Liverpool: Rafa Benitez Finally Building a Side to Challenge For the Title?

Recently Liverpool agreed a fee with AS Roma for the transfer of John Arne Riise to the Italians. It was approximately £4 million. It came as a shock to some—some welcomed it, some didn't.

But it wasn't the sale of Riise that piqued my interest, it was what it meant to the club as a whole.

It is also the imminent transfer of Xabi Alonso to Juventus that caught my eye. Firstly, John Arne Riise has been a great servant to the Anfield faithful, delivering years of consistent quality up and down the left flank. Who can forget one of the most potent left feet to enter the game?

I think however, that Riise's performances did drop considerably in the last two years, culminating in his own goal that effectively signed his death warrant at the club.

The same could be said of Xabi Alonso. A great player who could be ranked up with some of the best passers of the ball in the world alongside Andrea Pirlo and Riquelme. However, like Riiise, his form also dropped from his best in the last two years.

My point is, is Rafa Benitez finally showing a ruthless streak by shipping these players from the club? To sell a seven-year servant, who at 27 could still offer three to four years service? To transfer from the club Alonso, who could still prove to be useful? 

I think personally Benitez is finally starting to overhaul the club, and weed out those who are not at the required level anymore. Although many may be sad to see these players leave, it could be the start of something special for Liverpool.

Last season, Liverpool came very close at one stage of being overtaken by local rivals Everton and I think this put a bit of fear in Benitez that, despite the tag of the "Big Four", teams below are starting to reinforce and are slowly but surely catching them, and first in line to for the chop by the likes of Spurs, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Everton, and Manchester City are Liverpool.

I can't see the Anfield faithful settling for fifth place and another trophy-less season. That's why I think Benitez is finally going to make a burst for the league this year.

For the first time in a while, you can look at the Liverpool team and see a world class spine running through it that is vital to any team looking to compete in Premiership.

Pepe Reina is a very capable goalkeeper, Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger, along with Martin Skrtel can handle anything thrown at them. Steven Gerrard needs no introduction, and Javier Mascherano has proved to be the perfect foil for Stevie G, letting him bomb forward effortlessly.

And of course, there is a certain "El Nino" up front.

Its true that Liverpool need some work out wide, with pacey and creative wing backs needed along with a world class winger. But Rafa seems finally to be taking ruthless action in selling both Riise and Alonso.

If Rafa can make some smart moves in the transfer market this summer, acquiring someone to take the weight of the goalscoring from the shoulders of Fernando Torres and a winger to give the strikers some quality service from out wide, it could be a very fresh and rejuvenated Liverpool next season.

There is a major problem when it comes to Liverpool though. To make these major signings needed, you need money to compete with the overflowing wallets of Chelsea, Manchester United, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid.

There lies the problem for Rafa. No doubt he would like to match up David Villa with his national strike partner Torres to form one of the most fearsome forword lines in the world; however, with Villa in red hot form for Spain at Euro 2008, his price has no doubt rocketed up another £15 million. So Benitez may have to look elsewhere.

Rafa Benitez has been reasonably successful since he joined Liverpool, but the fans want to see progress in the league. The Liverpool fans are a patient lot and many don't expect success in the league overnight, but what they will want to see is progress. They will want to see the team make a burst for third, then the following year for second.

If Rafa can overcome the constant bickering between Tom Hicks and co. and achieve success in the league on a limited budget, then he really will become a part of Liverpool's shining history.

Rome wasn't built in a day as they say, just ask Sir Alex Ferguson how long it took for him to erect his empire. But Chelsea and Manchester United are becoming stronger everyday, while Arsenal seem to be just waiting to burst into life.

If Rafa doesn't make strides this year or the following then it will be very hard to make an impact after that. However, as I've said, Rafa has the squad. It needs minor tweaking and he himself needs to have more ambition in the league regarding his rotation.

Liverpool on a good day can demolish anybody. The problem is those good days are as rare as Hicks and Gillette sharing a joke.

I for one, even as a Manchester United fan, would love to see the "Old Enemy" competing for the league along with a few of the up-and-coming teams that are sniffing behind the "Big Four".

If Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard can keep up the devastating partnership they have formed, then I believe Liverpool have a very bright season ahead of them, and Manchester United and Chelsea will now have to keep a close eye behind them as well as on each other.

Bring on next season.