Inspirational skipper Steven Gerrard ensured that a miserable week for Gerard Houllier ended on a high note with a comfortable win over Levski and the manager's name echoing around Anfield.
The small band of Houllier loyalists who've staunchly defended him from the growing army of critics made their presence felt on a night when a rumoured 'Houllier Out' protest never came to fruition. The pocket of loyalists who sang his name during a dour first half are unquestionably behind him, and can not be accused of any hypocrisy.
The thousands who jumped on the bandwagon later on however are a different kettle of fish altogether. The word fickle doesn't do them justice. Where was that backing at 0-0? No doubt many of those waving scarves and giving it the "Allez Allez's" after the second goal went in were the very same people booing their arses off when Igor Biscan took to the field against Man City the other week.
Just how much the despicable graffiti daubed on the Melwood gates earlier in the week had to do with this sudden outpouring of affection is something which only those who partook in can answer. Personally I'd say it contributed to it greatly.
It evoked feelings of great sympathy for a man who for all his faults - and there are many - does not deserve that kind of sick personal abuse. The irony is that it may not even have been Liverpool fans responsible for what was painted on the gates of the training ground on Monday. I smell the stench of trouble stirring blues myself. Well it wouldn't be the first time let's face it.
If their intent was to stir up even more anti-Houllier feelings amongst Liverpool supporters, then they failed miserably. In fact, it appears to have had the reverse effect. Gerard Houllier does not deserve to have his name sung after the two years of dire football, embarrassing excuses and downright insultingly patronising comments he's subjected us to. Yet sing it they did, as thousands got to their feet and applauded. It was surreal.
As I say, it was probably more due to sympathy for the graffiti incident than any great show of support for the job he is doing, but you can be sure that the man himself won't see it that way. I'm already bracing myself for the "I know the fans who go the game are behind me and see what we are trying to achieve" speech.
The sad thing for me though, was that plenty of those who sang his name later on (not to mention the thousands who stood up and clapped) do not think he is the right man for the job. Yet they publicly backed him anyway. Why? Sympathy? Some misguided belief that they were sticking two fingers up to what they perceive as media shit-stirring? I don't know, but they may have ensured that we are stuck with him for another year.
Houllier will use it as proof that he hasn't lost the fans, and the board will now rest a lot more easily in the knowledge that the pressure is off them to make a decision they did not want to make. A momentum was building whereby change would surely have come in the summer if not before. The 'Allez Allez' brigade have set that back by about six months. I hope they remember that this time next season when we're facing the same scenario we are now, and indeed we were this time last year.
All this 'Liverpool fans should back the manager no matter what' because it supposedly makes us better than everyone else is absolute bollocks, and it is that which is holding us back now as much as Houllier's negative tactics are. I don't like the idea of booing, or protests or banners, but something has to be done to let the board know that what has been served up for the last two years simply isn't acceptable. Sadly, what happened last night will have had the reverse effect.
Of course Houllier leapt to his feet to acknowledge the praise, which is fair enough (its just a shame he's not so quick to get off his arse when we're losing). I don't blame him for that, it must have made him feel about ten feet tall. And that is the problem. He genuinely thinks he's doing a good job, and now thanks to what happened last night, he'll believe that the fans think so too.
This man is dragging the club we love down. We're moving backwards, not forwards. He arrived at a team which comfortably finished in the top four every year. Except that was not good enough was it? Not back then. We wanted more. We wanted the title. Five years on, and now we're scrapping to get INTO the top four, having failed to do so last season. We're repeatedly told that fourth place constitutes success.
Whatsmore, we're playing the worst style of football in living memory, he's spent obscene amounts of money on largely substandard players, he's taken us for mugs with his pathetic excuses and constant talking of complete and utter shite, yet still they sing his name. It seems some people are happy to spend their hard earned cash watching such mediocrity.
Maybe they're right and I'm just a moaning bastard who can't recognise that we are playing really good football just as Houllier keeps telling us. Maybe were it not for injuries and bent referees we would be top of the league. Maybe Houllier is doing a great job and I and thousands of others just can't see it. Right now I'm just so sick of it all. Never have I felt so disillusioned about things.
