Rush: Skrtel looking back to his best

Martin Skrtel will have been as disappointed as anyone to have lost at Chelsea, writes Ian Rush in the Liverpool Echo.

He's had his moments this season in a back four which hasn't been water-tight. But on Sunday the Slovakian had a terrific game, right back on form.

He has just needed games and now that he has them he's improved his match fitness and sharpness.

Sunday was his best performance this season without question.

If he and the lads felt a bit down by the result they should remember one stat I heard as Liverpool's title chances were being written off by some.

Liverpool have 15 points from eight games. Guess who had the same total at this stage last season?

Long wait for Black Cats test

Steve Bruce has done a really good job at Sunderland already this season.

He knows English football and the Premier League so well by now - and I'm sure he'll have them safely in the top half of the table come the end of the campaign.

The fact Sunderland were bitterly disappointed not to bag all three points at Old Trafford on Saturday tells you they are a capable outfit.

So when we go there for our next league game it will be a stiff test.

But it's clearly a test this Liverpool side is more than capable of passing.

Of course the international break means we will have to wait a while for our chance at Sunderland.

But if everyone comes back fit and on the day we can quieten the Stadium of Light crowd, then three very good points are there to win.

The views expressed in this story do not necessarily reflect the views of Liverpool Football Club.