Momentum gives us a real shot at greatness

Momentum. A word we're used to hearing in football terms. Momentum helps a striker maintain a hot goal-scoring streak. Momentum wins football games. Momentum wins titles. At the moment Liverpool have momentum and they have it in abundance.

It has allowed the Reds to put 13 goals past three previous European Cup winners, one of them the current holders, in the last few weeks, to catapult themselves back into the title race and has underlined their extraordinary European credentials.

No one, and I mean no one, is capable of dealing with us on this form. Not Real Madrid who had been in stunning form under Juande Ramos prior to their tie with us, not a quintuple chasing Manchester United, not an Aston Villa who have been solid all season and never capitulated in the manner that they did this afternoon.

When we're good, we're very very good.

And yet it makes it all the more frustrating that we weren't this good when Stoke City, Fulham, West Ham and a few other teams turned up at Anfield and stifled us into playing the type of football that makes us look poor. And when we're poor, we're very very poor.

We can only hope those days are behind us now. We have eight games to make our mark on this title race. Eight winnable games that must all be won in the hope that United's capitulation last week and yesterday at Craven Cottage can be repeated in their remaining nine encounters.

There is no greater motivation then the desire of players like Steven Gerrard to attain the one medal that has so far eluded him in club football. No greater motivation for the fans and the club on whole than to deny Manchester United a chance to equal our proud and at one point, widely thought, unmatchable record of 18 league titles.

There will be no joy around these parts if United hold aloft another league title in May, Fergie taking yet another step towards knocking us off our "fucking perch" as he so eloquently put it a few years ago.

Our only repreive in that case may be European glory in Rome in late May. Manchester United could also stand in our way there following the outcome of Friday's quarter, semi and final draw.

No one is relishing playing Chelsea again given the fact we've met them in the last four Champions League campaigns. Our record against them in Europe is favourable but their win in last season's semi final will give them confidence as will the knowledge that they have the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

But we have momentum, we have confidence and above we have genuine quality.

Now more than ever is the chance to cast aside all those silly draws with Stoke, Fulham, West Ham, Hull, Manchester City etc and to show our true potential under Rafael Benitez. We have shown the excellence we are capable of in our last three games. Time to show it time and again over the next two months.

WHAT A WEEK!

Not satisfied with giving Real Madrid a hammering during the week in the Champions League, Liverpool travelled to Old Trafford on Saturday and gave Utd a lesson on how to play attacking football putting 4 goals past them.

In both games the combination of Gerrard and Torres has been the key, Torres in particular who quite clearly on Saturday was not 100% fit - just imagine what would have happened had he been?

After all the hype about Utd going 10 points clear after they beat us disappeared when Torres broke clear and scored the first of the 4 goal humiliation.

While most fans were still on cloud 9 after putting 4 past one of Europe's best team and in all honesty it could have been a lot more, the thought of facing Utd at Old Trafford was daunting to say the least.

While Utd went ahead first, apart from the 5 minutes or so they were not really in the game, it was therefore with interest I read the Fergie has stated that Utd were the better team, this was quite unbelievable and I just wonder what game he was watching?

Our win was outstanding not only for the score line and the 3 points but we did not field our strongest team, Alonzo was missing and at the very last moment we had to draft Sammie into a central defence position and move Jamie to fullback. What a game our defence had, I don't think Sammie even broke into a sweat, so good was the midfield in front of him. I know that Raffa really likes this 2 lines of 4 - midfield and defence and in the last two games it has really worked. Last week against Madrid, time and time again the midfield broke up any attack and when they did break through the defence soaked up anything that came their way.

With only 9 games to go and with Utd having a game in hand, we all know that they still remain favourites to win the title, the challenge for Liverpool is not to let this great result be wasted by dropping points against lower placed teams, we all acknowledge that this result and this season have again been an improvement however we have dropped far too many points at Anfield with stupid draws. I mean look at Stoke, almost certain to be relegated and over 2 games we never even scored a goal against them.

Now this Friday will see the draw for the Champions League quarter finals and no seeding which means the chance of a Liverpool vs. Utd game is now a chance, as is against Chelsea.

On last weeks showing - we can match it with anybody!