Few teams in Europe can boast a spine as strong as Liverpool's: Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher defying attackers, Javier Mascherano breaking up opponents' moves in midfield, Steven Gerrard surging forward to liaise with Fernando Torres.Liverpool will continue to stir respect, if not yet fear in the hearts of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
It is already clear how shrewdly Rafa Benitez has acted in the transfer market. Andrea Dossena should slot in comfortably at left-back while Robbie Keane's recruitment is inspired.
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Criticism has been levelled at Liverpool for spending £20m on a 28-year-old in Keane. This is nonsense: 28 is usually deemed a peak for a player. Keane has always looked after himself, has never been short of energetic endeavour on the field and clearly cannot wait to play a competitive match for his childhood love.
Tottenham Hotspur fans were devastated to see Keane leave. He was never moody like Dimitar Berbatov; he just got on with representing the team, creating and scoring goals. Now he has his dream move, leaving tear-stained Spurs fans writing thank you notes.
Recognition of how much Keane is still admired at White Hart Lane, for his service and goals, will doubtless come when Liverpool visit north London this season and the Irishman receives a standing ovation.
Spurs fans will not begrudge Keane the chance to fulfil a childhood dream, pulling on the Liverpool red, and Kopites will doubtless warm to him quickly. Keane has been saying all the right things, about his long-standing love for the club, but it will be when he has the ball at his feet that Anfield will really welcome him.
Benitez has not simply brought a striker, a goalscorer who can lead the line when Torres needs a break. As he showed at Spurs, Keane is hugely versatile. He can work happily alongside a centre-forward like Torres in an orthodox 4-4-2 or push to the flanks in a 4-2-3-1 formation. He can lurk in the hole behind Torres if Benitez wants to play 4-4-1-1 with Gerrard deeper. Such a selfless player, Keane happily links midfield and attack.
What will probably happen is that all strands to Keane's varied game are seen in every match. He will drift wide to lose a marker or create space for Torres, he will dovetail with the Spaniard, he will drop deep and swap passes with Gerrard, inviting the captain through on goal.
Keane possesses those classic, time-honoured Liverpool qualities of work-rate and intelligence, both traits contained in his non-stop and invariably influential movement. His arrival is particularly well-timed because Torres will be even more closely watched than before.
People might argue that this is because Torres' masterpiece of finishing in Vienna won Spain the European Championships. No. Torres was always going to receive extra attention this season because of his outstanding work for Liverpool last term.
Opponents may play deeper against Liverpool, hoping to combat Torres' ability to use his pace and eye for an opening to get behind any defence. If opponents do stretch the pitch this will inevitably open up space in front of their defence for the likes of Gerrard.
His pre-season hampered by a slight thigh injury, Gerrard should prove a huge force this season partly because he enjoyed a rare rest. With England having failed to qualify for Euro 2008, the ambitious midfielder will be even more determined to deliver. As a fan, Gerrard remembers life at Anfield when Liverpool were champions of England and he will be as driven as ever to bring the trophy home.
His great friend, Carragher, should have a high-profile season. The defender's autobiography is due out in the autumn and promises to be typically frank. Honesty has always been Carragher's trademark and his utter commitment to the cause keeps him revered as one of Europe's best centre-halves.
Benitez has used Carragher at right-back, because of the returning Daniel Agger and the excellence of Martin Skrtel, but Carragher deserves to be used in his best position. He remains Liverpool's leading centre-half and should be the rock around which Benitez builds his defence. Never tamper with a successful defence.
Having Agger fit again will be a huge boost for Liverpool and he works well with Carragher which leaves Benitez with a quandary over Skrtel. Having addressed the problem on the left with Dossena's arrival, Benitez still needs a high-class full-back on the other flank.
So Liverpool still need reinforcements if they are to challenge for the Premier League title. Manchester United and Chelsea simply have deeper resources. Yet Benitez, so sharp tactically, is still capable of setting up the team to prosper in Europe. His ability to prepare the side to face Continental opponents remains phenomenal. He has outfoxed some of the greatest minds in European football, and the Spaniard may well do so again.
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