It would seem that Momo Sissoko wants out, frustrated by the lack of opportunities coming his way. Based on Saturday’s performance – and many others over the past months to be honest – few fans would stop him.

Benitez, however, isn’t one for such knee-jerk reactions. His praise of the Mali midfielder early last week seemed strange at the time – he isn’t big on compassion either – but in the light of such rumours it is easy to see what motivated him to do so. Unfortunately, if his ultimate aim was to instill confidence in the player, then the ploy hasn’t worked.

Against Everton, his passing was truly woeful. Few players get past him but teams are realizing that often you don’t really need to: simply let him try to get the ball to another player and he’ll present it back to you.

If that is an area that he can improve in, then it would be senseless to sell him. When he’s on form there are few better defensive central midfielders in the world in that position. Just recall games like the one against Barcelona last season if you need convincing.

Sadly, those games are too few and harder to recall with the opposite applying to performances like the one on Sunday. Unless he can find it within him to show an improvement, not even Rafa’s words of comfort would be enough to avoid a sale that no one seems too bothered to prevent.