Liverpool send Man United a message after 19th title

Fulham 2 Liverpool 5. Manchester United fans may have been too busy celebrating their 19th league title to notice, but Liverpool sent a pretty clear message to Old Trafford that they will not have things all their own way next season, even if they have now won more championships than their bitter rivals from Merseyside.

The 5-2 thumping of Fulham was a clear statement of intent from Kenny Dalglish's side, who reacted in the best way possible after their record of 18 league titles was eclipsed.

If Liverpool fans were still smarting from United's victory over Chelsea, which leaves Alex Ferguson one point shy of his 12th Premier League crown, it did not take long for the team to cheer them up. Within six minutes of kick-off at Craven Cottage the Reds were two goals up, and 10 minutes later it was 3-0.

And while it took Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez 37 seconds to open the scoring against Chelsea on Sunday, Liverpool were even quicker out of the blocks last night. Argentine Maxi Rodriguez made it 1-0 after just 32 seconds and five minutes later he volleyed home his second. Dirk Kuyt added a third after the quarter-of-an-hour mark.

When Fulham pulled a goal back in the second half, Liverpool responded with two more of their own, as Rodriguez finished off his second hat-trick in three games with a 25 yard drive and the sublime Luis Suarez deservedly got his name on the score sheet. Had Liverpool played like this all season it could have been them, rather than United, claiming a record 19th title.

Prior to this match Fulham had kept seven clean sheets in their last nine home games, but they were overwhelmed by Liverpool. While Rodriguez's hat-trick grabbed the headlines it was the magnificent Suarez who pulled the strings for the Reds.

Those two players neatly illustrate the rebirth of Liverpool since Dalglish arrived. Rodriguez is playing under his third manager at the club - he was signed by Rafa Benitez in early 2010 - but was no more than a bit part player until recently. He has now scored seven goals in three games.

Suarez arrived at Anfield from Ajax in the transfer window, a day before Fernando Torres was sold to Chelsea in a £50m deal. But despite the abrupt departure of the man he was expected to play alongside he has been inspirational. Since he and Dalglish arrived Liverpool have been transformed. They have taken 33 points from a possible 48 under their new manager and are now favourites to finish in fifth place, above Tottenham, and qualify for the Europa League. They play Spurs at Anfield next weekend in what is likely to be a fifth-place play-off.

But there is no doubt that the Kop is now looking beyond this season and hoping to mount a title bid next season, with Dalglish installed as permanent manager.

The injured Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who, along with record signing Andy Carroll, didn't feature against Fulham made it clear where the club's priorities now lie.

He described United's title as "hurtful from our point of view," and added: "We are on our way back up and we won't give up the fight to overtake them again. We need to amend the 19-18. We will be doing everything in our power to do that." ·