Stop me if you've heard this one before. Bolton. Saturday evening. In the comforting warmth of the Rebok Stadium, Liverpool manager Roy Evans smiles, sighs and then, enunciating frantically to ensure safe passage to the thickest of Scouse accents, says: "That's a game we really should have won."
Those polite enough to stifle a groan nodded in agreement. Those bored with the plight of a good and honest man betrayed by careless players simply gazed at the floor, shifting uncomfortably at the strains of a familiar tune filled the room.
In his own quaint little way Evans was pointing out that his team can no longer be trusted, can no longer be relied upon to do what was once second nature. If the faith of manager and deeply suspicious supporter should be restored tonight, Anfield will have witnessed a small piece of footballing history.
Two weeks ago in eastern France Strasbourg successfully sought out the inherent weaknesses in Liverpool's ramshackle defence to canter to a 3-0 win in a UEFA Cup tie. Never, in 33 years of European combat, have Liverpool recovered from such a first leg deficit.
In tonight's return, the English will attack relentlessly and the French defend stoically. But, this is familiar ground. Back in April, against Paris St Germain, a rather better French side, Liverpool were asked to perform the same trick.
They failed, albeit narrowly, Paris losing 2-0 at Anfield after arriving on Merseyside three goals to the good in the semi-final of the Cup Winners' Cup. Deja vu only rarely leaves a feeling of contentment, more one of unease and creeping concern.
If Liverpool are to make the competition's next round they will probably have to score early tonight or, as Alan Hansen nicely put it on Match of the Day on Saturday night, "preferably during the warm up." Evans knows that elimination by a somewhat less than formidable team however heroic, however dramatic, will reduce quite markedly his prospects of still being in his current job in 12 months' time.
But, true to form, he was optimistic - even bullish - about his team's chances. "We have a mountain to climb; it's a tall order," he said. "The easy thing to do would be to pour forwards from the first whistle and hope for the best. That would probably prove fatal. What we must do is not only score freely at one end but make sure that we do not let them in at the other end. It will be a night for patience. That might sound strange to some people but that is how it must be," he added.
Evans will likely name the side which so disappointed in drawing against Bolton Wanderers at the weekend although the substitutes' bench is likely to be awash with players with an eye for an opening.
"We are confident, we honestly believe we can do it," said Robbie Fowler.
Meanwhile, Brian Little, the Aston Villa manager, last night delivered a stinging rebuke to Gareth Southgate following the England defender's weekend condemnation of his Premiership club.
Little admitted that he was hurt and disappointed by the comments of Southgate, who suggested Villa had not progressed as was promised when he agreed to sign a new four-year contract earlier this year.
Little said: "As a manager in this business, you get used to criticism, but you do not expect it to come from one of your senior players. I've taken it very personally, and his comments must be aimed at me because as far as I am concerned, club chairman, Doug Ellis is beyond criticism. What he has done for this club over the years has been magnificent."
The Villa manager will decide after tonight's UEFA Cup return against Athletic Bilbao at Villa Park whether to take any disciplinary action against Southgate.
Villa go into tonight's game all square after the goalless first leg in Spain. Little must decide whether Stan Collymore is fit to play just over a week after having an operation on a nasal problem. Striker Dwight Yorke will have a late test after having six stitches inserted in a thigh wound during Saturday's defeat by Chelsea. Goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, who also missed the Chelsea game with knee trouble, also faces a late test.
Staunton, rested on Saturday following his World Cup rigours with the Republic of Ireland, seems certain to be recalled to the centre of defence at the expense of the out-of-form Ugo Ehiogu.
