Recently by Nick Smith

PHIL THOMPSON believes Liverpool are finally exorcising the ghosts that have stopped them launching a serious title challenge in previous years.

The former Anfield captain tipped Manchester United for a third successive championship at the start of the season - but also had a feeling this would be the year Liverpool finally ended their long wait to add to their record haul of 18 titles.

And manager Rafael Benitez's first win over United in September, coupled with the thrilling fightback against the other team from Manchester on Sunday, has convinced Thompson that his former club is finally ready to shake off the limitations that have hindered their ambitions in the past.

The 3-2 victory at City, secured after a fightback from 2-0 down, kept Liverpool level on points at the top of the league with Chelsea going into the international break and still unbeaten after seven games.

FERNANDO TORRES is determined that his recent barren spell in front of goal will be his last in a Liverpool shirt.

The Spaniard has suddenly shot to the top of the Premier League goal charts with two in each of the his last two league games, having not previously scored since the opening day winner at Sunderland.

That run of six games without a goal was double the length of his previous longest drought since he left Atletico Madrid for Anfield in the summer of 2007.

But after his double strikes inspired victories against Everton and Manchester City to keep Liverpool joint top of the league with Chelsea, the striker is confident he is close to being back to his best.

ALBERT RIERA is convinced that Fernando Torres is on the verge of recapturing his goal-scoring form after his subdued start to the season.

Riera and fellow Spaniard Torres started a game together for the first time on Saturday as Liverpool disappointingly drew 0-0 with Stoke City at Anfield.

The point was good enough to take Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League - but they were overtaken by Arsenal and Chelsea over the course of the weekend.

And the good work of the previous week's 2-1 victory over Manchester United was undone as Liverpool failed to score against a side that has conceded 10 league goals this season and started the game in the bottom three

STEVEN GERRARD summed it up best in his captain's column in the programme - Liverpool's title challenge last season was ruined by dropping "stupid points."

Time to hand out the dunces' caps then.

Because they don't come much more stupid than this, as Liverpool chose the visit of one of the top flight's most limited outfits to fail to score at Anfield for the first time since last December.

RAFAEL BENITEZ was perplexed that his side were denied an early goal against Stoke on Saturday - but accepts they must improve to avoid similar slip-ups in the future.

City managed to do what champions Manchester United couldn't a week earlier, keeping a clean sheet and avoiding defeat to Liverpool as they held out for a 0-0 draw.

Benitez saw his forwards endure a particularly frustrating afternoon, missing some good chances but generally struggling to find a way past a stubborn and congested Stoke rearguard which featured former Liverpool man Salif Diao in a defensive midfield role.