Hodgson's last game at Blackburn was notable for just how sparse the away end was. Along with Manchester United's travelling supporters, Liverpool's contingent were the only other set to fill the 7,000 Darwen End Stand at Ewood Park. That night, it was a third empty as mutiny polluted the atmosphere and Dalglish's name was hollered louder than before. Two days later, Hodgson was gone and Dalglish was back.
They are too deluded to ever admit it, but Liverpool fans are culpable for the fine mess they are in. Dalglish's appointment was akin to comic book nerds demanding a character be included in an upcoming film, with little or no care for how disastrously it will end. Sam Raimi said Venom was "for squares" yet was forced to include him in the cartoonishly bad Spider-Man 3.
Liverpool resembled cartoon chaos under Dalglish, whose legacy from that second spell at L4 is a risible one. After thriving in the previous campaign's after the Lord Mayor's show stage to rise to sixth, Liverpool won their first trophy in six years under Dalglish. But it was subordinated by his bizarre championing of kit deals, defence of a racial abuser and antiquated management. Dalglish had not managed in 12 years and it showed. The Reds finished eighth and won just 14 games in the 2011-12 season.