Source: Daily_Mail
Dawning of new age for Benitez, the Kop messiah
It may not stop Manchester United cantering over the line in the race for this season's Barclays Premier League title, but Rafa Benitez's latest triumph is being seen on Merseyside as tangible evidence that another era is about to dawn.
There was no 42,000 capacity crowd lifting the roof off Anfield when the Liverpool manager finally ended months of uncertainty over his future by scrawling his indecipherable signature on a £5million-a-year contract that will tie him to the club until 2014.
It was a victory all the same, though, and every bit as momentous as the rousing 4-0 Champions League demolition of Real Madrid that further enhanced Anfield's reputation as the place to be on the big European nights.
Every bit as significant, too, as the stunning 4-1 triumph over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday that suggested Benitez may finally be closing in on a formula for success at home as well as in Europe.
The 48-year-old Spaniard was understandably jubilant at securing his longterm future and belatedly bringing to an end a soap opera that has had more fiendish storylines than any of its fictional counterparts.
Well he might have been, too. Benitez is not renowned for compromising and last night's long-awaited breakthrough can be taken as confirmation of a hat-trick of notable wins. First Real, then United, now co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
It will be portrayed as all parties speaking with one voice, naturally enough, but the truth is the Americans have seen the light. They examined how things are run at Manchester United, Aston Villa and even Everton
and concluded that Benitez may not be a power-crazed despot after all.
For all the suggestions that he wanted his fingerprints on every minute detail of Liverpool's existence, Benitez sought nothing less than a mandate allowing him the final say on all team matters. To manage, in other words.
He was not prepared to tolerate any outside interference and it would appear a glance at how other American owners operate, at Villa Park and Old Trafford may just have convinced Hicks and Gillett that it wasn't such an outlandish demand after all.
Hicks likes to convey an impression of being well informed on Merseyside issues and will have noted that, across Stanley Park, David Moyes' word is final when it comes to football policy.
Now Benitez has had his own way, the prospect of launching a new, overdue chapter of success seems tantalisingly close at hand. He insists he is closer than ever to cracking the code on the home front but knows he needs more attacking potency and craft to counter an over-cautious approach from too many visiting teams.
The wins over Real and United sent out their own messages but failed to disperse a nagging suspicion that any lowly Premier League side might arrange all 10 outfield players behind the ball at Anfield and hold out for 90 minutes.
It is a shortcoming Benitez intends addressing over the coming months and he will do it with renewed vigour after finally receiving assurances from Hicks and Gillett that he can do it his way, regardless of who they install as chief executive in place of Rick Parry at the end of the season.
Gillett made it clear he feels Liverpool are now primed to be European champions for a sixth time, even if the Premier League title may prove out of reach.
'Rafa has special abilities and qualities which are admired throughout the world, as well as at Anfield,' he said. 'Coming after our excellent wins over Real and United, this will give us great momentum going into the final stages of the season.'
Hicks was just as elated, saying: 'It is wonderful that Rafa has made a long-term commitment to this club. He has been responsible for our great progress since taking over as manager in 2004 and I know he will continue to build on those achievements.'
