Apologies if this has been posted already.
HIGHBURY, The Emirates, Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge. The venues may change, but the end product is the same.
Another wholly unsatisfactory away defeat for Liverpool has ruthlessly exposed their lingering flaws.
If five consecutive victories succeeded in disguising the deficiencies in Rafa Benitez's side, Arsenal managed to magnify them again.
Competitive only until they concede, the alarming Liverpool slump in the second half served to remind us of the gulf in class between ateam with genuine title aspirations and a club equipped just for top four status.
There is so much to admire about Arsenal Football Club.A stunning new stadium, a senior team which consistently produces stylish football, and an expensive youth recruitment drive which ensures they'll retain their high flying status for another generation.
If the Gunners once looked in awe towards Merseyside, nowadays the only envious glances emanate from the Liverpool representatives who must surely ask themselves how they've been left trailing so embarrassingly on and off the pitch.
It's impossible not to come away from such sobering experiences and contemplate exactly which club has the 18 titles and the five, and one recent European Cup win.
Everything Arsenal have built in this futuristic, forward thinking area of North London, Liverpool now dream of reproducing on Merseyside.
Sadly, the most successful team in English football history is at least five years behind, and it shows in virtually every department.
Perhaps the 3-0 scoreline flattered Arsene Wenger on this occasion. Then again, once Kolo Tourehad doubled an undeserved lead shortly after half-time, Liverpool were back in the familiar territory of damage limitation.
It wasn't as bad as Old Trafford. Liverpool, after all, had a couple of shots and some possession in the opponents' half this time.
But there were still startling similarities, most notably in the manner the team capitulated once going behind to Mathieu Flamini's 41st minute opener. From then on, the echoes of that dreary afternoon in Manchester were eerie.
As the tame second half proceeded, it was hard to work out what disappeared quicker - Liverpool's self-belief, or the disillusioned fans whodid arunner to Euston when William Gallas headed in the third, unmarked from a corner.
Arsenal carve out enough openings without requiring the luxury of gifts.
Rafa Benitez adopted his all-too-familiar away day pose at full-time.
Too often he'shaving to learn the Spanish phrase for 'gutted'. This is balanced by a clear sense of discontentment with those who've failed him, and restrained anger at the simplistic assessment of why Liverpool aren't competing at the toughest of venues.
No prizes for guessing why the rest of the country thinks Liverpool lost yesterday. "I've explained it 100 times," said Benitez, when asked why Steven Gerrard started right midfield.
It must be extremely comforting for those at Anfield who don't perform to know their minimal contribution will be overlooked in preference to the tiresome obsession with the skipper's role.
If the position of Gerrard was the only reason Liverpool aren't competing for the title, Benitez's problems would be solved within a minute.
Those of us suffering 16 years of bewilderment at the lack of Premiership success would suggest there's a bit more to it.
"Maybe we must analyse what our true level is," said Benitez, in what can be regarded as the closest yet to a public acknowledgement this side isn't capable of a title challenge.
That's been obvious for several weeks, butit doesn't make it easier to accept when the last flickering flame of hope is extinguished.
As at Old Trafford, the most surprising aspect of the afternoon wasn't that Liverpool were handsomely beaten, it's that questions continue to be asked about the consequences for the Reds' championship aspirations.
Judgement of this side against the current Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea team is part of Liverpool's problem. They're not at their level, and can never emerge favourably when comparisons are made.
Even during their most potent spell in the opening 41 minutes, second choice keeper Manuel Almunia wasn't tested.
An ambitious Dirk Kuyt lob and offside Peter Crouch strike proved the most alarming moments for an otherwise outstanding home defence.
Once the onus was on Liverpool to be more creative in pursuit of an equaliser, the team had nothing to offer.
Not for the first time, the substitutions had little impact, too. Jermaine Pennant and Craig Bellamy arrived when the away end was already deserted. One presumes Daniel Agger's introduction was no more than an early confirmation he'll start next weekend.
For a list of improvements required, you need only open the same suggestion box which is filled every year. Penetration from both flanks, sharper passing and movement, more pace from back to front.
Liverpool show these qualities in dispatches against poorer opponents, but get found out against better sides.
One or two individuals, despite several years at Anfield, still can't avoid the accusation games like this are too big for them.
It's a recurring theme Liverpool fail to produce the necessary standardatthe toughest venues, and the simple explanation forthis is the overall quality isn't there to begin with.
In some cases, you can't even say players have under-performed. Even if they all play to the best of their ability, it may not be good enough to win away at Arsenal.
This conclusion might be the most worrying of all for Benitez, who now seems increasingly resigned to the fact the most realistic ambition forthe season is a Champions League place and more cup success.
If Wenger is generous, he may assist Liverpool's cause by fielding his reserves again in the forthcoming Carling Cup meeting.
A Premiership challenge will require more major surgery, the likes of which few anticipated at the end of last season.
To better Arsenal - and, let's face it, Liverpool only finished above them last year because they had a rare Premiership blip - the Reds must become more like them.
The only good news is Liverpool have completed the toughest sequence of away games they'll have this season.
Unfortunately, they've been bruised by the experience, and arguably face the most important game of all as a result of their failings.
Forget Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford and Highbury - or even The Emirates.
The Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough is the venue where nothing but a comprehensively marvellous, courageous and victorious response to the dross those loyaltravelling Reds followers have been subjected to will be tolerated.
It may only be November, but we're in 'minimal acceptable target' territory with Liverpool already.
