IF I was Brendan Rodgers, I wouldn’t be talking about the Champions League. I wouldn’t even be talking about the Europa League.

I’d just be telling his Liverpool players to carry on doing what they are doing and not think about league position or anything like that.

After all, every time Rodgers mentions the Champions League, his team tend to lose a couple of games.

The victory over Tottenham last weekend was easily Liverpool’s best of the season, not least because of the manner in which they had fought back from going behind.

There was also the fact Tottenham are a team on the rise, although I mentioned last week that I thought many Spurs fans and observers were getting carried away a bit with their team’s form.

Another thing I’ve said before, and I have no qualms with repeating, it is the effect Lucas Leiva has had on Liverpool since his return.

They look a completely different side, one that functions in all three areas and works much better with him in the team.

Stewart Downing is another to have excelled of late. I don’t think I’ve ever known quite a more effective confidence player.

When he starts a game well, Downing can be brilliant. When he doesn’t start well, he retreats into his shell. He’s like Emile Heskey but with more ability.

Downing is a great crosser of the ball, knows how to do a job defensively and is now weighing in with a couple of goals.

You can never say Downing doesn’t put in a shift, but you can say he sometimes doesn’t come up with enough end product. He is addressing that now.