A comfortable 2-0 victory on Saturday against Middlesbrough in front of a packed Anfield has earned them the award of the FA.com’s Team of the Weekend.

When Rafael Benitez’s men were beaten in October by Fulham, they were languishing 13th in the table.

The manager, coaching staff and players were feeling the pressure but in seven short weeks, the European champions have put together a run of wins that has reignited dreams of the title coming back to Merseyside for the first time since 1990.

Defence seems to the key in Liverpool’s remarkable turnaround to the season. The Reds have kept 10 consecutive clean sheets and have equalled the club record set in 1985.

Back then, Bruce Grobbalaer was in goal, and the centre backs were Alan Hansen and Gary Gillespie. Today Jose Reina, Sami Hypia and Jamie Carragher make up the solid trio that have not conceded a goal in over 900 minutes of football.

Steve McClaren’s Middlesbrough were the latest team to fail scoring against Liverpool. But for 70 minutes, the Teeside club battled hard and looked like they could hold out for a draw.

But a quick brace in five minutes in front of the Kop end from Fernando Morientes stunned Middlesbrough and ensured that all three points were Liverpool’s.

The 29-year-old Spaniard firstly gathered a cross from compatriot Luis Garcia and coolly slotted the ball home and five minutes later neatly lobbed Mark Schwarzer in Middlesbrough’s goal. Reds boss, Benitez was delighted with his striker’s eye for goal and team’s display.

“It was Fernando’s best performance for Liverpool and he finished both his goals very well. The whole team performed well and it was a pleasing home display,” he boasted.

The master tactician now takes his team to Japan to compete in the World Club. Championship. On this form, few people would bet against them.

Other teams considered for the accolade were Bristol Rovers for beating high flying Grimsby Town in League Two and their arch rivals Bristol City for beating second placed Huddersfield Town in League One.