A nagging sense of deflation

THERE came a time in Houllier’s reign when we expected nothing and the team obliged. There was a tangible slice of déjà vu after Saturday.

Not that we’re ‘there’ yet or anything like, but there’s been talk. Rafa may have escaped censure with his eye-test protest earlier in the week, but news from the international camps was hideous.

He must have been tempted to again question the role of his “senior” players. Gerrard and Torres seemed blithely unconcerned with their own physical welfare, doubly galling when their countries had already qualified with ease.