Recently by Chris Beesley

LIVERPOOL had asked for an unlikely comeback at Stamford Bridge and they got several. Unfortunately the final recovery was from Chelsea on the night rather than from Rafael Benitez's side over the two legs.

When the draw that paired these great domestic rivals who have met on 10 occasions in Europe under the Spaniard was made in Nyon last month there were collective groans.

Another cagey game of cat and mouse between sides who know each other inside out was envisaged but we ended up with more big twists than a Chubby Checker lookalike contest.

BRAZILIAN midfielder Lucas reckons that Liverpool's dramatic last-gasp victory over Fulham has given them the belief that they can finally land the Premier League title.

Liverpool returned to the summit on Saturday night courtesy of substitute Yossi Benayoun's injury time strike at Craven Cottage but dropped back down to second yesterday following Manchester United's similarly late 3-2 victory over Aston Villa at Old Trafford yesterday.

Despite winning the old First Division on a record 18 occasions, Liverpool who were 11 titles ahead of United when English football's top flight was revolutionised in 1992 have yet to add to their tally while Sir Alex Ferguson's men's dominance of domestic football has seen them climb to 17 championships, just one behind their great North West rivals.

IF EVER there was a sign as to just how important this victory could be, even the normally poker-faced Rafael Benitez allowed himself to celebrate Liverpool's stoppage time winner at Fulham.

Unlike his counterpart at title rivals Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, who hides his shrewd tactical knowledge and intimidating persona behind the jubilant jigs of a geriatric grandfather each time his team scores, the Spaniard usually looks down coolly at his pad and writes another note.

But the relief was such on this occasion, the passion riding so high and the belief that Yossi Benayoun's goal - which his manager later acknowledged could prove to be the most important of the season - might just be enough to give Liverpool the confidence to bring the title back to Anfield, that even newly-crowned manager of the month Benitez allowed the mask to slip just for a moment.

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez believes his title challengers earned their "luck" of netting a stoppage-time winner at Fulham through their hard work.

Despite hitting the woodwork four times in the first half in a one-sided affair at Craven Cottage, it

looked like dominant Liverpool would have to settle for a frustrating share of the spoils before substitute Yossi Benayoun struck in the 92nd minute.

A BOOK that champions Arsenal's 1989 title-winning game at Anfield against Liverpool might not be an obvious choice for a bestseller on Merseyside but Jason Cowley's new publication is much more than 'Gooner' triumphalism.