Football changes so quickly these days that you should never be surprised when old favourites suddenly find themselves back in old haunts wearing new colours.

This, though, was a scene that still needed some processing: Jordan Henderson stood in front of the Kop, ball in his hands, deep in concentration, while the vast majority of those inside whistled and jeered and did everything to put him off his stride.

On the touchline, Xabi Alonso was not immune to the barracking either. Here was a man who had spent five princely years as a player at Anfield and had fostered such goodwill that Liverpool fans had wished nothing but success, yet now they were screaming for him to come unstuck.

How had it come to this? Between them, Alonso and Henderson had played in five Champions League finals for Liverpool, winning the trophy twice. They were integral to triumphs across the Continent that are still recalled with warm nostalgia and will be for decades to come.

But in the heat of battle there is no room for sentiment. Henderson lifted Liverpool’s first league championship for 30 years in 2020 and helped set standards that carried Jürgen Klopp’s squad to all manner of triumphs, yet just before 10pm there was not one Liverpool fan who wanted him to score.

What a difference. Five months ago, Henderson – then of Brentford – was given an ovation that left him overcome with emotion. It had been three years since he had ended his Liverpool career with a move to Saudi Arabia but, finally, he had the chance to say goodbye.

Now he was back wearing Chelsea blue, having been recruited by Alonso to provide leadership and direction to a young squad finding its way. Alonso loved Henderson’s character from the first time they spoke in the summer and he loves him for the drive he is providing.

So it would have come as no surprise to Alonso when Henderson exhaled and, with Chelsea standing on the precipice, stroked in a right-footed spot kick that sent a gripping shoot-out into sudden death. It was nerveless but, then again, nobody behind the goal would have been surprised.

Henderson might have finished the night disappointed, as Liverpool progressed to a quarter-final date with Bournemouth, but he showed through the 90 minutes – his fifth full game in a row – what a shrewd acquisition he has been for Alonso, especially in the absence of Reece James.

This was a terrific cup tie, absorbing and with plenty of edge. It was helped by the absence of VAR and the standard of officiating was superb, contributing to a throwback game when tackles went in and everyone carried on with it, not worried about Stockley Park becoming involved.

It was the kind of occasion in which Henderson always revelled and although there was some pantomime booing when his name was read out, there would have been recognition that at the age of 36 he is still more than capable of thriving in the biggest matches.

Alonso would have enjoyed being in the cut and thrust had he still been playing, but now that he has moved to the touchline, he is relishing the new challenge. It was fascinating to see him and Andoni Iraola leave the stadium deep in conversation.

They share the same values about how football should be played and the respect, which was first formed as kids in San Sebastián, is mutual. The same is true for Liverpool fans, who will recognise everything Henderson and Alonso did in the past.

Seeing them in blue is not something they will ever enjoy, but bonds run deep. The whistling will pass. The memories of big nights in red will never fade.