Decrypting how the Red Army staged a glorious return!

Liverpool's Breakthrough Reveals a Hint of Royalty: What has Transformed the Reds? A 1:0 victory at Stamford Bridge not only ended Chelsea's unbeaten streak of 86 home league matches but also created a new record for Liverpool: it was the first time under Rafael Benitez's management that they had defeated one of the other three major clubs away from home. This season, Liverpool have already overcome both Manchester United and Chelsea, earning a perfect six points in high-profile matchups, marking the best performance in such games during the Benitez era.

Why are these high-stakes matchups so crucial? Last season, Manchester United defeated Liverpool in both home and away fixtures, eventually finishing 11 points ahead to claim the title. In other words, in their matches against the other 18 teams, Liverpool actually scored one more point than Manchester United! These high-profile encounters truly are "six-point battles," as a win not only adds three points to your tally but also denies three points to your direct rivals. Alan Hansen once criticized Benitez's rotation policy, saying: "The first half of the season doesn't decide who will win the championship, but it does determine who won't." This statement can similarly be applied to the four-way battles: while these clashes don't necessarily decide who will win the title, they certainly help determine who won't.