The task for Roy Evans looked as big after the first victory under new management as it did following the draw and two defeats that preceded it.
The big fault under Graeme Souness was inconsistency. Often they even failed to sustain an acceptable level of performance over 90 minutes. In that respect they were as bad as ever in a 1-0 Anfield win over Coventry that was both welcome and worrying at the same time.
"Thank God" was the Evans reaction when asked how he felt when Coventry full-back Steve Morgan smashed a 25-yard free-kick against the post in the last few seconds. There was relief, too, when Rob Jones cleared off the line from Julian Darby after 80 minutes.
The closing stages were such a contrast to the opening - desperation in defence where there had been brilliance in attack.
That brilliance produced a marvellous goal from Ian Rush after three minutes. The outstanding Jamie Redknapp pounced on the ball in his own half, carried it at speed into enemy territory before releasing Steve McManaman. The winger turned inside before passing wide to Rush.
The master marksman rifled an inch-perfect shot with his right foot beyond the despairing dive of Steve Ogrizovic and in off the far post. More reason for Manchester City and Leeds United to look longingly at him. More reason, as an admiring Ogrizovic acknowledged, for Liverpool to keep him.
There was much more to admire. McManaman saw his shot rebound off a post. Rush had a shot kicked off the line by Brian Borrows. Mark Walters forced Ogrizovic to a spectacular flying save. Jones and McManaman were both blocked by the giant goalkeeper when they should have scored.
Coventry could have been hammered. Instead they stayed in sight and almost made it a happy return for Phil Neal on his first visit as a manager to the club where he collected medals as one of the biggest winners of all time.
Why? "I think it's what we did not do basically," said Evans. "In the second half we didn't play. I've seen it happen so many times."
That old familiar problem of inconsistency is one Neal can identify with, having seen his team demolish Manchester City 4-0 a week earlier and then go down by the same score at Newcastle before this defeat.
Like Evans, he learned so much at the Anfield Academy, where teenage son Ashley is now a student as a central defender in the reserves. "I would love to use Liverpool as a role model for Coventry," he said.
One huge difference is the level of support. The attendance for a fixture that would be well down Liverpool's list of attractions was 38,547, almost three times the average at Highfield Road.
Neal expressed confidence in Evans: "He's got what it takes but he needs the support that Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan had among the staff. I hope he gets that. It's very important. I didn't realise until I left this place just what a very committed back-up team was here. I hope he has that quality, as well, within the club because he's going to need it."
"He's going to see different aspects now that he's a manager from what he saw when he was standing just behind the scenes. He's got a task to bring Liverpool back to former glory. I do hope he achieves it. I think he will cope with it and I think the seeds of greatness can come through again."
Seeds of doubt remain, however, after a mixed performance like this.
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