Virgil van Dijk's forehead may have saved Arne Slot his job.
The towering Dutchman rose highest in the tenth minute of second-half stoppage time to secure Liverpool a 2-1 win away to Everton in the latest instalment of the Merseyside derby.
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool scores his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool
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The Reds skipper was the hero yet again as Liverpool earned their 16th win this termCredit: Getty
It was also a much-needed result in terms of the Champions League race.
The win over the Toffees kept Liverpool fifth in the Premier League, a placing which will be good enough to book a spot in next season's edition of the Champions League.
Crucially, it created a seven-point buffer between them and sixth-placed Chelsea, who slipped to a fourth-straight defeat in the league on Saturday evening against Manchester United.
With just five league games remaining this term, Liverpool are just about over the line in the Champions League race.
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Slotting right in
And, according to talkSPORT's Ally McCoist, achieving the feat will be enough for Slot to remain in his post.
When asked by co-host Jeff Stelling on the Sports Breakfast whether qualification for the Champions League ended questions of Slot's future, McCoist replied: "I would think so.
"I do think it was a big result for them. I still think the Champions League places are absolutely vital for Liverpool.
"There would have been questions if Liverpool had not, and they're not there yet obviously, guaranteed Champions League football. I still think they'll get there."
Liverpool did not have it all their own way on Sunday though, as Everton, who are only one point behind Chelsea, put in a spirited display and came agonisingly close to earning a point.
But McCoist pointed out that the Reds simply 'had that little bit of quality' that Everton did not.
Arne Slot looks on as Liverpool manager
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Slot won the Premier League in his first season but has overseen a torrid title defenceCredit: Getty
McCoist added: "I think there will be one or two Liverpool fans understandably concerned about the way the team has performed recently.
"But from Arne Slot's point of view, I think he will be given the chance to get his team back together for the start of next season and to go again."
Summer of spending... again?
Should that prove to be the case, there's every chance Slot will be backed heavily in the transfer market to turn Liverpool's fortunes around next season.
talkSPORT understands Liverpool have entered the race for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, who is expected to fetch £80million.
Wharton looms as part of a serious midfield refresh at Anfield as Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister face uncertain futures.
Jones had been linked with a switch to Inter Milan in the January window while Mac Allister has endured a noticeable dip in form.
Adam Wharton for Crystal Palace.
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Wharton could take Liverpool's midfield to the next levelCredit: Getty
Should Liverpool swoop for Wharton, it would take their spending well over the £500m mark in the last two seasons.
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The Reds broke the British transfer record twice last summer to nab Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, who are yet to live up to their nine-figure fees since arriving.
But now that they have had a season learning Slot's ways, they could stand to benefit from the continuity of the Dutchman remaining at the helm next season.