Litmus Test For Reborn Liverpool

Amazing how tides turn, isn’t it? Six short weeks ago, Liverpool looked a side in dire trouble and manager Rafa Benitez a match away from losing his job. All the brouhaha surrounding the American owners and their spat with the manager certainly didn’t help matters, but then neither did a shocking run of six matches without a win – including an embarrassing 2-1 home loss to lowly Barnsley in the FA Cup.

That’s all history now. Five straight Premiership wins and two impressive Champions League wins have suddenly made Liverpool a key factor in the championship race. Sure, with 11 points separating the Anfield side from leaders Man U, Rafa’s boys are unlikely to claim the title now. But they play both Man U and Arsenal in the weeks ahead, and with the kind of form Liverpool have been in, there’s a good chance that one of those two will be lamenting at the end of the season.

It’s not just that Liverpool are winning again, but they’ve been playing some great football too. For a perfect example of that, look no further than the two Champions League games against an Inter Milan side that has dominated Serie A for the past 18 months. The first leg at Anfield came right on the heels of that debacle against Barnsley and I am sure I wasn’t the only one who was less than optimistic about Liverpool’s chances against the nerrazurri.

Yet, the Italians hardly got a shot on target as Liverpool dominated the game and deservedly grabbed two late goals. Inter were admittedly reduced to 10-men for most of the game but that usually makes top teams harder to break down.

Inter were again reduced to 10 men in the return at the San Siro and Liverpool – riding their luck at times – came away with an impressive 1-0 win.

Liverpool’s new lease of life can be put down to a number of factors, primary among which is the great scoring instincts of star striker Fernando Torres. The Spanish “El Nino” has 27 goals in all competitions this season and hit the target 8 times in the last five league games.

Then there is Torres’ growing partnership with captain Steve Gerrard, which is gradually becoming one of the most unorthodox and effective tandems in the Premiership. Benitez seems to have finally resolved the long-standing question about the best way to use the exuberant skills of his captain, and in the process he’s found the best formation for his talented squad.

The early season tactical flirtations have finally given way to a regular 4-2-3-1 formation that – despite the presence of two “defensive” midfielders - is certainly much more offensive than it would appear. In effect, this is more an attack minded 4-2-4 than the pragmatic-sounding 4-2-3-1 looks on paper: the free-roving Gerrard is more striker than midfielder, and the flanking Dutchmen Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel are capable forwards in their own right.

In addition, Benitez has finally settled on his best team. The wholesale team changes are no more and Liverpool now show a greater team consistency built around the spine of Pepe Reina in goal, Jamie Carragher in defense, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in midfield, and Gerrard roving behind the prolific Torres upfront. Add to that the resurgent veteran Sami Hyppia, newboy Martin Skrtel and the exciting Babel and you have the reasons for Liverpool’s new found pizzazz.

Liverpool have looked fresh too, a consequence, perhaps, of the much maligned rotation policy that was often blamed for some of the team’s failings in the early going.

Nevertheless, the jury is still out on Liverpool’s season and the real test of this new-found lease of life begins this afternoon with the usually dreaded trip to Old Trafford. It’s one thing to rack up 15 goals in an unbeaten sequence against Middlesbrough, Reading, Bolton, West Ham and Newcastle, it’s another to come up with the goods against Man U, Everton and Arsenal, all of whom they face over the next two weeks.

I think Rafa’s team is up to the challenge – yes, I’m a Liverpool fan. Man U usually win these games, even if Liverpool more than often dominate the play. I still remember Rio Ferdinand heading home a late winner last season, and of course, John O’Shea’s last minute goal achieved the same result at Anfield last year.

If Liverpool maintain their new-found effectiveness in front of goal – and manage to shackle the rampant Ronaldo - they just might sneak this one.

Liverpool fans everywhere will be hoping for a return to those days in 2001 and 2003, when Danny Murphy’s goals earned memorable wins at Old Trafford.

PS: If you’re reading this after the Man U game – very likely – well, I’m either spot on or dead wrong. If it’s the former, let the comments flow. Otherwise, don’t!