CRAIG BELLAMY didn’t leave much of a lasting impression during his sole year as a Liverpool player.

But the Wales international may well prove to have a significant influence on the Anfield outfit’s title challenge this season.

Bellamy’s deflected strike off former team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa four minutes into the second half didn’t just maintain a remarkable record of scoring against his former clubs.

It thrust a painful dagger into the heart of Liverpool’s Premier League campaign.

Although Dirk Kuyt’s equaliser 12 minutes from time salvaged a draw for Rafael Benitez’s side yesterday, the gap to leaders Manchester United has grown to a seven-point chasm.

With 12 games to play, at least there remains time for the champions to be usurped. But recent evidence would prompt few to place any money on that outcome.

Indeed, if Benitez is right with his assertion Liverpool’s hopes of silverware rest on their fortunes over the next fortnight, the initial signs do not augur well.

Once again, the Anfield outfit were undone by their inability to break down a well-organised visiting defence and capitalise on the few opportunities that fell their way.

Liverpool have now drawn six of their 13 home Premier League games. By contrast, United have won 12 and drawn just once at Old Trafford; it isn’t difficult to pinpoint why the championship is likely to remain at the other end of the East Lancs Road for a third successive year.

And to think this latest failure was against a City side who have won just once on their Premier League travels this season and were well beaten by Portsmouth and Stoke City in their last two away outings.

How Liverpool missed the drive of the injured Steven Gerrard, not risked ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash at Real Madrid, and the creativity and prompting of the suspended Xabi Alonso.