When it comes to success, down at Liverpool they are experts. Many people have come to see them as the weakest member of the top four but Liverpool fans over the last 50 years would disagree with that completely. England’s biggest clubs can only look in awe at the 13 league titles, seven FA Cups, five European Cups, three UEFA Cups and three Super Cups that have found their way into the Anfield trophy cabinet since 1960. But I’m not here to blow another club’s trumpet, they do enough of that for themselves, what could we get from Liverpool, realistically, to improve results for Newcastle United?

This is a tough one. Rafael Benitez buys each player because that is the player he wants. Players generally only leave Liverpool if they fail to adapt to life in England or they are nearing the end of their career. Liverpool just do not sell to other Premiership clubs. So this article will have to be based purely on the pretension that they do.

The quality of some of the playing staff at Liverpool is immense. For a start, local boys Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are two of the best players of their position in the world and importantly, they both love their club. Having two players like that around is inspirational for both staff and squad members and only serves to strengthen the foundations Benitez and his team are trying to build. However, some of their team-mates aren’t quite as convincing. Jermaine Pennant wasn’t all that convincing at Birmingham but for some reason Benitez saw fit to splash out nearly seven million for his services. At 24 years old, Pennant isn’t a spring chicken anymore and in my opinion he has failed to live up to the potential that saw Arsenal sign him in 1999. There are several wingers I’d rather see at St. James Park and one of them is James Milner, who is already here. Álvaro Arbeloa and Gabriel Paletta are other examples of players at Liverpool that just aren’t good enough, and it remains a mystery as to why Rafa decided Andriy Voronin can help him win the league. The former Bayer Leverkeusen striker was followed into Anfield by Spain international Fernando Torres - but you only have to look back to Fernando Morientes to see the risk that is being taken there.

Benitez has taken a huge risk by spending big on Torres

So what can they offer us? Newcastle have lacked a top-class centre half since Jonathan Woodgate left for Real Madrid three years ago and for me Sami Hyypia could finally fill the void left by the Middlesbrough man. No doubt he could do a very good job for a couple of seasons and he would be a no-risk signing. And, despite being in the latter stages of his career, he has proved he can still cut it at the top level, as his partnership with Jamie Carragher helped contribute to a record-breaking run of clean sheets just two years ago.

Currently, there is not an awful lot of height in the Newcastle side, and, at 6’4, Hyypia would certainly bring a greater aerial presence to the defence and pose a threat when going forward for set plays. Newcastle have conceded too many goals from set pieces and balls into the box in recent times, and having someone of Hyypia’s stature around would surely help cut that out.

John Arne Riise is a name we have been linked with this summer. I don’t know why he would leave and I don’t think he will, but the Norwegian is a fantastic player who can do a fine job at full-back and in midfield. He can run with the ball effectively, he can cross well and he can shoot brilliantly – but this is why he is a firm favourite with the Anfield faithful. The left back slot has long been a problem position for Newcastle, and, with Celestine Babayaro currently receiving treatment in Germany for a hamstring injury, it is possible that United could go into their first game of the season without a recognised left back.

Riise joined Liverpool from AS Monaco in 2001 and now may find his position at the club under threat with the arrival of Argentinean youngster Emiliano Insua and the return from injury of Brazilian Fabio Aurellio. This could allow clubs such as Newcastle to nip in.

In the current transfer market, you would have to pay through the roof to get a younger player of Hyypia’s standard, but a younger player would naturally not bring the experience and know-how of the Liverpool man and experience is absolutely what Newcastle need at the back. You can’t imagine Liverpool would demand a huge fee for him and he is definitely a realistic target for the persuasive powers of proven rejuvenator Sam Allardyce.

Who would you sign from Liverpool? Do you think Liverpool have a realistic chance of winning the league title in the coming season? Have you say.