Such was this North-West Derby.
The media, naturally, paid close attention. Every major newspaper ran it as a headline.
Sky Sports was quickest off the mark, publishing a piece titled: "North-West Derby Turns One-Sided Massacre: Liverpool Sets Sights on First-Ever Title, Manchester United Plunges Into the Abyss."
The report reviewed the match's key turning points in detail.
For instance—the penalty awarded just 27 seconds into the second half proved to be the pivotal point. Gerrard converted twice from the spot to equal the all-time scoring record in this fixture.
De Rocca won a penalty of his own with a clinical finish, showing world-class potential. Sturridge sealed the result, and Vidić's sending-off crushed whatever hope United had of a comeback.
And so on.
The report also quoted Gary Neville, who'd retired a couple of years earlier and was now working as a pundit:
"This isn't just an ordinary derby defeat—this is a disgrace for Manchester United.
Liverpool played well tonight, no question. But this result is absolutely unacceptable for United.
Moyes has lost control of this team. The tactics were chaotic, morale was low, the back line made mistake after mistake, and whatever swagger the old Red Devils once had is completely gone. Someone needs to answer for this defeat.
This isn't the United I know.
Moyes is clearly not up to the job of managing this club. He doesn't have what it takes to lead this team out of its slump. This defeat should be the signal for his dismissal.
United need a manager with real ability, real experience—someone who can rebuild this squad and find that old Red Devil spirit again."
The report went on to call this victory a statement of Liverpool's resurgence.
Back in the seventies and eighties, the Reds ruled English football.
Now, led by Gerrard, De Rocca, and De Bruyne, this Liverpool side was retracing that legendary path, rebuilding a dynasty of its own.
As for United, the report had a more mournful note: "Sir Alex Ferguson's legacy is being squandered. United need a complete rebuild—time, patience, and the right direction—before they can climb out of this hole."
All the noise from the outside world stirred up a bit of restlessness among the Liverpool players.
Still, after Klopp hammered the point home in training more than once, the squad didn't let the win go to their heads.
Three days slipped by.
March 19th.
Liverpool, at home at Anfield, faced Everton in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
This Merseyside derby carried a spot in the semifinals, and both sides went all out.
From the first whistle, Liverpool showed total command of the game, carrying the momentum straight through from the United rout.
Fifteen minutes in, Gerrard threaded a pinpoint through-ball from midfield. Julien surged onto it and calmly slotted home.
Liverpool led 1–0.
Everton fought back and put pressure on Liverpool's defence for a stretch.
In the 32nd minute, they found a gap and equalized, 1–1.
But the Reds didn't panic. They quickly reclaimed control of the tempo.
In the 40th minute, Sturridge met a De Bruyne cross with a header to put Liverpool back in front.
The second half brought no let-up. In the 68th minute, a Gerrard long-range strike extended the lead to 3–1.
In the 82nd minute, substitute Coutinho added the finishing touch with a long-distance goal to put the result beyond doubt.
Final score: Liverpool 4, Everton 1.
The Reds advanced to the FA Cup semifinals; one step closer to lifting the trophy.
After that hard-fought match, Liverpool got only three days' rest before an away trip to face Cardiff City in the league.
Mindful of the physical toll, Klopp made bold rotations—fielding a mix of substitutes and academy prospects, keeping the squad competitive while giving his regular starters a proper break.
The depth of Liverpool's squad was on exhibition.
From the opening whistle, both sides threw themselves into an all-out attacking battle.
Liverpool's rotated lineup of Henderson, Sterling, and others showed no signs of nerves, and began pressing Cardiff's goal relentlessly with sharp combination play.
In the first half, Sterling and Coutinho combined for three goals.
Cardiff refused to fold, exploiting a brief lapse in Liverpool's rotated back line to pull one back.
Halftime score: 3–1.
The attacking battle carried into the second half. Liverpool kept dictating the tempo, with player after player finding the back of the net—three more goals.
