It all started on a sombre but poignant note. Anfield paid its respects to a lad aged eleven, someone's baby and world who got inexplicably shot. And for all the recent degrading rivalry between red and blue, everyone rose above the pettiness of it all, respected the first time Z-Cars tune at Anfield and applauded the memory of Rhys Jones for one minute, who probably deep down, in his eleven year old mind agreed with Bill Shankly's philosophy of football being more important than life and death. The emotional aura of Anfield rose again to the fore. Football in Merseyside again soothed the pains of one extraordinary tragedy, and Rafael Benitez humbled by it all hugged Rhys's mum and probably thought of his two daughters rather than tactics.
Befittingly Liverpool gave another good footballing display as Toulouse were swept aside without breaking much sweat, the 4-0 scoreline not flattering the redmen in the slightest. Toulouse weren't a stern test, for some reason I thought of them as the French Wigan. They come from a rugby town where so much unlike in Liverpool, football is only secondary, been on the blocks only recently and wear blue and white. And for all that they looked more like last season's Wigan who avoided the drop on the very last day rather than in the season before when they were the surprise package.
What made it all pleasing though was the way, Liverpool's side has been rotated and reshuffled but looked as slick as ever. Sebastian Leto had his official debut, while Yossi Benayoun had his Anfield debut. Peter Crouch was called again and answered by getting the opener as his long leg made it possible for him to get on Dirk Kuyt's cross and direct into the net. Sami Hyypia, sporting the captain's armband again at Gerrad and Carragher's absence made it two, connecting well with Yossi Benayoun's corner as he looked to have the freedom of the whole city. And that's one thing you still can't afford to give the loyal Finn as punish you he will.
With Champions League football all assured, it was time for the Brazilian Lucas Leiva's debut. Dirk Kuyt then broke his duck this season. He has been all over the place as always, breaking sweat for the cause but upfront he only got close. The crossbar eluded his first goal, but some minutes later, his hard work and persistence prevailed as after a clever Babel pass he found the net through the post. Three minutes later, he was the recipient of a Benayoun pass and got to the ball before the opposing keeper to direct into the net again, and a lot of weight was taken off his shoulders.

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Liverpool waited till the sixth match last season to get on ten points. This time round, Liverpool only took four matches to get on the same tally. And for the first time under Rafael Benitez, Liverpool find themselves on top of the league. 'It's too early to talk about being on top of the league', mused Rafa. And the pragmatic boss is right. But am sure that deep down he's made up as any of us. His sides were a lot of times considered as rather dry but try justify that after seeing his side put six without response past Derby County. The much talked about and needed 'good start' is now materialising and the redmen are definitely on the right track. Not only that, they are rolling freely, with any kind of shackles truly shaken and good enough to not miss the injured Scouse duo of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. And to omit Peter Crouch from the bench.
It took the reds twenty-six minutes to break the ice, this time through Alonso, surprisingly enough not from his own half, but not too far off it either! Then Ryan Babel broke his personal ice, and scored probably the most picturesque goal of the lot. Picking a pass from the Arbeloa, he dropped his shoulder, left two defenders on their arses and with a powerful shot he picked the far corner of the net with the keeper diving at the other end.
Fernando Torres then got Liverpool's third. Javier Mascherano slid to steal the ball and pass to the Spaniard. Torres used his pace and danced past a couple of looking Derby defenders and slid the ball into the net. He got his second and Liverpool's sixth as he pounced on a poor back-pass and rounded the keeper. You might argue that's what you get for twenty-four million but in the meantime the free Andriy Voronin found the net again as was at the end of a rebound after a Kuyt shot. Sandwiched between the two strikers goals, the midfield maestro Xabi Alonso found the net too when rather than a blatant penalty, after a two legged tackle on Yossi Benayoun, the Basque sidefooted the ball at Stephen Bywater's left.
The appetite was whetted the Tuesday before by four goals, but yesterday the reds just devoured almost every chance. It is a bit annoying knowing that Liverpool will be out of action for a fortnight due to an international break but being in a good mood and seeing the proverbial glass half full, it will be welcomed by both Carra and Gerrard so as not to miss any more matches. Still the reds will be missed.