Reds transformed by the power of three

RAFAEL BENITEZ could not stifle a smile, even if it came through gritted teeth. The Liverpool manager had just been asked for the umpteenth time whether he still felt his team could win the Premier League title. “We hope so – if Manchester United make a mistake, we have to be there,’’ he said, a touch wearily.

Benitez has to say such things, of course, but even a man who manufactured the most unlikely Champions League success of recent times is beginning to realise that there will be no ‘Miracle on Merseyside’ this season.

The irony for Benitez is that his side are currently playing with the swagger of champions. Their opponents, even supposedly obdurate ones such as West Ham, are being swatted aside with ease and points and goals are being racked up three at a time.

This was the first time in over 20 years that Liverpool had scored three goals or more in five consecutive league games and it was enough for them to shoulder aside Manchester United at the top of the table.

United’s victory yesterday ensured Liverpool’s supremacy was short-lived and a maximum return from their game in hand against Wigan on Wednesday will all but rubber-stamp their triumph.

It might be of scant consolation as Benitez contemplates a trophyless season but his disappointment must surely be spiked with pride at how Liverpool have cast off the tag of Premier League flops so emphatically and forced United to push themselves to ever higher standards of excellence just to keep them at bay.

“If you analyse when we arrived here, the squad we had then and the squad we have now, we have better players with a very good mentality,’’ Benitez said. “There is a winning mentality now.’’

Liverpool’s transformation, however, is more than just in the brain. There is a versatility and purpose to Benitez’s class of 2009 which distinguishes them from their flaky predecessors. There is wit and variety, with Yossi Benayoun beginning to dazzle and Xabi Alonso revitalised; Javier Mascherano, excellent at Upton Park, mops up with aplomb and Dirk Kuyt can harry defenders to distraction.

Then, of course, there is Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Of all the what-ifs which must haunt Benitez’s quieter moments – the dropped home points, the scripted rant at Alex Ferguson in January – chief among them must be that his most dynamic players of all have so rarely been fit at the same time.

Their respective roles make them more Beardsley and Rush than Keegan and Toshack, but, even so, Gerrard and Torres have a synchronicity which is the hallmark of all great partnerships.

The England midfielder’s first goal, after barely a minute, on Saturday was a case in point, Gerrard rounding goalkeeper Robert Green and sliding home on the angle after Torres had dissected the West Ham defence with an exquisite through-ball.

“We feel if we are both fit and on top form we’ll cause defenders and teams many problems,’’ Gerrard said. “Without sounding big-headed there is a confidence when we are both on the pitch that we can win football matches.’’ Gerrard’s bonhomie was understandable. This was one of Liverpool’s most stress-free afternoons of the season, their victory assured from the moment Gerrard stroked in the opener.

He completed his brace in the 37th minute when Luis Boa Morte’s shirt-pull on Torres gave the visitors a penalty. Gerrard’s initial effort was well saved by Green but the rebound fell kindly to the midfielder, who bundled in from close range.

The second half was largely a non-event, enlivened only by a late third goal for the substitute Ryan Babel, who hammered in at the second attempt after being picked out by Kuyt.

The whole experience was rather chastening for West Ham, who began the day with aspirations of snaffling the seventh spot that will deliver Europa League football next season.

W“I am confident we will be competing with them soon but that cannot happen from day one to day two,” said their manager Gianfranco Zola.

Benitez, his eyes ever fixed on that infernal red dot on the horizon, would testify to that.

REFEREE: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire) 4: Atrocious in the first half, particularly for Liverpool’s second goal, although he managed to get a grip after the interval. By then, though, the damage had been done to West Ham.

MATCH RATING: ** All over as a contest once Liverpool had drawn West Ham’s sting by snaffling the lead.