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1 month ago, there is only going to be 1 winner in the Barclays Premier League. Man Utd has not been beaten since Nov 08, Van der Sar just broken the clean sheet records, Man Utd has most of their injured back, and they have a very healthy lead at the top of the BPL which we all know at this stage, they rarely gave away.

Liverpool can only hope, and I believe even the most faithful of Liverpool fans wasn’t thinking too much of the title this season. The only way to have any real chance, abet a very very slim one, is the meeting with Man Utd, a chance to gain 3 vital points. And on a back of a superb win over Real Madrid, they repeated the feat against Man Utd. Hopes were raise, just a little, as Man Utd still have a 4 points lead, and a game in hand.

Next up for Man Utd is Fulham, a chance to restore lost pride, a chance for back slash, especially when they just murdered Fulham 4-0 at the same ground 2 weeks ago. A chance to silence any doubts anyone have against them retaining the crowd. Liverpool’s match is just a blip, now for the real masterclass. Well, it didn’t go quite as plan.

Having lost Vidjic due to suspension (for stupidly hurling down Gerrard when he has absolutely no chance), the young and promising Evans came in. But no one expected Fulham to start the way they started. They controlled the 1st half, played probably their best football, scored from the penalty spot (for a ex-Liverpoolian Murphy), and have Man Utd’s Scholes sent off in the process for deliberate handball.

Even with 10 man, Man Utd is expected to steamroll over Fulham. They unlease Rooney in the 2nd half, and control the game for a good 20 mins or so, but found the Fulham keeper in top form with saves, double saves, and more. Then on came Tevez, more terror fo Fulham, but they started to take back some control of the game and score a 2nd late on to kill off the match. They was still time for Rooney to be sent off (a bit harsh I thought, but who cares!).

So now it is back to back lost for Man Utd, a first in 147 games! With Chelsea losing to Spurs half hour later, Merseyside is sensing something. A chance to close the gap to 1 point, or will they choke?

Against Villa who is fighting for a Champions League spot, it is not going to be easy, and it will take the bravest to predict the margin of victory they will to have. Right from the start, Liverpool was at their throat, and reward early with a Kuyt goal. Villa tried to come back, and need Reina to be at his best. But a brilliant kick by Reina found Reira free and a first time volley almost broke the crossbar on the way in. 2 -0, and Liverpool is still not done. Any great ball releases Reira and Reo-cooker, played out of position, tripped in and it’s Gerrard time. 3-0 and it’s over, with lots of time still left to play.

An Istanbul fightback of their own from Villa? Not quite as just 5 mins into the 2nd half, a well placed Gerrard free kick puts them 4-0 up. Another 4 goals scored, another victory in the bag. When Torres runs free into the box, Villa feel the worst, but it was worst then worst. The Villa keeper came out, got nothing of the ball, and was sent off for bring Torres down. Gerrard dispatch the penalty in typically cool fashion for his 1st Premier League hat-trick and Liverpool fans will be celebrating well into the night for another excellent victory.

Man Utd, keep looking over your shoulder, you might not see us soon.

Wow…what a week it has been for Liverpool. Even the most fervent fan would not think that they will ship 8 goals pass Real Madrid and Man Utd in one week. And boy did they did it so convincingly.

If anyone thought Liverpool will be doing another ‘Boro’ on a back of a Champions League win over one of the best team in the world, they were totally wrong. Liverpool put up another excellent display, and even allow Man Utd to score first, before trashing them 4-1. A trashing, if you look at Man Utd’s record, and you would agree this is consider a trashing.

Now the game is on, even though Man Utd is still the favourite to retain the Premier League title, it will make for a more interesting run-in. And how many teams can claim they do a double over the champions? Kudos to Liverpool, especially Torres and Gerrard! And not forgetting good old Rafa who did it again!

Liverpool has had a couple of bad games, or rather bad halves this season but none is close to the type of school boy football they played this morning against Tottenham in the League Cup. Yes, you know I have been a staunch supporter of Liverpool and don’t usually criticized them but the kind of football they played this morning is simply, using a Singapore slang, cannot make it ah.

Granted that perhaps 10 out of 11 might not have started a ‘proper’ league game if the whole squad is fit, and the no. 11th player just came back from missing 9 matches due to injury, I still expect the 2nd strings to put in a stronger performance. Misplaced passes, bad first touches, not much movement off the ball, non marking of players in defence, lack of communication, etc…everything you should not have done in a top class football match, they have done it. I’m sure this match will be taped and watched over and over again to show future generations of Liverpool players what they SHOULD NOT have done in a football match.

OK, let’s not take it away from Spurs, they did ring a few changes, keeping in-form Bent on the bench, and played extremely well, especially going forward. I was particularly impressed with Lennon on the right flank, and his willingness to track back and Campbell showed his desire to chase after every seemingly lost cause. BUT, Liverpool made their life much much easier and allow them to dictate the pace of the game.

This match further highlight the kind of work Rafa need to do to ensure the 2nd string of players are up to mark when called upon for 1st team actions. The good news is that we are not likely to see the same team play together again this season. I’m sure every Liverpool fans expect a player who puts on a Liverpool shirt in a football match to live up to the high expectation of him being a Liverpool player, and some of them really need to do some serious soul searching. I expect ruthless Rafa to ship some of them out at the end of the season.

Ngog was non existence up front, simply ball passed to him he couldn’t control it, never had a good first touch in the entire match, and misses most of his passes. Plessis, apart from his goal and his yellow card, did nothing to suggest he could anchor the midfield one day. Lucas was woeful in his passes, even simple ones. Degan seems to be always day dreaming. Agger is simply too casual (no wonder he is displaced by Sketel). El Zhar seems to have lost his directions, but at least he tries to play football. Cavalieri just needs to communicate more with his defenders but did an ok job apart from the mixed up that lead to the goal. Hyypia, despite doing very well, have to take some blame for not organising the defence well enough. Dossena tried but could have done much better. Babel was the only bright spark but held on to the ball too much at times (many times), perhaps knowing that if he passes it the others might lose it anyway. Torres just got back from injury so I am not expecting much from him. Insua and Alonso came on as a sub and spark the mini revivial till Gomes injury (a serious one) kill off any momentem Liverpool was trying to build.

If I ever see a similar line up again I will just switch off my TV set, and you know that I watch every single Liverpool match every season. Rafa was right in allowing the 2nd string to have a go, but they simply did not repay the faith. Players I want to see go? Ngog and Plessis definately, the rest I will give them a 2nd chance, but not playing together.