At the beginning of October 2017, Ross Sykes was bedding in for his first loan period away from Accrington Stanley with Southport, in the National League North.
Six years later, Sykes was a second-half substitute in one of Royal Union Saint-Gilloise's biggest-ever matches against Liverpool, marking Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, at Anfield.
The path from League One and the home comforts of the Wham Stadium to the bright lights of Anfield on a Thursday night in the Europa League is not one that is well-trodden.
And for those checking the teamsheet last Thursday, prior to Jurgen Klopp's side extending their 100 per cent record in Group E, one name would've only stood out to a handful of onlookers.
That being the former Accrington Stanley defender and Southport loanee, Sykes.
The historic visit to L4 for the Belgians was something of a sliding-doors moment for the 24-year-old as two days later marked the anniversary of his Southport loan debut against Spennymoor Town.
"When you put it like that, time flies," he said, dialling in from Antwerp, close to Union Saint-Gilloise's training centre.
"I didn't even realise it was six years ago, it doesn't even feel that long (ago).
"It's incredible to play in games like this (against Liverpool) and hopefully, there's many more to come," the defender added.
Liverpool managed to take maximum points from their encounter with the Brussels side despite their below-par performance. Ryan Gravenberch and Jota both found the target in the triumph.
But it wasn't an easy encounter for Klopp's side with Alisson forced into a number of important saves to keep the visitors at bay.
Sykes came away with Curtis Jones' shirt from their duel on Merseyside but it wasn't only the memento that the defender took from the defeat. The Union Saint-Gilloise man felt they could hold their heads held high for their showing.
He said: "I thought we played well as a team, maybe on another day, there's a couple of chances in there that we could take.
"When you're playing against a team like Liverpool, they're going to score when they get half a chance, they did that but I think we can be proud of the performance we put in.
"It was a good experience, my family were there so it was a proud moment for me and them watching on.
"It's one of the biggest stadiums in England, a good atmosphere on a European night, you can't ask for much more, it's what you dream of as a kid growing up."
The Belgian Pro League leaders drew their opening Europa League game against Toulouse FC as Mohamed Amoura cancelled out Thijs Dallinga's first-half penalty.
Alexander Blessin's side wore the underdogs title throughout last season's Europa League campaign, topping their group - ahead of Union Berlin - before overcoming the Germans in the knockout rounds until their journey ended to Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen.
Their hopes of winning the Belgian top-flight for a 12th time, and first since 1935, ended on the final day of the season as three late goals from Club Brugge scuppered their silverware chances.
This time around, they're showing no signs of a hangover, sitting at the top of the table, one point clear of Anderlecht.
The build-up to Thursday's matchday two of the Europa League group stage was dominated by the prospect of Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister playing his brother Kevin, of Union Saint-Gilloise.
Before a ball was kicked, the reaction to the draw on the plane went viral as the players celebrated being drawn in the same group alongside Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and co.
"They're one of the biggest clubs in world football," Sykes added. "When you're there you don't really take it in much but then now when you look back, it's a surreal moment.
"Playing at Anfield, there aren't many people who get to dream about doing that and playing there, in front of the fans, was great."
Rewind again to 2017 and defeat to Spennymoor marked Sykes' first game in a Southport shirt. It was a turbulent time for the Sandgrounders as Steven Schumacher took over the club on a caretaker basis after Alan Lewer was sacked - the Stanley loanee had a strong debut but a defensive lapse saw the North East side swoop in and snatch the win.
An 18-year-old Sykes would go on to make six appearances for Port, being named Player of the Month before being recalled after injuries within Accrington Stanley's squad but remembers the "learning curve" fondly.
While the Southport connection is there with Sykes sharing a friendship with current midfielder Josh Hmami, with the defender admitting he still keeps an eye out for the results.
It was only at the end of April 2022 that Sykes stepped foot out onto the pitch as an Accrington player for the final time. By the age of 22, he amassed over 130 appearances in Lancashire after cementing a starting position in John Coleman's backline.
His time came to an end when Tony Bloom's Union Saint-Gilloise expressed an interest, signing the then-23-year-old for an undisclosed fee.
"My agent first heard of the interest from the Sporting Director over here (in Belgium)," Sykes continued.
"Not many players get the chance to move abroad and play football, when you get the chance I don't think you can turn it down, it was something I was interested in straight away.
"I'm thankful that I made the decision that I'm here now."
Union Saint-Gilloise bounced back from their defeat to the Reds with a commanding 4-0 win over Sint-Truidense V.V.
As well as the league, the focus from the Belgium capital is very much on racking points up in Group E, not dwelling on their time in the spotlight against Liverpool, when they welcome LASK at the end of October.