Good signs against the Hammers

Dominic King sees good signs in Liverpool's 3-0 win over West Ham.

Ashes fever is set to grip the nation so, with the First Test in Brisbane almost here, it was perhaps to be expected the week would begin with a declaration.

Rarely do you get an opportunity to amass a cricket score in a football match but, on Saturday evening, Liverpool had a glorious chance to put their goal difference back in credit for the first time this season and give Anfield a night to truly savour.

That Liverpool failed to add to the three strikes they scored in the first 45 minutes of one of the most one-sided games you are ever likely to see will, in all likelihood, go down as one of the mysteries of this increasingly topsy-turvy season.

It was, in a way, frustrating. With conditions in favour of heavy scoring - spineless opponents in total, tactical chaos - Roy Hodgson's biggest Premier League victory as Liverpool manager should really have been by a landslide.

As England's cricketers will discover in Australia, openings of this nature do not come around all that often and, when they do, it is imperative they are seized upon; with the table becoming more and more crowded, every goal scored this year will prove crucial.

But, then again, it is churlish to quibble. Straightforward, stress-free evenings for Liverpool have been few and far between in the last 18 months, so to see them contemptuously swat inferior rivals aside was hugely reassuring.

"It was important to win and I thought we did it with some style," Hodgson pointed out. "I think there are going to be lots of situations in the coming months where momentum will be gained and lost by teams. There are no games where you can safely predict the result in this league."

Finding momentum - and then maintaining it - is imperative, though, if Liverpool are going to start settling back into more familiar surrounds but, whisper it quietly, there is evidence to suggest the Reds are rediscovering the art of consistency.

Making such a statement may sound ridiculous, given the wounds of the Britannia Stadium debacle are still fresh, but it is impossible to argue with figures and since losing to Everton on October 17, Liverpool's points to games ratio is the second best in the division.

Only Manchester United (14) can better Liverpool's haul of 13 points from the last 18 available; Arsenal's free-flowing football has brought them 12 in the same period while the nation's favourite club, Tottenham Hotspur, have managed a haul of eight, one fewer than Chelsea.

True, the picture could change again next Sunday when Liverpool travel to White Hart Lane and many will be expecting another bout of travel sickness to strike but it should be noted Tottenham are prone to slipping up after midweek Champions League games.

Why, then, shouldn't Liverpool take advantage? If they play with the dash that blew West Ham out of the water, the Reds - even without the hamstrung Steven Gerrard - are a match for any side in the country and it's time to start remembering that.

All over the pitch against West Ham, there were flashes of class. Jamie Carragher, captain on his 650th appearance, and Martin Skrtel engaged cruise control all evening, ensuring Pepe Reina's only problem was dealing with the dropping temperature.

Fernando Torres and David Ngog dovetailed to great effect up front and, with better fortune, both men would have headed home with their respective goal tallies increased but both were denied by excellent Robert Green saves.

Raul Meireles and Christian Poulsen were a thoroughly effective central midfield axis, with the former oozing quality, passing the ball sweetly and moving intelligently, while the latter coped with the scrutiny he was under to play with great assurance.

Then there was Glen Johnson. The Johnson who started this game bore no relation to the Johnson that had been presented in his 11 appearances prior, showing pace, confidence and an intelligence to make the most of the generosity he was afforded by his old club.

As early as the second minute Johnson gave the impression he would play an integral part, his burst into the penalty area requiring West Ham's defenders to take drastic action and turn his inviting cross behind for a corner.

He would not be denied for long. After Ngog, Torres (twice) and Maxi Rodriguez had gone close to breaking the deadlock, Johnson managed to find a way through, chesting down Meireles' corner before slamming his shot past Green.

This, at last, was much more like the form you expect from an England international. For whatever reason so far, he has looked woefully out of sorts, never more so than in that chastening defeat against Blackpool, when he was culpable for both the visitors' goals.

To hear him acknowledge afterwards that he has played lamentably was encouraging and perhaps the penny is starting to drop about what is required to be successful at Anfield - he clearly has the talent to make it happen.

How Johnson copes with the threat of Gareth Bale will be much more of a pointer to where his game is at than keeping Victor Obinna and Pablo Barrera in check but at least he will make the trip to North London with his confidence up.

Sentiments which apply to the team. It would have been thrilling had Johnson's opener been supplemented by more than just a Dirk Kuyt penalty and Rodriguez's header but the job was done and now preparations can begin for what could be a pivotal clash.

When Liverpool lost at Tottenham on the opening day of last season, an unhappy tone was set; never once did you get the feeling that there was a really happy atmosphere and, accordingly, results suffered to the extent that they were usurped from the Champions League places.

Fast forward to today and again it is true there is no real happy atmosphere around the club; a few years ago, being 3-0 up at half-time would have elicited 'oles!' from The Kop and you have to wonder whether people have forgotten how to enjoy themselves at Anfield.

Who knows? Building on this win at Tottenham might just transform the campaign and give everyone at Anfield their belief back.

The time has arrived for Hodgson's Liverpool to be brave.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.