When Steven Gerrard glanced a header towards the far corner from Philippe Coutinho's corner in the dying minutes of an FA Cup semi-final that they trailed 2-1, everything seemed set.
The script had been written by the media after it was discovered Gerrard would be ending his Anfield career in the summer, and as the ball spun through the air looking destined for the top corner - it would be the latest chapter in a story that has been littered with late interventions and single-handed success.
The FA Cup final, falling on his 35th birthday, which the Reds could help propel themselves to in extra-time, could serve as the perfect send-off for the long-time loyal Liverpool skipper. What better than for one of the club's greatest ever players to call curtains on his love affair with the Reds than to lift another trophy, in his final game.
Yet, as Kieran Richardson watched Gerrard's header with intent at the back post, timing his leap perfectly to rise up and clear the ball off the line with a strong header - the weight of reality came crashing down on top of the Liverpool supporters.
It was one dream too far.
Steven Gerrard is no longer the player he was and that was shown during their dismal Aston Villa defeat. Instead, it was Fabian Delph who stole the spotlight in the same Wembley surroundings which he donned the shirt of his country for the first time only a few months ago.
Instead Gerrard was well off the pace. The game passed him by. He remained on the pitch largely through the fact that his contributions seven or eight years ago carried the club through games like this. He almost did so again with the late header, but as Richardson's teammates surrounded to congratulate and thank him, Gerrard was left to sink to his feet.
The 34-year-old may have done some incredible, often unspeakable, things in a red shirt - Sunday was not a day in which he would repeat his heroics of hold. Gerrard was certainly not on the pitch for this contributions throughout the afternoon, or his contributions in the 2014-15 season.
Not to discredit his entire campaign, because he's had a lot of good moments. Free-kicks against Everton, Basel and Wimbledon, the penalty nerve to tuck away goals from the spot in the heat of the minute against the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester and Ludogorets. Then there is the unparalleled leadership and experience that he brings to the team. Gerrard still offers certain aspects of his game to the Liverpool side, but the power that he once had in those legs has been sapped away slowly through the years.
And it was clear to many, even by half-time, that Gerrard was not in the game. Whilst the skipper himself would probably have been outraged to be substituted off during what proved to be his last ever Wembley appearance for club or country, it would have benefitted the team more than him staying on the pitch - the Reds needed energy and enthusiasm, something Gerrard can no longer provide as he was helpless to watch the effervescent trio of Villa midfielders drift past him all too easily.
Yet blame cannot solely be put on Gerrard or Rodgers, not at all. The entire team let themselves and the supporters down. Not one single player did themselves justice.
The 40,000 Liverpool fans inside Wembley could have been forgiven for dreaming after Coutinho - who has been the FA Cup hero a few times already this season - opened the scoring in the 30th minute.
Brendan Rodgers' side had been on the back foot until then, but the confidence gained from scoring the first goal would surely prove pivotal. Particularly given that Villa had lost 15 of the 17 games in which they had conceded first throughout the year.
It looked like Liverpool's goal would spur them on to grab a foothold, as the roar of the travelling Kop saw Liverpool surge forward in search of a second almost immediately.
Yet just six minutes later, Aston Villa responded, and they responded emphatically. From a throw-in at the halfway line that looked relatively innocuous at first, Fabian Delph's terrific footwork saw him take away three red shirts in one swift, silky movement.
Suddenly, those decked in claret and blue at the end of the stadium stood up from their seats. From one Villa shirt to another, it ended up back at the feet of Delph. Striding into the box, the English midfielder showed good vision to cut a ball back to the in-form Christian Benteke, who curled a shot past international teammate Simon Mignolet to put Tim Sherwood's men level.
And from there on in, Liverpool were second-best. But for a brief five minute period inside the first-half, the Reds' performance was little short of disgusting.
In a game of such magnitude, it was alarming to see players show such little fight and hunger. Almost alarming as Rodgers admitting the "occasion" of a semi-final may have got to his players after the full-time whistle.
All those pre-match comments from the players, from Jordan Henderson to Martin Skrtel, insisting they could rise to the occasion and move a step closer to Gerrard's fairytale finale - shoved down their throat by a resilient, passionate Villa side who ultimately cared more.
