Two Tribes !

Despite the obvious protestations from their Mancunian neighbours down the East Lancs Road the history books state that Liverpool FC remain the most successful team in English football. For so long their eighteen league titles stood so far out of reach it was deemed easier to hit the moon with a catapult. Not anymore.

Fifteen years ago Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United began collecting Premierships faster than a Wall Street collapse. To the extent they now sit just one behind their deadliest rivals. Whereas Liverpool's five European cups will continue to irk the Old Trafford club for at least the next two seasons their record title haul is becoming increasingly within touching distance. A nightmare scenario looms large on the 'fields of Anfield Road'.

But luckily for the Liverpool support communal suicide may yet be averted as the penny seems to have dropped with manager Rafa Benitez' team, and as if fired by the weight of history upon their shoulders Liverpool have made their best ever start to a Premiership campaign. Finally after eighteen lean, torturous season the likes of Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and a bolt of lightning masquerading as Fernando Torres, the adopted Scouse 'El Nino', can be labelled genuine title contenders.

The 'Miracle of Istanbul' undoubtedly earned Rafa Benitez valuable time amongst Koppites as he struggled or indeed ignored the values placed in this country on domestic matters. Arguably one of the finest exponents of defensive football since Helenio Herrera, Benitez chose instead to concentrate fully on plotting a path through the minefields of Champions league knock out competition.

It was only after an embarrassing FA cup defeat at Burnley caused by the infamous back-heel own goal by Jimmy Traore that saw Liverpool fans lose patience with their Spanish guru. But even though Benitez took on board this criticism and won the same Cup one year on in the classic 'Steven Gerrard' final against West Ham, his Premiership tinkering in order to keep players fresh for European midweek matches continued to backfire. Meanwhile Manchester United kept creeping ever closer.

This season monkeys have been falling off Rafa Benitez' back like leaves off an autumn tree. His inability to beat United either home or away in the Premiership was put right in dramatic fashion at Anfield when Liverpool came from behind to deservedly win 2-1, without starting either Gerrard or Torres. Then an even more impressive performance came away at Chelsea, winning 1-0 to end a Stamford Bridge unbeaten record going back four years.

Though it was the manner of victory with Benitez side playing a smooth passing game, so reminiscent of past great Anfield teams that so stunned neutrals and foes alike. Suddenly the years had fallen away and for the first time people realized that Liverpool Football Club were back!

No surprise then Sir Alex Ferguson was the one to bring scousers back down to earth by claiming after the Chelsea game that he was 'happy with the result'. Almost an insinuation that he wasn't worried about the Anfield threat and regarded Phil Scolari's team as his main challenge. However that in itself is grudging respect from Ferguson because when before have his mind games began in October?

The return league match between United and Liverpool is on 14th March 2009 and if both are fighting it out for the title, regardless of Chelsea and Arsenal's positions, it promises not to be a day for the weak hearted at Old Trafford. There is a storm brewing in the north and the winds of change may well be blowing back towards Merseyside?

Rafa Benitez has already proved he can perform miracles with the events of Istanbul, whilst Sir Alex Ferguson is also not averse to turning water into wine. Barcelona 99 anyone? Laced with a stench of hatred, driven by history and poisonous jealousy this is no ordinary rivalry. In many ways two cities so alike not a needle thread could be darned between them. But in matters of football they remain a chasm apart. A day of reckoning is approaching. Two tribes.

It's a northern thing.

John Ludden
Cfieldsoffire@aol.com