Just as Liverpool were beginning to believe their renaissance was nearing completion, Gerard Houllier's world fell apart at Anfield last night.
Having laid siege to the Blackburn Rovers goal for long spells of a compelling encounter, the Frenchman's reconstructed side succumbed to a goal six minutes from time from the striker Nathan Blake.
Exposing some of the old deficiencies in Liverpool's defence, Blake found himself totally unchallenged after some smart passing by Damien Duff and Per Frandsen to volley home Frandsen's right-wing delivery and effectively render Liverpool's season null and void.
It was no more than Blackburn deserved after a stirring display.
But no such happy times for Houllier and his expensive side on another sorry occasion for a club which has known some traumatic cup nights in the past few years.
Blackburn have fond memories of the old place, having reached their zenith by prising the championship out of United's stubborn grasp on a famous day on Merseyside five years ago. And, more recently, the indifference of their players during Brian Kidd's extravagant tenure has been ousted by a new-found solidarity and defiance since Tony Parkes finally accepted the missive of safeguarding Jack Walker's bags of gold.
In a pulsating opening Blackburn were the equal of their hosts, with Blake's pace and power in attack posing all sorts of problems. Twice the Welsh international could have given them an early advantage after charging bullishly at the core of the home defence.
On the first occasion he was culpable of bad judgment in a one-on-one position when opting for precision ahead of power and chipping his shot over the Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld but wide of the target. His next effort carried far greater conviction but his venomous 20-yarder was beaten away by Westerveld's one-handed save.
By far the busier goalkeeper during the opening 45 minutes, Westerveld was also readily placed to contend with shots from Frandsen and Simon Grayson, a 10th-minute substitute for the injured Jeff Kenna, as Blackburn continued to bridge the gulf in status with an ease which will have troubled Houllier.
Liverpool, too, had their moments, but only sporadically. Best of all was a slick interchange of breathtaking speed that dissected the entire Blackburn defence only for Danny Murphy to remind us all that he is far from Michael Owen in front of goal.
Worst of all was a preposterous volley from Titi Camara from inside the centre-circle, of all places, that barely dribbled to the edge of John Filan's penalty area.
Murphy's final act was to divert Steven Gerrard's low centre into the side netting before being replaced by David Thompson. That allowed Vladimir Smicer to move into a more central role and, with Camara becoming an increasingly potent force, Liverpool regained the initiative in the second half without providing too many stern examinations for Filan.
LIVERPOOL: Westerveld, Gerrard, Henchoz, Hyypia, Matteo, Smicer, Hamann, Carragher (Newby 88), Berger, Murphy (Thompson 57), Camara. Subs not used: Staunton, Heggem, Nielsen. Booked: Hamann.
BLACKBURN: Filan, Kenna (Grayson 10), Dailly, Peacock, Davidson, Johnson, Frandsen, Carsley, Duff, Blake (Gillespie 89), Ostenstad (Dunn 76). Subs not used: Kelly, Jansen. Booked: Blake, Peacock. Goals: Blake 84. Attendance: 32,839.
Referee: G Poll (Tring).
