Mohamed Salah couldn't resist a joke when reminded earlier in the week Manchester United were the only team Liverpool had failed to beat in the Premier League this season.
“Yeah, because I was injured!” responded the Egyptian.
Salah had missed the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in October due to the ankle injury that hampered him for a number of weeks.
But even if he had played, his record against United was not the greatest, having not scored in four previous games against the bitter North West rivals.
The perfect chance to rectify that shortcoming came shortly after half-time here in the Anfield rematch, when he was found unmarked in front of goal from Andy Robertson's low cross from the left.
Salah, though, fluffed his lines, scuffing his attempted left-footed shot and watching the ball trickle harmlessly wide of David de Gea's post.
It encapsulated a difficult afternoon for the forward, who was offered precious little protection from hapless referee Craig Pawson from the regularly manhandling of Luke Shaw until the stout United defender was eventually booked late on for a blundering tug.
But Salah, as his famous t-shirt indicated, never gives up. Just like this Liverpool team never give up.
Pushed into a central area late on and then buffeted by Harry Maguire, Salah – who did his bit in defence throughout – remained up top as United pressed for an undeserved equaliser in injury time after Virgil van Dijk's fine first-half header.
One brilliant, quick-witted pass from Alisson Becker later, and Salah was in, holding off the attentions of Daniel James before slipping the ball under De Gea.
The sheer emotion – a heady mixture of joy and relief – prompted Salah to rip off his shirt and celebrate deliriously in front of the Kop.
Alisson, for his part, sprinted the full length of the field to join the festivities, echoing the similar run of Pepe Reina after David Ngog's late clincher in this fixture more than a decade ago.
The win that afternoon was a rare bright spot during the fag-end of the Rafael Benitez era.
This latest triumph, however, underlined just why Liverpool will soon surely be able to add the English title to their European and world crowns.