Steven Gerrard knows his place in Liverpool's hall of fame is already assured, but the Anfield captain won't feel satisfied until he has ended the club's 19-year wait to be crowned kings of England.
When legendary former Reds manager Bill Shankly described the league as Liverpool's "bread and butter" in the 1960s, he was emphasising the club's desire to be champions of England above all other prizes.
It seemed that philosophy had been consigned to the history books when Rafael Benitez arrived at Anfield in 2004.
In the Champions League, Benitez's tactical acumen and Gerrard's inspirational displays masterminded a victorious campaign in 2005 and a final appearance two years later.
But those heady nights of European success often left a nasty hangover on the return to more mundane matters in the Premier League.
Liverpool, who last won the title back in 1990, were unable to mount a serious challenge in the league for the first four seasons of Benitez's reign, but that changed last season.
The Reds finished just four points behind Manchester United and few at Anfield want anything this season other than to end their bitter rivals' three-year reign as champions.
The prospect of United passing Liverpool's record of 18 league titles by winning an unprecedented fourth successive title this season is too much for Kop regulars to contemplate and Gerrard, a Liverpudlian to the core, feels their pain.
Gerrard endured an unsettling close-season as he spent several weeks embroiled in a court case that eventually ended with the England star being found not guilty of affray after an incident in a Southport nightclub last season.
The 29-year-old's time in court meant he missed several of Liverpool's pre-season friendlies and, in the absence of their talismanic leader, the team's performances were lacklustre.
Those matches only served to emphasise that Gerrard's value to Benitez's team has never been greater since the Liverpool boss opted to play him in tandem with Spain striker Fernando Torres.
Whenever Gerrard was sidelined through injury last season, Liverpool's performances lacked energy and Torres was more easily subdued as mediocre opponents packed their defence and often escaped with a draw.
If Gerrard can stay fit and in form, his partnership with Torres will strike fear into defences across Europe. Coping with one of the duo is possible but tethering both is nigh on impossible.
United certainly couldn't do it at Old Trafford last season as Gerrard and Torres inspired a magnificent 4-1 victory.
That result more than any other has given Liverpool belief that this can be their year, with veteran defender Jamie Carragher quick to underline the importance of Gerrard's relationship with Torres.
"No other team in England has a partnership like Gerrard and Torres," Carragher said.
"It's strange to be talking about Stevie as a striker now, but that's what he's become, and in that position, just behind the main forward, there is no one better.
"In fact, there is no better strike pairing in the world than Gerrard and Torres. They can tear defences wide open in a split second.
"When you have that kind of ability in your team it gives you incredible belief. If we can keep them both free of injury then we are going to take some stopping.
"There were times last year when we went into games without them and it showed. If they stay fit and continue to improve then I think we will go very close."
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