TRUCULENT, furious, violent, ferocious, fierce, heated, fractious, thunderous.

Just a few of the words used in newspaper reports to describe last weekend’s derby game. Here’s a couple more – bloody marvellous.

Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want to watch that every week, and some of the scything tackles flying about would have shamed Leatherface, but in terms of stirring the emotions and delivering high-octane entertainment, that game took some beating.

Normally I like to see a bit of culture: a Gerrard slide-rule pass; a Torres clipped finish into the bottom corner. But just occasionally it’s good to be reminded that football can also be a more red-blooded affair, that spirit and sinew can entertain just as much as silk and style. Sometimes it’s as exhilarating to be lifted to your feet by indignant outrage as by sublime skill, as any boxing fan will tell you.

The level of commitment shown in particular by those in red was greatly appreciated by those of us who have borne witness to some of the direst performances in living memory this season, when at times they’ve been flattered by the description ‘lacklustre’.

The trick now of course is to infuse our coming games against Arsenal and Manchester City with the same level of desire, but to add some craft and guile (and, I should say, discipline) so that we’re not totally dependent on the new-found resilience of our defence.