LOITERING Liverpool helped make a bit of history on Saturday. And they'll hate themselves for it.
Seen as banker winners at Bramall Lane, they played so lethargically - especially in a dire first half - that only a dubious spot-kick earned them a meagre point.
That's where the history comes in, because, for the first time in its 15-year existence, the Premiership recorded no away wins on opening day.
Blame Liverpool for that blank, as they again allowed an imminent European engagement to cloud league thinking in terms of personnel.
Granted, we'll never know whether a full-strength Liverpool team would have fared any better against opponents for whom the beautiful game has as much relevance as the Champions League or Shakespeare's sonnets.
But if Chelsea - two points to the good - are truly in Liverpool's sights then players will need to take a break between matches not during them.
No Alonso, said to be out of form following fine displays in the World Cup. No Crouch, fidgeting on the bench.
No Finnan, although he'd suffered a slight knock. No Garcia.
All this may explain why, in the first two instances, Liverpool's passing game never functioned fully and why the bashers of Bramall Lane faced too few physical challenges in their own penalty box.
Neil Warnock very kindly allowed that Liverpool merited a point - but take that as yet another wind-up from a man, who, as I suggested in my season's preview will garner more headlines that his own rough-and-unready team.
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