Simon Mullock : The Daily Mirror
I’d really like to believe those Liverpool fans who tell me that 2010 will be the year of the Kop.
Now when you’re a Mancunian, admitting that kind of thing is supposed to go against the grain. It’s like a Scouser claiming Oasis are better than the Beatles.
In fact, I’m now worried that I’ll be dragged out of my pit in the middle of the night and placed in some stocks in St Ann’s Square to be abused and pelted with rotten fruit.
But there aren’t two footballers in the country more deserving of a championship medal than Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, one-club men who as well as being great professionals are genuine people.
There’s Rafa Benitez. Don’t buy into Sir Alex Ferguson’s accusations of arrogance. As well as possessing one of the sharpest brains in the game, Benitez is both articulate and charming.
His team pushed Manchester United all the way last season.
Pepe Reina is an outstanding goalkeeper.
In Carragher, Martin Skirtel and Daniel Agger, Liverpool’s have a much-vaunted defence that has been further strengthened by the athleticism of Glen Johnson.
Xabi Alonso will be missed, but if Alberto Aquilani can excel in the cerebral midfields of serie A then the Premier League will hold no fears for him when he has Javier Mascherano as his minder.
Then there’s Gerrard and Fernando Torres. These two are probably - in fact make that definitely - the best front-line pairing in world football.
Liverpool’s 4-1 destruction of Manchester United at Old Trafford had to be the most complete performance of any English team at home or abroad last season.
Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are the rocks on which Ferguson has built three successive title successes. That afternoon in March, they were made to look distinctly alehouse.
In fact, Liverpool would have been champions if Gerrard and Torres had played more games together.
And that’s where Liverpool’s weakness lies.
Before the Manchester Thought Police issue a warrant for treason, I don’t think it will be Liverpool’s title.
For all his strength from numbers 1 to 11, Benitez is one injury away from a crisis.
Who will score the goals if Gerrard or Torres are missing for any length of time? Sorry Rafa, but not David Ngog, Dirk Kuyt, Andrey Voronin or Ryan Babel.
Who will keep goals out if Reina is absent? Diego Cavalieri or Charles Itandje?
Lucas Leiva certainly doesn’t have the presence to boss a midfield if Mascherano is missing.
And while Gerrard is Liverpool’s captain, it is Carragher who is Benitez’s on-field organiser.
All teams miss their best players. But United showed at the start of last season that they could win without Cristiano Ronaldo.
With Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez departed, they still have three top strikers, while teenager Kiko Macheda will only improve.
They also have three goalkeepers Ferguson can trust.
Their midfield will be stronger than the one that won the title last time thanks to the addition of Antonio Valencia, especially if they can get Owen Hargreaves fit again.
Chelsea underperformed in the Premier League last time. Their squad has lost none of its strength in depth and in Carlo Ancelotti they have a manager with a top club pedigree.
The transfer window doesn’t close until the end of the month, of course, but unless Benitez can use the Alonso cash to make at least two more top signings, Liverpool will be left with the best team in the Premier League but not the best squad.
That isn’t what champions are made of.
