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Luis Suarez is a genius of a different kind



Michael Dawson had been on the pitch no more than a minute when he was presented with the ball. Luis Suarez would have been forgiven for letting out a cackle in remembrance of what he did to the defender in December.



To say like he was akin to a shark smelling blood would be inaccurate – sharks do not thrust themselves as frequently, or with the prolonged determination, of the Uruguayan. People sometimes survive shark attacks, too; the same cannot be said of Dawson.



His performance against Tottenham was not necessarily his best this season, and his phenomenal talent is already known by all. He still managed a goal – which could have been two if not for Lloris' fine save – as well as making 57 touches, three successful dribbles and 90 minutes of torturing the opposition.



But numbers aside, what Spurs showed is that he is ready to be the Reds' talisman for the rest of the season.



There are plenty within the squad who have taken Liverpool to the top of the table. The captain Steven Gerrard, the goalscorer Daniel Sturridge, the gleeful exuberance of Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson.



But Suarez gives that and more. He knew Dawson was cold off the bench, and had been reduced to a cold sweat following the meeting at White Hart Lane. He was – and is – unrelenting, his refusal to give up a loose ball terrifying to defenders.



And how terrified they truly are. In a title race that can go down to the wire, Liverpool possess the player who can put the fear of God into the world's best defenders and send them teetering on the edge. That could prove invaluable.

*Liverpool 4 Spurs 0 report: Reds go top of the league after nerveless win

Johnson is back in form at most crucial time



The curious case of Glen Johnson is now closed. After a dip in form and month-long absence through injury, the marauding right-back that impressed in Brendan Rodgers' first 18 months has returned.



The uncertainty going forward was non-existent against Spurs from the first few minutes – literally. His overlap left Christian Eriksen flat-footed, before whipping in a devilish ball into the box which Younes Kaboul and Jan Vertonghen couldn't deal with.



It was a cross done with conviction – something he lacked during his spell of poor form, highlighted even more with Jon Flanagan's re-emergence into the first team, a full-back who limbs, gritted teeth and a puffed-out chest.



But this was Johnson back to his best. On the front foot, he was the side's fourth-highest passer (49) and was more accurate (94%) than anybody else on the pitch. That allowed Raheem Sterling – man-of-the-match – to flourish ahead with Johnson constantly supplying him the ball.



He was also solid defensively, not allowing Eriksen time or space on the ball. He made two interceptions and three tackles, as well as always offering Martin Skrtel and Simon Mignolet the short ball.



In a run-in where it feels like the pieces are falling into place, Johnson could be one of the most important, if not the most obvious.

In pictures: Reds defeat Spurs 4-0

The Kop will not panic



The Kop made it obvious from the first minute – they are Liverpool. And with a tra and a la la la, the party had begun.



Boss Brendan Rodgers had implored the supporters to enjoy the title race – a request that will be listened to as much as a Tim Sherwood half time team-talk.



But Anfield did enjoy it on Sunday. Easy to do when 1-0 up within two minutes, 2-0 up within the half hour, and playing magnificently to boot, granted. Yet even before kick off, You'll Never Walk Alone was sung with a gusto that put lumps in throats and neck hairs into the stratosphere.



Once the game kicked off, there were fewer moans than there were against Sunderland. Passes back were applauded, mistakes were forgiven, names were sung over and over.



The effect a crowd can have can sometimes be overstated, but the last three games at Anfield could rival some of its most famous 90 minutes – and these players look ready to respond.

Another tactical masterclass from Rodgers



“Where is our manager?” asked the Spurs fans as time ticked down on their 4-0 defeat with Tim Sherwood shrinking, ever further, into his tracksuit top.



It probably isn't the time to tell the travelling Londoners – but there was a time, in the summer of 2012, when it could have been Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers rejected Spurs and chose Liverpool – how glad Anfield is he did.



This was another remarkable masterclass. He moved back to 4-3-3 – the same system that put nine goals past Everton and Arsenal earlier in the season; nine has now become 13. But Spurs weren't unlucky, just blown away.



Watching this Liverpool side is something special. Rodgers sets up his team like a fine champion of chess; he then watches his fearless side throw away any pieces that get in their way. The talent on the pitch is matched by that in the dugout.



Rodgers had a fortnight to prepare for Manchester United and played them perfectly; then came Cardiff, Sunderland, and now Tottenham. Do not be blinded by the dazzling goal tally – there is more to this season's success than simply outscoring the opposition.



By ditching the diamond, it meant the Reds would be quicker in transition in midfield, with Nabil Bentaleb and Gylfi Sigurdsson unable to catch Coutinho, Sterling, Suarez and Sturridge. Against Sunderland, only 8% of passes were long; against Spurs, that moved up to 11.8%, with Sterling, Suarez and Sturridge constant outlets.



It also offered up several four-on-four opportunities – the Reds attack versus the Tottenham defence – which only was going to bring one winner.



The Reds are looking like winners on the pitch – and off it. There were no questions from the Kop about where their manager was. He was standing on the pitch, at full-time, with another high-profile win.



Liverpool are top of the league...



… And so the song reverberated around Anfield. The facts cannot lie: six wins – three at Anfield, three away – will mean Liverpool are champions for the first time in 24 years.



That would make it 14 straight wins to end the season, 17 wins from their final 19 games, 53 points from a possible 57. It sounds simple when written in such lucid form.



But to reduce it to such a binary figure does disservice to what is happening on Merseyside. This is a crazy season, one devoid of logic or reason. The club – from the manager, to the players, to the fans – have embraced that.



Determining who drops points and when no longer matters. If Liverpool are to do this, it is they who will do it, relying on nobody but themselves.



Seeing is Believing it said on the front of Liverpool shirts on Sunday. Liverpool have seen and now they believe the reality of the situation - nobody but themselves control their fate.



And then, unbelievably, there were six.

More on LFC:

Gerrard: I'm trying not to dare to believe... but we REALLY are in the title race

James Pearce: Stevie leads the way to Reds promised land

Brendan Rodgers on why money isn't everything in football

Exclusive: Rodgers tells players and fans to "keep calm and enjoy" rest of the season

Video: Darren Farley's brilliant impressions of Rodgers, Gerrard, Carragher and more

Rodgers hails "incredible" Gerrard as skipper moves close to Dalglish goal tally