The run continues as others begin to stutter.

Liverpool Vs Everton (Saturday 6th February)

Confidence breeds success in Sport. Without individuals possessing a deep feeling that they will overcome their opponents, victories are all that harder to come by.

After Roberto Mancini appeared to have settled Manchester City, his side have now lost 2 of their last 3 league games, and face Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs in their next 5 Premiership games.

Spurs have all the qualities of club in freefall; drawing 3 of their last 5 league games, which included a defeat to Liverpool. Villa, in a similar run of form, have won only once in their last 6 league games, drawing 3 and losing the remaining 2; one of which was against Liverpool. A pattern seems to be emerging.

In comparison, Liverpool, the 4th team in the hunt for the much coveted Champions League spot, have taken 17 points from the last 21, in a word, superb. Victories against Spurs and Villa illustrated the strength of character on the red half of Merseyside, and sent a message out to the rest of the league that they are far from waving a Premiership white flag.

The weekend’s games couldn’t have gone much more in Liverpool’s favour. A derby victory, City’s stumbling at Hull, a stalemate at White Heart Lane and Arsenal losing to Chelsea, to leave only 5 points between 3rd and 4th, with the Gunners facing Liverpool in the league on Wednesday. Wenger’s side are hardly setting the Premiership on fire of late, taking just 8 points from the last 18, and the visit of inform Liverpool to the Emirates will hardly please Professor Wenger.

This successful weekend began on Saturday lunchtime, as Liverpool’s impressive from continued, with a solid and dynamic display against the in-form Everton. The 3 points were made all the sweeter, after playing with 10 men for over 60 minutes, showing team unity, and a water tight defence.

It’s this mentality and resilience that Rafa has instilled in his team that enable them to overcome such adversity, in such a demanding circumstance. Derbies are full of passion and hard tackles. Running that extra yard to defy your opposite number, and work hard for your team mates and fans is a quality that the manager drums into his players.

Such tenacity was illustrated perfectly by Mascherano and Carragher whose tireless defending was precisely what the club and this fixture means to them.

When you consider the numerous late goals conceded by Liverpool this season, it’s testament to players’ concentration, stamina, conditioning that they kept Everton at bay for so long, and maintained their slender advantage against a team with an extra man.

Such a slender advantage was achieved by another priceless goal from Liverpool’s no.18. What is it about Kuyt and important goals? He seems to crop up at the right moment to pounce on a pinpoint cross or a defensive lapse to punish the opposition. 50 goals to boot as well, quite a landmark.

His seasonal contribution in the goal charts has increased with each passing season, and his goals very often turn a draw into a win, or rescue a point when 0 points seem more like.
Why is it that he scores theses important goals? Hard to say, but you could infer from his scoring statistics that he never gives in. all the talk of Kuyt being a ‘work-horse’ is all very well, but his continual effort and determination means he scores when sometimes shouldn’t. A class buy from Benitez, and here’s to 50 more.

I’ve mentioned on this Blog numerous times about the way Liverpool seem to take one step forward followed by one step back. Think the victory against Man Utd in October, or the defeat of Everton in November, both huge results followed by disappointing defeats against lesser teams. With difficult games against Arsenal and Man City to come in the league, Saturday’s performance will have to be repeated in the coming weeks, maybe all the way till May.