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KENNY DALGLISH will send Liverpool out in the first home game of his Second Coming in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.
It could hardly have been orchestrated better (or worse, depending on the outcome).
Not even by Rodgers and Hammerstein, whose musical Carousel first brought us You'll Never Walk Alone.
But this is no little merry-go-round Dalglish suddenly finds himself on.
It's a terrifying rollercoaster ride on football's Big Dipper.
One that right now is heading in one direction with Liverpool just four points off the drop zone and counting the near £40million cost of paying off Rafa Benitez, Roy Hodgson, their platoons of assistants plus assorted transfer fees and contracts of players not fit to wear the Liverpool shirt.
If Dalglish cannot apply the handbrake, it will take him and much of the reputation he built at Anfield over 14 glorious years down with it.
Sunday's visit of Everton is followed by a trip to Wolves, whose 1-0 win at Anfield two weeks ago proved the beginning of the end for Hodgson.
Further defeats to go with the 2-1 reverse at Bloomfield Road that saw Blackpool complete their first league double over Liverpool since 1947 and Dalglish could start to reflect on his managerial comeback as the worst decision of his life.
And eventually lead to a situation where Liverpool fans, currently still in the Tunnel of Love, are left staring at their boots in silent embarrassment as the man they willed back into the job on a tide of emotion comes up short.
At the same time, there will be many opposition supporters relishing that very scenario and gloating that Liverpool, in getting what they so desperately wanted, got what they deserved.
They say never go back. Especially in a situation where there is so much to lose.
Even more so when you have been away from the game for two decades, a game that is ever-changing and so much more demanding and medically and technically advanced than Dalglish remembers.
And so much more unforgiving.
Sure, he has been watching games. But from the safety and security of the directors' box, a viewpoint from where countless sacked managers have long lamented it always looks so much easier.
Already, after just two games, the engaging smile that accompanied his re-emergence after 12 years away from the Premier League is being replaced by a tetchy, non-committal shrug.
Asked after the Blackpool debacle whether he would be bringing in any new players, Dalglish replied: "Dunno - haven't asked."
Yes, Dalglish has his own droll sense of humour but it was not exactly a confidence-booster.
Liverpool fans, as it is, must be feeling a little queasy after all the recent ups and downs.
Three months ago, they were in a state of euphoria as John W Henry came dashing to the rescue with promises of a new era, fresh funds, close co-operation with supporters' groups, etc, etc.
Bad Yanks out, good Yanks in.
After watching an initial 2-0 defeat at Goodison, Henry saw Liverpool respond with four league wins in six games.
They then lost four of the next six and Hodgson was sacked.
In came Dalglish after a campaign orchestrated by fans, old playing cronies and a media mafia that extends far beyond Merseyside for whom King Kenny can do no wrong.
Suddenly there were EIGHTEEN video links about Dalglish's homecoming on the Liverpool website.
Kenny at his first Anfield Press conference, Kenny taking training at Melwood, Paul Dalglish on his dad's return and gushing tributes from the usual suspects.
Once again, we had lift-off. And now it's played two, lost two - and the 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford could have been 4-0.
Yes, it's early days but there was little for Liverpool fans to get excited about in the display at Blackpool. Basically, they were as poor as they had ever been under Hodgson.
The pass-and-move, flowing football they had been expecting under the new caretaker? Er, sorry, not quite ready yet.
Whether it will EVER materialise is probably not a subject Liverpool fans even want to consider right now.
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Up on Tyneside, though, it will be the subject of some debate for Newcastle fans who recall Dalglish's 19-month reign with little more than a shake of the head.
There they saw Kevin Keegan's attacking philosophy replaced by one of dreary caution. Dullglish.
In the 1997-98 season, Newcastle dropped from second to 13th on the back of five goalless draws and TWENTY other games that ended either 1-0 or 0-1.
Sure, Liverpool were without Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard against Blackpool. But, as Michael Owen said, you can't rely on two or three players to consistently dig you out of a hole.
You need men with fight, commitment and stamina.
A real passion and belief in the club. Like those wearing the Blackpool shirt on Wednesday night.
Not a collection of foreign mercenaries for whom a relegation battle is anathema, and for whom the name Dalglish raises as many quizzical eyebrows as it does appreciative nods of recognition.
As for Gerrard, he's hardly helped the cause, either.
When Dalglish was looking for a performance of maturity and leadership from his skipper at Old Trafford, Gerrard managed to get sent off after half an hour for a reckless challenge on Michael Carrick.
Just when he needs him most - even more with Carragher out until late March - Gerrard misses three vital games.
Now Henry is on the way back for 'crisis talks' with Dalglish and Damien Comolli, the so-called Director of Football Strategy (chief scout in less important times), a player-recruitment officer whose record at Spurs was considerably more hit and miss than the unqualified success the Frenchman might like to claim.
And so the Big Dipper ploughs on. Through the wind and the rain.
