Liverpool face non-league opposition in the FA Cup for the first time in 27 years when Blue Square South side Havant & Waterlooville arrive at Anfield on Saturday.
And it is a measure of the growing despair at Anfield that manager Rafael Benitez wants his side to bag some goals to boost their confidence.
Liverpool's American owners' have again delayed an announcement of a successful refinancing deal but an agreement should be made public either on Friday or Monday.
Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are on the verge of sealing a £350million package and had been expected to announce on Friday that it had gone through.
There are no serious hitches however and it is understood the deal is all but signed off, and the announcement will include details of the chosen design for a new stadium at Stanley Park.
But Havant, whose Hampshire ground is used by Portsmouth for their reserve games, have captured the hearts of the nation with their cup heroics.
And they will have 6,000 fans roaring them on in their fourth-round tie on Merseyside.
The last time Liverpool faced semi-professional opposition in this competition was at home to Altrincham in 1981, when the Cheshire club put up a fine, battling display before losing 4-1.
Kenny Dalglish scored twice that day against a side full of Scousers, many of them Liverpool fans.
Havant have their fair share of Liverpool fans in their ranks, but a team who are 120 places below Liverpool in English football's rankings should not remotely trouble Benitez's men.
But following the disappointment of Monday's 2-2 home draw with Aston Villa, Benitez said: "Now we have a cup tie with a non-league team, it will be a great occasion for everyone but maybe we can score some goals to give us confidence."
Liverpool certainly need a boost with Chelsea and a Champions League tie with Inter Milan on the horizon in the next few weeks.
Benitez, not surprisingly, needed to have it explained to him exactly where Havant & Waterlooville hail from when the draw was made.
And he said: "Getting videos of them will not be easy. Normally you want to see your opponents and study them, but that will not be as easy as usual."
Tapes of Havant's two matches against Swansea in the previous round have been forwarded to Benitez, but the chance to have the Hampshire side watched last weekend was ruined by their match being called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
Benitez's expensive side should be able to see off Havant without the aid of videos, and the Spanish coach admits his side owe their fans a few decent performances, having won just 10 of 18 of their home games this term in all competitions.
One win in their last six matches and five wins in their last 11 overall has started to stretch the patience of the Anfield faithful.
Benitez said: "The fans are magnificent to the team, to me, and we owe them some good games and some good victories."
The Reds boss, though, could field several fringe players against Havant with West Ham to come on Wednesday, but he will want to make absolutely certain there is no chance of an embarrassment.
It is likely that players who did not start against Villa will play against Havant.
And that could mean Steve Finnan, Charles Itandje, Lucas Leiva, Peter Crouch, Xabi Alonso and Ryan Babel being in the starting line-up.
Full-back Alvaro Arbeloa (abdominal injury) and striker Andriy Voronin (ankle) are both out of the match.
And it is a measure of the growing despair at Anfield that manager Rafael Benitez wants his side to bag some goals to boost their confidence.
Liverpool's American owners' have again delayed an announcement of a successful refinancing deal but an agreement should be made public either on Friday or Monday.
Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are on the verge of sealing a £350million package and had been expected to announce on Friday that it had gone through.
There are no serious hitches however and it is understood the deal is all but signed off, and the announcement will include details of the chosen design for a new stadium at Stanley Park.
But Havant, whose Hampshire ground is used by Portsmouth for their reserve games, have captured the hearts of the nation with their cup heroics.
And they will have 6,000 fans roaring them on in their fourth-round tie on Merseyside.
The last time Liverpool faced semi-professional opposition in this competition was at home to Altrincham in 1981, when the Cheshire club put up a fine, battling display before losing 4-1.
Kenny Dalglish scored twice that day against a side full of Scousers, many of them Liverpool fans.
Havant have their fair share of Liverpool fans in their ranks, but a team who are 120 places below Liverpool in English football's rankings should not remotely trouble Benitez's men.
But following the disappointment of Monday's 2-2 home draw with Aston Villa, Benitez said: "Now we have a cup tie with a non-league team, it will be a great occasion for everyone but maybe we can score some goals to give us confidence."
Liverpool certainly need a boost with Chelsea and a Champions League tie with Inter Milan on the horizon in the next few weeks.
Benitez, not surprisingly, needed to have it explained to him exactly where Havant & Waterlooville hail from when the draw was made.
And he said: "Getting videos of them will not be easy. Normally you want to see your opponents and study them, but that will not be as easy as usual."
Tapes of Havant's two matches against Swansea in the previous round have been forwarded to Benitez, but the chance to have the Hampshire side watched last weekend was ruined by their match being called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
Benitez's expensive side should be able to see off Havant without the aid of videos, and the Spanish coach admits his side owe their fans a few decent performances, having won just 10 of 18 of their home games this term in all competitions.
One win in their last six matches and five wins in their last 11 overall has started to stretch the patience of the Anfield faithful.
Benitez said: "The fans are magnificent to the team, to me, and we owe them some good games and some good victories."
The Reds boss, though, could field several fringe players against Havant with West Ham to come on Wednesday, but he will want to make absolutely certain there is no chance of an embarrassment.
It is likely that players who did not start against Villa will play against Havant.
And that could mean Steve Finnan, Charles Itandje, Lucas Leiva, Peter Crouch, Xabi Alonso and Ryan Babel being in the starting line-up.
Full-back Alvaro Arbeloa (abdominal injury) and striker Andriy Voronin (ankle) are both out of the match.
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