THE clocks may have gone back an hour but Liverpool turned back time six months yesterday.

Faced with the prospect of their worst losing run in more than 55 years, the Anfield outfit finally invoked the spirit of their enthralling run-in of last season to step back from the abyss.

But forget talk of issuing a statement of intent to their Premier League rivals, or sticking two fingers up to the critics who were already penning the obituaries of Rafael Benitez’s reign.

The most important message Liverpool will have sent out by defeating Manchester United is to themselves, one that must be heeded if they are to ensure the momentum of this victory is maintained.

Passion. Determination. Unity. Hard work. Allied to the undoubted talent among Benitez’s squad, these qualities had helped Liverpool push United all the way to the finishing line last season.

Yet most, if not all, have been conspicuous by their absence during a deflating start to the campaign that struck a new low with the dismal Champions League defeat at home to Lyon on Tuesday, a fourth loss in succession.

A fifth yesterday at the hands of their bitter North West rivals would have represented Liverpool’s worst run since 1953. Instead, rather than looking nervously over their shoulders, they can once again start training their sights on those above them.

Not a bad way for Benitez to celebrate his 200th Premier League game in, particularly with American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett both in attendance.

Precisely a year ago, Liverpool underlined their championship challenge with a 1-0 victory at Chelsea. And while title talk is off the agenda at present, Benitez will hope yesterday’s victory provides a similar shot in the arm to his team.

While last weekend’s surrender at Sunderland was down to a beach ball, this triumph was all about balls; the ones shown by Liverpool’s players, especially given the absence of talismanic skipper Steven Gerrard.

Individuals who had consistently fallen way short of their own high standards at last delivered as Liverpool produced by far their best display of the campaign. That there were so many contenders for the man-of-the-match award spoke volumes.

The midfield battle, so often the decisive factor of these games, was comprehensively won by Liverpool, led by the irrepressible Javier Mascherano.