Here we are, a month to the day from the big kick-off and how things have changed at camp Liverpool since I last graced (polluted?) your senses with my last piece lamenting the inactivity at Anfield.

Let me be the first to hold my hands up; I do not deny the fact I am very impatient and quite adept at jumping the gun, hence the fuel to my wordy fire that condemned all things American within ten miles of the Kop. However, I will also admit when I am wrong or, as is the case here, a tad impulsive.

Maybe it is the tabloids or the constant speculation regarding numerous names that has me this way. The long, long wait for a league title perhaps? No doubt my mother did not hold me enough, or maybe she did it too much. In any case, I remain highly dubious until I see (insert name) standing inside the ground, a beaming Rafa one side and our scarf held aloft the aforementioned name.

'This coming season will no doubt be Rafa's most important to date. No longer can he use the lack-of-funds excuse for missing out on top targets and having to settle for second or even third best'


So, imagine my surprise when one Fernando Torres arrived, signed, sealed and delivered. I rushed pubwards at lunch time on that fateful day to watch the press conference on Sky Sports at 3pm, still a small part of me believing he was not really there. To all you out there who cited the main reason of inactivity at Anfield the fact that La Liga had yet to finish, congratulations. You were right.

Since Torres has arrived, we now have Yossi Benayoun and it’s looking more and more likely, Babel too. The young Dutchman was looking Arsenal bound before a highly impressive Under-21 tournament in which his country (the hosts) won. He came completely out of left field and it makes you wonder, are we done yet? Why did Arsene Wenger decide to wait? Only time will tell if the canny Frenchman missed out, assuming he arrives of course! Let’s not forget how sceptical I am. For those of you that have come in late, see paragraph (3)

So next season beckons and Rafa finally has his money - or to be more specific, the clout to spend £20m on one player. This coming season will no doubt be his most important to date. No longer can he use the lack-of-funds excuse for missing out on top targets and having to settle for second or even third best (sorry Bolo). Now it is down to his own choices and the Spaniard's tactical know-how in the league.

Should Liverpool languish 20+ points off the leaders again, questions will be asked. And maybe we will have to admit that although Benitez is a master tactician in the one-off game, he may not have what it takes to stay the distance in a league campaign.