LIVERPOOL have staged some superb comebacks on their run to the top of the table this season. But there’s one that is perhaps more remarkable than any of them – and is every bit as responsible for Liverpool leading the way in the Premier League.

The comeback of Xabi Alonso.

Of course, he’s never been away and that’s the whole point. The transfer saga of last summer could have disrupted him as an individual and knocked his confidence somewhat.

After all, his relationship with the manager had become strained following the incident during his partner’s pregnancy last season when he didn’t want to play.

In fact, Alonso had a bit of an off year and, although it was nothing personal because Rafael Benitez genuinely needed the funds to finance other deals, it was still no surprise that Alonso, along with Peter Crouch, was chosen as those who would bring in the big money.

In those circumstances a trigger often goes off in players, and foreign players in particular, when they decide they would be better off somewhere else.

Not that Alonso wanted to leave Anfield, more that he accepted it would happen however reluctant he was to go.

His mind was probably on Juventus and even though the move fell through, I expected him to be a bit too pre-occupied by the whole saga to be fully focused on getting back to his old self.

To the point where I wondered if when January came round, he would be so peripheral that Benitez might try to cash in on him once again.

Now? I think he would be mad to.

Alonso has faced up to his responsibilities this season and has been one of the better players.

He scored the winner at Chelsea and he came up with a vital strike on Saturday when Liverpool were desperate for that breakthrough against a stubborn Blackburn side.

Given the frustrations of the previous two home games, that was such a vital intervention.

But while he has scored important goals, it’s his overall contribution to the team that has been most impressive.