Liverpool's Premier League title dream may or may not be fulfilled, but the fact that Rafael Benitez's side have hope at all is down in no small part to Yossi Benayoun.
The slender schemer's Anfield arrival was barely noted, drowned out by the fanfare accompanying Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres.
Unveiled on the same day as the Dutch international, few of the Anfield faithful would have imagined it would be Benayoun who was Benitez's joker in the pack.
Yet the Israel international returns to Upton Park on Saturday to face West Ham, the side he took a 50 per cent pay cut to leave, knowing that none of his more illustrious team-mates have made a more telling contribution in Liverpool's best league season for a decade. His injury-time winner at Fulham was arguably the most important strike in Benitez's side's season.
He is the first name on Torres's notional teamsheet – "I need a player like him with a quality pass, always looking for the striker. I always say to him that if I was manager, he'd always play," according to the Spanish striker – and Benitez is clearly delighted with his impact.
"We knew when we bought him that he was a very good player, but players of his type are normally less consistent than others.
"Yossi is in a positive cycle right now. He is playing well, which means you can keep him on the pitch for longer and that gives him more confidence," he said.
Ironically, though, the six goals since the turn of the year which have made Benayoun the Premier League's most prolific midfielder may have threatened his long-term chance of earning the first-team slot he craves.
Benitez believes Liverpool can use their success this season, whatever happens, as a springboard to become Manchester United's most consistent, regular challengers.
To do so, though, the Anfield manager will no doubt return to the transfer market this summer.
Competition for places more intense than ever, Benayoun may find his path to Benitez's first XI blocked not just by Steven Gerrard, Albert Riera and Dirk Kuyt, but also by Valencia winger David Silva and Tottenham's Aaron Lennon.
The slender schemer's Anfield arrival was barely noted, drowned out by the fanfare accompanying Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres.
Unveiled on the same day as the Dutch international, few of the Anfield faithful would have imagined it would be Benayoun who was Benitez's joker in the pack.
Yet the Israel international returns to Upton Park on Saturday to face West Ham, the side he took a 50 per cent pay cut to leave, knowing that none of his more illustrious team-mates have made a more telling contribution in Liverpool's best league season for a decade. His injury-time winner at Fulham was arguably the most important strike in Benitez's side's season.
He is the first name on Torres's notional teamsheet – "I need a player like him with a quality pass, always looking for the striker. I always say to him that if I was manager, he'd always play," according to the Spanish striker – and Benitez is clearly delighted with his impact.
"We knew when we bought him that he was a very good player, but players of his type are normally less consistent than others.
"Yossi is in a positive cycle right now. He is playing well, which means you can keep him on the pitch for longer and that gives him more confidence," he said.
Ironically, though, the six goals since the turn of the year which have made Benayoun the Premier League's most prolific midfielder may have threatened his long-term chance of earning the first-team slot he craves.
Benitez believes Liverpool can use their success this season, whatever happens, as a springboard to become Manchester United's most consistent, regular challengers.
To do so, though, the Anfield manager will no doubt return to the transfer market this summer.
Competition for places more intense than ever, Benayoun may find his path to Benitez's first XI blocked not just by Steven Gerrard, Albert Riera and Dirk Kuyt, but also by Valencia winger David Silva and Tottenham's Aaron Lennon.
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