Carra: The pace is exciting
Jamie Carragher has lauded his bosses for the pace with which they have turned Liverpool into contenders.
The Reds have finished seventh and sixth in the last two seasons and in January new owners Fenway Sports Group attempted to change our fortunes by putting Kenny Dalglish back in charge of team affairs.
Results instantly approved, while off the pitch business has been conducted prolifically and decisively in the transfer market.
Seven senior players arrived during the summer and Carragher for one is excited.
"Normally when a new manager comes in you're building," he told Liverpoolfc.tv. "You take it one step at a time. Under Gerard Houllier and Rafa, even though we won the Champions League with Rafa, in terms of competing it seemed to take a couple of years before you felt like you were not far behind the top teams.
"Now, the way we've started, the way we finished last season and the players we've brought in, I'm not saying we're going to win the league but you feel as if we can give people a run for their money. It's only been six months.
"That's what makes it exciting for me. The quicker the better for me because I'm getting on!
"It's a great credit to the manager and staff, to the owners and Damien Comolli for changing things around and bringing in players. We've got rid of a few players now, I'm not sure how many, but there has been a lot of turnover of players and at the moment it looks like it is working.
"During some of the tough times it can feel like a million miles from where you want to be but at this moment we seem to be there and we want to stay there."
Liverpool now appear to have quality cover in every department and in deadline day capture Craig Bellamy they have another match-winner on their books.
"The squad is very strong, especially with Bellamy," said Carragher. "We lost Ngog but are back to having four strikers, which you always want. We've got four centre-backs as well, loads of right-backs, left-backs as well.
"We've still got Stevie to come back into the middle - we've got lots of players there. All over the pitch we look really strong. We've got to be pleased with how big the squad is and how strong the competition is.
"It is as exciting for the players (as the fans) because the last couple of years have been difficult.
"It's only three or four games in but it's gone well, and the end of last season went well. We should enjoy it because I'm sure later on in the season there'll be a time when it's not going so well - that's football."
Results and new players are bound to lift spirits at any club, but Carragher believes part of the reason he and his teammates are full of confidence is Dalglish's personality.
"Everyone can see his reaction when we score," said the defender. "He's like that on the training pitch every day and that's infectious. You can see him around the place, he loves the game. It's great to be around a person like that."