All of a sudden life is good on Merseyside. The red part, that is.

Fernando Torres opened his account, Yossi Benayoun played his part taking over from Ryan Babel, and the defense held firm in Wednesday’s 4-0 drubbing of Stoke City.

The evening became even better for Reds fans when arch-rival Manchester United suffered a humbling 1-0 loss to rookies Burnley at Turf Moor.

But let’s not get carried away. Stoke, to remind, had a dismal away record last campaign, with only Middlesbrough holding a worse goal difference on the road.

Let’s go back to Sunday’s 2-1 opening weekend loss at Spurs, which should have been 4-1 or even 5-1 had Robbie Keane taken his chances.

OK, we can understand Rafa starting a pair of holding midfielders at White Hart Lane (Javier Mascherano and Lucas were the pair in question), but what the heck was the gaffer doing keeping both those guys on when introducing Benayoun in the 67th minute with Liverpool a goal down? Similarly, when the Spanish boss brought on striker Andriy Voronin later, who did he take off? Dirk Kuyt, not Mascherano or Lucas. The rationale, perhaps, was that Kuyt had just played in an international friendly against England. Benitez, though, made similarly silly moves last year and it might have cost Liverpool the title.

Liverpool will be hard pressed picking up wins at tough away grounds starting Lucas and Mascherano, two utterly one-dimensional players. The guy who made the transition from defense to offense, Xabi Alonso, will be sorely missed. Benitez’s treatment of Alonso last year as he chased the inferior Gareth Barry was downright ridiculous. Most Liverpool fans would take Alonso over Barry in a second.

Italian Alberto Aquilani is set to move into midfield once healthy – if that helps much. Not many Italian midfielders or defenders have been able to cope with Premiership pace. Just ask Marco Materazzi or Andrea Dossena, a big-time Anfield flop.

Benitez needs another creative midfielder, and much more depth. His bench Sunday was below par, substantially below Tottenham’s.

It’ll be interesting to see how Liverpool fares at Bolton at the end of the month. Before then the Reds should comfortably collect win No. 2 Monday at home against Villa, what with Villa’s inept record at Anfield.