Liverpool continued their blistering form with a solid thrashing of Bolton at the weekend. The team have been playing out of their socks for their embattled manager as he continues his quest to have the final say in who comes and goes at Anfield. Rightfully so, because inevitably he will be the one working with the players on a day-to-day basis, and those players have joined in the chorus of his importance to the Liverpool cause. Fernando Torres admitted at the post-Bolton press conference that he will have to plan for the future elsewhere if Rafa is shown the door.

A lot has been said in recent weeks by rival supporters about Manchester United being Liverpool’s benchmark. And after Bolton killed off the Red Devils last week, I was shaking with nervous anticipation that Liverpool were going to lose 1- 0 to them as well. Luckily, this myth was blown away as reality kicked in. So much for United being the benchmark.

While 4 -0 may reflect that it was all a bit one-way traffic against Wanderers, it could easily have been 8-0, such was the consistency of the Anfield attack. Harry Kewell, starting only his second Premier League game of the season, showed he is worthy of a contract extension when his deal runs out at the end of the year. The telepathic connection he shares with Torres, Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard shows that he is an important component in Rafa’s plans for a solid title push. 

‘While it is the envy of every team in the world to have Gerrard pulling the strings, the Reds have proved that they can win without him.’


Ryan Babel is a rising star – one for both the future and present – and he could learn a lot from Kewell who, at 29, should be at the peak of his career and needs to get more starts to hit full stride. His long absence due to injury means it feels as if Liverpool have signed a new player – and with the new owners’ miserly approach, the Reds might just have to imagine him to be one!

Another source of continued irritation is the label that Liverpool are a one-man team, and that if Gerrard were not playing we would struggle. While it is the envy of every team in the world to have Gerrard pulling the strings, the Reds have proved that they can win without him.

Most Man Utd supporters seem to suffer from short-term memory loss and their envy and jealousy seems to cloud their judgment. The label 'one-man team' could not be more true than with the Devils’ themselves. Ronaldo United scored another brace last night in the 2-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford.

He was rested against Bolton and they lost. He started against Sporting Lisbon and scored the winning goal in extra time. Wayne Rooney is good, but judging by last night one has to ask the age old question ... is he the most over-rated player in the world? Apart from those two moments of Cristiano magic, Fulham were bullying United for large periods and the real one-man team was plain for all to see.

Back to a club in full flow, and Liverpool saw Sami Hyypia score his first Premier League goal of the season. against Bolton. But the highlight was a 50-yard through ball from Gerrard which saw Torres out-run his marker and duly slot home with a deft dink over Jussi Jaaskelainen. Gerrard scored from the penalty spot and Babel is proving to be the super sub of note – he has now scored three goals coming off the bench this season. All in all, a great result, keeping in mind due to United benchmark standards Liverpool were supposed to lose 1-0.

You decide, who is in fact the real one-man team – December 16 is going to prove more than just three points for sure.