Attention now turns to the immense workload ahead and the man tasked with managing it. Andoni Iraola has emerged as the clear favourite to take over the football club.

Having already confirmed his departure from Bournemouth this summer, the 43-year-old manager is reportedly open to the Anfield move. Iraola’s tenure on the south coast emphasised a level of professional realism and high-intensity play that Liverpool desperately lacked this term. He has been linked with numerous vacancies, but stepping onto the pitch at Anfield presents an entirely different burden of expectation.

The immediate requirement for the incoming coach is not just tactical. The new manager will be challenged to rebuild a broken squad and reinstall a culture of absolute alignment.

Liverpool are moving quickly, acutely aware that they are essentially starting from scratch. The coming days will dictate whether the club can efficiently secure Iraola and begin repairing the damage. Bringing him in would be a definitive step, but the margin for error has completely vanished; the fight to restore their top-flight standards begins today.