1-1 draw.
Liverpool supporters have been desperate for a return to the good old days. Not, though, like the ones facing them during a crazy December.
