Areas where Liverpool must invest during the summer
The 1-1 draw at league champions Chelsea ultimately ended Liverpool’s faint hopes of making a late charge into the top four, with Brendan Rodgers now facing another season in the Europa League. It sums up what has been a disappointing campaign at Anfield, as the team have ultimately failed in their attempt to repeat last season’s heroics and mount any sort of title challenge. A superb run of form between late December until late March put Liverpool in an excellent position to secure consecutive top four finishes and another crack at the Champions League, but the team fell short of the standards set in 2013/2014 and will now have to rebuild during the summer. A number of bookies and others have already begun predicting who Liverpool will look to sign during the upcoming transfer window, which could be the most pivotal in Rodgers’ managerial career, with the rumour mill already linking the Reds with a number of high-profile players. Fans will undoubtedly have their opinions on certain players or areas of the squad where Liverpool need to invest in, but Liverpool will have to get it right during a summer in which every Premier League rival will look to spend big in order to challenge for the title in 2015/2016.
Attacking options
Repeating the 101 league goals scored in 2013/2014 was always likely to be a herculean task for Liverpool, particularly after Luis Suarez left for Barcelona to leave a considerable void that Rodgers has been unable to adequately fill. Daniel Sturridge, who formed one half of the wonderful SAS partnership, has endured an injury-hit season, while Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini have barely been given a chance to impress. The fact that Mario Balotelli cannot even make it onto the substitutes’ bench in recent weeks illustrates just how much his big-money arrival to replace Suarez has proven to be a major backfire, with a summer exit for the Italian maverick looking increasingly inevitable. Next season may be a different story once Sturridge regains full fitness and returns to his best, but as Liverpool’s current selection of strikers have contributed a mere ten goals between them to date, it highlights the dire need for Rodgers to invest in at least one, if not two top quality strikers who can make a real difference.
Replace Steven Gerrard
Many Liverpool fans never thought they would see the day when devoted club legend Steven Gerrard left the club for pastures new, but his impending move to the LA Galaxy will leave an incredible void that Rodgers will have to somehow fill. It could be argued that the 34-year-old’s best days are behind him, but the fact that he is currently the club’s top scorer shows the sheer drive, determination and effort he continues to show in a Liverpool shirt. His leadership has led the club to success over the years, but while there is always the possibility that Rodgers may look to bring Gerrard back to Anfield on loan during the MLS off-season, he has to put considerable effort and money into finding a top quality replacement. Liverpool may never be able to find a midfielder like Gerrard again, but someone like Arturo Vidal or Ilkay Gundogan would instantly stand out as a superb signing who could offer similar qualities.
Numbers at the back
Liverpool have certainly looked much stronger and more resolute in defence than in recent years, but although Rodgers may have sacrificed an element of the team’s attacking focus to become more difficult to beat, it is an area that certainly need investment in during the summer. Glen Johnson and Kolo Toure are likely to leave Anfield, and while Jose Enrique may join them after another torrid season with injuries, fellow full-back Javi Manquillo may return to parent club Atletico Madrid if Liverpool choose not to make his deal permanent. It leaves Liverpool considerably short of defensive options in all areas, and it remains to be seen whether Rodgers goes for top quality replacements or highly-talented youth prospects who could ably step in if the likes of Martin Skrtel and Alberto Moreno were absent. Rodgers may also look to buy another goalkeeper to provide Simon Mignolet with considerable competition for the number one jersey, with Brad Jones failing to impress in the three appearances he made this season.
