As bad as it has has been for Liverpool, there is a line they know that mustn't be crossed.
Defeat at home to Everton, and a defeat in the manner that has been seen recently, would have represented a new nadir this season. But in the end they never looked like losing at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp's men ran out 2-0 winners over their neighbours and in truth they could have scored more, with Mohamed Salah firing them in front from a superb counter-attack he tucked in Darwin Nunez's cross.
Cody Gakpo grabbed the second with a tap in from a Trent Alexander-Arnold centre, with the Reds earning a morale boosting win.
Here are game's main talking points.
1. Liverpool's intensity returns
One of the Liverpool mottos in the better times was 'Intensity Is Our Identity', something which has been attributed to Pep Lijnders, the assistant coach who was such a key figure in the successes and, if you believe certain former Liverpool midfielders, largely responsible for some of these current bad times because he brought out a book.
Yeah, us either.
That intensity has been so sorely lacking from the Reds so often this season though, and it has led to them falling so far from what is expected.
The reasons for that are numerous, but here, with stalwarts Jordan Henderson and Fabinho restored to the side, they roused themselves.
They pressed and harried Everton in the opening exchanges, with Henderson dumping Pickford on the ground after pressing him, much to the Kop's delight.
The lofted ball towards Nunez on the left was always on, and that allowed the Reds to push up and squeeze Everton back in their own half, isolating Ellis Simms in attack.
2. Jordan Pickford picks the wrong position
So, just where was Pickford going?
It was of course a lightning quick Liverpool break which led to Salah's first half goal, and the role of Nunez cannot be understated as he raced down the left and supplied the cross.
But Pickford seemed to be convinced that the ball was going to Gakpo who was to his left, stepping in that direction just in time for Salah to appear and pop the ball into what was effectively an empty net.
It was a brilliant Liverpool counter-attack, but they got a helping hand with the finish.
3. Stefan Bajcetic looks at home in this side
The worry was a very simple one. Is Stefan Bajcetic that good or are Liverpool just being that bad?
With legs in midfield looking absolutely shot, Jurgen Klopp has turned to the 18-year-old in recent matches in order to add some energy and dynamism, and he hasn't disappointed as so many around him have.
So, what would he look like in a Liverpool team playing well?
The answer was very good.
Up against Everton's more physically robust midfield the teenager was superb, at one stage spinning away and expertly keeping possession start another attack.
Liverpool's midfield might look very different very soon, but he's got a part to play in the rebuild.
4. Cody Gakpo comes alive
The signs have been there, it's just that you've had to look pretty hard to find them.
As with Bajcetic, judgements on Gakpo have had to come in the context of his team playing very badly, although it has been 10 times worse for the Dutchman as a big money signing with the spotlight on him.
He's worked hard in his Liverpool appearances and showed that he is a different type of forward to what they have, almost a mix of some of Roberto Firmino's positioning with some of Gini Wijnaldum's qualities.
We all know how this game works though, and he needed a goal to stop the whispers.
Thankfully for him Conor Coady obliged with his decision to leave Alexander-Arnold's second half cross, presenting Gakpo with a tap in.
The goal looked to give him so much confidence, and he was superb for the minutes that followed as he ran from deep and linked superbly with Salah and Nunez.
There's a player there.
5. Everton fluff their lines at Anfield
A Liverpool side looking weak and chronically low on confidence vs an Everton outfit buoyed by beating the league leaders under their new manager. This was supposed to be a chance for the Blues to make their mark across the park.
But they just couldn't get going at Anfield.
The script was written for Sean Dyche's midfield to overrun whatever selection Klopp picked in there, but ultimately they were meek and mild in the face of a Liverpool side who remembered who they are.
Unfortunately for Everton, they remembered who they are too, with their 2021 win at an empty Anfield still their only derby success at the home of their rivals since 1999.
Time to forget this though, and embrace the relegation battle.
