I think that it is more than plausible to say that Fernando Torres will not be seen up front for Liverpool next season with a partner. The new breed of flexi-formations which allow teams chameleon-like versatility to blend into one formation or another depending on the opposition has opened a quicker and far more technical world for managers, players and fans alike.

It is intriguing and fascinating and was highlighted at Euro 2008. Rafa Benitez also likes a bit of width in his sides and, if the Spaniard can grab the players capable of supplying Torres, then i see no reason why Liverpool cannot find success. David Villa and Robbie Keane have been mentioned of late but Torres is first choice and neither Villa nor Keane would be happy playing second fiddle when both, quite rightly, consider themselves first-team players.

It is the only problem that I can pinpoint for Liverpool if they decide that this is the way forward. No player is happy languishing on the bench (I hope) and attempting to convince big-money buys that a dozen or so run-outs in the league and the Carling Cup is good would require the persuasion skills of the best hypnotist on the planet.

Having a large squad is a neccessity in modern-day football but trying to keep everyone happy is the most difficult aspect, especially when, with top clubs needing the best players, not all of them can start a game. I really think that this is where the rotation system came about. It's supply and demand as usual.

The rich clubs want the best so they buy the best from the clubs below them and kill two birds with one stone. The opposition is weaker and even if the players they have bought don't make it into their team, they cannot do any more damage. It's a vicious circle and it's going to have to come to some sort of sensible conclusion soon.

Wages are huge and many decent players are tempted by such moves knowing that they will not be the star performer at their new club. While this is happening it is making it extremely difficult for managers to confirm the ability of certain players.

When the big guns sign the star performers from the lesser clubs they do expect a return and when that doesn't happen they are then shunted back down a level at a cheaper price and replaced with another supposed quality player. It's all becoming rather tedious.

Arsene Wenger is obviously sick of seeing this happen, yet many have their hands tied. Benitez is more of a wheeler-dealer type in the transfer market, buying and selling with a quick turnaround to see who will make the grade. His net spend over the years has not been too out of proportion with the budget normally allocated at Anfield. The big money signings he has made have been generally good and the slighly more modest signings have been a mixed bag altogether.

However, I do believe that Benitez is very close to creating the team that Liverpool fans crave, the team that will finally end the Kop faithful's wait for the Premier League trophy - and I also believe that he will do it without a regular strike partner for Torres.