Despite an annoying habit of delivering considerably less than initially indicating they would, there will still be many, many victories for Liverpool this season.
And yet, even in those moments of sweet triumph, many will feel sympathy for Roy Evans. Remember Evans? He is the Boot Room boy made good, the one who lived out the improbable dream of graduating from family spot on the Kop to Anfield's managerial office.
Last month he was informed that his duties would henceforth be shared with Liverpool's first foreign coach, the respected Frenchman Gerard Houllier.
The result is a rather bizarre at the-hip bonding, one reaching its ludicrous logical conclusion in the post-match press conference. It is Edinburgh Fringe material.
On Saturday, after Arsenal's wretched finishing ensured Liverpool escaped with a point, Houllier and Evans skipped into the media lounge like dancers doing a tango.
They decided that the draw was fair and that, surprise, surprise, the strange marriage was blossoming. Roy now knows he'll never walk alone, well, until the day dawns when someone upstairs decides the great experiment was just that: a great experiment.
If Liverpool succeed this season, winning a first league title in nine years, Houllier will be credited with providing the missing ingredient. But if they again fall short, Evans will carry the can.
On Saturday, Liverpool's football was so drenched in adrenalin that it had neither fluency nor direction. In trying to sweep Arsenal off their feet they succeeded only in painting themselves into a corner.
Michael Owen always seemed likely to provide the defining moment but he was poorly served by a midfield which never seemed likely to benefit from the brainless running of Jason McAteer. Liverpool's best chance of edging a game of furious effort but no great style came just before the hour when David Elleray decided Lee Dixon had not - as it appeared - tugged at Karlheinz Riedle's shirt shortly before the German was denied by Martin Keown's outstretched leg.
Arsenal were the happier of the two, Wenger's decision to replace the potent Nicolas Anelka with Nelson Vivas five minutes from the end underlining that sense of contentment.
Michael Owen has become the world's highest paid teenage player after signing a new five-year contract worth about £20,000 a week with Liverpool, who are also confident of finalising negotiations with his England teammate Steve McManaman.
Meanwhile, McManaman said talks were at an advanced stage and "hopefully something should be sorted out very soon".
LIVERPOOL: Friedel, McAteer, Staunton, Babb, McManaman, Owen, Riedle, Heggem, Berger (Redknapp 65), Ince, Carragher. Subs Not Used: James, Kvarme, Harkness, Murphy.
ARSENAL: Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Vieira, Bould, Anelka (Vivas 84), Bergkamp, Overmars, Keown, Parlour, Petit. Subs Not Used: Manninger, Hughes, Grimandi, Boa Morte. Booked: Parlour, Dixon, Petit. Att: 44,429.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
