WHEN Dirk Kuyt was asked in midweek whether Steven Gerrard would consider a move to Eastlands, his response was emphatic.

“I don’t think any player from Liverpool would go to Manchester City because Liverpool is a much bigger club,” said the Dutch striker.

A rollercoaster afternoon yesterday gave the perfect reason why.

City may have the new-found riches but it’s Rafael Benitez’s side that possess the greater immediate promise of silverware given the evidence of this latest remarkable fightback.

Fernando Torres was among several players City’s new Abu Dhabi owners had supposedly earmarked during a frantic transfer deadline day last month.

At least their judgement can’t be questioned.

As against Everton the previous week, the Spaniard spent much of the first half on the periphery and gradually bemoaning his lot before exploding into life after the interval.

Torres scored twice as Liverpool dragged themselves back into the match after having gone in at half-time in disarray and two goals down, and then played a part in Kuyt’s dramatic injury-time winner.

Benitez claimed before the game that victory at Eastlands wouldn’t necessarily underline his team’s title credentials.

But if Liverpool do sustain a genuine championship challenge, they will surely look back at this result as a significant moment in their campaign.

The self-inflicted first-half wounds of Stephen Ireland’s volley and a magnificent Javier Garrido free-kick seemed enough to send Benitez’s side tumbling to a disappointing first defeat of the season.

That, though, didn’t take into consideration the huge self-belief and determination that is coursing through the veins of the Anfield outfit at present, qualities typified by a typically tireless performance of Kuyt.

Certainly, Benitez’s side are doing things the hard way this season, this being the fourth game, following similar victories against Middlesbrough, Manchester United and Marseille, in which they have had to come from behind to win.

Of course, the Spaniard will be aware such a trend cannot last forever.

Despite having conceded only two league goals before yesterday, some of Liverpool’s defending left much to be desired, both full-back areas a particular area for concern.

Quite why Liverpool were so off the pace in the opening 45 minutes is a mystery to rival that of the recent fortunes of goalscorer Ireland’s hair. And they still haven’t netted in the first half of a Premier League campaign this season.

Both sides ended the match with 10 men, but for contrasting reasons.