HIGHBURY, The Emirates, Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge. The venues may change, but the end product is the same.
Another wholly unsatisfactory away defeat for Liverpool has ruthlessly exposed their lingering flaws.
If five consecutive victories succeeded in disguising the deficiencies in Rafa Benitez's side, Arsenal managed to magnify them again.
Competitive only until they concede, the alarming Liverpool slump in the second half served to remind us of the gulf in class between ateam with genuine title aspirations and a club equipped just for top four status.
There is so much to admire about Arsenal Football Club.A stunning new stadium, a senior team which consistently produces stylish football, and an expensive youth recruitment drive which ensures they'll retain their high flying status for another generation.
If the Gunners once looked in awe towards Merseyside, nowadays the only envious glances emanate from the Liverpool representatives who must surely ask themselves how they've been left trailing so embarrassingly on and off the pitch.
It's impossible not to come away from such sobering experiences and contemplate exactly which club has the 18 titles and the five, and one recent European Cup win.
Everything Arsenal have built in this futuristic, forward thinking area of North London, Liverpool now dream of reproducing on Merseyside.
Sadly, the most successful team in English football history is at least five years behind, and it shows in virtually every department.
Perhaps the 3-0 scoreline flattered Arsene Wenger on this occasion. Then again, once Kolo Tourehad doubled an undeserved lead shortly after half-time, Liverpool were back in the familiar territory of damage limitation.
It wasn't as bad as Old Trafford. Liverpool, after all, had a couple of shots and some possession in the opponents' half this time.
But there were still startling similarities, most notably in the manner the team capitulated once going behind to Mathieu Flamini's 41st minute opener. From then on, the echoes of that dreary afternoon in Manchester were eerie.
As the tame second half proceeded, it was hard to work out what disappeared quicker - Liverpool's self-belief, or the disillusioned fans whodid arunner to Euston when William Gallas headed in the third, unmarked from a corner.
Arsenal carve out enough openings without requiring the luxury of gifts.
Rafa Benitez adopted his all-too-familiar away day pose at full-time.
Too often he'shaving to learn the Spanish phrase for 'gutted'. This is balanced by a clear sense of discontentment with those who've failed him, and restrained anger at the simplistic assessment of why Liverpool aren't competing at the toughest of venues.
No prizes for guessing why the rest of the country thinks Liverpool lost yesterday. "I've explained it 100 times," said Benitez, when asked why Steven Gerrard started right midfield.
It must be extremely comforting for those at Anfield who don't perform to know their minimal contribution will be overlooked in preference to the tiresome obsession with the skipper's role.
If the position of Gerrard was the only reason Liverpool aren't competing for the title, Benitez's problems would be solved within a minute.
Those of us suffering 16 years of bewilderment at the lack of Premiership success would suggest there's a bit more to it.
"Maybe we must analyse what our true level is," said Benitez, in what can be regarded as the closest yet to a public acknowledgement this side isn't capable of a title challenge.
That's been obvious for several weeks, butit doesn't make it easier to accept when the last flickering flame of hope is extinguished.
As at Old Trafford, the most surprising aspect of the afternoon wasn't that Liverpool were handsomely beaten, it's that questions continue to be asked about the consequences for the Reds' championship aspirations.
Judgement of this side against the current Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea team is part of Liverpool's problem. They're not at their level, and can never emerge favourably when comparisons are made.
Even during their most potent spell in the opening 41 minutes, second choice keeper Manuel Almunia wasn't tested.
An ambitious Dirk Kuyt lob and offside Peter Crouch strike proved the most alarming moments for an otherwise outstanding home defence.
Once the onus was on Liverpool to be more creative in pursuit of an equaliser, the team had nothing to offer.
Not for the first time, the substitutions had little impact, too. Jermaine Pennant and Craig Bellamy arrived when the away end was already deserted. One presumes Daniel Agger's introduction was no more than an early confirmation he'll start next weekend.
For a list of improvements required, you need only open the same suggestion box which is filled every year. Penetration from both flanks, sharper passing and movement, more pace from back to front.
Liverpool show these qualities in dispatches against poorer opponents, but get found out against better sides.
One or two individuals, despite several years at Anfield, still can't avoid the accusation games like this are too big for them.
It's a recurring theme Liverpool fail to produce the necessary standardatthe toughest venues, and the simple explanation forthis is the overall quality isn't there to begin with.
In some cases, you can't even say players have under-performed. Even if they all play to the best of their ability, it may not be good enough to win away at Arsenal.
This conclusion might be the most worrying of all for Benitez, who now seems increasingly resigned to the fact the most realistic ambition forthe season is a Champions League place and more cup success.
If Wenger is generous, he may assist Liverpool's cause by fielding his reserves again in the forthcoming Carling Cup meeting.
A Premiership challenge will require more major surgery, the likes of which few anticipated at the end of last season.
To better Arsenal - and, let's face it, Liverpool only finished above them last year because they had a rare Premiership blip - the Reds must become more like them.
The only good news is Liverpool have completed the toughest sequence of away games they'll have this season.
Unfortunately, they've been bruised by the experience, and arguably face the most important game of all as a result of their failings.
Forget Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford and Highbury - or even The Emirates.
The Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough is the venue where nothing but a comprehensively marvellous, courageous and victorious response to the dross those loyaltravelling Reds followers have been subjected to will be tolerated.
It may only be November, but we're in 'minimal acceptable target' territory with Liverpool already.
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