Much will also be made of Gerrard's gesture of running to his manager to celebrate the opening goal. It was a nice touch from Stevie, and a sincere one too. The players will have been hurt by that graffiti too. Whether or not they're happy with the job he is doing, or the tactics and system they have to play is another issue, but when someone is subjected to what Houllier was this week, it's only natural that people will rally round him, particularly those who feel they owe him.
Gerrard's support for his manager was touching. I wonder if he'll continue to be so supportive if we fail to reach the CL again, or will he then have to 'consider his options'? Maybe that's a bit cynical, but it's a fair point I believe.
But if Liverpool do fail to get that fourth spot, Stevie is one of the few players who can hold his head up and say he could have done no more. Against Levski, he was once again an inspiration. In a dour first half, it was only the skipper and the recalled Milan Baros who posed any threat to a well organised Sofia backline.
The visitors played just one up front, and packed the midfield. They showed little amibition, and were possibly the most negative side to play at Anfield this season. Actually, I'll rephrase that, they were possibly the most negative side to VISIT Anfield this season.
They knocked the ball about well in confined spaces, and look techinically very gifted, but there was no cutting edge from them and unless they show a drastic improvement in the second leg they shouldn't pose us any real problems. But if a Portsmouth side missing fifteen players can beat us, nothing should be taken for granted.
The second half performance was much improved. It needed to be, because had there been a repeat of the first half Houllier's name would most certainly not have been ringing around L4 with five minutes to go.
The side stepped up the pace immediately after half time, with Gerrard involved in everything. Michael Owen suddenly found himself getting regular sights of goal, but he could have played til next week and not scored. It was one of those nights for Michael, although strangely enough he was looking really sharp I thought. On another day he'd have gone home with the match ball, but three times he wasted opportunities you'd normally expect him to take.
It was inevitable that if Liverpool were to breakthrough, Gerrard would be involved somewhere, and sure enough he was, popping up with a brilliantly directed left foot volley from the edge of the box. It was a great goal from a great player who is right on top of his game at the moment.
Suddenly a weight was lifted off everyone's shoulders, none more so than Harry Kewell. The Aussie had been woeful once again prior to Gerrard's goal, but suddenly he had a spring in his step again. After barely putting a foot right all game, first he skipped past two defenders and delivered a great cross from the left which deserved more than it got, and a couple of minutes later he cut in from the right and lashed home a wonderful curling shot into the top corner to make it 2-0.
The visitors were rocking, and were there for the taking. Having set their stall out to stifle and keep the score down, suddenly their heads went down having let in two quick goals. A repeat of the Spartak Moskow score from last season should have been on the cards. Fat chance.
As the players made their way back to their own half for the kick off, Houllier was off the bench telling them to calm down and keep it tight. Typical. When the message didn't sink in, and the side kept going forward, he was up again, instructing Gerrard to sit in the middle of the park. He duly did, and the attacking momentum came to a halt.
I had to laugh earlier in the week when both Houllier and Thompson were saying that someone would be on the recveiving end of a hiding from the reds. Not a chance. When do we EVER give anybody a hiding? It's not because we can't, it's because any time we go in front the players are instructed to keep it tight, and not go looking for more goals.
Liverpool's style of play under Houllier is functional, and we rely on set-pieces or moments of individual brilliance to score goals. Think I'm worng? Have a look at all the goals we've scored in the past few seasons. How many of them are from good passing moves and good teamwork?
As I said, set pieces and individual brilliance. Last night being a classic example. First and second goals both coming from great individual efforts following set pieces. You can only go so far with that style, as we've found out to our cost.
On the plus side, the back four were not tested at all, largely due to the Bulgarians lack of attacking intent, and also because they couldn't get through the magnificent Hamann, who broke up every attack they tried to muster.
Baros was lively too, with his willingness to run the channels opening up all kinds of passing options for the impressive Gerrard and Murphy. As a mate said to me afterwards, Baros did more running in that one game than you know who does in twenty.
Next up is a trip to Elland Road to play bottom of the table Leeds. It's a game which we should win comfortably, but as we know that means absolutely nothing. What price a Harry Kewell winner?
Team: Jerzy Dudek; Steve Finnan, Stephane Henchoz, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher;Danny Murphy, Didi Hamann, Steven Gerrard, Harry Kewell (El Hadji Diouf); Milan Baros (Bruno Cheyrou), Michael Owen:
