The so-called injury he sustained towards the end of the Arsenal match must now also be viewed with scepticism, preventing him as it did from being cup-tied had he played against Trabzonspor. A really disappointing end to a short but brilliant Anfield career.

If Mascherano’s absence came as a shock, Roy compounded it by choosing to play 4-4-2, pairing Ngog and Torres up front.

Since many of us spent most of last season urging a similar approach on his predecessor as opposed to the regulation two holding midfield players, it would seem churlish to question this decision; yet you could be forgiven for suggesting that maybe Manchester City away wasn’t the best of games to abandon the comparative security offered by the screen in front of the back four.

What is certain is that the game against Trabzonspor now takes on a greater significance.

I for one would have shed no tears at an early exit from this competition, enabling a focused tilt at domestic trophies.

A defeat now though, and that renewed early season confidence will begin to look like so much stardust; a comfortable win and Roy will be a wizard again.

With challenging games at Birmingham and Man U following the match against West Brom on Sunday, he might need all the magic he can muster.