Forget Manchester United, Liverpool now face their real test

By Steve Stammers

Published 08:02 28/10/09

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So the big one for Liverpool is here. Those of an Anfield persuasion who thought all the problems at the club evaporated with that emphatic and comprehensive win over Manchester United on Sunday may want to think again.

In many ways, the fashion in which United were humbled was as much an indictment as a triumph. Why? Because that was not a performance of a team who had lost four games on the trot. It was light years away from the limp and listless offering against Lyon in the Champions League five days earlier.

So Liverpool raised their game and their fans raised the roof because of the opposition. They did the same last season - at Anfield and Old Trafford. They won both ... but United won the title. In the peculiar logic of football fans, Liverpool may feel that morally they are the champions. But they were not.

Now comes the test - at Fulham in the tight confines of Craven Cottage. Never an easy proposition and now the challenge is for Liverpool to reproduce the excellence of Sunday in the type of match that has so often been their Achilles heel.

On Sunday Jamie Carragher was outstanding - the warrior who subdued United's much-vaunted strike force with help of Daniel Agger. He looked at ease with Agger alongside him rather than the unpredictable Martin Skrtel whose looks are more fearsome than his tackling.

Javier Mascherano was class. Fernando Torres was world-class. But that was Anfield with its traditionally passionate backdrop. On Saturday it is Fulham where life is traditionally difficult for the Big Four. They press, they harry and they are committed and organised. And poor teams do not come back from two goals down at Manchester City.

The dilemma for Rafa Benitez concerns next week. Defeat in Lyon will virtually bring the Champions League campaign to an abrupt end. He needs his key men fit and ready for France but just as importantly he needs three points to fuel the title fire that was re-ignited against United. Torres is unlikely to be risked and it is time for the under-achieving Ryan Babel to match his actions with his words. It is time for David Ngog to show that he has more to his game than potential.

Carragher will be there - he always is. For Liverpool's sake, he must not be left walking alone. Otherwise, all the uncertainty will return to replace the current euphoria.

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