Liverpool a class apart

I DON’T read football programmes anymore. Nor do I attend pre or post-match press conferences. I’m not interested in propaganda.

So, naturally, I laughed at hearing reports of Alex Ferguson saying: “We were the better team.” Hilarious. absolutely hilarious. And my colleagues in the media that swallowed such tosh should be ashamed of themselves.

Don’t get me wrong. I still think that Manchester United are capable of landing the Quintuple. Certainly, they remain overwhelming favourites to retain the Premier League title.

If anything, Saturday’s humiliation might be the kick up the backside they need to dismiss any complacency that might have set in. But don’t let anyone diminish the substance of Liverpool’s victory, nor the week they have had.

They were magnificent, particularly Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres and particularly given that it was all so unexpected.

In the same way that the best English result in the first legs of the Champions League belonged to Liverpool, so too did the best performance in the second meetings. Marca, a Spanish newspaper with very close links to Real Madrid headlined its front page on the day of the game: “Esto Es Anfield. Y Que?” (“This is Anfield. So what?”)

What arrogance.! How wonderful to see its demolition.! Only the outstanding Iker Casillas — Real’s best player for the last five years, and that says everything — prevented Liverpool scoring seven or eight goals.

Before the game I was in receipt of some dodgy information that neither Gerrard nor Torres would play (Gerrard did get a knock in training and Torres’ ankle was “on ice” the night before). Both played and both were fantastic.

Watching Liverpool warm down after the game, the Real fans gave an ovation to Gerrard. Much though they must have despised the display by their own team, they know their football. I applaud them.

So, to Old Trafford: Alonso, one of Liverpool’s key players, wasn’t fit and Arbeloa was injured in the warm up; hardly encouraging before a game they had to win.

Nor was the situation helped when Alan Wiley, otherwise faultless as the referee, soon gave a dubious penalty.

But that was merely the prelude to a wonderful Liverpool response. It is 17 years since United were last walloped in such a manner at Old Trafford.

The vile vitriol that sadly accompanies such fixtures was rammed down the throats of their supporters. The title may be lost and the sole claim on 18 league titles may soon have to be shared but it was a sweet moment for those that follow Liverpool.

Yet, amidst all the acclaim, they must feel a huge frustration. The season will be remembered for doubles over Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid but, if Liverpool can play with such verve and such brilliance, if they can swat such illustrious opponents away, why can’t they do the same to Fulham, Stoke or West Ham?

I still have doubts about Rafael Benitez. Some of his buys have been atrocious and his selections and substitutions are often crazy. He is, as well, far too cautious by nature.

In situations where Ferguson would urge his team to go for the jugular, Benitez generally settles for less. But that was a week to push reservations aside. His Liverpool were simply brilliant.