SOCCER/English FA Premiership countdown: Louise Tayloron the high hopes prevalent in Liverpool that a new-look team can deliver title glory

Jaws dropped when, earlier this summer, the previously ultra-conservative Rafael Benitez first revealed his new, uncharacteristically trendy, goatee-style beard. Liverpool fans trust this artfully shaved facial hair will prove symbolic of the Spaniard's reinvention as a manager committed to bold, attacking football, rather than merely an indication of impending middle-aged crisis.

"It finally looks as if Rafa is ready to release the handbrake," reflected Mark Lawrenson, the former Anfield defender turned pundit, who feels excited by the hitherto tactically cautious Liverpool manager's €59 million-plus investment in, primarily, pacey, attacking players this close season.

"He seems to have learnt lessons and knows it's time to hit teams where it hurts."

Indeed, by recruiting six proven finishers and creators, including Fernando Torres, Andriy Voronin, Yossi Benayoun - the clever former West Ham midfield schemer identified by both Lawrenson and Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool's most influential acquisition - and Ryan Babel, Benitez has assembled a formidable-looking armada to challenge Manchester United and Chelsea for the title.

Yet, having demanded that Liverpool's new American owners invest heavily in top players, Benitez is also aware he will have no excuses should things go wrong.

With Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho extremely keen to emulate Drake and put their newly hirsute Iberian adversary in his place, this could prove a defining, make-or-break season for Benitez.

Acutely conscious that an official summer poll of Liverpool fans saw 90 per cent claim the Premier League is the trophy they covet most, George Gillett and Tom Hicks - who have a pricey new stadium to finance - will be scrutinising their manager's every move in the coming months, not to mention counting the €35 million Torres' goals.

"He's an excellent player, strong and deceptive, but he was the superstar in a sometimes poor Atletico Madrid side," said Steve McManaman, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid winger, recently. "It's the first time Liverpool have spent more than £20 million (€29 million) on a player, so they expect big things from him straight away. There'll be no settling-in period."

But then Liverpool need to be quicker out of the blocks than usual this term. In the past three seasons under Benitez Liverpool have started slowly, accruing only 10 points from their opening seven games in each campaign.

"We've got to be ready from the off," insists Liverpool's captain Steven Gerrard. "We cannot afford to give anyone a head start again."

Benitez' cause can only be aided by his decision to grant Gerrard his preferred central midfield role, leaving the elusive Benayoun and exciting Babel to discomfit opponents down the flanks. "I'll get my chance in the middle this season," confirmed Gerrard. "It's where I believe I have most to offer."

With the young midfielder Lucas Leiva and the winger Sebastian Leto also imported from Brazil and Argentina respectively, there is a jostling for places that Benitez hopes will generate a title push. "Competition is very strong in every position and that should make a difference," he said.

Even so, he could be out of a job if his forwards do not start scoring freely. "We've got to use our dominance to get more goals," says Steve Finnan, Liverpool's right-back. "There were lots of games last season when we had all the play but didn't score."

While Voronin, a Ukrainian Bosman arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, is sufficiently confident to have already vowed to eclipse his Chelsea compatriot Andriy Shevchenko during the coming months, Dirk Kuyt believes that playing alongside Liverpool's new line-up will help him score more regularly.

"Andriy and Fernando are different to Robbie Fowler and Craig Bellamy," said the Holland striker who, like Peter Crouch, can be deployed as the sort of imposing target man Manchester United arguably lack. "Fernando likes to drop deep, so I might be positioned higher up the park, which I enjoy and is where I played at Feyenoord."

Benitez is a confirmed admirer of the Dutch and their football. Having controversially forced out the former youth director and local hero Steve Heighway, he has appointed the former Ajax player and coach Piet Hamberg as technical manager at Liverpool's academy with a brief to concentrate on grooming teenagers for the first team rather than winning junior cups.

Should Benitez fail to secure at least one piece of senior silverware - and preferably not the League Cup - a beard described by the Sunas possibly "the worst football has ever seen" will be left severely singed.