It's been written every year since 1990, but you can't help your gut feelings. Next season could be the one where Liverpool finally get their hands on the Premier League title. Below are a list of reasons why this is possible:
1. Kenny Dalglish
Liverpool's coach is the only British manager, other than Alex Ferguson, to have won the league, a feat he achieved at Blackburn in 1995. Despite over a decade in the wilderness, his impact at Anfield since he took over has been astounding.
Comparing his record to Roy Hodgson, one of the league's best managers, makes for interesting reading. Having managed ten fewer league games, Dalglish already has eight more points than Hodgson achieved. His win percentage is 52% versus Hodgson's 42%. His goal difference is +21, significantly better than Hodgson's +12.
This is not a slight on Roy Hodgson; his successor has not just eclipsed him but every other Premier League manager. In fact, if the season started on the day Dalglish took over, Liverpool would be second, one point behind Chelsea, with a game in hand.
2. Kids
"You'll never win anything with kids": An assumption that was extinguished a long time ago, despite Arsene Wenger's best efforts to reinforce it. This season has seen the development of Jay Spearing, John Flanagan, Danny Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey, Martin Kelly and Jack Robinson as occasional first-teamers. There are more coming, including Paul Ince's son Tom, and Jamaican Raheem Stirling. When they have been called upon, they have all looked very useful, and at the very least they pose an exciting option off the bench.
3. Experience
To compliment the influx of youth, the squad also has a healthy number of seasoned pros who know how to win things. Jamie Carragher, Dirk Kuyt, Fabio Aurelio, Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole all fall into this category. Not to mention Raul Meireles, who has four league titles and nearly 50 caps at international level.
4. Steve Clarke
Dalglish may be getting all the credit for the club's recent form, but it's easy to forget that Liverpool have the best assistant coach in the league. Steve Clarke played a massive part in Chelsea's back-to-back league championships, and turned West Ham into a mid-table side. He also has a reputation for establishing very mean defences; he transformed Matthew Upson into an England regular, and since he left the same player has suddenly become fat and useless. The goals against column has gone down sharply at Anfield since Clarke's arrival, and if that trend continues next year, Champions League football is almost guaranteed.
5. Money
Under the ownership of Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool have got their spending power back. And they have done good business. After spending £57million in January, and recuperating all of that through the sale of Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel, their front line looks a great deal more dynamic. If they can make the same improvements to their midfield (Scott Parker) and defence (Gary Cahill), there won't be many teams who can contain them.
6. English
All championship-winning sides seem to have an English spine to them, and all of a sudden Liverpool seem to have found the right balance. Jamie Carragher, Joe Cole and Steven Gerrard still have a good season or two left in them, while Glen Johnson and Andy Carroll look exceptional on their day. A unit like that can only have a positive impact in the dressing room.
7. Psychology
Liverpool are also the only team to have properly stuffed Man Utd this season. Their 3-1 victory at Anfield was one-way traffic from beginning to end, when everyone's negative assumptions about United's midfield and defence seemed to be vindicated. They also beat Chelsea home and away. These are the sort of results teams will remember, and want to replicate.
8. Luis Suarez
The best buy of the January transfer window, if not the entire season. Gave the standout individual performance of the season against Man United, a sure sign that he can be relied upon on the biggest occasions. In front of goal, he is as good a finisher as Torres circa 2008, and also brings pace on the wings and dead-ball accuracy to the party. Realistically, he hasn't got into his stride yet in the Premier League, but 2011/12 could be the season he really stamps his class.
9. History
Barring a miracle, Man Utd will clinch a 19th league title at the weekend, surpassing Liverpool's record. That will really hurt. Footballers read the press, listen to the analysis, and come August 2011 there will be no team more motivated to show that they belong in the footballing elite once again.
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