Liverpool are thriving right now and Jurgen Klopp deserves all the plaudits for his masterful summer rebuild, replacing the sapped and deteriorating midfield with shiny new signings.
The sweeping changes, successful though they have been, were long overdue, with Liverpool among the foremost outfits in Europe since Klopp's reign got going but a lack of investment and an ageing group of players was always going to threaten the fluency and energy of a system so well regarded for its high-octane, 'heavy metal' approach.
Still, first-placed in the Premier League, into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and the Europa League's last 16 (with the Carabao Cup already in the bag), few Reds supporters would grumble over last season's troubles now that a stunning end to Klopp's final season is very much attainable.
And, sadly, the German manager's tenure is approaching the closing stage, with Klopp announcing in January that he will be stepping down from the role he assumed in 2015, turning supporters from doubters to believers and restoring a prestigious outfit in disrepair.
The stunning lineup Michael Edwards could build by rejoining Liverpool
The former sporting director could be perfect to oversee the inevitable change when Klopp leaves this summer.
The decision to allow him to depart on a free transfer at the end of the 2022/23 campaign was one of the least surprising bits of business to come from that season, with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch proving to be huge upgrades, charging the present title ambitions.
For Keita, at least, it marked a fresh start and an opportunity to rebuild his once-promising career, and so he signed for German side Werder Bremen last June.
Regrettably, his season has been marked by setbacks in a typically bleak fashion and he has played just three matches so far. There is genuine concern at this stage that Keita, who is 29 years old, might not be cut for professional football at this level over the coming years.
Liverpool writer Charlotte Coates once described Keita as Klopp's "worst signing", and while this is true and in many regards and a bitter pill to swallow, ultimately the star's misery is built on misfortune, and all wish him well over the years to come.
Still, he bled the club of around £83m and that is a staggering outlay for a player so ineffective during his time at the side.