As Houllier recuperated from 11 hour surgery the Reds travelled to Kiev for a Champions League tie, becoming the first English side to win there.
And now a year on Liverpool travel East on the back of a match with Leeds United, and it's this similarity that prompted such surprise when the draw was made in Monaco.
"I was in Monaco for the Champions' League draw and I said to Rick, 'Have you seen this? We have Leeds then we fly out to Moscow.
"It was very strange that the game nearest the anniversary of October 13 should be against Leeds. It could have been any game in the Champions' League, Basel, Valencia or Moscow, but it had to be this one, it's very strange."
But Houllier is hoping that Tuesday's clash will help close the book on a chapter of his life he's rather forget.
"Maybe everything will be out of the way for me after this has passed", he said.