Say what you like about Rafael Benitez, and let’s be fair I’ve stuck the boot into him a fair few times this season, but for every frustrating game where points are dropped and players undeserving of the red shirt are picked he will make up for it by sending a team out that will outclass even the most ardent of opposition.
The steamrolling of Real Madrid over two legs in the Champions League could be argued to be an indication of the standards gulf between La Liga and the Premiership. The same cannot be said of the 4-1 demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford just four days later in the league. Liverpool really were a force to be reckoned with that day. It was very reminiscent of the football that was played by the Redmen under the likes of Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish and last Sunday’s 5-0 thumping of Aston Villa was somewhat nostalgic of the same performance and result against Nottingham Forest at Anfield in the 1987/88 season.
Benitez’s side were out of the blocks from the start and Europe-chasing Villa seemingly rolled over and accepted defeat as soon as Dirk Kuyt’s opener hit the net. Fernando Torres could not make it three goals in three games and despite winning the penalty in the second half for Steven Gerrard to make it a hat-trick for himself and 5-0 for the home side, the Spaniard seemed to be lacking in confidence but given his performances in the two games prior to the visit of Martin O’Neil’s side he was more than forgiven.
There were very few criticisms of the squad as a whole but a special mention should go to Pepe Reina who not only broke Ray Clemence’s long-standing record of 100 clean sheets for the club but also continued to endear the Kop with his goal celebrations. The Spain reserve stopper gained notoriety as he led the celebrations of his country’s Euro 2008 triumph last summer and his passion for both club and country are not a party trick akin to the handstands Bruce Grobbelaar, one of his predecessors in the Anfield goalmouth, used to perform. His precision goal kicks have not only proved Fabio Cannavaro’s comments about Liverpool being a long-ball team correct, but they have also been the catalyst for goals against the likes of Real, United and Villa.
The international break has come at an inconvenient time with the Reds playing their best football under Benitez to date. Scoring four goals or more against three teams that have previously won the European Cup is not the sole indicator of, to use a famous Rafa-ism, the quality of the squad. United will welcome the rest from domestic matters after their unexpected defeat away to Fulham. With the Reds set to visit Craven Cottage on Saturday evening they will be looking to avoid a repeat of previous results against the home side and take the title challenge down to the wire.
