Arsenal's legendary striker Ian Wright spotted the danger signals early on at Emirates Stadium when he used social media to post a picture of himself wearing a worried expression accompanied by the message: "We need a killer."
It was a reaction to the Gunners missing chance after chance as the Achilles heel threatening to undermine so much of the fine work that goes before it was brutally exposed once more.
Arsenal created the opportunities to be out of sight by half-time in the FA Cup third-round tie with Liverpool only to once again demonstrate the lack of end product - the "killer" touch, as Wright calls it - to put the Premier League leaders away.