Cardiff, showing real fighting spirit, added two more of their own, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide.
Final score: Liverpool 6, Cardiff City 3—it was a goal-fest that extended the winning streak and showcased the squad's depth.
When that 6–3 win came to a close, the fans back at the Boot Room pub erupted in celebration all over again.
Ted, still holding to his sobriety bet, shrieked along with his mates: "Liverpool are unstoppable! Keep the streak going! We've got this title locked up!"
George clapped him on the shoulder with a grin. "Looks like you'll be dry clean through next season, mate."
"Ha!"
Ted laughed. "If the boys keep winning like this, not touching a drop is a small price to pay!"
And it seemed the team had no intention of letting him drink.
In late March, Liverpool were back at Anfield for their second-to-last match of the month, hosting Sunderland.
From kick-off, Liverpool controlled the entire match, giving their opponents no room to breathe—relentless on the attack, ironclad on defence.
Just ten minutes in, Julien met a Gerrard cross from the flank with a stunning volley for a dream start.
In the 28th minute, De Bruyne won the ball back in midfield and sparked a lightning counter, setting up Sturridge to slot home and make it 2–0.
Late in the first half, the recently returned Suárez headed home in the box to make it 3–0, all but settling the match before the break.
The second half brought no drop in intensity. In the 65th minute, substitute Coutinho struck immediately, curling a long-range shot into the top corner to make it 4–0.
Sunderland managed one consolation goal off a late counterattack.
Final score: Liverpool 4, Sunderland 1—another win to extend the streak, and another comfortable step toward the title.
Anfield rang with cheers, the crowd were soaking in every bit of the winning streak.
Just three days later, Liverpool welcomed another tough opponent to Anfield: Tottenham—their final match of March.
Since changing managers, Spurs had been wildly inconsistent with occasional flash of brilliance, but mostly fell flat. They were hot one match, cold the next.
This match, clearly, was one of the cold ones.
Faced with an unstoppable Liverpool side, Spurs had no answer at all.
From the first whistle, Liverpool came out firing. In the 18th minute, Julien surged forward to meet a De Bruyne cross with a header: 1–0.
In the 35th minute, Gerrard sent a long ball forward from deep. Suárez controlled it, took two touches, and unleashed a shot from an outrageous distance, straight into the net!
The crowd was left in stunned silence.
Suárez's finishing really was something else.
In the 43rd minute, Liverpool won a corner. Gerrard delivered it, and Van Dijk rose above everyone to head it home—3–0 at the break.
The second half saw Liverpool keep firm control—airtight in defence, relentless in attack.
In the 72nd minute, Suárez completed his brace with a powerful strike, making it 4–0.
Final score: Liverpool 4, Tottenham 0 in a clean sheet to close out March in perfect fashion.
A perfect month. Played five, won five.
Every single match ended in a resounding victory showing a dominance no one could match.
After that performance, all of English football was buzzing.
Whether it was the celebrations at Anfield, the chatter on every street corner, or the headlines splashed across every sports outlet—it was all about Liverpool.
"Reds Ascend to Peak! Perfect March, Unstoppable Force!"
"Liverpool Dominate the Premier League—No One Can Stop Them!"
"Title Already Decided? Reds' Lead Grows, Suspense Nearly Gone!"
Headline after headline dominated every sports page.
Fans everywhere were saying the same thing: the era when the Reds ruled English football had truly returned.
At the Boot Room, Ted's face was flushed red with excitement as he shouted to George and the rest of the lads: "Perfect month! We went five for five in March! The title's ours! Looks like I really am staying dry all the way through next season!"
George nodded, beaming with pride. "Aye. This Liverpool side—they're something else. Nobody's stopping them from winning it now."
The fans raised their glasses, cheering and shouting into the night.
What made things even sweeter for Liverpool fans: while their team surged forward, every other title contender kept stumbling into draws.
