The pre-match phone-in on Liverpool's local radio station may not be home to the most eloquent football observers, nor the most perceptive. But listening to one caller prior to this routine 2-0 win over a shot-shy Bolton Wanderers at Anfield, it was hard not to be surprised.
"[Steven] Gerrard and [Alberto Aquilani] clearly cannot play together," the caller mused. "And if we're dropping one of them, on current form it has to be Gerrard."
Of course a solitary caller to a phone-in does not represent the views of every Liverpool supporter, one would hope at least, but the message was clear. Even the captain is not beyond reproach at Anfield this season.
Gerrard's form until now has been average at best, injuries and insecurities have combined to deprive the Reds' talisman of his superhuman energy levels, and dimmed his ferocious will to win. At Wolves on Tuesday, Liverpool's captain was a shadow of a figure, caught in the mediocrity which laced the Reds' performance.
Lucky then, that Rafa Benitez does not listen to radio phone-ins, or over-reacting fans. After confirming that the Wolves game, an atritional midfield slog played in sub-zero conditions, was friendly enough for only one of his two best attacking midfield players, here he opted for both in an attacking line-up which contained both Dirk Kuyt and David Ngog.
And it paid off, eventually. Aquilani started slowly in the deeper role usually occupied by Lucas Leiva. Passes from the Italian were well-meant, but often misplaced. More than once the Anfield crowd groaned at his over-eagerness to play the perfect ball.
Gerrard, meanwhile, flickered. Shadowed as ever by Bolton's dogmatic midfielder Fabrice Muamba, the England man drifted from a right-midfield station to a central one, and looked a whole lot livelier than he had at Molineux. One burst midway through the first half might have created a chance for Ngog had it not been for Zat Knight's telescopic leg intervening.
Liverpool were far from fluent; they haven't been all season in truth. But with so many attack-minded players in the line-up chances would undoubtedly come, and how satisfying for Benitez to see Aquilani at the heart of the game's opening goal.
The Italian created the first goal for Kuyt against Spurs here 10 days ago, and he repeated the trick with a brave far-post climb, and well-directed header to the feet of the Dutchman, who steered past Jussi Jaaskelainen from six yards.
Credit in the build-up must also go to another pair of maligned performers; Albert Riera's crossfield pass was exquisite, whilst Emiliano Insua's cross was perfectly arced - not the first time in the game. Two assists in two games for Aquilani, and the first instalment of his £17 million transfer fee is being paid.
Meanwhile Gerrard was growing into the game with every passing minute. His driving runs - stymied so far this season - were soon back in evidence, he stung Jaaskelainen's palms twice at the start of the second half, and delivered two wonderful crosses from wide on the right. The Kop raised its voice, those who had doubted him lowered theirs. Even a shocker of a miss from Ngog couldn't spoil the Reds' day.
Aquilani was taken off 63 minutes in, and given a great ovation by the crowd, but Gerrard played on. At one point he almost danced with a shell-shocked Knight, twisting the Bolton man more ways than one can care to remember. Knight responded with a crude challenge, earning himself a booking. It was a compliment to the Liverpool skipper's performance.
He wasn't alone either. Insua has been derided with regularity this season, but was arguably the Reds' best performer. His raids from left-back caused Gretar Steinsson problem after problem, and the smart play of Riera meant Liverpool's left-hand side was a great outlet.
And alongside the Argentine, the Reds' defence was as solid as it has been all season. Bolton may have offered only a sporadic threat - with Matt Taylor and Tamir Cohen especially quiet - but the impressive Sotirios Kyrgiakos handled Kevin Davies with ease - and cleared off the line brilliantly from Lee Chung-Yong - and was ably assisted by both Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher. That Pepe Reina did not have to make a save of note in the second half is a credit to his defence.
A large cheer went up when Birmingham City's late equaliser against Tottenham was confirmed on the Anfield PA system, and rightly so. The Reds have closed to within a point of Harry Redknapp's men in fourth place (though both sides will be looking over their shoulders at Manchester City and Aston Villa, who possess games in hand), and have extended their unbeaten league run to six games for the first time this season. They have conceded just once in that spell.
They may not be at their fluent best, and the problems may still exist higher up the club - post-match saw a 300-strong protest aimed at co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett (the former of whom was present at the game today) - but, on the pitch at least, the only way is up. The FA Cup humiliation at the hands of Reading may well have been a new low for the current side, but the response since has been solid.
And with Everton to visit Anfield next weekend, Benitez will know that extending the unbeaten run to seven could be the most significant challenge of his season so far.
