Benitez: Liverpool Can Play Better

One wonders what it would take to make the Liverpool manager satisfied with his lot.

Fresh from watching his team thrash Champions League-chasing Aston Villa 5-0 the Spaniard declared it a "great performance, but it can always be a little bit better."

How is anybody's guess.

Maybe Gerrard can learn to telekinetically propel the ball into the net. Save all that bothersome running around.

From the whistle Liverpool tore into Aston Villa, reprising their strategy from the Real Madrid demolition.

Aston Villa, low on confidence and on a bad run, offered resistance until the second, then they wilted.

Whilst Villa fade, Liverpool look increasingly irresistible at the moment.

Thirteen goals in a three games, all against former European Cup winners.

I think a few Liverpool fans could be persuaded to take that, even if their manager craves perfection.

A fabulous fortnight for the Merseysiders has also seen title rivals Manchester United be beaten back to back for the first time in four years in the league, reigniting the title race.

Unfortunately—and bizarrely considering the stage of the season—we now have a round of international matches.

Previous international breaks have seen Torres pick up niggling hamstring injuries, a potential nightmare at this, the business end of the season.

For Liverpool this break comes at the worst possible time.

It will give Manchester United a breather and a reboot. Ill-tempered and out of form before the break, a few good results with the national sides and their players could return in a much better frame of mind.

With Liverpool, they finally had a title surge; impressive wins, settled line-up and sky-high confidence. Will this puncture their momentum?

The destination of the EPL title is still in Manchester Uniteds hands, but if Liverpool return from the break in the same form as they went into it, for how much longer?