When the Kop sung out You'll Never Walk Alone as the players ran onto the hallowed turf, it felt like a night of old.
The ground was full (well nearly), the mist was rising from the hordes in the Kop, and hopes were high as the scarves of the scousers swayed to the famous anthem ringing out across Anfield and beyond.
But unfortunately the performance couldn't quite match the crowds enthusiasm.
With Cisse and Baros in the starting line-up, the time had arrived for the unlikely pairing to shine. And yet it seems, at present the two players, both of undoubted talent, can't quite perform together.
There is no doubting however that this Deportivo team were not on the same level as previous years. A header off the line from Riise after a quarter of an hour shook Liverpool into action, and by and large, the Redmen ran the first half from then on.
Milan Baros, a constant thorn for the La Coruna defence, played well and ran onto a through ball after 28 minutes, but took a touch too many, with Manuel Pablo saving the day.
The best chance of the half, and probably the match, fell on 34 minutes, with a deflected shot falling into the path of Luis Garcia, who, from ten yards, could only blast it towards the keeper, who made a good relfex save.
Djibril Cisse made several runs at the defence, but these were too infrequent and lacking in any real final product.
And as the report came into the ground at half time that Michael Owen had managed to get on the score sheet at last for Real Madrid, a gentle applause signalled that his passing has not gone unnoticed. An in-form Michael Owen would surely have dispatched this Deportivo side in a similar manner as Monaco managed last week.
But alas, Michael Owen is no more, and the enigmatic Djibril Cisse is yet to flourish. Whilst European Championship Golden Boot winner Baros enjoyed several choruses of 'Milan' ring across the ground, Cisse's impact on the match waned, and the second half turned into a rather uninspiring show from the Reds.
There is no doubt that Liverpool are not firing on all cylinders. The frontal offensive was not doing the business yesterday, and as the Anfield faithful became more frustrated, Mr Benitez made several changes, including bringing Harry Kewell and Sinama Pongolle onto the pitch, with Cisse and Riise making way.
But whilst Kewell played well after his trip to Sydney last week, the cutting edge was still lacking. A free kick from the Australian on the 90th minute shot inches wide, and as the final whistle went, it was Deportivo who were happier with the point.
Perhaps the Reds were unlucky not to have come away with all three points. But Liverpool must accept that they are not up to the quality of the Euro elite at present, and off-form strikers or not, getting the points is now a must-do for the return leg in Spain next month.
The ground was full (well nearly), the mist was rising from the hordes in the Kop, and hopes were high as the scarves of the scousers swayed to the famous anthem ringing out across Anfield and beyond.
But unfortunately the performance couldn't quite match the crowds enthusiasm.
With Cisse and Baros in the starting line-up, the time had arrived for the unlikely pairing to shine. And yet it seems, at present the two players, both of undoubted talent, can't quite perform together.
There is no doubting however that this Deportivo team were not on the same level as previous years. A header off the line from Riise after a quarter of an hour shook Liverpool into action, and by and large, the Redmen ran the first half from then on.
Milan Baros, a constant thorn for the La Coruna defence, played well and ran onto a through ball after 28 minutes, but took a touch too many, with Manuel Pablo saving the day.
The best chance of the half, and probably the match, fell on 34 minutes, with a deflected shot falling into the path of Luis Garcia, who, from ten yards, could only blast it towards the keeper, who made a good relfex save.
Djibril Cisse made several runs at the defence, but these were too infrequent and lacking in any real final product.
And as the report came into the ground at half time that Michael Owen had managed to get on the score sheet at last for Real Madrid, a gentle applause signalled that his passing has not gone unnoticed. An in-form Michael Owen would surely have dispatched this Deportivo side in a similar manner as Monaco managed last week.
But alas, Michael Owen is no more, and the enigmatic Djibril Cisse is yet to flourish. Whilst European Championship Golden Boot winner Baros enjoyed several choruses of 'Milan' ring across the ground, Cisse's impact on the match waned, and the second half turned into a rather uninspiring show from the Reds.
There is no doubt that Liverpool are not firing on all cylinders. The frontal offensive was not doing the business yesterday, and as the Anfield faithful became more frustrated, Mr Benitez made several changes, including bringing Harry Kewell and Sinama Pongolle onto the pitch, with Cisse and Riise making way.
But whilst Kewell played well after his trip to Sydney last week, the cutting edge was still lacking. A free kick from the Australian on the 90th minute shot inches wide, and as the final whistle went, it was Deportivo who were happier with the point.
Perhaps the Reds were unlucky not to have come away with all three points. But Liverpool must accept that they are not up to the quality of the Euro elite at present, and off-form strikers or not, getting the points is now a must-do for the return leg in Spain next month.