Premier League Title Betting: Startling Liverpool win has put life back into the title race

Premier League / Feizal Rahman / 15 March 2009 / Leave a Comment

As if inspired by Mr Miyagi himself, Liverpool pulled themselves off the canvas to unleash a devastating attack on Manchester United on Saturday and the subsequent 4-1 win could have huge consequences, says Feizal Rahman.

Seldom do the Premier League's blue chip contests live up to the hype, or warrant their perceived significance, but Liverpool's astonishing 4-1 annihilation of Manchester United yesterday was a welcome reminder of how great this sport can be. However much we may think we can predict the outcome of a game and have it all worked out in our mortal minds, every now and again the everlasting spirit of football throws down a bombshell, leaving us in awe of its true magnificence.

On March 14, 1998, Arsenal travelled to Manchester for a lunchtime kick-off against a United team set to secure their third successive Premiership trophy. A solitary goal from Arsenal's diminutive Dutch winger, Marc Overmars, turned the seemingly inevitable course of history on its head and was the stimulus for a run of wins that saw the Gunners overhaul United's 11-point lead to win their first title under manager Arsene Wenger.

Eleven years on to the very day, the footballing Gods may have been trying to give us a sign as Liverpool - without a league championship in 19 years - produced a far more overwhelming performance to disturb yet another procession at Old Trafford and provide a much-needed twist to the plot of this season's story.

For the best part of four months, Manchester United have been allowed to bully their way to the top of the table with conquests over timid victims who have displayed fawning capitulation, intimidated by the status of the European and World champions. But yesterday Liverpool bravely stood up to the tyranny and like Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid, they delivered a devastating crane kick to their complacent foe.

Perhaps the euphoria of his side's 4-0 destruction of Real Madrid on Tuesday night had short-circuited the frenzied tactical computations in the brain of manager Rafael Benitez, for this Liverpool was the remorseless Mr Hyde of the Champions League and not the benevolent Dr. Jekyll of the Premier League.

Showing an imposing character so infrequently seen in domestic competition, the visitors were able to claw back a 1-0 deficit, equalising within five minutes through the gutsy determination of the brilliant Fernando Torres, whose lethal finish was never in doubt once he had left a hapless Nemanja Vidic in his wake. Leaving us to wonder what might have been, Torres and Steven Gerrard were playing together for only the ninth time this season and were able to link up superbly to earn a penalty which saw Liverpool take the lead.

It was a now infamous rant from the Anfield boss about Manchester United getting favourable decisions that coincided with his team's downturn in league form. The irony of winning a spot-kick at Old Trafford then will surely not be lost on either Benitez or Sir Alex Ferguson and that this was later accentuated by Vidic being sent off may allow the Spaniard to deem his actions vindicated, albeit at some cost.

There was no contesting the decisions and, to their credit, United claimed no excuses for their dismal display. Fronted with a fearless opponent, key individuals found little to justify their reputation. Other than putting away his 23rd minute penalty, Cristiano Ronaldo looked more like Ronald McDonald for most of the match, while Wayne Rooney's 'hatred' of Liverpool merely saw him huff and puff but ultimately unable to blow the Merseysiders's defence down.

Having lost his head in this fixture last season, Javier Mascherano controlled the midfield with calm assurance and, in partnership with the much-maligned Lucas Leiva, nullified the opposition duo of Michael Carrick and Anderson. The latter two were eventually hauled off in a triple substitution that was more of desperation than strategic intent. For those players who have had it all their way for too long this season, it was a severe shock to the system and perhaps one that may shatter their thus far unwavering confidence. Every great team is allowed a bad day at the office but one senses that this one may be of greater magnitude.

Liverpool themselves still have much work to do. It has not been their performances against title competitors that has seem them slip up, rather their recurrent inability to finish off lesser opponents, as United do. Indeed, the Anfield club have gained 13 points from their five bouts with 'Big Four' rivals this season, as many as they achieved in their previous 17 encounters. United, meanwhile have attained only four.

With a resurgent Arsenal still to visit Old Trafford - and a Manchester derby that United have won only five times in the last 14 clashes also awaiting them - there may yet be life left in the title race. As Liverpool close the gap - and a rejuvenated Chelsea still in the chase (both sides [12.0] to win league) - United may be put under pressure for the first time this season (out a touch to [1.2] to remain Champions) and it will be a worthy test to see how they cope.

Yet, whatever the denouement come the last week of May, the rest of the Premier League should be inspired by yesterday's result. It was not just a victory for Liverpool, it was a victory for football.