Liverpool Draw First Blood

You’ll pardon me for borrowing the Barak Obama presidential slogan, but Liverpool fans everywhere must be thinking “Yes we can” after what was a most enjoyable 2-1 defeat of arch rivals Manchester United on Saturday.

A victory over the defending champions is always an occasion to savour, but this was especially pleasing in that it had been over four years since Liverpool tasted victory over Man U – thanks to Danny Murphy’s penalty at Old Trafford in April 2004. For an Anfield win, you have to go even further back, to November 2001 when Michael Owen’s brace inspired a 3-1 win. And it certainly gave hope to those who have been longing to see a league championship at Anfield for the past 18 years.

Of course, when Carlos Tevez left Javier Mascherano in his wake to smash home Dimitar Berbatov’s cross after just 3 minutes, it looked like it would be another of those frustrating Man U visits.

Not this time though, even if it took a stroke of luck to get Liverpool back on level terms – Edwin van der Sar’s attempted save bouncing in off the hapless Wes Brown. But it was no more than Liverpool deserved and Dirk Kuyt had already seen a point blank effort stopped on the line. Ryan Babel’s winner was less fortuitous, more down to Mascherano’s persistence and Kuyt’s composure.

Benitez set out to deny United space and time on the ball, and it worked well with Xabi Alonso and Mascherano dominating Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick in midfield, and the constant chasing and running by Robbie Keane and Kuyt upfront denying Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and van der Sar the space to start things from the back.

But Liverpool also attacked with much more verve and purpose than they have in recent times. New boy Albert Riera looks a promising prospect on the left, the mobility of the front two kept the United defenders on edge all day and Babel’s pace and trickery proved a useful asset.

Even the full backs got involved, with Alvaro Arbeloa, on the right, and Fabio Aurelio, on the left, persistently offering width and options on the attacking end. But the pick of the lot, for me, were the central midfield duo – the ever-running, never-flagging Mascherano and a much-improved Alonso, my pick for Man Of The Match. After an injury-riddled 2007/08 season and a summer of uncertainty, the Spaniard has been Liverpool’s most consistent player of the season so far and Benitez should be somewhat pleased that the Gareth Barry move didn’t pan out affterall.

So, Liverpool draw first blood, but let’s not get carried away; it’s just one win and there’s still a long way to go. Consider also: Liverpool did the double over Man U in 2001/02, yet that didn’t bring the title to Anfield. More ominously, Man City also did the double over Man U last season, and we all know how their season ended.

Those who say that Liverpool need to improve against the rest of the top four to be considered real contenders may have a point. Yet, there’s more to winning the title than those six games. That comes down to consistency, even in the supposedly easy games, and the ability to get results even on a bad day.

The early results certainly bode well. Liverpool were well below par against Sunderland, yet won on the strength of a wonder strike from Torres; they struggled at home against Middlesbrough, yet scored twice in the last seven minutes to claim all three points. And the manner in which they turned this one around against the Old Enemy – their best performance of the season so far - certainly suggests a mental toughness that has been lacking in previous seasons.

The fact that they turned it on without their two best players – Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard – should put a lie to all these suggestions that Liverpool are just a two-man team, even if any team would be that much stronger with those two on board. Benitez as slowly but surely put together a solid squad of winners – his strongest since arriving in 2004 – and, even if there are still areas that could use some work, they certainly look like they can compete with the best this season.

Yes, they can.