MOVE OVER BLUES, THE REDS ARE THE MATERS OF EFFICIENCY

Being Liverpool fans we are all privileged to be part of a club with such a prestigious history in football, and one that won over the hearts as well as captured the imagination of fans all around the world.

It is unfortunate, then, that only three seasons ago Liverpool's reputation as a fluid footballing team were destroyed by the man who believed that defence was everything - Gerard Houllier.

The man who had a five-year plan that failed got himself sacked in the sixth, to be replaced by a Spaniard, Rafa Benitez, whose appointment led to both optimism and skepticism - especially in the light of ex-Porto, now-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

The Special One claimed that Liverpool had tried to appoint him, but he had snubbed them - effectively downplaying Rafa's reputation as a master tactician in Spain.

So the Portugese peacock set out a grand plan to play boring football with geniuses like Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard - and got himself two Premiership titles in the process. The team spirit was magnificent, but it didn't exactly translate to crackling football on the pitch.

Rafa, in the meantime, had himself a mediocre introductory season in the Premiership, while he significantly improved the eye-catchiness of football on Merseyside in the first season. Djibril Cisse, part of the legacy left behind by Houllier, was one of the key players who might have scored more. Steven Gerrard, undoubtedly, was the engine.

In his second season, Liverpool finished strongly and with intent for the Premiership title; however, a slow start means that we are now chasing for third place at best, while our footballing style is evolving.

Against Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven, we managed to eke out seven goals and only conceded one - and only with the smaller share of possession in both games.

Instead of shooting like headless chickens a la the Houllier era, where Heskey and Baros took turns to see who could miss more often, the Rafalutionary boys only take their aim towards goal sparingly and effectively.

The crosses no longer look aimless - Jermaine Pennant and Alvaro Arbeloa's combined backheel was concluded by a supreme cross which Peter Crouch slid in like a world-class striker.

In the meantime, Chelsea struggled to beat Watford, even though they more than knocked at goal with the number of opportunities as well as the possession they had. In the end, they had to wait for genius to take over, and a cross from Shevchenko was converted by Salomon Kalou to steal a victory.

The new-look Liverpool team is one that knows when to pass, when to cross, and when to shoot. Even Stevie G, the rampaging midfield general commanding the field, knows when to attack and when to track back.

We don't just play prettier football - I don't say pretty because the word is used to describe Arsenal's play - but we play intelligent football, one that talks about timing and efficiency. It is not just about working hard; Benitez believes in smart, strategic football, and has worked so hard to instill these values into his team.

It may well be that Chelsea will finish above Liverpool this season - but judging from how Rafa's boys are improving in footballing efficiency every season, Mourinho might well be looking behind his shoulder next season to see how far we'll catch up. Needless to say, he might just need to look in front as well.