Premier League Winners 2008/2009... Liverpool?

It was at the end of the 1989/90 season that Liverpool won the last of their 18 League titles. They finished on 79 points, nine ahead of second placed Aston Villa. Liverpool has never won the Premier League since its inauguration in 1992.

18 years without the title but they have still won it a record number of times and with seven FA cups, seven league cups and five European cups they remain England’s most successful team.

But in the 18 years that have followed Liverpool have failed to consolidate these lofty heights in the Premier League. A collection of cup successes has rightly kept the club in the upper echelons of English football and as arguably one of the best football clubs in Europe.

Once again this year many pundits have already written off Liverpool’s title hopes and believe it to be a two horse race between, Manchester United and Chelsea. So are they wrong?

Are Liverpool good enough to win the Premier league and break their long awaited Premier League jinx?

While Liverpool boasts arguably the best striker in the world in Fernando Torres fresh from his heroics in the European championships, they still lack something. A foil for Torres has been found in Robbie Keane. Although he was expensive, considering his age, he is a sound acquisition.

The last few years few can deny Benitez has done a good job. There have been no trophies but the spine of Liverpool’s team is as strong as I can remember it. Reina, Carragher, Agger, Skrtel, Mascherano, Gerrard, Keane and Torres providing a perfect blend of youth, experience, raw talent and most importantly undeniable quality.

However the flesh and bones that has been built up around it is the reason Liverpool will struggle to mount a sustained title challenge.

The lack of width in the Liverpool team NEEDS addressing! It leads to Liverpool playing at times a very direct, narrow style of football. This is why they sometimes struggle to break down "lesser" opponents.

Kuyt, Babel and Benayoun are the wide men usually employed by Benitez. Kuyt and Babel are both strikers and Benayoun is more at home in the hole behind the strikers.

Although all good players they all have a tendency to cut inside and take space away from the strikers rather than pushing on to the by-line and getting in behind a defence, really stretching it. This limits Liverpool’s attacking potential.

It is the same problem in defence with the fullbacks although Benitez has tried to address this with the additions of Degen and Dossena. Both are attacking full backs which Liverpool need to overlap with the wingers but whether they will provide the answer remains to be seen.

There is plenty to be excited about as a Liverpool fan as they boast one of the strongest squads and a strike force as formidable as any in the league.

But will it be enough?

As much as the optimist in me screams, "Yes, this will be the year," the voice of the realist in me is too loud to ignore and his answer is a resounding "No."