It’s known as the most volatile tie in the Premiership. But rather than volatility we have seen the eruption of one Fernando Torres, who in the space of three minutes beat his adversary Tim Howard twice with aplomb and a doze of clinical precision. Volatility was brewing up in the first forty-five minutes as the usually cool Torres looked to be frustrated, as the toll of six barren matches on the run seemed to burden his shoulders, questioning most of the ref’s decisions and getting into his book rather than his score-sheet. But this was a different Torres from the one against Stoke. His rust seemed to have been corroded and his touch was different, more natural to the ball, taking on players as always, this time with the added bonus of getting also past them. And rust transcended into slickness, and the net renewed its acquaintance with his shots.

Torres wasn’t the only visibly frustrated red in the first forty-five minutes. But in a day like this, where pride and bragging rights are at stake, and throw-in decisions are vehemently questioned by the under class of Merseyside, it is only expected. The reds were still able to control albeit not dominate the proceedings. Their control, composure and possession superiority took their time to properly penetrate the Everton defense. And it wasn’t muscle which did the eventual trick, but brains and vision. Robbie Keane might be lacking confidence as he still is waiting for breaking his duck but his sublime cross after another intelligent through ball by Xabi Alonso put Torres on a high-chair from where to volley home, and Liverpool on a platform that was needed to confirm Liverpool’s superiority and give the till then abstract advantage a concrete value.

And now after six matches, Liverpool have the concrete tally of fourteen points, two more than this time last year. In such six matches, the reds have won two of the biggest matches the Premiership can offer. It is still obviously still too early to draw any conclusions, but perfect endings have had far worse starts than this. Keane might have put Liverpool on a platform in one particular moment, but I believe this whole start could act as a springboard for the reds to the next few matches, that are all part of the whole season. We have so far confirmed what we already know. The basics are there. Starting from defense, in six matches, Liverpool have kept four clean sheets and letting only two in the remaining two. And Torres has once again confirmed the undoubtable. But sometimes even the converted need preaching.