Alvin Haw proclaims that Liverpool will finally win the league title this season after enduring 19 years of hurt and frustration.

Rafael Benitez was brought in to win titles for Liverpool. He did so by winning the Champions League in 2005 and followed that up with the FA Cup one year later.

However, despite all the Cup successes, what long-suffering Liverpool fans like yours truly really pray and wish for is that the Reds to finally take the domestic title back to Anfield.

It has taken the former Real Madrid and Valencia boss long enough to figure out the magic formula, and he seems to have hit the jackpot this year.

For the first time in five seasons since his appointment, Liverpool are still in the title race in January and, more encouragingly, they are sitting top of the league table with all to play for in the second half of the season.

The transformation from perennial also-rans to setting the pace as league leaders has been a refreshing change, although the draw on Monday in the Merseyside derby hauled us back into second place.

Catch all the action from the Merseyside derby here!

How many of you Liverpool fans have torn your hair out in recent campaigns listening to Mr. Benitez talk about winning the league at the start of the season only to change course midway to say 'securing fourth place and Champions League qualification is good enough for us'?

Well, I'm certainly not settling for fourth place again this season. The Reds will never have a better chance to win it than now and let me tell you why.

League form

A return of seven points from the three games against the rest of the ‘Big Four' clubs is evidence that the club has passed all their major tests so far.

Having beaten both Manchester United at Anfield and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (ending their long 86-game unbeaten run at home in the process) and drawing away with Arsenal, nobody can say that the Reds do not deserve to be level on points with United.

There certainly were some blips and low points along the way, with the team dropping crucial points in some indifferent displays at home (case in point: the bore goalless draws with Stoke City and West Ham), but these would only serve to motivate the team further to achieve better results in the months to come.

Having not tasted league success before, I know that this current crop of Liverpool players would fight tooth and nail to win the league title in the hopes of emulating the 18 title-winning teams before them.

The return of the golden boy

My second reason is a certain man named Fernando Torres.

Simply put, the Reds have achieved most of their current success without the exciting Spaniard in the squad due to injury.

Imagine what could have been for Liverpool if he had been fit and well.

The Spaniard who has scored 29 league goals in 43 league appearances for the Reds has the pace of a winger and the guile of a quick-thinking forward.

With him spearheading our attacks, it gives the team more options up front be it a direct long-ball tactic or the quick short passes that he is capable of handling. The man can score from almost anywhere in the attacking half.

Also, his partnership with Steven Gerrard has the potential to break down any defence when in sync.

The Gerrard factor

In my opinion, the crucial Liverpool player to look out for in the second half of the season would be Stevie G.

Gerrard is the classic case of a man thriving in adversity.

His recent ‘bar brawl' incident may have stirred up people's negative feelings about him, but Liverpool has shown club unity by backing their captain up amidst troubled times.

I suspect this public show of faith would only make him more determined to prove doubters wrong and give him an outlet to translate all that pent-up frustration into match-winning performances on the pitch.

Already, Captain Marvel is Liverpool's top scorer this season, with nine league goals to his name.

His response to the controversy will largely determine his performance, which would in turn make or break Liverpool's season, and I can see him giving his all to make Liverpool league champions.

Rafa's contractual issues

Benitez's dislike for owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett is an open book for all to see.

Just last week, he rejected a new managerial contract on the table and spoke out publicly about the Americans once again.

The players know that if Benitez fails to deliver the title come end of the season, their Indian chief might face the sack.

This alone will motivate and push the players to give their all for the Spaniard.

Play for Rafa, fight for Rafa!

So there you have it, my reasons as to why I think Liverpool will win the league this season.

It is because of this huge desire and determination to finally break through the barrier and win against all odds that will push the Reds to show more consistency and place them top of the pile come May.

The ball is now in their court.

Show everyone your new-found cohesion and resolve and win the title for us Pool fans!

With FA Cup and Champions League involvement still to come, I can finally heave a sigh of relief that at least I do not have to tolerate another season of underachievement from my beloved club yet again.

Do you think Liverpool will win the Premier League this season? Send us your comments at streettalk@espnstar.com