JUDGING by the atmosphere coming away from Anfield on Monday night, you’d have thought that most were checking the railway timetables to see how difficult it was to get to Plymouth or Ipswich next season.

The sense of frustration and disappointment was palpable: a second home goalless draw in succession; four points unexpectedly dropped; boos ringing in the ears of the players as they left the pitch.

Yep, it must be the relegation express all right for us. But wait: what’s this chap saying on the radio? Apparently we’re not relegation fodder, we’ve actually gone one point clear at the top of the table, six points clear of third place! Surely some mistake? At best, we must be slipping out of the title race as early as we did last year?

But there it is in the morning, clear as day: the Premier League table, with the Mighty Reds proudly atop. Phew.

So why all the wailing and breast-beating? Sure, we’ve missed an opportunity to be three or even five points clear, and that’s really disappointing. But did we really expect it was going to be that easy? Ask any sane Kopite what their aspiration was at the start of the season and they’ll reply along the lines of being ‘there or thereabouts at the end of the season’.

We’re clearly on course for that; and I bet you’d have settled for being top of the league on December 2 wouldn’t you?

It’s a truism that the league table doesn’t lie; and whatever the pundits tell you, despite Chelsea’s marvellous away form, and Arsenal’s occasional blistering football, so far we’re the best team in the Premier League – it’s official. So time for a little perspective I think.

Dwelling on these lost points will just make us bitter and twisted – that way madness lies, and you’ll end up at Goodison Park.

Of course, this is not to say the Anfield garden is full of roses. Though the performance against West Ham was a distinct improvement on that against Fulham, that’s not saying much I grant you.