In some people's eyes only the league title will do, particularly after an 18 year wait.
Having been to two Champions League finals in three years I think most of us would be happy if the league was our priority this time around (especially as I'd imagine even the friendliest of bank managers are probably getting tired of us turning up with the begging bowl every other May).
But what would you be happy with this season?
Would a significant closing of the 21 point gap which left us well adrift of Man United last season make you content?
Would a genuine title challenge (ie. one we are still involved in come mid-April) be enough even if we fall short of the ultimate target?
Would another top four finish and Champions League qualification make you happy?
Do we need to win a trophy this season?
In my eyes, it's all about becoming genuine title challengers. As I've already said I really can't see us winning the big one because I don't think we have enough attacking flair.
But the players Benitez has at his disposal are certainly good enough to hang on to the coat tails of United and Chelsea and not allow them to disappear into the distance as they have done in recent seasons.
If we are within four or five points of those two come April I will be delighted.
When Benitez took the Liverpool job in 2004 we were a shambles and talk of us being a one man team was not too far off the mark.
Since then he has steadily built a team in the true sense of the word and we no longer rely on one or two players week in week out.
The progress we have made is there for all to see but the last few yards of this marathon is likely to be the most arduous.
We have done well to come this far. We now have a central midfield which would be the envy of just about any team in then world, a central defensive pairing which is among Europe's finest and a goalkeeper who we can all believe in.
The spine of the team is in place and if Fernando Torres catches fire then you never know what might happen.
But, even though I would obviously love us to win the title this time around I just can't see it, so I will be looking for a genuine challenge and that should be the minimum expected of a squad with as much talent and ability as ours.
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pablo wrote...
Wot would be a good season for me would be exactly wot u have just put! i mean 21 point gp is not good enough for a team like liverpool! we sat our sights so high each season an always fall short! but this season i think we will push man u an cheski all the way an i will be over the moon if we r still in with a chance comin up to the last 23 games of the season! I think if we r very close at xmas then the other teams round us will be worried, cause in the last few seasons if the season would have started at xmas then we would have won the league! but challenge this season then make the next step next! do u agree with that tony?
Posted by: pablo | August 8, 2007 12:08 PM