Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but that does
not explain why Liverpool have started to act like Manchester
United and the defending champions have appeared to copy their
closest challengers in the last three weeks.
It is likely that neither would take that as a compliment. As the
recent public exchanges between Rafa Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson
show, praise rarely flows both ways along the M62 and the East
Lancs road. Nevertheless, an element of role reversal appears to
have reopened the title race.
If the perception is of Manchester United as the more adventurous
side with Liverpool deploying a more defence-orientated game-plan,
Benitez's men are now the Premier League's leading scorers. While
it is only a matter of weeks since Ferguson insisted his team
invariably possess the best goal difference, after a 13-goal swing
in the same of eight days, Liverpool now do.
Moreover, the manner of their victory against Aston Villa was
decidedly United-esque. The visitors were subject to a bombardment
in the opening minutes and Liverpool boasted a three-goal lead by
the interval. Yet, until recently, winning a game by half-time had
appeared an alien notion for Liverpool. The season ticket-holders
at Anfield are far more acquainted with tense finales than their
counterparts at Old Trafford, who can be accustomed to seeing their
side cruise to victory. However this came a day after United made
an uncharacteristically sloppy start against Fulham before
rallying, Liverpool-style, in the second period.
Meanwhile, Benitez has long been pigeonholed as the high priest of
rotation while Ferguson has appeared surer of his preferred team.
Now, however, the Spaniard is certain not just of his strongest
side, but also of his favoured deputies. The same 11 faced both
Real Madrid and Villa; but for injuries, they would have taken the
field at Old Trafford, too. Where his thinking is clear, the Scot's
is harder to determine. Having rotated successfully for much of the
season, quixotic choices have backfired in the last two league
games.
It irritates Benitez that his critics are more vocal and vitriolic
even while others have adopted similar policies. Ferguson's record
may shield him from public condemnation, but recent choices can be
queried. Hindsight makes it easier to condemn, but marginal calls -
such as Carlos Tevez instead of Dimitar Berbatov against Liverpool
- have not been justified. Stranger selections included the choice
of Anderson in the same fixture, picking Paul Scholes at Craven
Cottage and leaving Wayne Rooney to fester on the substitutes'
bench for the first half at Fulham. It has not mattered for much of
the campaign but now Ferguson, like Benitez, could benefit from
identifying his first 11.
Ferguson has long prided himself on United's ability to peak in
March and April season after season. Now that is in question. Until
recently, many of his charges appeared in a rich vein of form. Such
claims are not made of Nemanja Vidic, after his harrowing reunion
with Liverpool, or Patrice Evra now. Michael Carrick may be
suffering from fatigue, Edwin van der Sar has become accustomed to
conceding and Tevez and Berbatov, the possible strike pairing on
Sunday, have been uninspired since the Argentine's demolition of
Fulham in the FA Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be the
match-winner, not the sulking sideshow.
The comparison with his Liverpool counterparts is stark. Albeit in
an injury-ravaged campaign, Fernando Torres has performed best in
his last three fixtures, while Steven Gerrard is in superlative
form. Albert Riera's most recent appearance may have also been his
finest in a Liverpool shirt while Javier Mascherano, after an
undistinguished campaign, has excelled in recent weeks. Fabio
Aurelio has been increasingly assured at left-back, even as his
deputy, Andrea Dossena, has scored against both Real Madrid and
Manchester United. The Italian's unexpected feats reveal a
resemblance in the achievements of John O'Shea, another fringe
player and one who delivered a winner at Anfield at a similar stage
two seasons ago. Paradoxically, however, Benitez has long insisted
that rotation keeps his players fresher for the business end of the
season.
By a quirk of the fixture list, there is further scope for
comparison this weekend when the major challengers swap opponents.
United must aim to emulate Liverpool in disposing of Aston Villa at
home; Benitez's charges must equip themselves better than
Ferguson's did on a trip to Craven Cottage.
As both appear to have borrowed from their fiercest rivals, that
has benefited Liverpool thus far. Aping Manchester United is one
way of catching them. Yet the men from Manchester have long been
embarked upon a quest to copy Liverpool.
By his own admission, Ferguson spent two decades trying to knock
them off a certain perch; United have replaced them as the dominant
side in English football, but, historically, they are not the most
successful just yet. They still languish one title behind
Liverpool's tally of 18. Maintain their current lead at the summit
of the Premier League and Manchester United will have another thing
in common with Liverpool. If they don't, it may be because
Liverpool have copied United all too well.