BAGS of drama, a glut of chances and some shambolic defending – who said much has changed over the past 20 years?

Kenny Dalglish’s first game back at Anfield had plenty of parallels with the derby match which convinced him to walk away from the job after that 4-4 draw at Goodison Park in February 1991.

Once again he was left cursing his luck after seeing a lead slip as their rivals from across Stanley Park dashed his hopes of victory.

However, the difference between the man then and the man now couldn’t be greater.

Back then, Dalglish looked gaunt and exhausted. The stresses and strains of leading Liverpool in the aftermath of Heysel and Hillsborough had taken its toll.

In contrast yesterday he looked relaxed and like someone living the dream.

Dalglish had waited a long time for this moment and when he emerged from the tunnel shortly before kick-off yesterday he was grinning from ear to ear.

The King was back on his throne and the spine-tingling reception Anfield’s favourite son received didn’t disappoint.

‘Kenny Dalglish is cooler than the Fonz’, proclaimed one of the many banners celebrating his return to the hot-seat.

After the discord and disunity generated by Roy Hodgson’s six-month reign, Dalglish’s appointment offers hope to Liverpool supporters.

Principal owner John W Henry, watching on from the directors’ box, must have noticed a dramatic change in the mood around the place and can have no regrets about wielding the axe.

Back-to-back defeats at the hands of Manchester United and Blackpool since Dalglish’s appointment may have dampened the mood slightly, but yesterday’s performance suggested the 59-year-old’s influence is starting to rub off on his players.