A question. Precisely how many times in recent seasons has the romantic notion that West Ham United are finally poised to blossom been posed? Three, perhaps four, times? In the more hysterical quarters of what was once Fleet Street it has become something of a tradition to declare the coming of a new force.
And so it came to pass that the happy-go-lucky Hammers, having strung together a couple of half decent results and defeated a team of perceived betters in an FA Cup tie, were feted as the best thing since sliced bread.
Before you can toss one of those wretched, hackneyed East End cliches into the pot, the word is out that Harry Redknapp has, indeed, transformed base metal into gold and that there will shortly be a seismic shift in the Premiership's balance of power.
Without wishing to burst one of those bubbles so beloved of the West Ham faithful, news of their club's emergence as a team so imbued of class that fear and panic will shortly engulf Old Trafford and Highbury has been somewhat exaggerated; it was ever thus.
At the moment, in Paolo Di Canio, they boast a genuine maverick with the capacity for brilliance but, sadly, he wasn't with us on Saturday. No, the Latin Lip was laid low by a virus, one which has a nasty habit of weakening his slender frame whenever there is the prospect of hard work away from Upton Park.
For all Joe Cole's unselfish, if futile, running West Ham were shredded at Anfield, outmanoeuvred, out-thought and ultimately outclassed.
No real disgrace, of course, for Liverpool are starting to resemble the ruthless team which Gerard Houllier used as a mental template when, two years ago, he began to throw money at a problem not of his making.
Once again, Liverpool were marvellous, an absolute joy to watch. By playing without wingers and using Vladimir Smicer as a free spirit just behind his forwards, Houllier was able to set Dietmar Hamann, Steven Gerrard and Igor Biscan toe to toe with Cole, Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard in central midfield.
It should have been intriguing stuff but it was no contest, Liverpool dominating to such an extent that West Ham all but surrendered after their brief, post-interval flurry failed to produce a goal.
"We changed our shape because I wanted to match them in midfield, where they are strong," said Houllier. "I knew that if they could not feed their strikers, it would be good for us."
The outcome was rarely in doubt after Smicer's fabulous drive from distance flew beyond Craig Forrest midway through the opening half. Two smartly taken goals by Robbie Fowler, the renaissance man, wrapped it up and returned Harry's boys to just above the drop zone.
"Some of my players looked tired today," conceded Redknapp. "I'd like to have done what Liverpool did, rest a few, but I couldn't because of injuries. I'm not going to make excuses though - they were better than us."
LIVERPOOL: Westerveld, Vignal, Hyypia, Henchoz, Babbel (Wright 33), Biscan (Barmby 45), Hamann, Smicer, Gerrard, Heskey, Fowler, Barmby (Ziege 62). Subs Not Used: Nielsen, Litmanen. Goals: Smicer 20, Fowler 45, 57.
WEST HAM: Forrest, Stuart Pearce, Schemmel (Song 55), Winterburn, Dailly, Tihinen, Carrick, Cole (Soma 81), Lampard, Camara, Kanoute (Todorov 73). Subs Not Used: Ian Pearce, Bywater. Booked: Kanoute.
Referee: S Bennett (Orpington).
