Five Years On

‘Irresistible Liverpool!’

The words of Clive Tyldesley as Steven Gerrard smashes in Liverpool’s third against a stunned Real Madrid at Anfield.

The last 16 tie was already beyond the world’s most successful club, but one of their illustrious rivals was adding to the excruciating pain with plenty of the second half still to go.

Liverpool ended up winning that game 4-0, as countless fans will remember. Perhaps the fact that Andrea Dossena scored the final goal for the Reds provides the best indicator for Real Madrid’s performance and pain that night – you know something’s not going right if he ends up on the scoresheet.

Rafael Benitez and his men had just begun an astonishing run of form, beating fierce rivals Manchester United 4-1 at Old Trafford, with the coronation of Fernando Torres as the world’s best striker when fit, before another spanking, this time at home to Aston Villa 5-0, where Gerrard picked up his first ever hat-trick in the Premier League.

Liverpool ended up taking 31 points from their final 33 that season, but still finished up four points behind Manchester United.

Why am I bringing all this up? Well, as Liverpool prepare travel down the East Lancs Road to visit the epicentre of the enemy, Old Trafford, this week is the five year anniversary of one of the best weeks of Rafael Benitez’s reign – the 4-0 and 4-1 wins against Real Madrid and Manchester United.

That season was the last one where Liverpool were one of the top dogs in Europe, and in every sense too. Commercially, on the field, the players, the history, everything was world-class, up to the point where Liverpool were ranked as the 2nd best team in Europe in 2009, behind FC Barcelona.

This time five years ago, we had momentum. Now we finally have it again.

Under Brendan Rodgers, the club are going firmly in the right direction. Whilst Kenny Dalglish must be commended for uniting the club and the fans in a time of crisis and bringing silverware back to the trophy room, the club still floundered in the league and money was being wasted.

Now Liverpool are careful, cautious but optimistic, both in attitudes towards the season and in transfer spending.

And in the main it’s working.

Liverpool are yet to reach the level of 2009. The football and league position may be as good, but the strength of the squad cannot be compared, with Liverpool boasting a spine of world class players: Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

At the moment, Liverpool only have Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge on that level, and with two of those three being strikers, the spine is not the same.  Therefore, as everyone suspects, to win this title Liverpool are going to have to rely upon their fearsome firepower.

Yet Liverpool are having a resurrection season. Title or not, Liverpool look set to qualify for the Champions League since (you guessed it) 2009. That alone is a fabulous achievement, particularly if the Reds can secure a top three place and prevent any potential banana skin that exists with the playoff round.

The likes of Jordan Henderson, Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Simon Mignolet are all younger players in their positions and have been performing brilliantly this season, yet they can all still improve.

Add in the players with the enduring class and experience, such as Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Lucas Leiva, and there is a starting XI which could compete with anybody.

Jose Mourinho has divided people on a greater scale than Marmite but his point about Liverpool’s lack of European competition is valid – Liverpool benefit from fewer games as they are less likely to pick up injuries and therefore they can play the same 15 players, who are the ones that will sustain the title challenge, particularly SAS.

Brendan Rodgers and his men started the season brilliantly, typified by the three wins out of three in August against Stoke City, Aston Villa and Manchester United. There have been a few hiccups, like the 3-3 draw at Goodison, the defeat to Southampton, the draws against West Brom and Aston Villa and the Christmas defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea.

Yet the momentum has already begun, with the thrashings of Arsenal and Everton at Anfield backed up by ugly wins over Swansea and Fulham that the Reds may have failed to win this time a year ago.

Five years ago, this was the week Liverpool gained momentum in the title race, only to come up short. That has started earlier this season, but it is imperative that it stays during the visit to Old Trafford. David Moyes might be enduring the worst season in the memories of young Manchester United fans, only accustomed to seeing their side dominate, but it remains a tough place to go, particularly for Liverpool. United will be right up for it, and Liverpool will have to match their intensity and level if they want to come away with the three points.

Replicating 2009 will be extremely tough, but Gerrard is more likely to lift the title this time round if they can keep the momentum up for the rest of the season, with Manchester City and Chelsea still to visit Anfield.

If there is one thought to take from 2009, it is that Liverpool’s missed opportunity left them on a downward spiral that has only been rectified five years on.

With the additional Champions League revenues (providing Liverpool finish in the top four) that is less likely to happen, but the competitiveness of the Premier League means that it is a possibility.

Certainly everyone will improve next season, so a win at Old Trafford is vital if they want to take advantage of the golden opportunity that has been presented to them.

Five years on – we’re back in it.