The opening month of the 07/08 season proved to be a very pleasing one for Liverpool fans - with the Reds yielding 4 wins and a draw, a safe passage into the Champions League and some very encouraging signs from the team itself.

New signings Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin have fitted in perfectly and impressed with their contributions and signs of being well up for the physical side of English football. Voronin scored a stunner in Toulose, Torres embarressed Chelsea and the two of them combined effectively to see off Sunderland.

Aside from the new front two though, there have been two more players in particular who have caught the eye and impressed fans and the manager alike.

Top 5 Performers - August 2007

Jermaine Pennant - who played more matches for Liverpool last season than any other player - has shown he is keen to keep his place on the wing despite the arrivals of Babel and Benayoun to compete for his place. His form has prompted Rafa Benitez to wonder why Steve McClaren has not called upon the former Arsenal winger for England duty.

But it is another, maybe less glamorous player, who has seemingly impressed the Anfield faithful - defender Alvaro Arbeloa. Having played in every minute of every game so far (the only player to have done so) he is obviously doing something right.

Benitez seems to have been impressed enough to give him the left full back slot as his position and on Tuesday the boss hailed his performances there - despite him being naturally a right or centre back. “It shows his quality that he can come into a new team and adapt in a different role,” said the Spaniard of his compatriot.

“Arbeloa has done a good job for us so far,” he said. “He is a young, fit boy and we know he is only going to get better in the future.

“He wasn’t used to the left-back position at all but he has come in and performed very well. We’re very pleased with him but he can still improve.”

Arbeloa took just over 50% of the votes in the forums in the TIA Player of the Month poll, with Torres second (21%) and Penannt third (13%).