Recently by James Pearce

ITS the time of year when miracles happen but Liverpool now require one of biblical proportions.

What was already an uphill battle to secure the final Champions League spot, looks almost impossible today.

Yesterdays desperately frustrating stalemate at St Andrews delivered a hammer blow to hopes of clambering into the top four.

IT was the night when the Little Prince finally produced a performance fit for a King.

Alberto Aquilani has endured one setback after another during a miserable first season at Anfield. Injuries and illness left him playing catch-up and he has struggled to adapt to the physical demands of English football.

The £20million signing, who gained his royal nickname from the Roma fans who adored him, has been spotted only slightly more frequently than Lord Lucan and has been one of the Premier League's most expensive bench warmers. But at Anfield last night the Italian midfielder finally broke off the shackles and showed why Rafael Benitez thought he was worth splashing out half his summer transfer kitty on.

AS the old saying goes, pride comes before a fall.

In the aftermath of last weekend's gutsy Merseyside derby victory, which ended their four-month absence from the top four, Liverpool dared to dream of hauling in Arsenal.

Last night's defeat in North London provided something of a reality check.

This was the first major test of the Reds' new found resilience and a seven-game unbeaten league run stretching back nearly two months came to an abrupt halt at the hands of the Gunners.

THE Old Lady of Turin may be circling but it was an ageing Texan who was in the spotlight at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

A surprise visit from co-owner Tom Hicks ensured attention was diverted from Rafa Benitez's admission that he was flattered by Juventus' interest in his services.

On the basis that Hicks only ever turns up for big showdowns in front of the Sky cameras, it's fair to assume he was on Merseyside to conduct some business.

THE fact it brought the biggest cheer of the night simply underlined the miserable lack of entertainment on show at Molineux.

Kevin Foley's flying boot caught Pepe Reina right in the crown jewels and the home supporters lapped it up.

This was a painful evening for Liverpool all-round as they squandered the chance to use their morale-boosting victory over Tottenham as a springboard in their pursuit of a coveted top-four finish.