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Just over a year after abandoning his aspirations of making it into Liverpool's first team, Sepp van den Berg now has the opportunity to demonstrate to his former club what they might have missed out on.
Van den Berg arrived as a highly-touted teenager during Jurgen Klopp's tenure, but grew impatient waiting for his chance and departed for Brentford in Arne Slot's inaugural transfer window.
Liverpool has suffered three consecutive league losses, losing ground in the title race. A fourth successive defeat could see the Reds fall seven points behind Arsenal by the end of the weekend, and coincidentally, they are set to face Van den Berg's Brentford this Saturday - with Jordan Henderson also expected to play in London.
The 23-year-old center-back has been a constant presence for Keith Andrews' Bees this season.
With Alexander Isak forced off early in Liverpool's midweek victory at Eintracht Frankfurt, Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah may well be the ones challenging him at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Van den Berg made four domestic cup appearances for Liverpool during its title-winning 2019-20 campaign. After several impressive loan spells, he believed he had the ability to vie for a starting spot, but made his feelings clear when it became apparent that Klopp didn't share the same view.
"I'd had a good conversation with the management [in 2021]. They said they'd received positive reports," Van den Berg told De Telegraaf in 2024.
"I understood that I wasn't going to play [ahead of Virgil] van Dijk, [Joel] Matip, or [Ibrahima] Konate. But I felt I could immediately support that. When I didn't get a chance again, I said: figure it out for yourself, I want to leave again."
The Netherlands international was subsequently sent out on further loan spells, featuring in Germany with Schalke and Mainz. His displays in the Bundesliga attracted widespread praise, though this also inflated his valuation to a level where he appeared worried about securing a permanent departure.
"You haven't shown any confidence in me all this time, but you still want to hinder my future. I want to keep playing every week and continue to develop myself," he added.
Klopp had praised Van den Berg extensively after his arrival from PEC Zwolle, with the center-back eager for first-team opportunities despite his tender years. Yet he also told him the brutal reality: that Liverpool already has talented center-backs at its disposal.
"He is a big talent but a young boy, and we already have a good team," the German manager told club media. "He took the challenge, he really wanted to be part of this, and I'm really happy for him.
"We make signings for immediately or for the future, and it's always about the boys, what they make of it. The first impression here was really good, and I'm happy to have him around."
Ultimately, it was Klopp's successor, Slot, who sanctioned the Dutchman's departure just weeks after taking over at Anfield. Last season, Van den Berg was part of a Brentford team that nearly kept Liverpool at bay until a late brace from Darwin Nunez. This season, he has featured in victories over Aston Villa, Manchester United, and West Ham, with new manager Keith Andrews clearly impressed by what he sees.
He isn't the only one with Liverpool ties hoping to upset the Reds on Saturday, with Caoimhin Kelleher and Henderson also starting in Monday's victory at West Ham and Fabio Carvalho getting some game time with the reserves midweek. By the time the final whistle sounds, he'll be hoping to have dealt another blow to his former club's title aspirations.
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