JAVIER MASCHERANO has illustrated the belief coursing through Liverpool by saying they will claim another prized scalp at Old Trafford on Saturday if they reproduce the form that devastated Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Confidence is plentiful at Liverpool following Tuesday’s rout of Real and the complete team performance that secured a fourth appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals in five seasons under Rafael Benitez.

While Manchester United remain in the ascendancy in the Premier League, seven points clear of their nearest rivals with a game in hand, Liverpool approach the all-or-nothing fixture revitalised.

Benitez greeted the 5-0 aggregate win over his boyhood club by claiming Liverpool could re-enter the title race against United, having in effect ruled his team out of it despite beating Sunderland a week earlier. His players share that optimism, with Mascherano sufficiently imbued to warn the champions of the threat they face this weekend.

“If Liverpool play like we did against Real Madrid it will be difficult for any team to beat us,” said the Argentina captain, who was sent off in the corresponding fixture last season. “We were on top of them, we pressed them all the time and we didn’t let them play. It was a fantastic performance. (Fernando) Torres was unbelievable.

“Now we have to go to Old Trafford and we’ll see what happens. We want to win there and then we will see (about the title). The most important thing is for us to win and give the supporters a happy day.”

Amid Liverpool’s euphoria was regret that such dominance has arrived rarely at Anfield this season and that an improved league campaign has stalled against such teams as Fulham and Hull City at home.

“There is a new belief that we can beat United now,” Ryan Babel said. “Winning any game is possible and it gives us a buzz to go to Old Trafford after this win.”

The Liverpool manager took immense satisfaction in humbling Real in a way Marca, the Spanish newspaper with close ties to his former club, claimed a Benitez team would be incapable of. The display, based on an irrepressible start reminiscent of Champions League wins over Juventus and Chelsea at Anfield, raised the question of why Benitez does not employ those tactics more often?

“It depends on the situation of the game,” said Fabio Aurelio, who was outstanding in both legs.

“I think the win meant a lot to Rafa. He came from Madrid, so it is good for him to show he has grown a lot as a manager in his career.

“But it was good for everyone to get this result against a team like Madrid.”

Guardian Service