Liverpool have all the credentials to mount a title challenge and this is a season when they must live up to expectations.
Pressure on Benitez after two seasons without silverware
Liverpool have all the credentials to mount a title challenge and this is a season when they must live up to expectations.
All too often in the last few years Liverpool have flattered to deceive on the domestic front, saving their best for the UEFA Champions League.
This could be a defining season for Rafa Benitez as he looks to end Liverpool's 18-year wait for a league title as he enters his fifth season on Merseyside.
Benitez has helped Liverpool become a force again in Europe, but it is the Premier League that the Anfield faithful crave more than any other trophy - especially with arch-rivals Manchester United closing on their record of 18 league championships.
The pressure is on Benitez to make the league his No.1 priority and bring the Holy Grail back to Anfield.
Benitez survived the soap opera of the ownership battle between George Gillett and Tom Hicks that plagued last season's campaign, but it is debatable whether or not he could avoid the axe if he does not at least challenge for the title this term.
Benitez has again been busy in the transfer market as he looks to shape his squad into challengers for Manchester United's crown.
There is a buzz around Anfield following the big-money capture of Robbie Keane from Tottenham with many feeling he could be the final piece in the jigsaw.
Mouthwatering
The idea of Keane and Fernando Torres in tandem is a mouthwatering prospect for all Liverpool fans with Benitez hoping the Irishman will prove to be the perfect partner for last season's sensation of the Premier League.
Torres will again carry the burden of scoring the goals following his superb 33-goal haul in his debut campaign, but Keane will be able to share the load and also create more chances for the Euro 2008 winner.
Benitez has also carried out a summer-long pursuit of Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry only to be frustrated by Villa's reluctance to sell the England international.
Barry is keen to make the move to Liverpool with Benitez hoping to replicate the successful England partnership established between Barry and Steven Gerrard at Anfield.
Should Barry finally make the move to Liverpool it will add to the wealth of midfield talent available to Benitez and could spell the end of Xabi Alonso's distinguished spell on Merseyside with the Spaniard expected to make way for the arrival of Barry.
The signing of Keane in attack could also see Reds skipper Gerrard revert to his preferred role of central midfield with the Liverpool dynamo certain to be driving force for any title bid.
Benitez has also focused on bolstering his full-back options bringing in Philipp Degen on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund and also acquiring Liverpool's first ever Italian international in the shape of Andrea Dossena.
Diego Cavalieri has arrived to provide cover for No.1 goalkeeper Jose Reina, with French youngster David Ngog coming in as very much one for the future.
Along with all the summer signings, Liverpool has a core of players that is as good as anything in the Premier League.
The Reds boast one of the best and biggest squads in the Premier League with a firm spine in the form of Reina, Carragher, Gerrard and Torres.
Ruthless
Benitez has also been ruthless in the transfer front this summer sacrificing some big names and firm fans' favourites in letting Peter Crouch and John Arne Riise leave Anfield.
Crouch has left for Portsmouth and Riise has moved to Italy meaning The Kop will not be singing two of their favourite chants for two former heroes this season.
Harry Kewell has also moved on to Galatasaray after failing to agree a new deal and with Sebastian Leto failing to win a work permit, it leaves Benitez short of options wide on the left.
Benitez is still hoping to bring in some wingers before the close of the transfer as he looks to provide Torres and Keane with the ammunition to shoot down Liverpool's rivals.
Benitez is still striving to make Liverpool more consistent on the domestic front and much will be made of the Spaniard's much-maligned rotation policy if things do no go right at the start of the season.
It has been suggested Benitez does not know his best line-up at Liverpool and if they are to keep pace with the leading pack Benitez must stick to his strongest possible line-up for every game rather than cause uncertainty in the squad.
There is renewed optimism on Merseyside of a successful season and if Torres and Keane can click in attack there could be no better partnership in the league.
Spain enjoyed two notable successes in the summer with Spain ending a long wait for a trophy by winning Euro 2008 and Rafael Nadal winning Wimbledon and Liverpool's Spanish contingent will be hoping that trend will continue this year as the Reds look to end their hunt for the Premier League title.
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