Recently by Andy Hayes
Good news and Liverpool Football Club haven't seen eye to eye over the past year, but everyone associated finally has something that all can be happy about. The signing of Joe Cole followed by an indication that Steven Gerrard wants to stay at Anfield has given Roy Hodgson a massive boost so early in his reign.
Liverpool fans have been dreading this summer ever since the season effectively ended when Diego Forlan struck at the Kop End for Atletico Madrid at the end of April. A mass exodus of stars due to lack of funds compounded with no Champions League was expected, meaning the very top players were unlikely to want to come to the club whilst it in decline.
Of course, everything is still far from rosy and nor will it be until the Americans sell up, the longer they stay, the longer it will take to recover, and there is still the concern over Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano. But whilst there are no doubt troubled skies ahead, not many could foresee that when the World Cup players started to return, there would be such bright spots.
There simply has never been a manager that has caused more debate than Rafael Benitez. Love him or hate him, there wasn't much middle ground for Liverpool's marmite manager and even though he has gone, the debate is unlikely to cease anytime soon.
There won't ever be an official end to this Anfield civil war, never will there be a point where everyone decides to see eye to eye on his reign. The verdict has been given but the jury will be discussing the case throughout these incredibly important years on the horizon.
Comparisons from this season to last have been a regular talking point amongst Liverpool fans this year but nothing quite sums the difference up better than this past weekend and the home draw with Fulham.
On Grand National weekend 2009, Liverpool were playing the same opposition on a beautiful day by the Thames. A phenomenal performance in a must win game as Yossi Benayoun's excellent finish won the game by a nose in the final minute.
'now you're gonna believe us, were gonna win the league' sounded round Craven Cottage as every travelling red did believe that as the reds entered the final stretch, they could win it.
Rafael Benitez's side didn't quite last the distance but it was visible progress, the side had a look of champions.
As the Lille game was drawing to a close, it was clear that Liverpool Football Club were taking The Europa League seriously. Not just by the players, who have said since November how important it is to try to win a cup, even if it's in a consolation competition. Not just by the manager, who started his European legacy with a UEFA Cup victory in 2004 and has picked strong teams in all previous games. But by the fans, who seemed to finally accept that they were in a competition worth winning.
Before Fernando Torres hit Liverpool's third against the French side, you could feel the tension around the ground. It was, of course, nowhere near the feeling of dread felt towards the end of games against Chelsea, Barcelona and Arsenal in recent years in the Champions League, where there was a collective huge sigh of relief when even a goal kick was awarded, but when Torres hit his second right at the death, there was relief nonetheless - Liverpool were still there and everyone was happy.
28th October 2009, and Liverpool fans were more excited than they usually would be about the 4th round of the Carling Cup. On the long trip down to the Emirates Stadium, buoyed by the two nil victory over Manchester United three days earlier - the travelling Kop couldn't wait to see Alberto Aquilani in the first team.
It was always said that it would take a while for the first glimpse of the Italian playmaker and, although it took longer than first imagined, his gradual introduction to Liverpool Football Club began against a second string Arsenal side.
The last quarter of an hour was all he got but was still enough to whet the appetite of the supporters looking eagerly for a saviour to their already disappointing season. Comparisons to the departed Xabi Alonso were inevitable and a couple of beautifully weighted passes out wide didn't do anything to remove the probably unwanted and highly pressured tag of 'Alonso's replacement.'
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