“If we can just keep it down to a one-goal deficit it’ll be alright,” was a recurring observation from the red-scarved contingent in Dortmund on Wednesday evening, especially given what happened to Spurs in the round of 32.

To be fair, Klopp seemed to revel in the underdog status as much as anyone and may have used it to his advantage on his homecoming. The suggestion Liverpool had to ‘climb the highest mountain’ to get past his ex-club certainly did not invite the grandest of expectations of what must rank – tactically at least – as the most accomplished performance of his fledgling Anfield reign.

Unfancied status clearly suits Liverpool, and the echoes of the 2004-05 European campaign will start to resonate further should Klopp be celebrating on home turf in a week’s time.