So after a difficult opening 6 months into Rodgers’ career, we arrived at the beginning of the transfer window somehow still sticking tight onto the teams battling for 4th spot. Speculation had been rife in the papers, with 100s of players being linked with Liverpool each day, but the general focus was on two players: Thomas Ince and Daniel Sturridge. Sturridge had been linked with Liverpool in the summer but the move never materialised. His frustration at being sat on the Chelsea bench each week was apparent. He wanted the move and Brendan Rodgers wanted him early. On January 2nd the move was completed, with Sturridge signing for a reported £12 million. So what has Sturridge brought to the attack? Well as a Bolton player – probably the most prolific point of his career – he scored 8 goals in 11 matches with a conversion rate of 19%. Comparing this prolific period with Suarez when Sturridge joined, Sturridge had a higher conversion rate of 19% compared to Suarez’s 16%. Suarez had scored more goals (15 goals compared to Sturridge’s 8), but Suarez’s goals had come from more shots – to be exact, 92 shots from Suarez compared to 43 from Sturridge.
So evidently in Sturridge we had brought in a finisher or a player who can improve the team’s accuracy (a shocking 29.4%, the lowest in the league). So buying Sturridge made sense in every possible way. The only point people could argue was the price and £12m is big money to pay. However Sturridge’s instant impact has displaced any fear of him being overpriced and his words of praise for the club in interviews since the signing have warmed him to the hearts of Liverpool fans. Additionally, on top of Sturridge’s signing, Fabio Borini returned from injury, taking Liverpool from a position of having one out-and-out striker available at the club to three within the course of a week. Personally, I saw the return of Borini as a nice positive boost for the team as he is a player whose work rate, passion and desire to succeed has made him a favourite of mine at the club. Hopefully the goals come sooner rather than later for him, but I’m certain they will come.
After securing the transfer of Sturridge so early in the transfer window, attention moved to other targets. While papers and other credible sources were talking about Tom Ince or Wesley Sneijder, it soon became known that Phillipe Coutinho had emerged as a target for the club. The player had previously been linked with the club in the summer and he was a player who made me very excited. Fast, intelligent and technically brilliant, he fit into the mould of the flashy flair type players who I had idolised since the age of 7. He signed for Inter Milan at the ripe age of 16 after taking the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B by storm with Vasco De Gama. He stayed with Vasco on loan until his 18th birthday and then joined Inter Milan for a reported 4 million Euros. His versatility is a very good asset to have as well, as the nature of Rodgers’ game relies on his attackers to be able to interchange position. Coutinho can play in attacking midfield or even on the wing. The signing of Coutinho is a very good one in my opinion – considering his age, price, potential and of course, the ‘–inho’ in his name!
After the January transfer window shut, the general feeling from Liverpool fans was “Job well done”. We secured two targets, both of which will no doubt improve the squad and help us in the league. However, both Sturridge and Coutinho cannot be used in the Europa League which is why Borini’s return from injury and Downing’s rise in form over the past few months have been blessings in disguise. Not only are they available for the Europa League, but they are also providing the squad with competition which improves the other players as well. Also, the return of Borini and Downing takes the number of attacking options in the squad to eight: Sterling, Suarez, Borini, Assaidi, Downing, Suso, Coutinho and Sturridge. The Liverpool squad is definitely looking well stocked in attack.
In the summer transfer window, we signed 4/5 of our targets. However, Sahin was a disappointing failure. Not so much down to his own ability, but due to a number of factors such as Rodgers’ tactics and Sahin’s lack of fitness; the rise in form of Jordan Henderson and the return of Lucas. At the end of that saga it was better for both parties that Sahin left to rejoin Dortmund. Allen started off brilliantly, but faded. However this does not mean he is “rubbish” or “over priced” as many on twitter and certain forums have said. It is simply a dip in form. He will find himself soon enough and people will be raving about his performances – that I can guarantee. Borini had a brilliant start to his Liverpool career, scoring on his Anfield debut against Gomel. However it’s been hard for him since then with the difficult start Liverpool had to the Premier League season and then his 3-month injury. I’m sure he will soon be scoring and I have as far as he is concerned. Assaidi has been interesting. He’s put in some very promising performances in the Europa League but, for some reason, he’s been left out of most Premier League match day squads. However his ability is apparent and hopefully Rodgers can tap into that one resource and create even more competition for places in our team. Sturridge has been nothing short of brilliant since his arrival and he has rejuvenated the heavily Suarez reliant Liverpool squad. If he carries on his great form, he will soon become as much of a cult figure as Suarez already is. Coutinho is a very exciting prospect, but it is worth noting that if he does come in and he doesn’t make an immediate impact: do not panic! As his fellow Brazilian teammate Lucas Leiva will tell you, players need time to settle. Coutinho is a fantastic prospect and he has all of the attributes to make him a star.
While it does look very promising for Liverpool’s future, the squad does need further improvement in the summer. Rodgers has said as much and hopefully FSG will back him with not only their money, but their time. These are definitely exciting times for Liverpool fans…
