This is it. The first match of the post-Salah era at Anfield. Or at least, the first match since Mohamed Salah was banished to football purgatory.
Liverpool face Brighton on Saturday afternoon knowing that the whole world is watching to see how they cope without their talisman.
The elephant in the room
Let us address it straight away. Salah is not playing. He might not play for Liverpool again after his explosive interview where he accused the club of throwing him under the bus and declared his relationship with Arne Slot was broken.
The Egyptian King was dropped from the Champions League squad for Inter Milan and is expected to head off to the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15. Whether he comes back is anyone's guess.
Liverpool are ninth in the table. Ninth. The defending champions have won just seven of 15 league matches. They have thrown away two-goal leads four times this season. It is an absolute shambles.
Brighton's form
The Seagulls arrive at Anfield in decent shape despite that late collapse against West Ham last weekend. Georginio Rutter's stoppage-time equaliser rescued a point, but Brighton will feel they should have won that game.
Fabian Hurzeler's side sit seventh on 23 points - level with Liverpool but ahead on goal difference. Yes, you read that correctly. Brighton are above the defending champions.
Danny Welbeck has been excellent this season with seven league goals, and the likes of Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh provide pace and creativity on the flanks.
Can Liverpool cope?
Without Salah, Slot will need his other attackers to step up. The problem is, who exactly is going to provide that cutting edge?
Cody Gakpo has been inconsistent. Luis Diaz blows hot and cold. Darwin Nunez remains Darwin Nunez - capable of brilliance and catastrophe in equal measure.
The midfield of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Ryan Gravenberch needs to control proceedings. If Brighton get space to run at Liverpool's defence, this could get ugly.
Anfield factor
One thing Liverpool do have in their favour is the crowd. Anfield under the lights is still one of the most intimidating atmospheres in football, and the fans will be desperate to see their team respond to the chaos of the past week.
But will the supporters turn on Slot if things go wrong? There are already murmurs of discontent. Another poor result could turn those murmurs into a full-blown revolt.
Barry's prediction
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
I am backing Liverpool to just about scrape this one. The players will want to prove they can perform without Salah, and Anfield will be bouncing. But it will be nervy, and Brighton have the quality to cause problems.
This is must-win territory for Slot. Anything less than three points and the pressure becomes unbearable.
