An unlikely outcome

Two poor, poor performances and only one goal to show for it and yet Liverpool are into the next phase of the Champions League and top of the Premier League.

Yet with all that horrible booing that followed the final whistle at tonight's game you sure as hell wouldn't know it. We're top and yet we could be five points clear given the points Chelsea have thrown away in the last two weeks and that's what's troubling people.

We should be seeing off a team like West Ham as we should have done with Fulham the weekend before last. The fact that we didn't and we're still top is good but the fact we haven't taken full advantage and established a credible lead means we may have regrets come May, like we always do.

Last Wednesday's performance was pretty terrible. Once Gerrard put is in front we seemed to do everything we could to allow Marseille back into the game on top of looking pretty toothless in attack. Our progression from the group is deserved overall but we will have to up our game in the knockout stages.

It's ironic really. I could be sitting here writing about two fabulous, goal-laden performances that could produce only CL progression and joint top of the table and yet Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal on Sunday has not only helped us go clear at the top but it has raised doubts about the Blues' title credentials given they've taken just one point from games against the other big three at Stamford Bridge.

What we should be concerned about is that Manchester United may now have found form having negotiated well a difficult derby game in Sunday's earlier kick off. Equally Arsenal's inspired performance at the Bridge could be the catalyst for a renewed assault on the title but it's hard to know which way it will go for them given their brilliant win over United a few weeks ago failed to have that catalyst effect.

It all points towards a very tight race indeed and I'm glad we're amongst it even if the last few games haven't made us believe we can still be amongst it when it matters. But for now we're in the mix, we need to up our game over Christmas and make sure we are still there in the New Year.