Sportsnob – Critics Corner

In some games they’ve looked disjointed and careless; in some games they’ve looked like a well-oiled machine with the ability to turn over any defence in the world. In some games they’ve mixed both of the above to give watchers something altogether different. Whatever. Liverpool seem to be hitting a real run of form going into a sequence of games which could end up being season-defining.

Panic Stations

After an initial flurry of goals which saw them rise to the top of the Premiership table, the club appeared to fall apart. The dip in form which saw the side lose to Marseilles, apart from 4 altogether winnable draws, coincided with the loss of Pako Ayestaran, Benitez’s assistant of nearly a decade. But an away victory at Everton kick-started the motor, and soon they were puttering along nicely. For vast periods of play the Reds dominated Besiktas in Istanbul, but paid the price for a couple of defensive lapses. Next followed a hard-fought 1-1 against a high flying Arsenal, which could really have gone either way in spite of the Gunners’ monopolization of possession.

Robbie Returns – in more ways than one?

3 days later, Robbie Fowler returned to an emotional Anfield, only to see his side Cardiff lose 2-1 in the League Cup. As he walked out through the Shankly gates, probably for the last time, he blessed the possible successor to his legendary No.9 shirt. Fernando Torres had already shown us glimpses of his incredible ability before his untimely injury while on international duty, but his recent performances have left very few doubters that Rafa Benitez might well have pulled off the signing of the summer. The 23-year old has the opportunity to become the Dalglish to Gerrard’s Souness. This past Sunday, his delightful link-up with the Liverpool skipper seemed strangely reminiscent of Dalglish chipping the FC Bruges’ keeper from a Souness through ball in the European Cup Final of 1978. He has pace, power, skill and a terrific finish on him. And he’s only going to get better. Maybe I’m just overexcited. Anyway, moving on…

Hicks gets Rafa’s goat

A Turkish demolition job followed, setting new Champions League records and infusing the squad with confidence, which a victory at Fulham three days later did little to dissipate. Until a typically slow-for-news(!) international break saw a seething Benitez address a press conference with thunder in his face and defiance in his voice. “I am focused on training and coaching the players”, he said in response to no less than 20 different questions, prompting many to think something was wrong. Liverpool’s American owners told him to pipe down, but further shows of discontent were made. Wearing a tracksuit instead of his usual tie and coat at the game against Newcastle was strange, but his post-match interview was nothing short of scary. Rumours were rife in the media, with one tabloid suggesting Jose Mourinho was being lined up to replace Benitez. This was too much for Liverpool fans to take, and their vigorous demonstration of support for Rafa was backed up by the players beating Porto 4-1 in a crucial European game. Torres showed exactly why he was worth upwards of twenty million pounds, scoring two goals, including a sublime finish after leaving his marker spinning like a top.

The rumours were soon put to bed, albeit temporarily, and normal service has been resumed with a resounding 4-0 defeat of Bolton at Anfield. Things are looking rosy – Gerrard and Torres are already on the same wavelength, and all the new signings have bedded in well – Lucas Leiva in particular. The optimism surrounding his successful baptism of fire in the Merseyside derby has been reinforced by the all-action displays which followed. The young Brazilian has shown a good range of passing and can get stuck in with the tackles, but the most important aspect of his game appears to be his game intelligence – picking the right pass at the right time. Yossi Benayoun looks like he’s been at Anfield all his life, while Ryan Babel is clearly a striker-in-waiting, a couple of good performances on the wing notwithstanding.
Make or Break

Whether the side can maintain their form is the real question. Key players are performing – Torres has 11 goals in 17 appearances, while Gerrard has 8 from his last nine games. The next few weeks will be pivotal – a must-win game in Marseilles comes just before an Anfield summit with Manchester United, a side Liverpool haven’t scored a league goal against since 2004. With Messrs Hicks and Gillete scheduled to meet with Benitez in the aftermath, nothing really can be certain about the rest of the season. They’ve been portrayed as a club in turmoil by the media in recent weeks, and the most appropriate comment on Liverpool is that they are as enigmatic as Rafa Benitez’s goatee – things can get a little hairy, but the occasional close shave works wonders for confidence.