Bellamy: This is the team I grew up with

When the Welshman was born in July 1979, two European Cups had already been brought back to Anfield and the league championship had been conquered for an 11th time just two months previously.

The dominance of a group of players led by Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and later Kenny Dalglish naturally attracted the interest of a young Bellamy, who would eventually join the same club twice in his own career.

An initial switch to Anfield in the summer of 2006 brought nine goals from 42 appearances, while lifting the Carling Cup was the undoubted highlight of the explosive forward's second spell - another single campaign in 2011-12.

Now at Cardiff City, who the Reds face this Saturday, the 34-year-old can take a neutral position on the fortunes of his former employers - and he believes Brendan Rodgers is carefully producing similar displays to the ones that originally caught his young eye.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: "A lot of the fans have grown up watching that type of football; Liverpool would always, when they didn't have the ball, get it back very quickly.

"They had high energy doing that and when they had the ball, they would keep it. That's why Liverpool were so successful for long periods. This team now is the closest I've seen to that.

"It's no disrespect to any of the players before that, it's just that Brendan fits what Liverpool have been doing in their most successful periods, 20 to 30 years ago. I get so excited watching Liverpool.

"When you're a supporter, you'll support no matter what, but actually watching this Liverpool team, it's the Liverpool team I grew up watching. It really is, especially after last Sunday.

"I just feel this is such a great opportunity for Liverpool now to really establish themselves, and hopefully go on and not just win a title, but kick on from there and dominate for a number of years."

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Liverpool followed up comprehensive triumphs over Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Arsenal earlier in the season with another performance which will live long in the memory at the weekend.

Manchester United were summarily picked apart throughout 90 minutes at Old Trafford on Sunday, as Steven Gerrard dispatched a pair of penalties and Luis Suarez completed a 3-0 rout.

"We all felt this was possible," continued Bellamy. "Liverpool are a better team than Manchester United at this present moment, there are no two ways about that.

"To take that to Old Trafford in the manner that they did, against Manchester United as well, how could you not be proud of that? How can you not be excited about what's to come in the future for a club like Liverpool?

"I expected Liverpool to do well this season, I really did. I thought the season they are having this season would be next year - I feel they're a year ahead.

"That's credit not just to the staff Brendan has with him - he has great staff and people who have been working there for a lot of years as well - but the players as well.

"They are taking on board what Brendan tries to put into football, from training sessions and what he tries to implement on the pitch. They are taking that on board."

A man with a level of patriotism worthy of respect, Bellamy has tracked the career of Rodgers closely since the Northern Irishman helped Swansea City reach and remain in the Barclays Premier League.

And the experienced professional is of the opinion that Liverpool are stronger for the fact that the 41-year-old has transferred his philosophy to Liverpool and retained his vision.

He added: "You knew with Brendan, the way he has set out in his managerial career, how he likes to go about football. Swansea was the perfect match for him.

"Swansea had that in place and he just took them onto another level. They were hugely impressive in their first season in the Premier League and hence why Brendan got a great opportunity at a club like Liverpool.

"When you walk into Liverpool, for him to still keep his beliefs and the way he wanted to go suited Liverpool."