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If recent history has taught us anything about Liverpool, then it is to apply caution to all feelings of optimism about the future.

From Roy Evans' nearly team, to Gerard Houllier's disastrous signings of El Hadji Diouf and Salif Diao, right through Rafa Benitez's decision to replace Xabi Alonso with Alberto Aquilani, they have been on the verge of something special so many times, only to be undone by internal politics and rank bad football decisions.

Even during the return of the King, the optimism such an iconic figure generated was undermined by some pretty disastrous choices in the transfer market. Andy Carroll anyone? To pay so much for a style of striker the world of football is turning its back on seems ludicrous now, with the benefit of my immaculate hindsight.

It is almost with heavy heart then, that I dare to suggest Liverpool are looking a little bit like... a team. A decent team. One that has real attacking promise, real potential and generates optimism.

Look across Brendan Rodgers' forward line, and they are as exciting as any side in the Premier League right now. Nothing much more needs be said about Luis Suarez - except that he won't win the footballer of the year award, but deserves to, not just for his amazing all round qualities that outshine any other candidate, but for his visible efforts to reign in the excesses of his character, and become a more fitting role model for the club.

It is the man alongside him though, that has provoked those Anfield stirrings the sensible seasoned observers amongst us tend to try and suppress.

Philippe Coutinho looked almost like the mascot who had wandered onto the pitch in full kit on his full Anfield debut against Swansea. Yet this child-like figure, whose fresh face makes him appear alarmingly younger than even his tender 20 years, could just be the man to unlock Liverpool's potential and encourage them to take the step forward that has proved so difficult over the past four seasons.

Coutinho spoke well recently of his knowledge of both the Premier League and the history of the football club where he hopes to enjoy a long career. He knows the value of a number 10 to a team, and what that requires.

He has all the attributes to perform that role too, and with a creative influence behind Suarez and the rejuvenated Daniel Sturridge, then Liverpool have an attacking threat combined with the midfield qualities of Gerrard, Lucas and Allen that makes them the epitome of the modern football unit.

They are also developing some strength in depth through their focus on youth that provides serious competition and back up to that forward threat which again offers optimism for the future. What they don't have yet is a defence to back that up.

This current team reminds me so much of the side that Roy Evans put together around 1996-97, and was brimming with the wonderful, creative attacking menace that made them such a joy to watch. With the likes of Fowler, McManaman, Berger, Owen, Collymore, Redknapp and Barnes they were so close to becoming a genuine title threat.

Yet every year, they lacked the defensive steel to back up that dazzling forward line, the experience and nerve to keep supporting a bold attacking plan that was always a dangerous policy with sides content to defend deep and counter swiftly.

Sound familiar? Evans back then seemed always to be one defensive midfielder and central defender away from winning the title, but never quite got round to finding the missing piece in his jigsaw. Right now, Liverpool are missing a similar couple of pieces.

They need a keeper who is not only consistent, but can win matches with saves at the right time, and despite recent signs of improvement, it's been a long time since Pepe Reina has been that man. Far too many times this season they have dominated matches but then been undone by a mistake that gifts momentum to undeserving opponents.

Ditto a central defence that has been forced to rely almost entirely on the retiring Jamie Carragher. Too many unforced errors, not enough ruthless defensive qualities - though perhaps the fault has also been in the defensive midfield position, where they could do with a grimly determined operator.

So this summer once again becomes crucial to the future of the club - and how many times have we been here before? If Rodgers is given the backing to add three decent defensive players and also keep Suarez, then he could be on to something.

The bad news is the recent accounts show Liverpool are still losing money and need to cut their wage bill. The good news is they at least illustrate the owners are still prepared to invest in the club.

Getting a couple of the under-performing big money earners off the wage bill will help (and there are still several on massive wages who don't earn them), but in the end it will come down to football decisions on the players needed to take the final step forward. And the past shows us those decisions have regularly been screwed up.

Read David Maddock's Liverpool column every Wednesday exclusively on MirrorFootball