Thursday's announcement that Liverpool will kick off the 2019/20 Premier League season will have suddenly shifted hazy, post-Champions League winning minds into focus.
The battle to end the Reds' long top-flight title drought will begin with a home fixture against Norwich City in 56 days' time, or precisely eight weeks if you'd prefer to think of it that way.
Before that, the Reds will embark on a pre-season that will take them everywhere from Tranmere to Geneva, via Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, but some of their key players will be elsewhere.
That's because with the Africa Cup of Nations and Copa America taking place this summer, some of Jurgen Klopp's biggest names are going to have other things on their minds.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita are all going to be in action in Egypt, where Salah in particular will be determined to do well in front of his adoring fans.
The final of that tournament is on July 19, casting serious doubt on any of the players being available to start that Norwich game if they go far within it, especially given that they'll be due a break afterwards.
The Copa America in Brazil starts a little earlier, with Alisson and Roberto Firmino potentially in action until July 7 if the hosts reach the final.
That should allow them to feature against Norwich a month later, but with little transfer activity expected at Anfield this summer, plus Klopp's tendency to leave new signings out of the team for their first few weeks at the club, what will his selection look like against Daniel Farke's men?
A dependence on a full pre-season
It is impossible to overstate just how important pre-season will be for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who will take part in a Liverpool summer of preparation for the first time.
The midfielder battled back from his knee injury to play in two games towards the end of 2018/19, and if he impresses in the friendlies then a starting berth could be his.
No Nations League hangover
You'd think that Klopp would give his players who featured in the UEFA Nations League and other internationals a little longer period of time off than others, but by the time the season rolls around they should be rested and ready to go.
Virgil van Dijk, Gini Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Xherdan Shaqiri all played in Portugal, but they should have recovered in time for the big kick-off.
Genuine selection issues
Joel Matip's brilliant form towards the end of the season deservedly earned him a spot in the Champions League final team, but his battle with Gomez for a slot alongside Van Dijk will resume in the new campaign.
Klopp operates a system where those who merit selection tend to get it, but you suspect that his long-term preference is for Gomez to play, and this might be his sort of game.
So... what does that look like?
So with Salah, Mane and Keita potentially only fit enough for the bench at best, and Klopp likely to trust players who have had full pre-seasons, could this be what the European champions look like in their opening game of the season?
Madrid hero Divock Origi would get a great reception if he began the game, and Klopp would hope that his side could get the job done with a minimum of fuss ahead of jetting off to Istanbul for the UEFA Super Cup against Chelsea on August 14.