With 12 minutes left at St James' Park, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp gave waiting substitute Thiago a hug and lifted him into the air. Then he sent him on to replace James Milner.
It says much about the quality in Liverpool's squad that, as Klopp sought to see out the 1-0 win that could prove crucial in the title race, he could call up a world-class playmaker from the bench.
But it also says much about their strength in depth that Klopp could start a 36-year-old in a high-pressure game and rely on him to put in an outstanding performance, as Milner did.