Liverpool Special: Encouraging Weekend At Last For Rafael Benitez And His Troops

Ok, so there was an element of good fortune about Liverpool's rain-soaked victory at Goodison Park on Sunday. Had Javier Mascherano's wayward 25-yarder not veered back on course via the shin of Joseph Yobo, it is debatable whether Rafa Benitez's men would have breached an Everton defence that looked pretty comfortable for most of the match.

But this is not to belittle the Reds' achievement. Everton might be in a run of form so horrid that Hull City managed to run in three goals in the first half an hour of their meeting last Wednesday, but they had only been beaten once previously in the league at home this season - in an opening day butchering from Arsenal.

Liverpool, to all intents and purposes, were reeling on the ropes as they rolled into Goodison yesterday. Beaten to the brink of submission by injuries, criticism, and a series of desperately poor performances. A 2-0 win at the home of their neighbours, in conditions which made slick and flowing football nigh-on impossible, should therefore not be underestimated.

When Benitez took a glance at the league table yesterday evening, it will have only added to his feeling of satisfaction. Arsenal's capitulation to Chelsea - albeit in a scoreline which flattered their visitors - means that Liverpool sit two points behind the free-scoring Gunners, with the sides due to meet at Anfield in a fortnight's time. It is not an optical illusion, Liverpool could easily be ahead of Arsenal by Christmas.

Arsenal's collapse at the Emirates shows that no team is immune from the effects of injuries. Robin Van Persie's absence looks set to be long-term, and Arsenal simply aren't the same side without the Dutchman. Performance levels will fluctuate, and points will be dropped. It is not rocket science, even the best sides miss their best players.

Liverpool have had their own injury troubles already this season, but Benitez is confident that the worst is over in that respect. Both Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera, beset by hamstring troubles earlier this month, appeared from the bench to play a part yesterday. Fellow victims Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio and Glen Johnson featured from the start.

One name who was missing of course, was Fernando Torres. The Spaniard was always likely to struggle to make this game, treatment on a groin injury having prevented him from training fully for the past three weeks. The groans which greeted the news that he had not even been named as a substitute told their own story.

It is an unavoidable fact that Liverpool, as a team, look a great deal less threatening without their prized Spaniard. That much is obvious. David Ngog is improving at a rate that should make Ryan Babel blush, but Torres he is not. Once the main man is back in the fold, Liverpool should have little trouble picking up points.

The same should, in theory at least, go for Alberto Aquilani. The Italian was, with good reason, an unused substitute yesterday, having completed just 23 minutes of senior football since April following an ankle operation. Liverpool fans' wait to see their £17 million midfield schemer is becoming as drawn out as the delay over a new stadium.

What Torres and Aquilani should add to Benitez's team is simple - a touch of class. Liverpool fans remain heftily divided over the merits of players such as Ngog and Lucas Leiva - despite marked improvements in the pair - but there should be no polarisation of opinion where the two latin stars are concerned.

Torres, in particular, should also bring about an improvement in the performance of skipper Steven Gerrard, who has drifted through recent games well below his best. Gerrard has, of course, had his own injury difficulties, but there is little doubt that the absence of his chief partner-in-crime has played a part. Ngog is useful, but his game is far less rounded than Torres, and Gerrard has difficulty reading him.

With Torres and Aquilani in full swing, Gerrard back to some kind of form, and the support cast of Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt - who ended a worrying scoring drought yesterday - and Albert Riera chipping in as they usually do, Liverpool will suddenly look a wholly different side to the patched-up, laborious effort which has plundered through the first third of the season.

And, with Manchester City drawing games for fun, and both Tottenham and Aston Villa yet to convincingly answer any serious questions about their top-four credentials, it is not unreasonable to suggest that Benitez and his side have good reason to be looking upwards this winter.

Though to be fair, after the start they have had, they have little choice.

Neil Jones