Liverpool's youngsters gave a glimpse of what could be expected in the Carabao Cup next month by dragging their UEFA Youth League campaign back on track in the most emphatic manner possible on Wednesday afternoon.
A 7-0 destruction of Napoli at the Academy in Kirkby means the Reds need only avoid defeat at RB Salzburg in a fortnight to qualify for the last 16 as group winners.
It was the perfect response to the dismal late 1-0 reverse to Genk in the competition three weeks earlier.
And, of course, there was the significant motivation of potential involvement at Villa Park on December 17 with the first team expected to travel en masse to Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Jones delivers again
James Milner, speaking in September, was among those to note the change in Curtis Jones following his man-of-the-match display in the League Cup win at MK Dons.
And not just in position, the youngster having made his senior Liverpool debut as a central midfielder in the FA Cup at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Jones has since been switched to the left side of the front three, encouraged by the Liverpool coaching staff to make more of his power, presence and attacking threat.
Rarely has he delivered in the startling manner here, netting a hat-trick, claiming one assist and contributing to another strike with an effort that hit the woodwork.
The highlight was his hat-trick goal early in the second half, a showcase for his talents in which he took a pass, turned one way then another to lose a defender, then unleashed a venomous left-foot shot that arrowed into the top corner from 20 yards.
Okay, there was a little bit of showboating, particularly during a first-half spell in which he contributed two of Liverpool's four goals in nine minutes.
But Jones earned such indulgence. Having scored twice for the under-23s against Brighton last Friday, this took him to five in five in the UEFA Youth League group stage.
His ovation on being replaced in the final quarter was well deserved. Never mind the Carabao Cup, there's every chance Jones could be making the trip to Qatar at this rate.
Elliott sends Villa warning
While Jones was tormenting Napoli right-back Vincenzo Pontenza, on the opposite flank visiting defender Francesco Marrazzo wasn't having things any easier.
The reason was Harvey Elliott, again underlining his talent with a mesmeric display of close control and bursts of pace.
Napoli's defence couldn't contain him, particularly during that devastating first-half spell when Liverpool cut loose.
Elliott was influential in several goals, most notably the fourth when his excellent work in making space inside the area saw him flash a low cross for Jones to score at the far post.
The only disappointment for the 16-year-old was a failure to be among the goalscorers, Elliott audibly frustrated at one point in the second half before being among a raft of players replaced.
It demonstrated the hunger that has been apparent in the youngster since making an initial impression in a friendly against the Napoli senior team back in July.
If Elliott is in this mood next month, then Aston Villa will have something to think about in a quarter-final most are expecting the Midlanders to stroll through.
Supporting cast impress
Napoli held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw in Italy in the opening group game, but were here much more the team thrashed 7-2 by Salzburg last time out.
But the curious compliance of the outclassed visitors shouldn't detract from many impressive individual performances throughout the Liverpool team.
Elijah Dixon-Bonner's goal was deserved reward for a display in which he won a penalty and had a hand in two other strikes.
The 18-year-old midfielder, who recently signed a new contract, has raised his level considerably since moving up to the U23s. This set a standard he will seek to again improve upon.
Alongside him in the engine room, Leighton Clarkson pulled the strings with some of his rangy passing prompting purrs of appreciation from the lively watching crowd.
Neco Williams was his usual all-action self down the right flank, while centre-back pairing Ki-Jana Hoever and Sepp van den Berg had perhaps their easiest game since arriving at the club.
The only negative was a possible hamstring injury for Yasser Larouci, who walked straight off and into the main Academy building when being replaced in the second half.