Odds on championship: 9-2. Odds on relegation: 1,500-1
Manager: Rafael Benitez (since 2004 ). Odds on first out the job: 25-1
Last season: 3rd; Champions League finalists; FA Cup third round; Carling Cup fifth round
In: Andriy Voronin (Bayer Leverkusen, free); Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid, £26.5m); Yossi Benayoun (West Ham, £5m); Ryan Babel (Ajax, £11.5m); Lucas Leiva (Gremio, £6m); Nikolay Mihaylov (Levski Sofia, undisc); Sebastian Leto (Lanus, £1.8m)
Out: Craig Bellamy(West Ham, £7.5m); Mark Gonzalez (Real Betis, £4.2m); Florent Sinama Pongolle (Recreativo Huelva, £2.7m); Luis Garcia (Atletico Madrid, undisc); Boudewijn Zenden (Marseille, free); Djibril Cisse (Marseille, £6m); Jerzy Dudek (Real Madrid, free); Robbie Fowler (Cardiff, free); Danny O'Donnell(Crewe, £100,000); Danny Guthrie (Bolton, loan); Adam Hammill (Southampton, loan); Godwin Antwi (Hartlepool, loan); Paul Anderson (Swansea, loan); Lee Peltier (Yeovil, loan)
This is still Anfield, but the clock is ticking on whether the old ground will see another league title win before it is demolished. Rafa Benitez starts the season with the confidence of the crowd and of the board, but the clock is also ticking on whether he is the man to bring that Premier League trophy to the club for the first time.
The plans of Tom Gillett and George Hicks for their franchise mean that on the one hand Benitez has the money he has wanted, on the other hand he now is shorn of excuses. Liverpool may not win the title but they have to challenge for it if Benitez is to carry on commanding widespread confidence. If Liverpool fail.....
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