Liverpool must respond to Rafa Benitez's Alex Ferguson rocket

Nothing puts pressure on rival managers like winning games and had Liverpool beaten Stoke on Saturday I'm sure it would have made life more difficult for Man United against Chelsea than it eventually was.

In the event, Liverpool had a disappointing draw with Stoke and that meant United went into their own game knowing that a win would cut the gap Benitez's side had built up over them.

That's what happened of course - United were given an even greater incentive to win and they took it.

Now Liverpool must look at the way they have reacted and learn from it because when you are going head to head with the reigning champions you have to try and take the advantage whenever you can and the best way of doing that is by winning the games you are expected to win.

Had Liverpool beaten Stoke then the United players would have woken up on Sunday morning knowing that they were starting the day ten points behind their biggest rivals and who knows how they would have reacted to that?

Pressure can do strange things to even the best of sides and that's why you have to turn the screw whenever you have the chance to.

Hopefully Liverpool will have learned that lesson this weekend because if they have done it will stand them in good stead for the rest of the season.

But going back to Benitez, I can understand why he said the things he said last week because as a manager you always want to defend your club and stick up for the team.

It isn't always easy to take no notice when another manager is taking pot shots but I'm not convinced that Alex Ferguson is playing mind games like people suggest he is.

Sometimes I think he is just answering questions to the media and it's then reported as if he's started with the psychology.

It doesn't really matter what people think though, the fact is Benitez has responded - now he must hope his team do the same.

LET BLUES DO ALL THE WORRYING

EVERTON go into Monday's league derby on a good run of form having gone unbeaten in their last six games and will be in a confident frame of mind.

In Tim Cahill they have a player more than capable of getting into the opposition box and scoring goals so that marks him out as their main threat.

But I'm hoping that Rafa Benitez doesn't concentrate too much on what Everton can and can't do and instead focuses on its own team and its strengths.

Sometimes it is too easy to get drawn into being too tactical and worrying too much about the opposition when you should just be putting out your best available eleven players and telling them to go and win the game.

If you are a team up towards the top of the league that is looking to challenge for the title then it is up to your opponents to worry about you and not the other way around.

STEVIE NEEDS MORE HELP

ONE thing the draw against Stoke highlighted was the need for some of Liverpool's players to help Steven Gerrard out a bit more.

Gerrard hit the woodwork a couple of times in the last ten minutes but he wasn't able to break the deadlock.

In games when it isn't going to be the captain's day it's vital others step up to the plate because as fantastic a player as Gerrard is - he can't do it every single week.

TRANSFER DELAY NOT A CONCERN

WE are halfway through January and Liverpool are yet to make a move in the transfer market.

To be honest, I'm not expecting there to be too much activity at Anfield if any because Rafa Benitez has put together a squad which has a lot of strength in depth.

In an ideal world it would be great if the Reds boss could bring in a specialist right-sided midfielder because I think that could give even more balance.

And a quality full back would be a good addition, especially if it allowed Jamie Carragher to return to the central defensive position where he excels.