There has been a lot of ‘controversial’ signings made by Rodgers during the summer transfer window, many of those are still yet to have an impact on Liverpool, and get the Kop standing once more.
It’s fair to say that Liverpool lost their talisman last season in the form of Luis Suarez, who managed to find the net a total of 31 times in just 33 premier league matches that he featured in. After selling the rare talent and assets that Suarez offered, it was clear that Brendan would be able to have the financial support that the club had longed for, to be able to compete with the wealth that other clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester City had become expectant upon.
During the summer transfer window, Rodgers looked to address certain areas of the pitch where Liverpool clearly needed more strength and depth and perhaps lacked creativity at times.
Rodgers has spent roughly £105 million on seven new players, but spending big doesn’t always mean spending wisely. So who did Rodgers get for that money, and what will the new faces at Anfield offer Rodgers in terms tactical options? Read on to find out.
Adam Lallana, Attacking Midfielder, £25m
The star figure at Southampton, the captain, leader and at times ‘saviour’ was surely set to have a bright future ahead of his extortionate price tag, which had taken a big bite out of the Suarez funds. Was the English man overpriced or are there many glory days, past the horizon, yet to come?
Dejan Lovren, Centre Back, £20m
Another one of Rodgers’ Southampton sweeps: saw the marking of the hefty priced Croatian arrive at the Shankly gates. A centre back by trade, he has typical characteristics such as strong leadership and a real sense of movement and positioning, yet on immediate impact Lovren seemed to lack all of these assets and is slowly being noted down as a weakness in the Liverpool back four, particularly by the Anfield faithful.
Rickie Lambert, Striker, £4m
Rickie Lambert, a man who was searching for his child hood dream, found himself on Rodgers’ tick list almost immediately after the gates to the summer transfer window had opened up. Lambert, who is still yet to find the net in a Liverpool shirt, joins former team mates Lovren and Lallana in search for the form that will drive both their mentality and passion for this world class football club.
Lazar Markovic, Winger, £20m
The pacey Serbian winger was bought in by Rodgers based on the foundations of being able to show potential at his former club Benfica in which he netted a total of 5 goals in 26 appearances, which on paper arguably does not look great, however you must take his age of just 20 into contention, did Rodgers see potential or was the money put to waste on what could have been a far more beneficial move?
Emre Can, Defensive Midfielder, £10m
Emre Can, Germany’s very own wonder kid, tipped off to be the next ‘Pele’ has played professional football at a variety of different levels varying from the youth system and eventually breaking into some first team action for European master classes, Bayern Munich. The player has great ability on the ball and plays in the heart of the midfield similarly to Steven Gerrard. Eyed up by many as Gerrard’s replacement, Emre Can is still yet to settle into the time distorting pressure of the Premier League, can a 20 year old really go on to fill a set of monumental boots?
Divock Origi, Striker, £10m
Origi had a promising spell of Football during the World Cup held in Brazil earlier this year, the young talent is currently playing for Lille’s first team on loan aged just 19, and is looking forward to a prosperous Anfield career which is looking more and more likely to transition into next year’s summer transfer window. Is Origi being called back at the right time, or are Henry’s pockets completely empty?
Mario Balotelli, Striker, £16m
One of the most controversial football players to ever walk the pitch: Mario Balotelli. Currently finding the net a total of two times in an astounding 14 games makes Mario one of the most detrimental signings in Liverpool’s history. Rodgers bought the Italian in to help form a partnership with current striker Daniel Sturridge, and attempt to replace their former talisman Luis Suarez, after all the support (from Brendan) and devotion that he has gained from the Kop, he should be burying sitters left, right and centre yet struggles to do so. Will Mario be given another chance or is the end of another ‘Mad Mario’ reign closer than we think?
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Overall it is fair to say that Rodgers can ‘talk the talk’ but is yet to ‘walk the walk’. Marquee signings such as Lallana, Markovic and Can will get better as they edge towards the peak of their careers, however signings such as Lovren and Balotelli are yet to make an impact, and come January could face a long walk away from Anfield.
Liverpool are currently linked with players such as Jackson Martinez and Marco Reus, however the funding that Liverpool currently have set for the January transfer window almost blows signings as such out of proportion.
Furthermore, a key signing that Liverpool fans are keen to see is, 15 year old ‘wonder kid’ Martin Ødegaard, who has made a total of 15 appearances and scoring 5 times, looks very likely to be coming to Anfield in January, particularly with key factors such as his support towards the club coming into play. The talent looks an exciting prospect and with the technicality that Rodgers obtains, he could potentially develop into a wonderful talent, should the player choose Anfield as his desired pathway.
Rodgers must get things right in January and needs to strengthen weak areas such as attacking options and potentially replacing the deadwood found in Glen Johnson, and he must get things done before it’s too late and his neck is quite literally placed on the line.
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