http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/liver-bird-rising-like-a-phoenix-1683673.html Great read in the telegraph today posted in the Indo Liver bird rising like a phoenix Benitez's revitalised side are suddenly soaring back towards the top of their cherished perch On March 2, 2009, Liverpool held the wake. As Sunderland were quietly beaten on the Anfield pitch, fans stood in eerie silence to mourn another title challenge's death by a thousand cuts. Defeat at the Riverside three days earlier was the final blow. Manchester United had a 10-point lead, Liverpool a 19th year of regret. By the end of that low-key 2-0 win, some on the Kop raised their bowed heads to rouse a rendition of the club's hymn. The few who overcame their grief to sing found Liverpool's famous ode to joy had become a funeral dirge. As their team had done in their league campaign, the faithful gave up long before the end. After Sunday's thrashing of Aston Villa, 'You'll Never Walk Alone' did not quite reach its conclusion either. Much too slow. The Kop preferred its up-tempo numbers, songs of praise to Rafael Benitez, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. The message was clear: Liverpool, and the title race, are reborn. As they say in Spain, hay liga. The league is on. "Beating Villa will have sent a message to United and Chelsea," said Jamie Carragher. "Let's not kid ourselves, they were watching that game. United know now that we're in there. We've capitalised on their defeat and now they realise they are in a fight for the league. "We're the form team and this is the best time of the season to be in form. They still have an advantage. One point and a game in hand is a decent lead, but we have to stay on their coat-tails and overtake them. "We've shown in the last few seasons that we finish strongly and we want the same again. Earlier this year we hadn't been at the top before and we weren't used to it. But we are maturing and getting used to the demands of fighting for a title." opportunity Carragher reflected on a Monday night stalemate against West Ham in December which, with Chelsea having lost at home to Arsenal, presented a gilt-edged opportunity to open a substantial gap which Liverpool failed to take. Aston Villa's arrival on Sunday following United's implosion at Fulham gave them a similar opportunity and, unlike West Ham, they put these claret and blue opponents to the sword. "This time the results have gone for us again, it was a big game that we just had to win, and this time we were a lot calmer," added Carragher. The turnaround is remarkable. For three months after going top with a 0-0 draw at home to West Ham, Liverpool jumped at their own shadows, culminating in the abject chaos of their defeat to a Middlesbrough side seemingly destined to be relegated. Benitez, contrary to his reputation, has not tinkered, has not performed some tactical wizardry to arrest the decline. He said after that loss -- only Liverpool's second in the league all season -- his players just had to take their chances. They have heeded his warning. The two biggest clubs in world football and the best away team in the Premier League have since been dispatched by an aggregate score of 13-1. From the ashes of a burned-out title charge, Benitez has produced a phoenix. But the Liver Bird which rose is a very different creature to the one that seemed to have gone down in flames after a calamitous January and February. Then, Liverpool seemed consumed with self-doubt. They failed to take the myriad of opportunities which United -- seldom at their sparkling best this season -- consistently handed them. Eventually, the unflagging, remorseless march of Alex Ferguson's side became too much. Liverpool wilted. They cracked. Somehow, from the shattered remnants of the past, the Spaniard has created a team bristling with a swaggering confidence, infused with self-belief. Much of the talking has been done on the pitch. If Real Madrid were beaten in a swordfight, Manchester United were picked off by a sniper and Aston Villa rolled over by a tank. The vocabulary is the same as Ferguson employed when his team returned from Japan tasked with the mission of hunting Liverpool down. Players talk of messages being sent, intent stated. "They can feel us near to them," said Albert Riera, fresh from his best display in a red shirt. "There will be a lot of pressure, and I think they can feel that." Feel it they can. United's flat display against Fulham was most likely evidence they are still in shock from the sacking of Old Trafford. Their loss of discipline indicated a frustration that they could not stop the rot continuing. This season being what it is, Liverpool supporters were yesterday digesting reports from Montreal that co-owner George Gillett may be ready to sell his share in the Montreal Candiens hockey franchise, an indicator of his own financial frailty. Before Benitez signed his new contract, this would have been cause for great worry, yet 13 goals in three games tends to make even the darkest clouds seem that little bit lighter. Received wisdom dictates that, as United have the greater experience, they know exactly how to reverse their own slump. Yet they could not stop Arsenal coming from 12 points behind to claim the title in 1998. Real Madrid could do nothing to halt Benitez's Valencia in 2004, eight points back at the start of March yet seven ahead when the dust settled. The momentum is with Liverpool. The phoenix is flying, and it wants its perch back. (©Daily Telegraph, London) - Rory Smith
Hopefully the next article will be saying, "United's flat display against Villa was most likely evidence they are still in shock from their humiliating display at Craven Cottage".
lets hope come the end of the season we can well and truely look back at this as an Inspired piece of Journalism
loved that today.fergies perch is wobbling lads and we will take it back well be coming well be coming well be coming down the road