When Marcelo Bielsa took over at Uruguay it felt like Darwin Nunez might have been about to take the leap forward that everyone at Anfield had been waiting for.
His part in a 2-0 defeat of World Cup winners Argentina and then a run to the Copa America semi-finals made it seem like everything was falling Darwin's way, and it was surely only a matter of time before this form would be transplanted onto Merseyside.
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But the arrival of new head coach Arne Slot has quashed Nunez's fortunes. He's only played a third of Liverpool's minutes so far this season, limited to one league start and a handful of cameo substitutions.
What are the Uruguayan press saying about Nunez? Press in Uruguay have started to worry for their star striker following a lacklustre international break in which La Celeste didn't even score a goal against Peru and Ecuador.
Uruguayan outlet El Pais is reporting that the departure of Jurgen Klopp has had a big impact on Nunez due to the way in which Klopp stood up for the striker.
"For Darwin, the support of his entourage, teammates and coaching staff is of vital importance but he no longer has, at least in the locker room, two players who were fundamental both in the Uruguayan national team and in Liverpool" the report reads.
Darwin "lost his guardian because Jurgen Klopp, who asked him for the Reds when the Uruguayan played for Benfica, always trusted him, defended him from criticism and argued that to reach his maximum performance he only needed time."
And this vulnerability has been seen for the national side too with the departure of his close friend and former Liverpool star Luis Suarez. A recent report quoted Suarez saying that Nunez was reduced to tears following a dressing down by Bielsa whilst on duty for the national side.
This follows a report by Paul Joyce of The Times who stressed that Nunez was a Klopp-led signing, with the rest of the executive team preferring to chase Christopher Nkunku, who ended up joining Chelsea.
Without Klopp, then, Nunez is starting to seem like the odd man out both for his club and his country. With Liverpool linked to other attackers, such as Omar Marmoush, and consistent reports of Barcelona's interest in Nunez, this might be the last few months we see Darwin in Red.
The Uruguayan only has one goal and one assist to his name in his seven appearances for Slot this season. He could have registered another if he could have remained onside in the Champions League against Bologna, but this is one of the more significant problems with his game.
Diogo Jota has clearly established himself as the starter in the role and doesn't seem likely to give it up any time soon.
Uruguay might need to start looking at other options too.