On an afternoon that was about Diogo Jota — not about Liverpool winning, playing well, or even taking another step in its preparations for the new season — it was fitting that it ended with fans and players coming together at the final whistle.
Virgil van Dijk, though he didn't play a part in the game, led his teammates, who stood in a group at the end of Deepdale Stadium housing the Reds' fanbase. Jota's song was belted out loudly, before 'Champions' was chanted, and finally, You'll Never Walk Alone.
Before that, though it wasn't the main event, there was a game to play. And as Arne Slot had said in the build-up, there is an obligation for Liverpool to get itself as ready as possible for when the first ball is kicked against Bournemouth in less than five weeks.
The most impressive performers? Trey Nyoni looked very comfortable in the middle of the field while Rio Ngumoha was a livewire down the left flank. They, certainly, were up there.
Ngumoha didn't quite have the final product to find either the back of the net or tee up a teammate. But the 16-year-old, who isn't old enough to be permitted to sign professional terms until next month, when his birthday arrives, was mightily impressive.
His dribbling has always been eye-catching, and the hope must be that he doesn't ever lose the fearlessness he has when he squares up an opponent. There is more refinement to be done, but the teenager clearly has ability. In time, that will be honed.
Nyoni, though it is less obvious when a neat and tidy midfielder plays well, was just as impressive in his own way. The former Leicester City talent, signed two years ago, is just so calm and poised in possession.
There was a moment when he used his body perfectly to spin away from his marker, and he didn't give the ball away once (literally: 29 passes attempted; 29 passes completed).
Of the more established players, Conor Bradley did well — and scored when he popped up at the back post — and Darwin Nunez ran and ran before finding the back of the net himself, fittingly after chasing down a defender and forcing an error.
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For Bradley, there is strong competition from Jeremie Frimpong at right-back and though Nunez's future might yet lie elsewhere this summer, he showed why he has the admiration of Liverpool fans here.
They sang his name and supported him throughout. It clearly meant a huge amount to him to find the back of the net and dedicate that strike to Jota.
Finally, Frimpong and Milos Kerkez showed flashes of what they can do in the second half. While it is only that — it can't be more than glimmers in a 45-minute showing — there were good signs.
On an occasion like this, there is no playbook. The performances were unimportant in the wider context. But as Liverpool begins to edge back towards something closer to normality again, it was promising.