This was yet another setback in what, aside from a few strong stints of form, has been a season of disappointments.
Basel in the Champions League. Chelsea in the Capital One Cup. Besiktas in the Europa League. Manchester United, and then Arsenal, in the Premier League. Now, Villa in the FA Cup.
Only one (or two, given that it was two legs) of those performances was anywhere near to the performance that was required for the occasion.
It was Liverpool's lack of goalscoring threat, with Daniel Sturridge out injured, which proved their downfall at Stamford Bridge, when they gave Jose Mourinho's side as tough a test as any other side has this season.
All those others were shockingly short, drilling home the reminder that Liverpool are not the side they once were. They came close last season, a season which will never be forgotten, but once again they come into the month of May with nothing to play for.
The achievements of 2013-14 are still at the front of the minds of a lot of Liverpool supporters, as they now watch Luis Suarez nutmegging opponents for fun in the blaugrana of Barcelona - as opposed to the red of Liverpool.
But even given the phenomenal campaign that it was, Brendan Rodgers' position is far from safe in the here and now. Fenway Sports Group have some deliberating to do in Boston over the summer months.
A failure to attract big-name players, or at least the right players for his team, in the summer has lead to a domino effect of disastrous league form and elimination from every knock-out competition. The players they did bring in, were either too young to be expected to hit the ground running and even worse, help carry the team through a poor period.
Those brought in for their immediate impact, hampered by injuries and a loss of form. A decline in form so stark, that it makes fans wonder whether they were ever cut out for the expectations of life on Merseyside.
Sure, the 13-game unbeaten streak in between December and April still cannot be forgotten. It was a streak in which the Reds came close to glossing over the torrid few months of the season, quite dramatically.
Suddenly, the Reds had re-found their confidence. It was a little different to the all-attacking side that swept away opponents inside the first 20 minutes last season. Instead, this new-found revival was built upon solid defensive foundations - not least those of Mamadou Sakho, who became central to everything good the Reds did at the back - whilst Simon Mignolet decided to ditch the indecision to become the world-class save making shot-stopper the team were crying out for.
For longer than a brief moment, Rodgers' side looked like favourites for one of the top-four positions - especially after they brought down Manchester City at Anfield in the early days of April. It was all going well. Perhaps, a little too well.
But then, in truth, it never should have gotten to the stage where Liverpool were having to work so hard to salvage their season.
For as much as the unbeaten streak must be remembered, so must the dark days of October and Novemeber. Days that actually felt like the managerial helm of Roy Hodgson - a period so dark and depressing that many Liverpool fans wish never to speak of.
The performances were distinctly disastrous, and the managerial decisions were just as baffling. The Reds looked like they were on a one-way track to sheer misery, as the curse of finishing second-place in the Premier League struck again.
Rewind forward a few months and even after the unbeaten run and all the hope and promise it brought along the way, the disappointment amongst Liverpool supporters is just as heavy. As the revelation daws upon them that the final few games of the 2014-15 season will serve as little more than a celebration for Gerrard's impact on Merseyside, the FA Cup semi-final loss hurts that little bit more than the others.
And from that loss, comes the worst way to end the last meaningful minutes of Gerrard's Liverpool career.
Gerrard has done so much for the club, but has had the last 18 months tainted with incidents that have given rival supporters plenty of laughs - from the slip against Chelsea to the 38-second cameo against United, the escape to LA will do him the world of good, but it is not how it should have ended. Not in the eyes of Liverpool fans.
But nothing can be taken for granted in football and Tim Sherwood's Aston Villa were fully deserving of their berth in the final, no-one can dispute that.
For now, everyone concerned with Liverpool Football Club will be wishing this season could be over and done with - but the summer may not be much better.
Without Champions League football to attract the big names that supporters are crying out for, the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez who provided Arsenal fans with so much joy over the last 18 months. Then, with the possibility that FSG and Liverpool could be hunting for a new manager, it could be a busy, and disappointing few months again for Reds fans - who will just be wishing they could rewind back to the fun and games of 2014's early months.
For now at least, the clouds are gathering above Anfield. After another season of mediocrity, another summer of uncertainty is coming.