The rift between Rafa and Hicks/Gillett has brought out the best in our side

Most that has been written and said concerning the recent run of events between Rafa Benitez and our American owners has been negative, but the effect on the side has been anything but. It has brought the club even closer together. Players, who in the past have voiced their displeasure with Rafa's rotation policies, are putting such notions behind them and concentrating on being the best footballers they can be. Look no further than Peter Crouch's recent performances and John Arne Riise's return to favorable form versus Bolton as evidence to this revelation. Exorcising the demons has appeared to allow those two to once again be part of a positive flowing side.

The quarrel has also allowed us fans to once again display our unparalleled passion for the club. Not only does it boost the confidence of our manager and players, but imagine what other footballers from around the world think when they see thousands of fans marching in support of their manager or hear the songs of Rafa's army ringing throughout Anfield? It justifies a world class player like Fernando Torres leaving the only club and country he has ever known to play for us and makes the recruiting process Rafa has to go through to lure more class footballers to our side much easier. It simply tells the world that if you want to play for a club that will cherish you for giving your all when donning the kit, look no further than Liverpool Football Club.

Another positive is the distraction it forces on our opponents. Though an opposing manager would never admit it, it's also almost impossible to ignore with the onslaught of press coverage the tussle received. Anything to get the opposition to not think about tactics and strategy going into matches has to be a good thing, especially when you consider that it has just the opposite effect on our side. It makes our boys want the next match to come quicker, so they can forget all the extracurricular bullocks lurking about.

Finally, though it may be rubbish as this point, it obligated Rafa and the boys to approach each match individually, as if it were their last, and prevent overlooking the task at hand. That was most notably crucial for the Porto match since really nothing less than a win was required. Hopefully we can continue this approach, taking each battle one at a time and overwhelming our opponents is only gonna help us win the war and fill the trophy case.

It's often said that everything happens for a reason and the episode between our manager and our owners appears to be no different. Though it may have caused a temporary breach in the relationship between the two parties, it appears at this point to be on the mend, so everyone can move on to more important matters like winning matches. Our club now appears recharged with an emotional drive, every match seems an epic in itself, and a newfound self-belief that we can beat anyone has manifested. Though the soul of Liverpool was far from dead, it now burns with a passion augmented by knowing that truer words than 'You'll Never Walk Alone' have scarcely ever been spoken.