Liverpool started well yesterday and went one up as early as the nineteenth minute. The ball then seemed to have Liverpool’s name on it, as the reds dominated possession and had their chances every now and then without ever really having too many clear cut ones. A sucker-punch at the thirty-third minute concluded by a good header from a certain Lisandro through an awesome cross by Kazmierczak punctured Liverpool’s stride. And in hindsight the strange early half-time whistle wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to Liverpool. At the time Porto were showing their insidious attacking mettle.

The second half started and a good ball by Fernando Torres to Yossi Benayoun was well spurned. And as the clock was ticking down Liverpool looked snookered. Attacking yes they were, but the sight of Porto’s goal was getting even more blurred by the minute. Then with thirteen minutes to go, Torres took a new cue courtesy of the fresh Harry Kewell, evaded Stepanov’s challenge with guile and then coolly side-footed the ball into the net. The Kop erupted, the Spanish flags were waved with fervour, the depressing and worrying read in the media was forgotten and a spring was put back into the red shirt’s heels. And with a swift spring back into their heels, Liverpool added two more to decorate the score-line and in snooker terms finish off the table.

In the meantime Liverpool concluded their November commitments and how far can this be from the sometimes black ones. It seems global warming and the change of seasons has even arrived at the corridors of Anfield. Scoring seventeen, with only one conceded, this has definitely been a productive month and the scoreless draw against Blackburn at Ewood Park at the beginning of the month feels so distant now.

Since then, corners have been turned to goals, substitutes turned games on their heads, the captain bossed the park, Torres confirmed his credentials and class, and a disastrous European campaign with fate in other team’s hands has now been firmly gripped by the scruff of its neck.

In the meantime, we reminded ourselves what manager we’ve got in our hands. At times this season taken for granted, questioning his successful methods through the years time and again, an acrimonious squabble between the manager and the new owners cold showered everyone and reminded us what he’s done for the club and how vital he is to this football club.

Hala Rafa!