While everything you see during a preseason friendly cannot be graded on the same scale as a competitive fixture, it's still greatly important how the player performs, especially younger players.
On Sunday, Rio Ngumoha performed very well on what was going to be a tough day for everyone in and around the club.
The 16-year old Englishman got the start in what was an expected split group of regulars and fringe players all getting a chance to workout in the Sunday sun at Deepdale.
Attacking traits on display
When Liverpool were able to pry Ngumoha from Chelsea, it was widely reported the Blues were quite miffed at that development.
The young teenager is seen as one of the brightest attacking talents in all of England and some of that was on display against Preston North End.
He was playing with a confidence that most 16-year old's not named 'Yamal' don't have at all. He was constantly looking to carry the ball forward and utilize his quick feet on the ball.
It was his good work off the left side where he carried the ball forward, split two defenders and drove into the box that led to the eventual opening goal by Conor Bradley. That kind of work at such a young age is a rare trait to see.
During his 45 minutes of work he completed 13/14 passes (93%) including one key pass. He also won 2/3 ground duels showcasing his fighting spirit. He made the most of his 21 touches in his first half salvo and looked the part of a bright prospect.
What it means going forward
A lively forty-five minutes against a middling Championship side is not the same as performing at the highest levels of the game, but it's a start for a player that has been talked about so highly.
I don't think this encouraging performance means Ngumoha is suddenly going to be a first team regular in 2025/26, but I do think he will feature 5-10 times across the board this season at worst.
The Reds have enough talent all over the place that he can be eased into things and nurtured along until he is fully ready to jump at the opportunity.
Watching him play with such confidence on the pitch alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and others should only grow his status within the club.
He will be signing his first professional contract with Liverpool when he turns 17 and this outing showed glimpses of why he could be very crucial to the future of this club. For now, it's a positive step in the right direction and a day he should build on. If he stacks this kind of outings, the sky is the limit.