Jurgen Klopp could not have expected to enter this week of the season sweating on the fitness of Nathaniel Phillips.
Back in August, the 24-year-old found himself behind Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Fabinho and even Rhys Williams in the pecking order after failing to secure a move away.
Yet, nine months on, he is the preferred partner to Ozan Kabak, another player who was not on Liverpool's radar when the campaign began.
That it has come to this underlines the unpredictability of sport, and the folly of managers ever looking too far ahead.
Still, while Klopp might begrudgingly accept that he cannot control everything, he will be desperate to do everything possible to ensure that he is never left in this position again.
Time alone will play a big role in that regard, providing a three-man boost to Liverpool's options at the heart of their defence ahead of next season.
Van Dijk, Matip and Gomez are progressing well in their respective rehabilitation programmes having recently resumed running on the Kirkby turf.
And, while each star still has some way to go to reach full fitness, it is hoped that they will all be ready to play a full part in pre-season.
Beyond that trio, however, things get a little tricky in terms of planning how the defence might look.
Although he has perhaps surprised his manager with his performances this season, Phillips is certain to fall back down the pecking order upon the return of his injured teammates.
Having missed out on a move to Swansea City last summer, the Englishman could arguably secure a Premier League transfer now, and may well see this as the right time in his career to seek out regular football.
Kabak, meanwhile, is available for just £18m as a result of the mid-season deal Liverpool struck with Schalke.
But, while he has shown plenty of promise, Klopp must decide if he is able to give the 21-year-old the minutes he will require to deliver on it in the years ahead.
Leapfrogging the likes of Van Dijk, Gomez and Matip will not be easy, and the Turk is sure to receive offers of greater playing time elsewhere.
That just leaves Ben Davies, whose Anfield career has not got going since his surprise arrival in January.
The 25-year-old's failure to pick up minutes even in the aftermath of Phillips' recent injury feels instructive; his transfer appears to be a gamble that has not paid off, but which could still end in a quick sale that benefits both parties.
Of course, the reason that Davies, Kabak and Phillips' Liverpool futures look so uncertain is the club's public pursuit of an alternative centre-half.
Sources close to the Reds continue to insist that RB Leipzig defender Ibrahima Konate is just one of a number of options being considered ahead the summer window but their interest is obviously concrete.
Clearly, the Frenchman would not be signed simply to make up the numbers, his pedigree and talent marking him out as a potential challenger to Matip and Gomez, particularly given their injury struggles.
However, the presence of a hefty release clause that would need to be paid in one lump sum serves to complicate matters somewhat given Liverpool's recent financial results.
As such, for Klopp, the only certainty going into the summer is that he will wish never to become so reliant on his sixth-choice centre-back ever again.
