Liverpool boosted lingering hopes of the Premier League trophy making its way to Anfield in May with a 2-0 home victory over Sunderland on Tuesday night.
With a couple of exceptions - a dramatic late win over Chelsea and a UEFA Champions League success at Real Madrid - the Reds' season has nosedived since the turn of the year, but midweek goals from David Ngog and Yossi Benayoun raised morale on Merseyside.
Behind-the-scenes rumours regarding the future of Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez have gathered pace in 2009, while a January FA Cup elimination to derby rivals Everton came at a time when the club were in the process of surrendering top spot to arch foes Manchester United.
Middlesbrough piled on the misery with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool on Saturday, however, three days later, Benitez's side - who have now played two games more than United - closed the gap on the champions to four points.
The first half ended goalless, but Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones should have put the visitors in front in the opening minutes when one-on-one with Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina, who stood tall and dived low to his right to save.
But after the interval Steven Gerrard miscued a header from an Albert Riera cross, and Ngog, making his first Anfield start, was in the right place to turn in from close range on 52 minutes.
And 13 minutes later scorer turned provided as Benayoun doubled Liverpool's lead after Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop had horribly spilled an Ngog cross-shot.
Benitez made four changes from the side that lost to Middlesbrough and he chose to use Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano at right-back.
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