My issue is not with the selling of Robbie Keane.
Things just did not work out for the Irishman here. The situation was obviously so desperate, he obviously was not fitting in and the overriding feeling amongst all at the club was that Benitez (whether or not he bought him which is a whole different story) had to cut his losses. The stories I've been hearing about Keane's social exploits could hardly have done him any favours in the eyes of a man who expects a high standard of professionalism.
But to not find a replacement even something short term leaves the boss quite rightly open to criticism. Furthermore if we are not to land number 19 in May many, in fact everyone, in the media will most likely point to decision to sell Keane right at the end of the transfer window and not replace him as having led to our downfall.
David Ngog is no Fernando Torres, he's not even close although there is potential there. Dirk Kuyt's appearances up front have been few and far between since he switched to right wing last season whilst Ryan Babel has regressed so much that his Liverpool career may not last beyond the summer.
That said we saw the best of him towards the end of last season, the expectation being that he would progress further this term. That's not been the case and whilst we shouldn't write him off just yet we've got to be realistic, he really hasn't performed this season and it would take a remarkable turnaround form him to produce the form we expect and need from him.
The importance of Fernando Torres was underlined by his late double in Sunday's monumental win over Chelsea at Anfield. The Spaniard will now hopefully hit the goal trail which has been sorely missed even with our march towards the top of the table.
That is the one bonus perhaps, that we've survived for a large part of the season without his goals and now, with him back, things can only be better.
Better though is almost perfection from now until the end of the season. There can be no slip ups in the league and if there are we must hope Manchester United follow suit but they are wise old dogs in positions like this and they won't surrender many points between now and May, if any...
Keeping our confidence intact is important and that means getting a good result at Goodison in the cup tonight. I'm confident merely because our away form is better than that at home this season but it's a derby, it's the cup, it's a night game and they will be up for it. But if we're not then there's something seriously wrong.
Sunday was hopefully a turning point, let's kick on from here and show that even with a shortage up front we can do great things in the next three months.
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