A week is often considered a lengthy period in football, and what a difference the past seven days have made to Liverpool's fortunes.
Last weekend Kenny Dalglish was lameting his side for a shambolic showing away to relegation candidates Bolton and threatening to wield the axe on some of his side's complacent players.
Today they find themselves in the final of one cup competition and advancing to the next round of another after disposing of a resilient Manchester United side in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
And if the Reds remain intent on pressing ahead with their plans to allow Dirk Kuyt to leave this summer then he may have delivered possibly the finest leaving present to Anfield this afternoon. His 88th-minute strike proved the difference in a closely fought encounter which was in danger of swinging in United's favour with Dalglish's side somewhat flailing in the second half.
It is said that pride comes before a fall and faltering against Sir Alex Ferguson's troops, ending a vital week for the club on such a bittersweet note, would have been no great indignation.
Both managers' pleas for as much tranquillity as can be expected in these often fiery encounters fell on deaf ears as both sets of fans traded insults before and during the game; veni, vidi, vitriol. The displaying of anti-racism adverts as the second half prepared to get underway was not mere coincidence but more a timely reminder of the negative aspect their rivalry has recently incurred.
A banner bearing lyrics from The Smiths' legendary 'There is a light that never goes out' which has taken up semi-permanent residence in a corner of the Kop was an irony also lost on many, such is the increased ill feeling which the racism row between Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra has generated.
Jamie Carragher, celebrating his 34th birthday, occupied the slightly unorthodox holding midfield role which helped helped his side cling on a first leg victory with Manchester City which ultimately saw them through to next month's Carling Cup final but it was a gamble which failed to pay off today.
Steven Gerrard's threaded ball to Maxi Rodriguez saw the Argentine offer the first real test to David de Gea's goal with a stinging effort from outside the area to force and ensuingly fruitless corner. United's response arrived in similar fashion a minute later, albeit with a far tamer strike from Ryan Giggs which Pepe Reina was able to deal with comfortably in a game which lacked its often compulsory physical edge as reckless challenges were kept to a minimum on both sides.
Jordan Henderson showed great strength as he outmuscled a challenge from Rafael before firing in a cross which prompted a limp effort from Gerrard that was never going to trouble De Gea. The Spanish stopper delivered a man of the match performance when the sides met here in October but he reverted to his trademark blunderings.
Downing has been on the receiving end of harsh criticism but his challenge on Evra drew a roar from the Kop to match that which greeted his first goal for the club earlier this month against Oldham. It was followed by a similar appreciation for Kelly as he clashed with the Frenchman at the heart of the racism row which saw Suarez suspended until next Monday's meeting with Tottenham.
Andy Carroll took heed of Bellamy's example during Wednesday night's win over Manchester City as he attempted to replicate the continual hassling of his learned team mate. His contribution was a welcome change from the listless performances which have often plagued his first 12 months on Merseyside and would pay dividends for Liverpool as the game progressed.
Yet it was another unlikely hero who would strike the initial blow as Daniel Agger rose to power home a Gerrard corner with De Gea stranded in No Man's Land to give the Anfield faithful a second wind after an emphatic win over rivals City in midweek. A first goal in 51 games for the Danish defender was a welcome return, having waited since a backheeled effort against Benfica at the beginning of April 2010 to find the net for the club.
But cracks had been forming in both sides' defences towards the end of the first half and it was the freedom Rafael was afforded by an uncharacteristically sluggish Jose Enrique which gave United a lifeline back into a game which they had struggled to command for the best part. His cross was well struck by Ji-Sung Park to deliver a sucker punch to the previously dominant hosts.
After fulfilling a pedestrian role in the previous round against City, Paul Scholes appeared a more familiar pass master here, as he was allowed to dictate United's play fairly effortlessly and freely due to Carragher's indecision as he was later sacrificed in favour of fresh legs in the form of Kuyt.
Danny Welbeck almost proved United's hero for a second consecutive cup tie as he curved the ball round the advancing Pepe Reina as they looked to silence the home crowd but heroics from Martin Skrtel averted the danger. At the other end, De Gea endured a performance which would have made United's short-lived former stopper Massimo Taibi blush as he regularly fumbled balls; notably out for a corner when unchallenged for a wayward cross as both sides pressed for an equaliser to avoid a universally dreaded replay at Old Trafford.
But it was Evra, who returned to Anfield as a hero to some on the back of the race row, that would cement his status as United's villain just two minutes before the end of normal time after he played in Kuyt for Carroll's flick-on as the Dutchman's first goal in 30 games sent the stadium into raptures once more and ensured Liverpool's safe passage into the fifth round.
For everyone connected with Liverpool, it was a perfect ending to this season-defining week. They defiantly sang about advancing on Wembley with Dalglish's "army" over 12 months ago prior to their controversial defeat at Old Trafford but with a place in one final already booked, their chants now carry genuine conviction despite a regularly frustrating campaign.
LIVERPOOL (4-5-1): Reina, Kelly, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique; Downing, Henderson, Carragher (Kuyt 63), Gerrard (Bellamy 72), Maxi (Adam 63); Carroll. Subs not used: Doni, Johnson, Coates, Shelvey.
MAN UTD (4-5-1): De Gea; Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Scholes (Hernandez 76), Giggs (Berbatov 90), Park; Welbeck. Subs not used: Lindegaar, Fabio, Keane, Ferdinand, Pogba.
Goals: Agger (21), Park (39), Kuyt (88)
Booked: Rafael
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
Attendance: 43,952
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