Form
Last season was, irrefutably, a shambles. The club slipped and then slipped again, first out of contention for the title – a distant but not ridiculous aspiration – then, less forgivably, out of the top four. 
A squad that had almost looked capable of mounting a title challenge (if you squinted) suddenly revealed itself to be worryingly thin beyond a narrow spine of world class individuals. Liverpool was suffering an identity crisis – strident club of the people to American owned, debt ravaged capitalist enterprise. Somehow even You'll Never Walk Alone sounded a bit less sure of itself. Something had to give and, unsurprisingly it turned out to be the increasingly agitated Rafa Benitez.
Star Players
Steven Gerrard still seems to carry the expectations of the club on his slightly hunched back, a task that may have become more burdensome over the last season or two, during which time his form has become erratic whilst his previously spotless off the field persona has acquired the odd scuffmark. Stevie G is nonetheless a pivotal figure for club and country and perhaps the frustrations of last season then the World Cup will prove to be a low point from which he can begin to re-emerge as one of the great talent's of his generation.
The World Cup was a similarly difficult for Fernando Torres, whose gilded fortunes suffered their first injury aggravated set back. Surely it won't be long though before Torres regains both his blonde locks and goalscoring conviction. At his best there are few more complete forwards in the world and it will perhaps prove fortunate for Liverpool that his World Cup performance didn't inspire a more concerted effort from the big spenders this summer.
The Gaffer
Wily old gent Roy Hodgson looks like the perfect antidote to all the disruptive tumult at Liverpool. A quiet, likeable tactician who you feel might posses the steadying hands and comforting whisper to coax this lurching, anxious old stallion back on track... 
The Outlook
Expectations are understandably more conservative than usual, which should help in the resuscitation of Liverpool's fortunes. A gentle descent from the hysteria of recent times and a subtle adjustment of expectations could be just what the club needs. It's a measure of how bad last season was that many would consider Liverpool's return to the top four a bit of a shock.
Cole and Jovanovic look like good signings and will add guile and dynamism to a midfield that often appeared one dimensional last season; if Hodgson can incorporate their talents and get the best out of Gerrard and Torres this season could be about more than just arresting Liverpool's decline.
FIXTURES
Sunday, August 15 2010
Liverpool - Arsenal (16.00)
Monday, August 23 2010
Manchester City - Liverpool (20.00)
Sunday, August 29 2010
Liverpool - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)
Sunday, September 12 2010
Birmingham City - Liverpool (16.00)
Sunday, September 19 2010
Manchester United - Liverpool (13.30)
Saturday, September 25 2010
Liverpool - Sunderland (15.00)
Saturday, October 2 2010
Liverpool - Blackpool (15.00)
Sunday, October 17 2010
Everton - Liverpool (13.30)
Saturday, October 23 2010
Liverpool - Blackburn Rovers (15.00)
Sunday, October 31 2010
Bolton Wanderers - Liverpool (13.30)
Sunday, November 7 2010
Liverpool - Chelsea (16.00)
Tuesday, November 9 2010
Wigan Athletic - Liverpool (19.45)
Saturday, November 13 2010
Stoke City - Liverpool (17.30)
Saturday, November 20 2010
Liverpool - West Ham United (17.30)
Sunday, November 28 2010
Tottenham Hotspur - Liverpool (16.00)
Saturday, December 4 2010
Liverpool - Aston Villa (15.00)
Saturday, December 11 2010
Newcastle United - Liverpool (15.00)
Saturday, December 18 2010
Liverpool - Fulham (15.00)
Sunday, December 26 2010
Blackpool - Liverpool (15.00)
Tuesday, December 28 2010
Liverpool - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)
Saturday, January 1 2011
Liverpool - Bolton Wanderers (15.00)
Wednesday, January 5 2011
Blackburn Rovers - Liverpool (19.45)
Saturday, January 15 2011
Liverpool - Everton (15.00)
Saturday, January 22 2011
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Liverpool (15.00)
Wednesday, February 2 2011
Liverpool - Stoke City (19.45)
Saturday, February 5 2011
Chelsea - Liverpool (15.00)
Saturday, February 12 2011
Liverpool - Wigan Athletic (15.00)
Saturday, February 26 2011
West Ham United - Liverpool (15.00)
Saturday, March 5 2011
Liverpool - Manchester United (15.00)
Saturday, March 19 2011
Sunderland - Liverpool (15.00)
Saturday, April 2 2011
West Bromwich Albion - Liverpool (15.00)
Sunday, April 10 2011
Liverpool - Manchester City (15.00)
Saturday, April 16 2011
Arsenal - Liverpool (15.00)
Saturday, April 23 2011
Liverpool - Birmingham City (15.00)
Saturday, April 30 2011
Liverpool - Newcastle United (15.00)
Saturday, May 7 2011
Fulham - Liverpool (15.00)
Sunday, May 15 2011
Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur (15.00)
Sunday, May 22 2011
Aston Villa - Liverpool (15.00)