Not too long ago the first Manchester United-Liverpool game of the season would be an EPL title barometer.
Not anymore.
While the Red Devils are still securely camped in the so-called "Big Four," the Reds' long-running subscription has expired. And their owners can't afford to renew it.
The Kop faithful have quite rightly turned on George Gillett Jr. and Tom Hicks, the team's non-dynamic ownership duo. Their grand promises of new stadium construction and a return to the team's 1980s glory days have proved to be as hollow as the Mersey tunnel.
Yet the frustration at Liverpool's stumbling start to the new season has seen a new tone take hold in the red half of Merseyside. Blaming the owners is not enough anymore. "Liverpool-nation" needs a new scapegoat. Amazingly, Fernando Torres is the main candidate.
Last weekend, former Reds midfielder Jamie Redknapp proclaimed Torres' performance against Birmingham City "diabolical."
Diabolical? Really? Ball watching, constantly being caught out of possession and lack of hustle are diabolical. And several Reds were guilty of all three against the Blues last Sunday. To single out Torres was unfair.
Granted, it wasn't the finest 90-minutes of El Niņo's career, but with the exception of Steven Gerrard, he got no support from his teammates. Every Torres replay saw him surrounded by a bevy of blues shirts with no other red ones in the frame.
The "This Is Anfield" hordes have become infected with short memories. Since arriving on Merseyside in 2007, Torres has been a prolific goal scorer. He tallied 50 league goals quicker than any player in the Reds' illustrious history. And even hobbled by knee and groin injuries last season he still scored 18 goals in 22 EPL games.
He also hobbled through Spain's World Cup-winning run and he's still clearly not up to speed. But as Liverpool's new boss Roy Hodgson well knows, his brilliant Spanish striker is the least of his problems.
His biggest problem is the ownership debacle that has put Liverpool in a deep financial hole, and the aura of entitlement that infects every part of the club. That's what happens when a team does nothing but win silverware for the best part of three decades. But it's been 20 years since Liverpool were champions of England. And it won't win the EPL title this year, either. And there will be no repeat of recent UEFA Champions League success, as Liverpool didn't qualify for the competition this season.
Thursday's 4-1 Europa League win over Steaua Bucharest isn't likely to set the pulses racing of any Liverpool fan who came of age on the great nights of Europe past. Beating Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, now that would spike the EKG reading.
Like their archrivals, United has stumbled out of the blocks this season, uncharacteristically giving up late goals in the recent draws at Fulham and Everton. On Tuesday, Sir Alex Ferguson rang the changes for the Champions League visit of Glasgow Rangers. His team couldn't break down the Scottish champions' canny defense. There was a time when Ferguson could bring big-time internationals in their prime off the bench in such a situation. This week he was relying on Michael Owen to rediscover his old Liverpool magic.
It's clear the specter of financial debt lurks over Old Trafford almost as much as it haunts Liverpool.
Since the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, Ferguson has made no significant move to speak of in the transfer market. And he acknowledged again this week that he couldn't make a competitive bid in the summer for Torres' national team strike partner, David Villa.
No United fan could ever doubt Ferguson. After all, the maestro of the hairdryer knocked Liverpool "off their f---ing perch." And not so long ago that was the wildest dream at the Theatre of Dreams.
If Liverpool fans have any dreams of returning the favor, they'd better start rooting again for Torres. They need him. He's that rare commodity: a 26-year world-class sharpshooter that a team can build around and win titles. But he can't do it alone. Torres needs service.
This Sunday at Old Trafford would be a good place for the denizens of the Kop and his teammates to begin supplying Torres with the support, on and off the field, which he deserves and thrives on.