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.
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