"How are we?"
With just three words, the Liverpool support, already rapt by the statement signing in September of the Champions League winner from Bayern Munich, had their hearts won over by new boy Thiago Alcantara.
The problem since then has been that, if asked the question himself, the Spaniard would more often than not have delivered the same answer.
Injured.
Wednesday, though, saw Thiago make his long-awaited return to action after more than two months on the sidelines with a knee problem suffered during the derby draw at Goodison.
And now his response to the enquiry as to his well-being would be markedly different.
Focused. Determined. Hungry. Intent.
If Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool faithful were irked at Thiago being absent for much of the campaign to date, such emotions will pale in comparison to the frustration felt by the player himself.
Thiago may rightly be regarded as one of the finest midfielders in the game after his success with Spain, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't want to impress his new fanbase.
The previous 135 minutes of action at Stamford Bridge and Goodison had whetted the appetite and hinted at what was to come.
But Thiago's late cameo at Newcastle United underlined key factors - not all of which are obviously apparent - which will benefit Liverpool for the remainder of the season.
There was the immediate impact of his arrival, his passing range - and speed at which the delivery was executed - creating different angles and providing a different tempo to the Reds' game as they pursued a late winner.
Several of his team-mates responded to Thiago's probings by elevating their game. As has been regularly seen with Virgil van Dijk, already it appears the Spaniard is able to improve the standard of those around him.
Most notably, though, was the approach of the player himself. While intelligent distribution is his calling card, what stood out was his willingness to get stuck in, put in the hard yards and scavenge for possession.
Despite standing 5ft 9ins tall, he didn't lose a single aerial duel in the midfield scrap.
Has the Spaniard been underestimated in this regard? Only time will tell.
Retaining the Premier League title isn't easy. Indeed, the only team do so in the last decade - Manchester City in 2019 - needed 98 points to do so.
And while the majority of Liverpool's squad have now claimed a winners' medal, Thiago has not.
If there is ever any danger of the edge being taken off the squad by last season's success, the Spaniard's determination to add the English title to those won in Spain in Germany will surely be influential.
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Remarkable to think Thiago still hasn't kicked a ball at Anfield for his new club, his only previous outing at the stadium coming for Bayern against the Reds in the Champions League more than two years ago.
He'll have to wait at least a couple more weeks for that opportunity. Instead, the St Mary's Stadium in Southampton could be the next venue for the midfielder - possibly from the start.
How are Liverpool? With Thiago available, significantly relieved - and a more daunting proposition now their marquee summer signing is available once again.