Heading we know not where.
It could hardly have been orchestrated better (or worse, depending on the outcome).
Not even by Rodgers and Hammerstein, whose musical Carousel first brought us You'll Never Walk Alone.
But this is no little merry-go-round Dalglish suddenly finds himself on.
It's a terrifying rollercoaster ride on football's Big Dipper.
One that right now is heading in one direction with Liverpool just four points off the drop zone and counting the near £40million cost of paying off Rafa Benitez, Roy Hodgson, their platoons of assistants plus assorted transfer fees and contracts of players not fit to wear the Liverpool shirt.
If Dalglish cannot apply the handbrake, it will take him and much of the reputation he built at Anfield over 14 glorious years down with it.
Sunday's visit of Everton is followed by a trip to Wolves, whose 1-0 win at Anfield two weeks ago proved the beginning of the end for Hodgson.
Further defeats to go with the 2-1 reverse at Bloomfield Road that saw Blackpool complete their first league double over Liverpool since 1947 and Dalglish could start to reflect on his managerial comeback as the worst decision of his life.
And eventually lead to a situation where Liverpool fans, currently still in the Tunnel of Love, are left staring at their boots in silent embarrassment as the man they willed back into the job on a tide of emotion comes up short.
At the same time, there will be many opposition supporters relishing that very scenario and gloating that Liverpool, in getting what they so desperately wanted, got what they deserved.
They say never go back. Especially in a situation where there is so much to lose.
Even more so when you have been away from the game for two decades, a game that is ever-changing and so much more demanding and medically and technically advanced than Dalglish remembers.
And so much more unforgiving.
Sure, he has been watching games. But from the safety and security of the directors' box, a viewpoint from where countless sacked managers have long lamented it always looks so much easier.
Already, after just two games, the engaging smile that accompanied his re-emergence after 12 years away from the Premier League is being replaced by a tetchy, non-committal shrug.
Asked after the Blackpool debacle whether he would be bringing in any new players, Dalglish replied: "Dunno - haven't asked."
Yes, Dalglish has his own droll sense of humour but it was not exactly a confidence-booster.
Liverpool fans, as it is, must be feeling a little queasy after all the recent ups and downs.
Three months ago, they were in a state of euphoria as John W Henry came dashing to the rescue with promises of a new era, fresh funds, close co-operation with supporters' groups, etc, etc.
Bad Yanks out, good Yanks in.
After watching an initial 2-0 defeat at Goodison, Henry saw Liverpool respond with four league wins in six games.
They then lost four of the next six and Hodgson was sacked.
In came Dalglish after a campaign orchestrated by fans, old playing cronies and a media mafia that extends far beyond Merseyside for whom King Kenny can do no wrong.
Suddenly there were EIGHTEEN video links about Dalglish's homecoming on the Liverpool website.
Kenny at his first Anfield Press conference, Kenny taking training at Melwood, Paul Dalglish on his dad's return and gushing tributes from the usual suspects.
Once again, we had lift-off. And now it's played two, lost two - and the 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford could have been 4-0.
Yes, it's early days but there was little for Liverpool fans to get excited about in the display at Blackpool. Basically, they were as poor as they had ever been under Hodgson.
The pass-and-move, flowing football they had been expecting under the new caretaker? Er, sorry, not quite ready yet.
Whether it will EVER materialise is probably not a subject Liverpool fans even want to consider right now.
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Up on Tyneside, though, it will be the subject of some debate for Newcastle fans who recall Dalglish's 19-month reign with little more than a shake of the head.
There they saw Kevin Keegan's attacking philosophy replaced by one of dreary caution. Dullglish.
In the 1997-98 season, Newcastle dropped from second to 13th on the back of five goalless draws and TWENTY other games that ended either 1-0 or 0-1.
Sure, Liverpool were without Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard against Blackpool. But, as Michael Owen said, you can't rely on two or three players to consistently dig you out of a hole.
You need men with fight, commitment and stamina.
A real passion and belief in the club. Like those wearing the Blackpool shirt on Wednesday night.
Not a collection of foreign mercenaries for whom a relegation battle is anathema, and for whom the name Dalglish raises as many quizzical eyebrows as it does appreciative nods of recognition.
As for Gerrard, he's hardly helped the cause, either.
When Dalglish was looking for a performance of maturity and leadership from his skipper at Old Trafford, Gerrard managed to get sent off after half an hour for a reckless challenge on Michael Carrick.
Just when he needs him most - even more with Carragher out until late March - Gerrard misses three vital games.
Now Henry is on the way back for 'crisis talks' with Dalglish and Damien Comolli, the so-called Director of Football Strategy (chief scout in less important times), a player-recruitment officer whose record at Spurs was considerably more hit and miss than the unqualified success the Frenchman might like to claim.
And so the Big Dipper ploughs on. Through the wind and the rain.
Heading we know not where.