Liverpool Take Home Advantage as "Fortress Anfield" Returns

Liverpool brushed aside League Cup-winners Birmingham City on Saturday with a thumping five-nil victory at Anfield, as the Reds continued their excellent league form under Kenny Dalglish and closed the gap on fifth-placed Tottenham to just three points, though Spurs do have a game in hand.

Under "King" Kenny, Liverpool have now taken a highly impressive 17 points from a possible 21 at home in the league, with the home form of the team really proving the building blocks for the club’s resurgence since the turn of the year.

Draws against Everton and Wigan remain the only time Dalglish has dropped points at home, while Fulham, Stoke City, Manchester United, Manchester City and now Birmingham have all been sent packing with nothing to show for their efforts, giving the Reds an average of 2.4 points per game. Should Liverpool go on and win their remaining two home matches this season (vs Newcastle and Tottenham) Dalglish would claim an average of 2.6 points per home game in his half-season at the helm.

Compared with six wins, two draws and two defeats in the first half of the season at home (average of two points per game), it is clear that Liverpool have improved quite considerably when playing at Anfield since Dalglish took over in January.

However, it is not just the results that have improved—though of course, at the end of the day, that is what is clearly most important in terms of league placings.

But the manner in which Liverpool are now disposing of visitors, almost casually batting them aside with a confidence and surety that has been missing for far too long at the famous old Anfield, is the real major difference which Kenny Dalglish has affected.

Current league leaders Manchester United were overwhelmed, out-fought and out-thought by wave upon wave of Red attacks, as Dirk Kuyt's hat trick just one of a collection of impressive performers. Then Manchester City, so expensively assembled and fighting for Champions League qualification, were consummately swiped aside in a first half of verve and fire.

Saturday, Birmingham were beaten with much less fuss than was required for either of the Manchester clubs—unsurprisingly, given their lowly league position—but even more emphatically. Maxi Rodriguez’s hat trick was a just reward for his part in Liverpool’s tactically astute counter-attacking game in the second half.

Considering that these results are being garnered without such first-team automatic picks such as club captain Steven Gerrard, £17 million fullback Glen Johnson, the stylish Daniel Agger, fullbacks Martin Kelly and Fabio Aurelio and, against Birmingham, record signing Andy Carroll, only goes to underline what a terrific job Dalglish is doing—and indeed what a lot Liverpool supporters should have to look forward to next season once those players are back and the expected summer arrivals are finalised.

Lucas Leiva and Jay Spearing have absolutely dominated the midfield against recent opposition, including Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, while young fullbacks John Flanagan and Jack Robinson again proved their substantial promise with an assured display against a side competing in Europe next season. Conor Coady, named on the bench against Birmingham though not used, will surely also see his time come before long.

Lots remains to be confirmed of course—not least of all Dalglish’s permanent position at the club—but if the home form and swagger of play from Liverpool continues, one thing is clear. The club will enjoy many profitable afternoons at Anfield next season, which could go a long way toward helping propel the club back into the upper echelons of the Premier League, as well as toward major European competitions and domestic cup success.

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