Their points stalled while Liverpool's lead grew and grew.
When all the Matchday 32 fixtures wrapped up and the Premier League table updated, Liverpool sat firmly on the standings with 79 points.
The margin was staggering.
Liverpool led second-place Manchester City by a full 8 points.
They led third-place Chelsea by 9.
The gap between them and the rest of the pack had grown almost impossible to close.
With just six matches left in the season, Liverpool didn't need anything spectacular. As long as they kept their composure and avoided any major slip-ups, even a modest run of results would be enough to secure the club's first-ever Premier League title.
Sky Sports devoted an entire front-page feature to Liverpool: "Liverpool's Perfect March Seals Their Ascension—8-Point Lead in Hand, First-Ever Premier League Title Within Reach!"
The article read:
"When Liverpool closed out March with a resounding 4–0 clean sheet over Tottenham at Anfield, the title race in the Premier League had all but reached its conclusion.
Looking back at Liverpool's March campaign, 'dominant' doesn't begin to cover it. Five league matches, five convincing wins, near-flawless performances at both ends of the pitch—this is the foundation behind the Reds' growing points lead and their firm grip on the title race.
According to Sky Sports data, Liverpool is the only club in Premier League history to win every match in a calendar month while averaging more than four goals a game. A performance worthy of the history books.
This is a team operating on totally another level."
The piece also quoted Jamie Carragher, speaking on a post-match broadcast:
"I've never seen a Liverpool side this strong. Those wins in March weren't luck—they're a reflection of pure quality. Steven, as captain, remains the soul of this team; his passing and finishing are still among the best in the league. Julien and Sturridge up front are firing on all cylinders. N'Golo and Kevin in midfield keep the ball moving and shut down the opposition. Add in Klopp's precise tactical setup, and this Liverpool side barely has a weakness."
Sky Sports report continued:
"Liverpool's points lead has basically ended any suspense over the title.
Worth noting: in their remaining six league matches, Liverpool will face Manchester City and Chelsea in direct clashes—two heavyweight showdowns that could prove decisive in whether the Reds seal the title early.
If they win both, Liverpool will crush any hope their rivals have of catching up, potentially lifting the club's first-ever Premier League trophy ahead of schedule. Even with a minor stumble here or there, their existing points cushion keeps them firmly in control of the race.
For Liverpool, this combination of a strong lead and control over the season's biggest remaining fixtures makes their path to the title about as clear as it gets.
Meanwhile, their rivals for the title—City, Chelsea, Arsenal have all fallen into a slump."
Sky Sports closed the piece by emphasizing that Liverpool's success this season was no accident.
"This is the product of the entire squad's hard work, and of the successful rebuild Liverpool underwent following the change in ownership.
It's also the effect of signing a generational talent like Julien De Rocca.
The six remaining league matches now feel less like a title race and more like the Reds' coronation march.
From their dominant March form, to the depth of this squad, to their powerful points lead, Liverpool have everything in place to win the title.
This resurgent Liverpool side isn't just on the verge of ending years of waiting to lift their first-ever Premier League trophy—they may be about to reignite an entire era of Liverpool's dominance over English football."
Coverage like this delighted Liverpool's fans to no end.
Every media outlet in England was singing Liverpool's praises now.
Truth be told, it left the fans feeling a little unaccustomed to the attention.
After all, Liverpool's league form had been mediocre for years.
In that stretch, they'd reached two Champions League finals, which made people think Liverpool was strong—but at the domestic level, there'd been no real breakthrough.
In fact, before this season, Liverpool had been on the verge of falling outside the top ten in the Premier League.
No wonder they hadn't even qualified for European competition this season.
At the Melwood training ground, Liverpool's players went through their recovery session at the usual pace.
During a break, Klopp pulled Julien aside for a private word by the touchline.
Julien assumed Klopp wanted to talk through plans for the next match. But what Klopp said left him stunned.
"What do you think of how Sadio plays?"
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