It is a moment David James and every other goalkeeper visiting St James Park must dread, that first goal kick in front of the seething Gallowgate End. Sure enough, as soon as it arrived on Wednesday night James turned around to face a choir of thousands wallowing in what has become their signature chant: "Dodgy Keep-ah, Dodgy Keep-ah".
James may not have found much consolation in the thought that every opposition keeper receives the same treatment but he could take some comfort from the news that it was not difficult for the neutral to feel a good measure of sympathy for Liverpool's much condemned number one.
After all, for the second time in 10 days at Newcastle, James had performed with apparently nerve free competence and yet despite such efficient professionalism there is no one in football unaware that James is a man currently exploring the meaning of job insecurity.
Today James fears he could lose his job altogether. The man ready to usurp James' role is Brad Friedel, the American recently arrived at Anfield whose work permit requires him to play in 75 per cent of Liverpool games from the date of his signing.
On the date of his registration - December 22nd - Liverpool had 24 matches left of their season; 22 of these were in the Premiership and there was a minimum of one in both the League and FA Cups. This meant Friedel had to appear in a minimum of 18 games to satisfy the Department for Education and Employment.
With 18 Premiership matches now left, plus a two-legged League Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough and the possibility of another match - the final - Roy Evans finds himself with only three games in which to manoeuvre because given the acrimony preceding the Department's granting of the permit it seems likely that it would cancel Friedel's licence swiftly. If that were the case Liverpool would lose not only a goalkeeper but also the £1 million already paid to the United States Soccer Federation for him.
Behind the scenes at Anfield there is bewilderment, and annoyance, that Evans has let the situation get to this stage. It is pointed out that just across Stanley Park Everton had a similar predicament when Howard Kendall, having bought Thomas Myhre from Viking Stavanger, had to drop a legend, Neville Southall, but did so - ruthlessly.
Southall is now with Southend United. Evans, in contrast, is accused of sentiment, and of bowing to the opinion of senior Liverpool players such as his captain, Paul Ince. After the disastrous loss at home to Coventry City last Saturday in the FA Cup, Ince's first statement concerned his keeper.
"I just want to make a point," he said, "that David James should not be dropped for the Coca-Cola Cup quarter-finals."
James, not blamed for any of Coventry's three goals, duly retained his place but privately is said to fear the axe today. The theory is that while Evans did not want to risk Friedel in such a hostile environment as St James' Park on a wet night, at home to Wimbledon this afternoon Friedel will be assured a warm reception.
If so it would represent a personal calamity for James as the astonishing fact is that he has not missed a single Liverpool game for almost four years. Not since February 19th, 1994, when he came on for Bruce Grobbelaar at Elland Road, has James observed a Liverpool game from the bench - 203 consecutive appearances.
Many will be staggered by that statistic, especially considering that in more than a few of them James has been less than steadfast - in particular, his walking windmill display in Paris last April in the Cup Winners' Cup semi-final will live long in his critics's memories.
And yet of late, James - still only 27, Friedel is eight months younger - has been in good form and a notion gaining credibility is that James has been just as unnerved by the defence in front of him as they have been by him.
Certainly the absence of a robust centre-half has been significant in Liverpool's inconsistency.
But now for the first time there is a capable replacement training alongside James under the tuition of Joe Corrigan at Anfield and judging by Friedel's demeanour the American does not want to keep his match gloves clean much longer.
"I'll be patient for as long as I can see that there is light at the end of the tunnel," he said this week. "But if there isn't any, then I'll stop this."
Should Evans persist with James then the decision will be made for Friedel and there should be no shortage of takers for a player with 53 United States caps. Rangers have shown an interest while only Department of Education regulations prevented him being Newcastle's keeper following the 1994 World Cup.
"I actually signed a contract with Newcastle," said Friedel. "But I came over on a visitor's visa and never got the chance to play - the DfE wouldn't give me a work permit. It has been frustrating not playing first team football in the short time I have been at Liverpool, but it was far worse then because I knew I wouldn't be able to play however well I did in training. At least I have a chance here. I am ready to play." Today could be the day.
