If Liverpool cannot learn to grind out results when they are not playing at their best, they will not close the gap that still separates them from their greatest rivals.
'It was a deserved victory and that is as comfortable as it gets against opposition of that quality,' reflected Leicester captain Matt Elliott.
'I can hardly think of a save that Simon Royce had to make and that says a lot for how well we played.
'As a defender, when there are quality balls coming at you, you are going to struggle.
'But we coped easily. It was quite a surprise. You expect a team of Liverpool's quality and reputation to cause problems. But today there weren't that many.
'In terms of ability, there's maybe not much difference between Liverpool and United. But United just don't seem to have off days.
'People may say Liverpool were tired, but it's easy to say that. Nobody would have said that if they had come here and steamrollered us.'
Houllier was scathing of his play-ers and it is easy to understand his frustration.
Liverpool enjoyed plenty of possession on Saturday but were largely at a loss over what to do with it. Most of it was squandered by the persistent use of aerial balls towards the ineffectual Emile Heskey, who was well contained by Elliott, Gerry Taggart and Gary Rowett.
For large parts, Leicester were not much better, but when it mattered they were more incisive.
Ade Akinbiyi scored the first goal shortly after half-time as Liverpool squandered possession to allow Dean Sturridge to cross from the byline. Muzzy Izzet doubled the damage in the final minute as Liverpool were caught pushing on in numbers.
For a team who have now lost seven Premiership away games, it was depressingly familiar.
'I thought we lacked bite, penetration and desire,' said Houllier. 'It was not good enough and we just have to blame ourselves.'
Liverpool continue to look long-ingly at a top-three finish and will be aware of the end-of-season slump that robbed them last year.
Leicester, however, refuse to contemplate such heights. Peter Taylor's team hope for European football; the Champions League is not a topic under discussion.
Organisation, discipline and a selfless work ethic remain their binding strengths but it is not a recipe that anyone at Filbert Street believes can push them into third place.
'That would be dreamland for us but we don't talk about it,' said Elliott. 'There is still a gap in quality between us and the top clubs.'
