Not for the first time since Jurgen Klopp took charge at Liverpool, the Reds' front three showed potential as a fluid unit.
Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and newcomer Sadio Mane combined to interchange nicely at times against Tottenham in Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw.
Last season away from home against the bigger sides, for example against Manchester City in a 4-1 win at the Etihad, it was Adam Lallana who was pushed into that attacking trio.
As Sky Sports pundit and ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher astutely noted last season, the trio deploy themselves quite narrowly which allows them to press well and also interchange more easily.
This time at White Hart Lane, Lallana was deeper in the midfield three, while Mane returned to the starting line-up to reprise his role from the opening day win at Arsenal where he scored a fine individual goal.
Sturridge's face when Origi came on.. Don't like that. Support your teammates. #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/c05PZgnQLF
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) August 27, 2016
He had the ball in the back of the net again but had a second half finish rightly ruled out for offside with Lallana marginally off.
And late on when Klopp wanted to bring on a more traditional forward with 20 minutes to go, it was Divock Origi who was chosen - much to the distate of Daniel Sturridge as you can see above.
Sturridge did eventually make it on for the final two minutes plus stoppage time but the fact he did not start and also publicly stated his dislike for playing wider as he suggested earlier this week, has cast doubt over his future.
Origi is clearly highly-rated by Klopp but as of yet, he has not developed into a regular goalscorer of note.
In contract, Sturridge is one of the most reliable finishers in the Premier League when played down the middle, with a rate better than one goal in two games.
Fitness concerns after past long-term injuries as well as question marks over his suitability for Klopp's tactical requirements off-the-ball may be contributing to his diminished status at the start of this season. But as he showed in the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla in May, he has the capabilities to finish deftly and provide regular goals.
For all of the fine movement of Mane, Firmino and Coutinho, there is nothing like a potent goalscorer to turn a draw into a win. And Sturridge is the only man in the Liverpool squad who can provide that.
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