PHIL THOMPSON believes Liverpool are finally exorcising the ghosts that have stopped them launching a serious title challenge in previous years.

The former Anfield captain tipped Manchester United for a third successive championship at the start of the season – but also had a feeling this would be the year Liverpool finally ended their long wait to add to their record haul of 18 titles.

And manager Rafael Benitez’s first win over United in September, coupled with the thrilling fightback against the other team from Manchester on Sunday, has convinced Thompson that his former club is finally ready to shake off the limitations that have hindered their ambitions in the past.

The 3-2 victory at City, secured after a fightback from 2-0 down, kept Liverpool level on points at the top of the league with Chelsea going into the international break and still unbeaten after seven games.

Thompson, in his role as one of Sky’s live match summarisers, couldn’t hide his delight when Kuyt hit the injury-time winner at Eastlands – even though he was covering the Tottenham v Hull game at the time.

Thompson said: “In my job I have to give who I tipped to win the title and I tipped United – but I did say I had a sneaking feeling this could be our year.

“I didn’t know why that was really, but now I think it’s because we are cracking some of the myths.

“Rafa’s had his win over United, that was one hoodoo buried, and although we’ve beaten Everton before, it was how we beat Everton this time.

“Away at Goodison Park, comfortably at 2-0 – that sets down a massive marker and the reaction was as if we had won a knife-edge game.

“Another telling sign of what champions are made of is coming down from a deficit.

“It’s always possible with the crowd at Anfield, but this was away from home against a team who are making people sit up and take notice. And what impressed me was how we did it.

“We didn’t just lump balls in and panic, it was a constructive performance of precision passing to cut Manchester City up.

“I was 2-1 when their man was sent off but it was already in motion then, the momentum was there and we’d have won the game anyway.