The air of sheer relief that I witnessed last Sunday evening at Anfield when Torres scored his brace against Chelsea was unlike anything I have ever witnessed in my 16 years of match going. It was not the usual chaos that usually greets a last-minute winner on the Kop, nor was it the obligatory mayhem celebrations that are associated with major victories. This was different, and a little unsettling if the truth be told. Unsettling in that this is Liverpool's first serious title challenge since 1996/97 and hopes are more raised than normal with Manchester United on their tail.
Benitez has assembled a strong side. Granted they are lacking in depth a little and appear to be stretched at times with the occasional absence of Gerrard but in recent times there have been very few, if any, Liverpool sides that have staged so many successful comebacks as Benitez's team have this season. However the fear that lingers is that the team will crumble under the weight of expectation being placed upon them by the supporters. Alex Ferguson predicted the very same thing at the start of the year and it is hard to ignore his prophecy given Liverpool's performances against the likes of West Ham United, Fulham and Wigan Athletic to name but three of the clubs that have taken points off the Reds already this season. The draw with Wigan in particular does feel more irritating than most due to the manner in which Liverpool conceded the equaliser - a needless foul in the area on in stoppage time. The same can be said for the free kick conceded by Benayoun on the edge of the area in the recent league encounter with Everton. However Benayoun appears to be enjoying a rich vein of form, as does Fabio Aurelio. The pair appear to be enjoying their best form in a red shirt to date; something that is testament to the manager who is bringing the best of out of them.
The title dream is still alive but it could be shattered within the next few weeks if Liverpool don't turn their 'must wins' into 'have wons'. For those of you wondering why I posted a picture of Kenny Dalglish with this article it's very simple. Dalglish was the last Liverpool manager to lift a league championship aloft at Anfield and, as the picture above shows, he was the last manager to lift a league championship at Anfield when his Blackburn team snatched the title off United on the final day in May 1995. Hopefully Benitez will join Dalglish in Anfield folklore by bringing homeh the club's first domestic crown since 1990 this May.
Benitez has assembled a strong side. Granted they are lacking in depth a little and appear to be stretched at times with the occasional absence of Gerrard but in recent times there have been very few, if any, Liverpool sides that have staged so many successful comebacks as Benitez's team have this season. However the fear that lingers is that the team will crumble under the weight of expectation being placed upon them by the supporters. Alex Ferguson predicted the very same thing at the start of the year and it is hard to ignore his prophecy given Liverpool's performances against the likes of West Ham United, Fulham and Wigan Athletic to name but three of the clubs that have taken points off the Reds already this season. The draw with Wigan in particular does feel more irritating than most due to the manner in which Liverpool conceded the equaliser - a needless foul in the area on in stoppage time. The same can be said for the free kick conceded by Benayoun on the edge of the area in the recent league encounter with Everton. However Benayoun appears to be enjoying a rich vein of form, as does Fabio Aurelio. The pair appear to be enjoying their best form in a red shirt to date; something that is testament to the manager who is bringing the best of out of them.
The title dream is still alive but it could be shattered within the next few weeks if Liverpool don't turn their 'must wins' into 'have wons'. For those of you wondering why I posted a picture of Kenny Dalglish with this article it's very simple. Dalglish was the last Liverpool manager to lift a league championship aloft at Anfield and, as the picture above shows, he was the last manager to lift a league championship at Anfield when his Blackburn team snatched the title off United on the final day in May 1995. Hopefully Benitez will join Dalglish in Anfield folklore by bringing homeh the club's first domestic crown since 1990 this May.
