Liverpool head coach Arne Slot finally bowed to the demands to unleash Rio Ngumoha from the start, with the 17-year-old demonstrating what all the fuss and excitement is about with a thrilling display.
Following Max Dowman's brilliant goalscoring cameo in Arsenal's win against Everton, Rio Ngumoha showed further evidence of a bright future for England as he stood out, despite being surrounded by the mediocrity of his Liverpool team-mates.
Ngumoha was a constant threat in one-on-one duels and was always willing to strike on goal, in a performance showing a vision and invention beyond other more experienced players around him.
But the teenager aside, Liverpool lacked urgency and creation and invited the trouble that eventually led to Richarlison punishing Slot's side at the end.
Richarlison's equaliser carried a sense of inevitability, the Brazilian cupping an ear to The Kop who jeered him throughout for his previous Everton connections.
Liverpool looked set to move into the Premier League's top four until they conceded, but can have no complaints about the outcome. Anfield let Slot and his players know exactly what they thought with resounding jeers at the final whistle.
