West Ham 0, Liverpool 3: Reds simply irresistible

The fact that this is unlikely to happen tells us as much about the Mancunians' determination not to be moved as it does about any shortcomings from their Liverpudlian adversaries earlier in the season.

It may not be easy to admit it at this end of the M62 but if a team is put under the kind of incredible pressure that United have been on the receiving end of for the past two months and still haven't crumbled then they would have to be seen as worthy champions should their current form continue and allow them to edge across the finishing line first.

In a relentless run-in the North West giants have gone head to head but whenever Liverpool have raised the stakes United have always had an ace up their sleeve to get themselves out of danger.

Now with just a fortnight of the season to go, Liverpool are in the kind of territory in which miracles are not just prayed for they are an absolute necessity if their first league title since 1990 is to be delivered.

Maybe that was what Benitez was thinking when he named Philip Degen - the Premier League's very own man of glass - among his seven substitutes. It was as if the Reds boss was saying "we might need a miracle but here's proof positive that they can and do happen".

On the pitch, Liverpool are far from being in need of any such divine intervention. In their current form they are more than capable of being masters of their own destiny and beating whichever opponents are put in front of them.

They have even developed a swagger and a confidence which means they do not always have to hit top form to come up with the most comfortable of victories - as illustrated at Upton Park on Saturday.

Unlike Newcastle last weekend, West Ham at least had a level of tactical discipline and organisation to force Liverpool to get out of first gear but they never had to go full throttle and yet still won at the most comfortable of canters.

In itself, this is a massive indication of progress. It is also a typical trademark of champions and the temptation is to believe that in almost any other season that is exactly what Liverpool would be.

Should United's refusal to buckle continue then the runners-up spot is the best that Liverpool can hope for and there will inevitably be disappointment at those seven home draws which look likely to prove so costly.

But whatever happens there can be no getting away from the fact that this season has been one of immense progress for Benitez and his players.

In his first year in the Anfield hot seat five campaigns ago, Liverpool finished the season fifth and so far away from champions Chelsea that they needed binoculars to bring the Londoners into view.

A whopping 37 points separated them from top spot. What's more they also found themselves trailing Arsenal and United by considerable margins and Everton took the local bragging rights in the league table.

Today though, the situation is very different with United being the only ones to maintain their status as Liverpool's statistical superiors and even their advantage has been reduced dramatically enough for them to be within touching distance.

The Reds may not be there yet but they are unquestionably thereabouts and as West Ham found out to their cost they are now rightly regarded as one of Europe's finest sides.

One of the main reasons for this, of course, is the ongoing excellence of captain Steven Gerrard, a player who hits the heights so regularly he is increasingly coming to be seen as the heir apparent to Kenny Dalglish's status as Liverpool's greatest ever player.

Another two goals on Saturday put Liverpool on the path to the most comfortable of victories and also lifted Gerrard above Ian St John in the club's all-time goalscoring list.

It has almost become a mantra in recent weeks but had Liverpool had Gerrard and his indomitable sidekick Fernando Torres available on more than the meagre 12 occasions fitness has permitted the deadly duo to be paired together then who knows what their points tally would be.

From minute one West Ham were unable to cope with them as Torres took advantage of a square back four playing far too high up the pitch and Gerrard did the rest with typical grace.

It was a foul on Torres which allowed Gerrard to turn that single strike into a brace, albeit at the second attempt after Robert Green had parried his initial effort from the penalty spot.

By the time substitute Ryan Babel underlined the gulf in class between the two sides with a late third, Liverpool's overwhelming dominance was such that the encounter had come to resemble a practice match and one in which the leaders know their inferior opponents are unable to hurt them.

Gianfranco Zola should not be unduly concerned by this however as West Ham were simply the latest in a string of Premier League teams who have been unable to live with Liverpool in their current imperious form.

Saturday was the sixth time in succession that the Anfield outfit has scored three or more goals in a game - the first time in the club's entire glorious history that this has happened.

There is no doubt about it, Liverpool could not be doing any more than they currently are in a bid to win league title number 19.

It may not turn out to be enough for that particular dream to come true but at least their irresistible force is putting the immovable object to the test.

WEST HAM: Green, Neill, Upson, Tomkins, Ilunga, Stanislas (Collison, 59), Noble, Kovac, Boa Morte (Payne, 80), Tristan, Di Michele (Sears, 70).

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio (Insua, 54), Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Benayoun (Dossena, 82), Gerrard, Torres (Babel, 72).

REFEREE: Alan Wiley.