As Liverpool ground out victory at Loftus Road thanks to Danny Murphy's last-gasp penalty yesterday, the line between celebration and an overwhelming wave of malcontent became thinner than Emile Heskey's pain threshold.
20 minutes from time Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier experienced perhaps a first and considerable showing of vocal dissatisfaction as his side looked set to drop a further two points in a stuttering start to the season.
As Michael Owen left the field for penalty winner Sinama-Pongolle, instead of the hobbling Heskey the travelling Kop's boos could not be ignored. The subsequent explicit chant, and the jeers when Heskey was eventually replaced were born out of a frustration at the Reds' inability to produce the flowing football they have, surprisingly, become synonymous with this season.
However, if there was ever a time and a place for the new intrepid Liverpool to sink back into their defensively secure shell in was yesterday.
Following Premiership surprise package Fulham's demolition of the Champions at Old Trafford last weekend Gerard Houllier would have been well advised to detract somewhat from his new vision of an all singing all dancing attacking Liverpool.
In the first instance, the restoration of the old Liverpool worked a treat. Defensively, Steven Gerrard began deeper than in previous weeks to protect the back four, who performed superbly with the exception of Djimi Traore at left-back who seems to have moved backwards since his solid displays alongside Hyypia last season.
Hyypia himself turned in his best performance of the campaign. If awarding the captaincy to Gerrard has seen him jump to new level, stripping Hyypia of the responsibility seems to have lifted the strain on the Finn's broad shoulders. He has accepted the decision admirably and is a better player for it.
On his return to his old club, Steve Finnan will be delighted with his first telling contribution as he crossed for Heskey to net his third goal in four days with a sweetly timed volley. This was the new Liverpool. Get the ball wide to an attacking full-back, cross and finish. If the Reds can combine the old with the new on a regular basis than the balance Houllier craves may be within touching distance.
Liverpool could have done with sticking with the new and building on the lead, but Houllier's need to consolidate superseded. After a hairy moment brought on by Dudek's slip, cleaned up excellently by Hyypia, Fulham had their leveller seven minutes before the break.
Traore was again the guilty party, allowing the excellent Volz to sneak past him to feed Malbranque whose deflected cross left Louis Saha with the easiest of task of netting from six-yards out.
In the second half Liverpool showed little resemblance of the old defensive resoluteness or the new free-flowing style. They became last season's Liverpool. A disjointed Liverpool, devoid of the confidence, which has been the signature of their play this season. Passes went astray, movement was minimal, and the jinking runs of Kewell and Smicer were easily curtailed. Old or new Liverpool, it made no difference to Heskey who was still limping, suffering from a bruised toe apparently.
Fulham cut through the Reds defence, but their final ball was inexplicably bad. Saha tested Dudek with a wonderful long-range strike, with the Pole equal to it. The introduction of Stephane Henchoz effectually ended the Cottagers threat as Biscan limped off. One has to feel that Biscan's impressive spell in the side may be over for now, with Manchester United set to visit Anfield next week.
There was hope for the Reds in the shape of man-of-the-week Florent Sinama-Pongolle, but his arrival on to the field was puzzlingly delayed. For 15 minutes the 19-year old Frenchman waited pitchside to be brought on, further increasing the frustrations of the visiting supporters.
Frustrations boiled over as the Reds chief match-winner Michael Owen was removed, at a time when Heskey appeared to be begging to be substituted. A decision which resuled in boos and chants aimed at the manager.
Heskey was replaced in favour of Anthony Le Tallec and boos turned to ironic jeers. With Kewell and Smicer at last beginning to influence the game and with Gerrard continuing the drive the Reds forward, the introduction of the lively Sinama seemed to be the key. It was.
Smicer has a fine effort saved by veteran keeper Mark Crossley before the imposing Zat Knight felled Sinama following a fantastic little body swerve from the Frenchman. The ever-reliable Danny Murphy dispatched the penalty with the greatest of ease and following a ropey display, Liverpool were out of jail.
Liverpool have played better this season and come away with nothing, so his team's ability to grind out this result will delight Gerard Houllier. It was the type of performance which became so common during the treble season and it again it's all about finding the balance for the Reds. There are times when they will need to grind out a victory and there are times when they will need to adopt the gung-ho attacking approach.
The fact that they are now able to do this is most encouraging. No longer are Liverpool over-reliant on Plan A like the old Liverpool. The performance may not have been there, but this result will still please Houllier as much as last Wednesday's attacking masterclass at Blackburn.
Liverpool: Jerzy Dudek; Steve Finnan, Igor Biscan (Stephane Henchoz), Sami Hyppia, Djimi Traore; Vladimir Smicer, Stevie Gerrard, Danny Murphy, Harry Kewell; Emile Heskey (Anthony Le Tallec), Michael Owen (Florent Sinama-Pongolle):
