RAFA STILL HANGING ON TO TOP FOUR PROMISE FOR LIVERPOOL

LIVERPOOL 1 EVERTON 0

Remember that guarantee issued by Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez back in mid-December?

He was roundly laughed at for boldly declaring: “I can guarantee we will finish in the top four of the Premier League.”

How silly it sounded! No wonder his sanity was questioned! After all, his job security was in doubt and team morale was at an all-time low following a woeful run of results for the Merseysiders.

But just look at them now. This victory over their neighbours from across Stanley Park brought their points haul to 17 from the last 21 at stake.

Hopes of Champions League football next season are soaring and, with a trip to Arsenal looming on Wednesday, thoughts of overhauling them to claim THIRD place in the table are rising, too.

For now, though, Benitez is refusing to get carried away by Liverpool’s return to their customary heights of nose-bleed territory in the table. He said: “You never know. We have to play Arsenal and if we get three points we can be closer.”

But don’t be fooled by that cagey comment from the Spaniard. Believe me, he is absolutely delighted by the upturn in his team’s fortunes.

Just look at his reaction to the final whistle of this compelling Merseyside derby – arms aloft as he clapped his hands and punched the air in delight with a rare display of post-match emotion.

He typically tried to play down his end-of-match reaction, saying it was more of a tribute to the fans who were “pushing and helping the team.”

He added: “My celebration was spontaneous to the fans. That is the way, to get behind us, and help us win games.”

They won it, too, despite the handicap of playing with 10 men following the dismissal of Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos after 32 minutes for a reckless two-footed tackle on Marouane Fellaini.

Fellaini could also have been sent off, because he was also a guilty party in what was a shuddering 50-50 battle for the ball.

In the end, his only ‘punishment’ was a shin injury that needed a hospital X-ray after the match.

It was just one of many explosive moments in a fiercely competitive derby in which Everton had Steven Pienaar sent off in injury time for a second bookable offence.

The loss of Pienaar was understandable but the loss of the match – to a Dirk Kuyt goal – was more baffling for Everton fans whose team failed dismally to cash-in on Liverpool’s loss of Kyrgiakos.

Everton never exploited the defensive hole created by his absence with goalkeeper Pepe Reina rarely being called into any kind of action.

As Benitez said: “I was surprised at Everton’s response. I was expecting more penetrating passes and also for them to try and play on the floor.”

Benitez’s comments received some unexpected backing from Everton captain Phil Neville who was disappointed at his team’s inability to exploit the situation.

He said: “It was definitely a big chance missed. Before the game we were confident and when they went to 10 men we thought ‘it’s going to be our day.’

“But maybe that was a bad thing for us because they knew they could sit back and we had to try and force the play.

“It was a crucial man we lost, but when you’re camped on the edge of your own box it’s easy to defend in front of you.”

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