Isaac Newton taught us that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. For Liverpool fans today this reaction was the only acceptable one.
Following the farcical UEFA Cup defeat to Celtic in midweek, a good attacking performance and a convincing win was all that would do. It was an absolute must for the 40,000+, who for not the first time this season arrived, knowing not what to expect.
As Leeds United travelled to Anfield this afternoon, it is unlikely that one could have paired two sets of fans where morale was lower, but it was the Reds’ fans who left L4 in a more positive frame of mind, following a Michael Owen inspired demolition of Peter Reid's new charges. The opposite reaction we demanded was what we received.
Our season was neatly summed up by today's encounter, because no matter how bad things have been for Liverpool, things have been worse for Leeds. Despite being knocked out of the FA Cup by Crystal Palace and the Champions League by FC Basle, we are not Leeds United and that is a blessing we can all be thankful for.
And true to form, we emerged from Anfield today thanking the heavens we are not Leeds, because their problems far outweigh our own. This afternoon's performance may encourage a little perspective on behalf of the Anfield faithful.
Sure, one arse cheek may be a little more tired than the other following much of the second period, that’s par for the course. But the first 30 minutes of this game showed that there may be a way forward for Gerard Houllier if he allows his team to play freely, and take the opposition head on.
The injury hit Vladimir Smicer dropped to the bench as the re-born El-Hadji Diouf returned the right midfield role in which he has excelled in recent weeks. Diouf was obviously champing at the bit after missing the Celtic debacle and was the Reds chief threat in the early stages of this encounter.
Diouf combined well with Emile Heskey in the first half who surprisingly – or not depending on your outlook - kept his place ahead of fans' favourite Milan Baros. Despite yet another double in the reserves last Monday, there was no place on the bench for Neil Mellor.
Heskey started well however and played a magnificent one-two with Diouf, whose shot forced Robinson into a super save just five minutes in. The two again combined minutes later, with Diouf firing just wide of the young Englishman's post.
Where Diouf failed, Michael Owen as he does more often than not succeeded. A great piece of first time control from the number 10, fed the Senegalse star, who laid up Owen to fire home from 10 yards. 1-0 and a deserved lead for the home side.
The lead was doubled on the 20-minute mark through a most amusing moment of Danny Mills indiscipline. John Arne Riise was the unfortunate victim of the 45,763rd reckless challenge of Mills' career, but while the rest of Anfield waited for the referee to award a free kick, Danny Murphy took it upon himself to curl a gorgeous 25-yard curling effort into the top corner.
As the ball hit Robinson's net, I realised for the first time that I was actually enjoying myself. Too often this season, the 'I don't want to be here' feeling was all too prominent. Before kick-off today the feeling was again, all too prominent. It was very nice to actually feel enjoyment from my hobby once again.
This was good, compared to what we've become used to it was very good, so I suppose a lapse of concentration was inevitable and it came in first half stoppage time as Mark Viduka forced Jerzy Dudek into his first save of the half. The Australian found himself unmarked 6 yards out, but was unable to bundle home the rebound from his header, despite Dudek's heroics.
At half time, this fixture had 2-2 written all over it, thoughts even went back to Elland Road in the treble season. 2-0 up and cruising, we got sloppy at the back, Viduka scored late in the half and we lost 4-3.
However today we were facing a different animal. Or bunch of animals so to speak. This team is not the youthful never-say-die attacking Lions that O'Leary bred (inbred?) so well initially. These are the stripped to the bone, tamed, circus pussycats, which have just been picked up by the RSPCA.
It's amazing to thing the Reid's job as caretaker manager is simply to keep Leeds in the Premiership. Very amusing though.
The nerve wracking first half an hour of the second half was something we have simply become accustomed to for nigh on three years now. But instead of simply crawling into our shell we jumped out it and got the clincher.
The magnificent Owen was again influential, getting to the by-line brilliantly and pulling back to Steven Gerrard who sidefooted home a volley from 12-yards. The finish was a good deal more difficult than the majestic Gerrard made it look.
Gerrard, Murphy and Owen were all magnificent today, and along with Carragher here is where the true heart of the Liverpool side lies. These four players set foot on the pitch today believing that they owed the fans something.
There will be many detractors trying to devalue this victory, and granted Leeds are shite, but our inability to dispatch inferior opposition at Anfield has been our major downfall (8 draws), but today we achieved it with aplomb.
In patches today the manager discarded his safety first philosophy and allowed his players to actually play. He must do this on a regular basis. He must allow his players reasonable freedom if he is to turn things around at Anfield.
He must relinquish his fear of losing, and let his hunger to win take precedence.
TEAM: Jerzy Dudek; Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Djimi Traore, John Arne Riise; El Hadji Diouf, Steven Gerrard, Didi Hamann (Salif Diao), Danny Murphy; Emile Heskey (Milan Baros), Michael Owen:
