Tue Oct 7 13:25:54 2008

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A different kind of Liverpool

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Their team is unbeaten through seven games and sits tied atop the Premiership, but don't blame Liverpool supporters if they are not doing back flips over the team's success, because they have seen this before.

The club last won the league title in 1990, and despite their strong performances in European competition, the biggest criticism of manager Rafael Benitez during his tenure has been a lack of success in domestic play.

You have to go back to the 1996-97 season to find the last time that the Reds mounted a serious title challenge. They were on top of the league through January, but fell behind Manchester United and ended up seven points back, although they stayed in contention until the final month of the season.

That was the last time that fans around Anfield had a sniff of the trophy late into the year, but that could all change this season.

First place in early October in the Premiership is a lot like leading a marathon two miles into the race, but it is how the Reds have arrived at their lofty perch that should be cause for excitement.

There have been a few shaky performances in the first couple of months, like a 0-0 draw with Stoke City and a narrow 1-0 escape against Sunderland, but for the most part, the Reds have looked like a team that has some staying power.

Sunday's dramatic, 3-2 come-from-behind win against Manchester City is the latest example, not to mention their 2-1 win over defending champion Manchester United in September.

The United win was especially big for Benitez because he had gone winless in his first eight contests against Sir Alex Ferguson. The Red Devils had won the last five meetings between the two teams, and it looked like more of the same when they took an early 1-0 lead, but Liverpool showed that this year would be different as it rallied to score twice and grab the win.

Liverpool was in trouble again on Sunday, down two goals at the break and looking like a team that was ready to roll over, but they never felt like they were out of the game.

"We had a feeling at halftime that we could get back in the game if we scored a goal," Dirk Kuyt told the club's official website. "We got that and were back in the game, and I think we deserved to win.

"All of the players worked really hard - even the substitutes. It shows what a good squad of players we have here."

Liverpool has always had a good squad of players, but they now have a true difference-maker in striker Fernando Torres.

The Spanish sniper sparked the rally with two goals to level the match, and he had a hand in the stoppage-time winner scored by Kuyt.

"Fernando had a difficult time in the first half but that was the same for all of us," Kuyt said. "He just needed a little chance to score and it's great for a team if you have someone like that up front. He always seems to score when he gets his chances."

Torres bagged 24 goals in league play in his first season at Anfield last year, and with five goals in his first six games, he looks to be the one consistent scoring threat that Liverpool fans have been hoping for.

The club is considered to be part of England's "Big Four" along with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, but those three teams have combined to win 15 of the last 17 EPL crowns, while Liverpool has come up short for the past 17 years.

Liverpool has won its last four games in all competitions, but an international break is on tap for this weekend, which could slow the team's momentum.

Kuyt does not feel as though the break is coming at a bad time, though.

"We've already had one international break and we came back in our first game after it and beat Manchester United, so I wouldn't say it comes at a bad time," he said.

"Anyway, we don't need any excuses. We'll just keep on going and see how we do against Wigan in our next game."

Sunday's win could be viewed as a statement to the rest of the league that Liverpool is for real, but Kuyt and his teammates have taken a different approach that they hope will pay off in May.

"We try to make a statement every week," Kuyt said. "Every three games we have a big game. We had Everton and PSV last week, and our target is just to win every game and try to be there by the end of the season."