Time to ensure class pays off

Liverpool totally dominated the game but were unable to add to the lead given to them by Fernando Torres, and Titus Bramble scored a late equaliser to give Wigan a share of the points.

That was a night of deep frustration for Liverpool because when you are so dominant you have to win the game and the fact that they didn't do so was a great disappointment.

When things haven't gone your way then the most important thing is to turn those negatives into a positive, and in this case that means making sure your superiority as a team is evident both on the pitch and in the final score.

Wigan are doing well so far this season and are better than many expected them to be, but Liverpool have much more quality in every area so they have to make it count.

If you are a member of the big four you are expected to win your home games and having already dropped two points against Stoke at Anfield I'm sure Rafa Benitez will remind his players of the need to make the most of home advantage.

The fixture after this one is Chelsea away and if Liverpool can go into the game at Stamford Bridge level on points with the Londoners it would give them an extra incentive – not that any more is needed – to be the first visiting side to win there in the league in four years.

Chelsea are formidable opponents on their own patch, everyone knows that, but if you go there knowing that a win will take you above them in the table then it can give you that extra little push.

But for Liverpool to be in a position for that to happen, then they must take care of business in their own backyard first and that means beating Wigan on Saturday.

No-one should expect it to be easy because it won't be.

Steve Bruce has put together a group of players who work hard for one another and who make it tough for the opposition to play.

Liverpool have to match their workrate and then their extra quality will shine through.

After what happened against them last season this meeting with Wigan is a bit of an acid test of Liverpool's title credentials and if they come through it, as I expect them to, it will show that they are heading in the right direction.

No rest even for the best

IT amused me to read in the ECHO that Fernando Torres said he is never allowed to rest by Rafa Benitez.

It took me right back to my time as a player with Liverpool when it didn't matter how well you'd done or what you'd achieved, the likes of Ronnie Moran would never let you rest on your laurels.

As far as Ronnie was concerned there were always new targets to meet and new challenges to rise to, and he drummed that attitude into every one of us.

That's the way it is at a club like Liverpool.

It's no good becoming complacent and thinking you've done it after a few good games, or scored a few goals, because the moment you do you're only going to go in one direction – backwards.

There are some clubs where winning three or four games in six is good enough, or where playing well every other week is enough. But if you want to be challenging for titles then you have to be at it week in and week out.

Having seen the way he works for the team, I don't think Torres would ever be the type of player who lets his standards drop. But it's good that the manager is keeping all his players on their toes.