RAFA BENITEZ’S glowing tribute to his team was halted briefly yesterday as a fire alarm went off in the Chelsea press room. It was quickly stopped but not before alarm bells started ringing round the Premier League that perhaps this could be the season Liverpool end their 19-year quest for the title. For the termination of Chelsea’s 86-match unbeaten League run at Stamford Bridge was no fluke.

Liverpool may have arrived in West London with a desperate record of just one win in 16 at the Bridge since the Premier League started. But you would never have guessed such was the confident way they went about their business.

Benitez’s side was superior to Chelsea in every department, conceding nothing at the back and tearing great holes in the once impenetrable Chelsea defence. In the end, a 3-0 victory would not have flattered them against a Chelsea side who managed just one effort on target — and that no more than a tame Frank Lampard header with just eight minutes to go.

Benitez talked afterwards of what a massive message this was to Liverpool’s title rivals on a weekend where Manchester United also dropped points at Everton. He spoke proudly of his team’s commitment and character and how they could now go to any stadium and get a result.

Sure, there may have been only one goal in it and yet they won with so much to spare you wondered just how Chelsea had remained unbeaten for so long. The Blues, in fact, had not lost at home since goals from Patrick Vieira and Edu gave Arsenal a 2-1 victory on February 21, 2004. A lot has changed in the intervening years.

Leeds United, who drew 1-1 at Old Trafford on the same day, are now in League One. Hull, beaten at home by Torquay in League Two, are now level on 20 points with Chelsea and just three adrift of the new outright leaders. The one thing that hasn’t altered is the hope that springs eternal in the breast of every Liverpool fan that, surely, this is the year the team bring the title back to Anfield for the first time since 1990.

The Sun