After his ten minute cameo at Anfield can Gaston Ramirez finally make his mark at St Mary's with a telling contribution.
Gaston Ramirez did not know he was heading for his wilderness years when he joined Saints in the summer of 2012 as Nicola Cortese's marque signing, little did he know that he wasn't just heading for the Premier league but oblivion.
In truth his signing was ill thought out and more to do with the then Chairman wanting to show he could spent big money on a player as it was clear from the start that the way Saints played just didn't suit Ramirez's style.
The Uruaguyan was clearly a passer of the ball, but with Rickie Lambert up front he did not have an outlet for his talent for playing a through ball.
Therefore in a total of 124 Premier League games he could have played for Saints he has started just 23 with a further 23 off the bench including Sunday's 10 minute cameo role against Liverpool.
But as he heads into the final six month's of his contract, the question is can he make a contribution to Saints which so far has cost the club around £12 million to buy him, plus at least the same again in wages etc, indeed by the time things like National insurance contributions and bonus's are taken into account the total cost could rise to near on £30 million.
Not that Ramirez himself is to blame, as mentioned he was never suited to our style and indeed he never seemed keen to come to England, however Saints made him an offer he could not refuse and that is not his fault.
Unlike Osvaldo he has kept his own counsel and done nothing else but keep his head down and try to force his way into the reckoning.
On Sunday he made a vital contribution in the final minutes with a fine header back across goal for the equaliser and that could at least repay some of his cost come the final reckoning, but will this be his final contribution or will he have a final swansong ?
Ramirez himself knows how tough it will be to force his way into the side as he said on the club's official website.
"I was very happy for the point and to come on. It was a really difficult game and we tried to keep our level. Even at 1-0 down the team was still working hard to get the point,” RamÃrez told saintsfc.co.uk.
"I felt happy to come on the pitch because I don’t remember the last time I played for Southampton in the league.
"It was a really good stadium and a big game. I’m working hard to get that chance, and the chance came.
"Everyone at the club knows what I’m doing. I’m very happy to stay here and work for Southampton and fight for my place.
"Of course it is a difficult season for me because I’m not playing too much, so I’m working hard to get any chance and then I will try to profit from that.”
Ramirez also confirmed that he spoke to the manager about this season.
"He told me at the beginning of the season that it will be hard,”
"That’s because sometimes he prefers another player.
"But in football you never know. In football, it’s strange sometimes. You need sometimes one chance to change everything.
"Sometimes you have to make a decision on your future. My decision was to stay here, fight for a place and play for Southampton.
"I’m working very hard. I try to impress the manager to give me a chance and profit from that.
"I’m very happy here. Southampton gave a lot to me and my family, so I want to repay that on the pitch. The only thing I can do is work hard.”
So will it have a happy ending for Gaston Ramirez at Southampton ? the chances arent great, but at least he might be able to make some contribution in the last six months of his contract, clearly he knows that he has to play for contract somewhere, even if it is away from St Mary's with plenty of rumours doing the rounds that he may be paid off in January to enable him to find a new club.
In the meantime whilst we have a few injuries perhaps it will give a window of opportunity for Gaston Ramirez.