Mohamed Salah has dug Liverpool out of so many holes during his Anfield career he might have expected his team-mates to do likewise for him.
But when the Egyptian was confirmed as a mere human like the rest of us, it was precisely the wrong time for the rest of Jurgen Klopp’s team to follow suit.
No doubt the finger will be pointed at Salah after his 16th-minute penalty miss proved a decisive moment as the Reds crumbled to only a second defeat of the season at injury-hit Leicester City.
Salah, though, was one of the very few Liverpool players who at least looked like threatening on an evening that may ultimately be decisive in the title race.
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Indeed, it was the Egyptian who won the spot kick after tempting Wilfred Ndidi into a needless foul.
Kasper Schmeichel had failed to save any of the six penalties he faced in the Carabao Cup shoot-out last Wednesday, and was beaten twice at Manchester City two days ago.
However, that recent practice clearly paid off as he guessed the right way and was then fortunate to see Salah’s header from the rebound strike the crossbar.
There was no luck involved, though, with the save from Schmeichel that denied Salah from close range later in the first half.
Otherwise, Liverpool were dismal on the rare occasions their increasingly desperate attempts to break down a limited but committed makeshift Leicester rearguard hinted at success.
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Sadio Mane in particular spurned a brilliant chance after the break.
For the first time since April, the Reds failed to score in a match – against a team starting with precisely no recognised centre-backs.
Laborious, unimaginative and weak, this was Liverpool at their worst.
Exactly halfway through the season, Klopp’s side now stand six points behind leaders Manchester City with Sunday’s trip to third-placed Chelsea, level on points with the Reds, taking on even greater significance.
“Feed the Scousers” sang the Leicester fans towards the disgruntled away support after the final whistle, followed by a rendition of “Always the victims” and “Sign on”.
Watching their team lose was bad enough, but having that nonsense ringing in their ears as they made their way out of the exits was the final insult on an evening to forget for Liverpool.
