When you need a blatant dive to earn a home draw with Birmingham you know you're in trouble. And that's exactly how Liverpool fans will be feeling this morning.
But before we dissect another disappointing night at Anfield for Rafa Benitez, we have to pay credit to Alex McLeish's men who took the game to the Reds to start with and then stayed strong at the end when Liverpool were pushing for a winner.
And for the fact that none of their players got themselves sent off when David Ngog threw himself to the floor to earn the second-half penalty which got Liverpool off the hook.
But for Rafa it's not getting any better with his side now a massive 11 points behind Chelsea and looking like they are in for a season of struggle to even make the top four.
Yet despite this he seems safe in his position, and, more importantly, he knows it.
There is much to be said for loyalty in football and Liverpool chief executive Christian Purslow is right to publicly back his manager. The Anfield crowd have also been incredibly patient with a leader whose team have gone backwards this season.
But if you work in such a bubble, is there a chance you will get complacent?
Any football manager thrives on pressure. Whether you're battling at the top or the bottom of the league, knowing you need a result sharpens your senses and your decision making.
On the other hand, knowing that you will be in the same job for the next year or two no matter what happens can take away a vital edge to your game.
Rafa has played the political game well since he came to Anfield and has secured a very strong powerbase for himself which see him in total charge of many areas of first-team business. But where is the oversight? Who is making sure Rafa is doing his job properly?
We hope Rafa has had to do some fast talking to Purslow and the club's American owners in recent weeks and has been told in no uncertain terms that things need to improve.
If not, the Liverpool could slide into further trouble.
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