MARK LAWRENSON: Season is coming together for Liverpool FC's scrappers

But let's not get carried away. What is undeniable at the present moment is that Liverpool are well placed to finally get some momentum going in this stuttering season.

They proved that in the unbeaten run they have put together in the Premier League and in the way they have become so difficult to break down.

That's the surest sign yet that things are finally starting to go right for Benitez.

His team is playing in exactly the way he likes his teams to - showing great resilience when they have been up against it.

A real Benitez trait that. It might be reverting to type, but it means that he is making the best out of what he has got available.

That is the very least you can ask for and all the punters want.

The derby was the perfect example. Everton will of course be miffed that they didn't make the most of the extra man but the fact that the sending off of Kyrgiakos didn't make much difference sums up how comfortable Liverpool were.

They stuck to the minimum Rafa requirement of keeping a clean sheet in the knowledge that they would get a chance to break the deadlock.

Terribly soft goal it might have been from Everton's point of view but that's what you sometimes get as a reward for staying organised.

It's not free-flowing football, it's not going to open teams up - but it's getting results.

And when other team's results are going for you, you know you're in business.

It is surely a tremendous psychological boost to go fourth at lunchtime on a Saturday and then see three of your rivals for the Champions League spots fluff their lines to ensure you're still there on Sunday night.

They all have good players, players that Liverpool would undoubtedly love to have, but should anyone at Anfield be overly concerned?

Manchester City? Good start under Mancini but they still can't win away and don't look like winning away.

Aston Villa? A quick, counter-attacking team but other sides have worked out how to play against them. They also have the Carling Cup final on their minds.

Spurs? Good team on their day but you can always catch them on a mediocre day.

And, of course, none of them have Fernando Torres still to come back - that could make the biggest difference of all in Liverpool's favour.

In terms of tomorrow night's football, I reckon coming away from Arsenal with a point would have to be considered a good result.

And Everton have a good game to recover from their derby disappointment. That might sound strange as they are taking on leaders Chelsea but another top team in a big game can in many ways be preferable to a visit of a Hull or a Burnley.

It's often difficult to lift yourself again for games like that but with Chelsea in town they know they won't be able to just turn up, it will be all hands to the pump.

And Everton are good at that - after all, there's no pressure playing a team at the top of the table who have had a really good run, as they proved at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates.