Rafa Benitez Has Finally Cracked It: Liverpool 2-1 over Manchester United

Since taking over on June 16th 2004, Rafael Benitez has had many high points as Liverpool manager. The 2005 Champions League final will, of course, be the highest.

However, today's Anfield win against bitter rivals Manchester United, Benitez's first league win against United since taking over four and a half years ago, will be right up there with the best moments.

The game didn't start off as planned; however, Dimitar Berbatov immediately announced himself on the scene by laying the ball back for Carlos Tevez to curl one in, after a defensive lapse from Javier Mascherano, with just three minutes on the clock.

A great chance for Dirk Kuyt after a mistake from Edwin van der Sar almost made it 1-1, but Liverpool, despite having good build up play, didn't look like breaking through Man United's defense.

It would take a moment of genius or a bad mistake to give Liverpool their first goal against United since John O'Shea's own goal a few seasons ago.

Unfortunately for some, but to the delight of every Liverpool fan, it was the latter. The ball came into the box and Van der Sar again went for it, but couldn't get there. Instead, he tried to punch it out, but it just hit Wes Brown on the knee and went into the open net.

It may have been another own goal, but I wasn't complaining! They all count after all!

It meant, however, that a Liverpool player had not scored against Manchester United since Danny Murphy's penalty winner at Old Trafford.

This goal brought Liverpool into life. We started stringing passes together and playing good football. It was the first time I had enjoyed watching Liverpool this season.

Great performances from Javier Mascherano, despite his early lapse, Martin Skrtel, Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt, Robbie Keane and, on his debut, Albert Riera, showed that Liverpool has the quality to be a great team even without Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, both of whom were on the bench.

The second half was Liverpool's. They were on top almost from start to finish and looked the most likely to score; however, the longer they went without scoring, the more nervous I got. I just had a sneaky feeling that they would steal a winner again.

But then, some great work from Mascherano and Kuyt set up Ryan Babel, who had come on as a sub, for an easy chance. He mis-hit it, but that worked in his favor as it bounced up and over the two defenders on the line. Liverpool was ahead!

We managed to hold on until the end and even should have increased our lead. Nemanja Vidic also received his marching orders late on, as he picked up a second yellow for an elbow on Xabi Alonso.

It should've been more than 2-1. Dirk Kuyt missed two great opportunities and don't even get me started on Robbie Keane's chances!

Inevitably, there will be talk of this being Liverpool's season after this result. While I think that it is way too early to be predicting this, the potential is there.

Yes, we are only four games in, but the problems we have had in the previous few seasons have already been addressed. The games we were drawing last season, such as against Middlesbrough and Sunderland, we are winning now.

The biggest problem Benitez had faced were his results against the big four. His record against Chelsea, Man Utd., and Arsenal has been poor, but today's result is the first sign of that changing.

And now, with the new width we have, all the factors seem to be in place for a very good season.

Don't get me wrong, I am not predicting we will win the league, but whereas before the season I could see us coming a rather distant third, I'm starting to believe a second place finish is feasible. And who knows, perhaps even better.