In the early hours of this morning, the two sides met again, in a pre-season friendly match in America's Champions World Series. A gutless and uninterested Celtic were outclassed in many, many ways, by a Liverpool side not a million miles away from the one in 2003. The final score makes for grim reading: Celtic 1-5 Liverpool.
Maybe this is the kick up the back-side our players, staff and board need. Okay, it was only a pre-season kick about, but the fact of the matter is we have conceded 9 goals in two games, against two teams who we could potentially face in this season's Champions League.
Our squad is simply not good enough. This is not some jump-the-gun comment, this is something we have had to realise for months now. Joos Valgaeren is past it; Ulrik Laursen, despite not having had match practise, is never going to be good enough; Aiden McGeady, Scott Cuthbert, Ross Wallace and Craig Beattie are far too young and it is unfair lamping heaps of responsibility and pressure on them. Momo Sylla is a waste of a jersey, and Didier Agathe's commitment to games is nil. John Hartson must improve or it seems Craig Beattie will be taking his place up-front, and David Fernandez is the biggest imposter I have ever seen.
At the rate we are going, progression in the Champions League is still nothing but a pipe dream. We need new signings. We need a better attitude. We need to get a grip, pronto.
I still feel we will win the SPL title this year, but, despite only being friendlies we have been humiliated in America. Man United and Roma are just round the corner.
Martin O'Neill is still at home, and I think this provides the answer to the half-hearted performance against Liverpool. Also, starting off with what was practically a reserve side against a full strength Liverpool outfit, was a bad move. By the time Neil Lennon, Stan Petrov and Didier Agathe had come on we were already out of the game.
As I said before, a poor American tournament could be just what we need. It'll hopefully give our board a shake but there is no need to go out and panic buy. If anything, the defeat last night has made any doubters realise that we need new faces. Guys like Petrov, Sutton and Lennon will not hang about and continue to suffer the lack of new signings. We need to get the finger out, fast.
Manchester United are up next, where hopefully a full-strength side will be played.
Keep the faith, keep the head.