With the ink barely dry on his contract, Kenny Dalglish is already trying to avoid a third defeat in a week - in a Merseyside derby no less. And facing up to Everton so soon will no doubt have Liverpool's caretaker boss pondering how his life seems to have come full circle.
Almost 20 years ago - in February 1991 - Dalglish walked away from the top job after Liverpool and Everton battled to a pulsating 4-4 draw in an FA Cup fifth-round replay at Goodison Park.
The Reds were defending champions and having a good campaign under Dalglish who had been voted manager of the year the previous season. But the Scotsman said he was suffering from stress and admitted the pressure to maintain Liverpool's high expectations of success had become too much.
Although his coaching comeback has been greeted with euphoria from the Kop faithful, the honeymoon period could come to an abrupt halt if 13th-placed Liverpool lose to 12th-placed Everton. Having watched the struggles of his predecessor Roy Hodgson, Dalglish has quickly discovered the challenges of producing consistent results with an inferior squad in desperate need of reinforcements. The reality is that the Reds of 2011 will probably be closer to the relegation zone than to the chase for European spots.
When Dalglish last managed Liverpool against Everton, John Major was British prime minister, Fernando Torres was six years old and Jason Donovan and Queen were riding high in the music charts. But even though English soccer is dramatically different to two decades ago, former players are confident that Dalglish can make the necessary adjustments to lift Liverpool from the doldrums. 'Football has changed an awful lot but Kenny has not been in Siberia; he's been living in Birkdale on the outskirts of Liverpool and working in the academy and as an ambassador of the club,' ex-Liverpool midfielder Craig Johnston said. 'Kenny knows intimately what is going on in football and in the club - better than Roy Hodgson or Rafa Benitez.
'The problem of player power at Liverpool means that bad personal and team performances are being passed off as someone else's fault. But as only a prodigal son could, Kenny will tell them to pull their fingers out, get stuck in and stop blaming the owners or management any longer.'