Surely this wasn't in the script? The latest we have is that Liverpool's board were aware of Michael Edwards being unsettled as far back as the turn of the year. Just as those Saudi rumours began flying about for Richard Hughes. But those close to - and even inside FSG - were confident of convincing Edwards to fulfil the final year of his three-year contract.
Yet instead on Friday, Edwards confirmed the morning press speculation that he was leaving. FSG's head of football, in his parting statement, hinting - or even admitting - that things hadn't panned out as promised when he'd agreed to return to Liverpool two years ago.
“When I returned, I was excited not only by the opportunity to help guide Liverpool through an important period of transition, but also by the chance to help shape FSG’s wider football ambitions," Edwards stated. "While that broader project ultimately evolved differently to how we had originally envisaged, I am proud of the work our team undertook in presenting ownership with a broad range of thoughtful and well-developed options for the future..."
While some have argued Edwards' brief was more about FSG's burgeoning football network, let's not mess about, his main responsibility was the success of Liverpool. And his departure is a blow to the football club.
But for the boardroom, it may not end there. Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, also has one foot out the door. With good friend and former Bournemouth teammate Simon Francis now in charge at Al-Hilal, talks are at an advanced stage that Hughes will follow him to Riyadh.
So we have not one, but both of the men who chose to not only dispense with Arne Slot, but hire Andoni Iraola now on their way out of Anfield. You'd like to think both Edwards and Francis were good enough to inform Iraola of their plans during negotiations. But either way, the Spaniard has found himself in a middle of a minefield.
Hughes, who convinced Bournemouth's board to bring a freed up Iraola to the south coast after modest success with Rayo Vallecano, was to be the Spaniard's strongest ally inside Liverpool over these formative months. And given the state of Liverpool's dressing room, you fancy Iraola would need him.
But with Hughes now on his way out, he leaves Iraola with a playing staff very much in transition. Mohamed Salah has gone. Andrew Robertson too. And Ibrahima Konate turned down the chance to work with the new manager and instead commit to Real Madrid. In terms of experience, character and leadership, that's a seismic hole left for Iraola to fill. No matter who - or what - comes in the next weeks, Liverpool's dressing room has just undergone a massive change. And it may not yet end there.
Alisson, after flirting with a Serie A return at Juventus pre-World Cup, has been convinced to stay - at least for now. But Football Presse has been informed that agents claiming to represent Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool have touted the Reds captain to AC Milan and Turkey's big three, Besiktas, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray. The case of Curtis Jones also remains unresolved. He's agreed terms with Inter Milan. And the Nerazzurri have already made two offers since the end of the season. Those two bids arriving after Inter's failed attempt in January. As it stands, it appears it's more when not if this move happens. That is, unless Iraola can convince Jones of a stronger position in his midfield plans than he experienced under Slot these past two seasons.
As we say, this will be a test of nerve for everyone connected to Liverpool. For this column, the dismissal of Slot was a surprise. The hiring of Iraola a gamble. FSG were rolling the dice. Jurgen Klopp arrived as a title winner with Borussia Dortmund. Slot the same with Feyenoord. In contrast, this season's Champions League campaign at Anfield will be their new manager's first taste of European football at any level.
Beyond the Super Cup in Cyprus, Iraola remains trophyless as a manager. This is his first major job. European qualification with Bournemouth is notable. But lined up against Klopp and Slot - pre-Liverpool - his appointment leaves more questions than solutions. And with his two biggest supporters now potentially both leaving before the season kicks off, Iraola will need all the allies he can find inside the Liverpool and FSG boardrooms.
Despite the doubts, Michael Owen, who won the Ballon d'Or as a Liverpool player, is confident Iraola will prove himself the right appointment - if given time. Owen telling Football Presse: "It is a big step up, for sure. Bournemouth played just in the Premier League, players had time to recover and play the type of football he wanted. Now at Liverpool it's multiple competitions, including the Champions League, a whole new level of pressure as well that he will face.
"Look, the board have taken a look and believe Iraola is the right coach to take Liverpool forward.
"He plays football with the right style, he has plenty of Premier League experience, his football is exciting, it's attractive and there is no reason Liverpool can't challenge for the title next season."
A title challenge? A long Champions League run? That's the hope. As Owen says, that's why the board went with Iraola. He plays the right way. Has shown he can make good players into great ones. And arrives with three solid years of Premier League experience behind him.
But this exodus is doing Iraola no favours. No matter how you slice it, Liverpool are in flux. And you do hope, if there's early stumbles, that those inside the boardroom - even without Messrs Edwards and Hughes - can keep their nerve and belief in their new manager.