Liverpool PodJockey Rich Jenkins is delighted to see that Rafa Benitez has finally found the right balance within the team and feels that this new formation can carry Liverpool to even greater heights.

Our gaffer Rafa has been banging on about the "balance" of his team for years now, and it seems like he's finally discovered the magic formula to achieve it. At various points during Benitez's tenure we've been able to score goals but not stop shipping them at the back, we've gone seemingly aeons without finding the back of the opposition's net, or we've taken to bypassing the entire midfield for games at a time.

There are simple reasons for this: formation, and personnel. And unfortunately these two factors can affect each other in a negative way. For instance too often when we've played with Crouch up front, the temptation is there for the defenders (Carragher, I'm looking at you) to just launch the ball forwards and hope the big man can make something of it.

Similarly, the absence of Daniel Agger has led to some unfamiliarity in our back line, not to mention the lack of form of Riise and all-round lack of ability of Aurelio. This has meant we've conceded a lot of silly goals, especially in the early stages of the season and up to around Christmas time.

But never fear! Our manager seems to have stumbled on a formation (although David Moyes will probably claim he invented it) that plays to ALL of our strengths, and now the team is playing beautifully as a result.

Skrtel has come in and done a great job at centre-back and I think pushing Carragher out wide has done him some favours too. With Skrtel playing in between Hyypia and Carragher, he can't help but learn his trade better from two of the greatest CBs in Liverpool history. In midfield we're using Mascherano to his destructive, diligent best and this in turn frees up our creative players like Lucas and Gerrard in particular to drive forward and support the real reason we're doing so well of late - Fernando Torres.

When you also factor in the attacking abilities of Babel and Kuyt on either flank, you've got a team that looks solid at the back, industrious in midfield and downright terrifying up front, which is why we're finally playing the way that we'd like to see - and winning to boot.

However, there are things that could be improved - Kuyt on the wing is an obvious square peg in a round hole, and I remain to be convinced about Babel. So if we can sign some dedicated wingers in the near future, this team ought to be challenging for the title next season, thanks to our new found balance. The depth of the squad has improved and what is also heartening is that there is fluidity within the team - Gerrard can play right of midfield, Babel can play up front, Riise or Aurelio can take a stint at left midfield - so we should be able to cover for all injury contingencies as well. The future's bright, the future's balanced...