PREMIERSHIP

Liverpool

Silverware needed from Houllier's golden touch

£6 million man: Barmby, the England midfield player, is the most prominent newcomer
Summer summary: Another busy one at Anfield, with Barmby the most prominent of four newcomers. But two players who arrived under the Bosman ruling, Babbel and McAllister, have had the greater impact in pre-season. Regular observers will not have been surprised to see Jamie Redknapp and Robbie Fowler ruled out of the start of the campaign by injury.

Transfers in: Nick Barmby (Everton) £5m+; Bernard Diomede (Auxerre) £3m; Markus Babbel (Bayern Munich) free; Gary McAllister (Coventry City) free; Pegguy Arphexad (Leicester City) free.

Transfers out: David Thompson (Coventry City) £3m; Stig Bjornebye (Blackburn Rovers) £300,000; Phil Babb (Sporting Lisbon) free.

Manager’s quality: Gerard Houllier can do no wrong in many eyes after transforming a mediocre Liverpool team into one that has given the fans a reason to smile, but a trophy would not go amiss following a £50m outlay over the past two years. Some see his O’Learyesque "maybe next year" spiel as kidology; the more realistic admit a real championship push is not on the cards just yet.

Tactical profile: Steady, rather than an incisive, passing game that has increasingly lacked unpredictability in recent years, leading to an unhealthy reliance on the long-range shooting of Patrick Berger, Dietmar Hamman and others. The full-backs’ weakness going forward has been diagnosed, but can it be cured by the mooted arrival of a third German, Christian Ziege? A strong defence means they will pick up as many points on their travels as at their one-time fortress.

Where it all went wrong last time: For six months during the middle of the season, Liverpool were in championship form, losing only two matches. But it came too late to make a serious challenge for the Premiership and their late slump — no goals in their last five matches — meant they did not make it to the Champions’ League either.

Most bizarre statistic: Liverpool are unbeaten in their past 14 games against Arsenal . . . but haven’t beaten Leicester in the past seven meetings.

Sure sign of a Liverpool fan: Rabid hatred of Manchester United, casual indifference to Everton except on derby day. If you’re still not sure, suggest to them that United are Britain’s most successful club ever and that Alex Ferguson’s knighthood was deserved.

Something to prove: Vladimir Smicer, whose outstanding form for the Czech Republic remains a mystery to Liverpool fans. His timidness in the tackle and susceptible to injuries meant he was a huge disappointment last season, but he has responded well to the signing of Barmby by impressing in pre-season.

Up-and-coming prospect: Following the emergence of Robbie Fowler, Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard, all eyes are on gangly French defender Djimi Traore. Houllier knows the youngster must be given a chance, possibly at left-back if the Ziege deal collapses, or risk losing him to any of his dozens of admirers in the Premiership and elsewhere in Europe.

Unlikely hero: Erik Meijer, Dutch forward whose only goals in 24 Reds appearances have come against Hull City. Famously described by Radio 5 Live’s Alan Green as "a plank of wood, albeit a willing one."

Liabilities: Michael Owen’s hamstrings, Robbie Fowler’s ankle, the absence of a top-class midfielder.

One player they need: Steve McManaman, who is languishing in Real Madrid’s reserves a year after leaving Anfield. Sadly the England international would not consider it any more than Houllier would.

Prediction: A slight improvement sees them climb to third place, but still a long way behind the unspeakables from up the M62. One of the cup competitions may offer them their first piece of silverware in six forgettable seasons, while the Champions’ League should be a realistic goal.

Useful information

Squad: 1 Sander Westerveld; 2 Stephane Henchoz; 3 Dominic Matteo; 4 Rigobert Song; 5 Steve Staunton; 6 Markus Babbel; 7 Vladimir Smicer; 8 Emile Heskey; 9 Robbie Fowler; 10 Michael Owen; 11 Jamie Redknapp; 12 Sami Hyypiä; 13 Danny Murphy; 14 Vegard Heggem; 15 Patrik Berger; 16 Dietmar Hamann; 17 Steven Gerrard; 18 Erik Meijer; 19 Pegguy Arphexad; 20 Nick Barmby; 21 Gary McAllister; 22 Titi Camara; 23 Jamie Carragher; 24 Bernard Diomède; 26 Jorgen Nielsen; 29 Stephen Wright; 30 Djimi Traore; 31 Frode Kippe; 32 Jon Newby (on loan to Sheffield United).

Stadium: Anfield

Capacity: 45,370

Address: Anfield Road, Liverpool, Merseyside L4 OTH

Telephone number: 0151-263 2361

Clubcall: 09068 12 11 84

Official website: www.liverpoolfc.net

Having finally woken-up, just eight months ago, to the Internet revolution, Liverpool have produced a thorough, if graphically unappealing website with cumbersome navigation.

Unofficial site: www.koptalk.co.uk

The impressive Kop Talk site boasts Anfield legends such as Jan Molby and Ian St John as columnists. There is also the chance to be the boss, along with exclusive reports and features.

Manager: Gerard Houllier

Assistant manager: First-team coaches: Patrice Bergues, Sammy Lee

Chairman: D.R. Moores

Ticket details: 0151-260 8680 (inquiries); 0151-260 9999 (24-hour info); 0151-263 5727 (credit card line); about 28,000 season-ticket holders

Ticket prices: £21-£26

Cheapest/most expensive adult season ticket: £395/£445

Recommended radio station: BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8 FM

Programme: £2.20

Fanzine: When Sunday Comes

Cost of adult replica shirt: £39.99

Training ground: Melwood

Directions to ground: 2.2 miles from Liverpool Lime St rail station. Buses nos. 17, 17C, 17D and 217 run from opposite the station. Anfield is off Walton Breck Rd (A5089), to the south of Stanley Park. If you see a huge red-and-white building wobbling uncontrollably, assume you’ve found the ground.

Pubs near the ground: The Salisbury, 121 Walton Breck Rd; The Flatiron, 377 Walton Breck Rd (corner of Anfield Rd).